Ranking of Kings: Is It Worth Watching in 2026?
Our verdict — 8.3/10, worth watching
In short: Yes. Ranking of Kings (Wit Studio, 2021-2022, 23 episodes) follows Bojji, a deaf, tiny prince everyone dismisses, and his shadow-creature friend Kage. It looks like a picture book but turns into a dark, moving fantasy about strength and kindness. Watch the follow-up, Treasure Chest of Courage (2023, 10 episodes), after it.
Get anime picks based on this article
Want a fantasy anime with heart? Get picks matched to your mood.
Get anime picksPrefer to answer a few questions? Take the 8-question anime quiz →The verdict
Worth it, and not what it looks like. The soft, simple art suggests a children's show, but Ranking of Kings is full of palace intrigue, tragedy and surprising brutality. At its core is one of anime's kindest heroes and one of its best friendships.
The premise
In a world where kingdoms are ranked by their king's strength, Prince Bojji is deaf, can't speak, and is too weak to lift a proper sword. The court mocks him. When he befriends Kage, the last survivor of a clan of shadow assassins, the two set out to prove Bojji can become the greatest king of all.
What makes it work
- Bojji. His relentless goodness never reads as naive.
- The grey characters. Almost everyone who seems a villain gets a reason, and many change.
- Wit Studio's action. Fluid, inventive fights in a deceptively gentle style.
Who it suits
If you liked Frieren, Made in Abyss or Studio Ghibli's darker films, start here. If the art style puts you off, give it two episodes; it changes fast.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ranking of Kings for kids? Not really. Despite the storybook art, it includes betrayal, murder and some graphic violence. Teenagers and adults are its real audience.
Who made Ranking of Kings? Wit Studio, the studio behind the first three seasons of Attack on Titan and, with CloverWorks, Spy x Family, based on Sōsuke Tōka's manga.
Want another fantasy anime?
Our anime quiz can match one to your mood, with episode counts for each pick.