Excitement buzzes among anime enthusiasts as the official website for Yasuhisa Hara’s Kingdom manga unveils the much-anticipated key visual, “SIDE Hishin-tai” (SIDE Hishin Corps), for the upcoming fifth season of the anime.
Alongside this thrilling reveal are three character visuals that show how great the upcoming characters will look. The premiere of this highly-awaited fifth season of the Kingdom series is set to release in January 2024. The exact release date remains unknown for now.
Set in ancient China, Kingdom transports you to an era of warring states, where ambitious young Xin dreams of becoming a Great General. Following the lines of a shounen series, Xin sets out with his loyal allies, Ten and Kyou Kai, on a journey that’ll test their determination, create unbreakable friendships, and redefine the very meaning of power and leadership.
Are you ready for another ride of adrenaline-fueled scenes filled with valor, betrayal, and a quest to reunite people? Kingdom once again guarantees an unforgettable experience that will have you talking about it with your friends and fellow anime watchers for a long while.
Kingdom: The Series
Kingdom is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Yasuhisa Hara. Serialized in Weekly Young Jump since January 2006, the manga has collected 69 volumes as of July 2023. Set in a fictionalized world of the Warring States period, the story follows war orphan Xin and his comrades as they strive for greatness and seek to unify China after 500 years of turmoil.
The popularity of Kingdom sky-rocketed, with over 99 million copies in circulation by July 2023, making it one of the best-selling manga series of all time. It was also the winner of the prestigious Grand Prize at the Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize in 2013.
The anime series, produced by Studio Pierrot, comprises two seasons totaling seventy-seven episodes. The first season, consisting of thirty-eight episodes, aired from 2012 to 2013 on NHK BS Premium.
The second season followed with thirty-nine episodes, airing from 2013 to 2014. Then, on November 8, 2019, the highly anticipated third season was announced, featuring a brand-new production team and covering the manga’s Coalition Invasion arc.
The third season premiered on April 6, 2020. Not long after, after the third season’s final episode, a fourth season was announced and broadcast from April 10 to October 2, 2022.
The Plot and Cast
Yasuhisa Hara’s historical manga revolves around Xin, a determined slave boy with an ambitious dream to become a great general for the state of Qin. He joins forces with Ying Zheng, the young Qin king who shares his vision of unifying China.
Together, they strive to rise to power within the state and overcome the formidable Seven Warring States. Xin’s relentless pursuit of becoming a superior commander fuels the epic tale of a young boy’s strength, willpower, and dreams.
The cast includes Masakazu Morita voices Shin/Xin, and Rie Kugimiya, who voices Karyō Ten/He Liao Diao. And Yōko Hikasa voices Kyou Kai/Qiang Lei.
It’s not just about the fights, and it’s also got heart and feelings. Xin’s growth as a character, his friendships, and the political intrigue will have you hooked. And the animation? Breathtaking. The artists went all-out to give us stunning visuals, completely exceeding our expectations.
And the action scenes? Top-notch, with battles that’ll make you feel like you’re right there in the thick of it, dodging arrows and slashing through enemies. The political intrigue will have you on the edge of your seat, trying to guess who’s scheming what and who’s about to stab who in the back. It’s a must-try if you’re a history nerd.
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