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In another world, there exist many countries, each with different cultures, customs, and traditions. From technological marvels to folk legends, each location yields a vast wealth of insight of its people: their hopes and their dreams, their failures and fears. Kino is a traveler whose goal is to visit as many new places as possible, learning about others' ways of life, but also making sure to stay clear of their affairs. Together with the talking motorrad Hermes, Kino sets out to explore the beautiful world and meet its inhabitants, wherever they may be.
In the futuristic city of Neo-Acropolis, eleven girls lead very different lives. Each has a different story to tell shaped by her fears and ambitions, and the small joys and sorrows that make up the formative moments of her life. From a scientific genius who has to face her fear of men, to a young girl who does not want to grow up, to a high school manga author struggling to meet the deadlines, to the intricate relationship between two sisters - the girls come from all walks of life, sharing only the city of Neo-Acropolis, and that mysterious spark that makes their lives so interesting.
Momo is a sympathetic death god who cries every time she sees a touching moment. Though she brings death, she also allows the victim to complete their last wish before taking them away. Accompanying her through her adventures is a winged black cat named Daniel. With a huge scythe in tow, Momo strives to touch the lives of humankind and overflow the world with pure kindness, by fulfilling the soon deceased’s tasks.
Shinigami no Ballad and Kino's Journey feature unique concepts and focus on telling small stories with big meanings. Both shows are episodic and there is a good variety in the themes and pacing of the episodes. Both are very humbling, moving at their own pace which is at times slow and quiet and at others active and sometimes comedic or even violent (moreso in Kino's case.) Either show doesn't try to flaunt its morals, but they are certainly there and are liable to make you think.
In a modern world, magic has become a service industry. From transforming a house, to arranging an article in the newspaper, no job is too big or too small for a mage, who are thought of highly in the public eye. Kikuchi Yume, daughter of a famous mage, has finally reached the age of apprenticeship, and must move to Tokyo to find a mentor. Under the tutelage of the esteemed mage (and nightclub owner) Oyamada Masami, she will learn what it means to be able to bring magic to others' lives.
Both Kino's Journey and Someday's Dreamers are anime which use a graphical story to ask interesting philosophical questions of its audience. Admittedly, Kino's Journey is almost exclusively intended for subtle and mature audiences, while Someday's Dreamers approaches the plot and its themes much more directly. Kino's travels are narrated mostly in episodic short story form and explore a large variety of different themes; in contrast, you will find Someday's Dreamers to have a more continuous plot, while exploring a few issues more deeply. If you enjoy high audiovisual quality in anime, Someday's Dreamers is wonderfully illustrated with superb soundtracks.
Kanata Sorami, a young Private in the army, arrives in Seize to serve in the Clocktower Fortress and learn the trumpet under the tutelage of Master Sergeant Rio Kazumiya. Though peace hangs uneasily over the world, Kanata finds a relaxing routine of laundry, shopping, and trumpet practice greets her at her new post instead of brutal drilling and discipline. With help from the other members of the all-female 1121st Platoon, Kanata finds her place in the bustling city, bringing joy and humor to the war-weary residents while learning a great deal about the world.
Both series feature a strong-willed young woman in a leading role. Though So-Ra-No-Wo-To's Kanata is far more obviously female than her counterpart in Kino no Tabi, both retain a genderless innocence as they learn about the culture of their fascinating settings - creating a new moral every episode, in a melancholy yet somehow optimistic vision of their Beautiful World.
In a post-apocalyptic future, where the world has turned into a desert and the remains of humanity live under the rule of the Third – beings with a third eye on their foreheads. Accompanied only by her tank's AI, Bogie, Honoka tries to make a living as a handyman on the edge of civilization, and she tries to avoid resorting to violence as much as possible; but when situations demand it, she and her sword become a force to be reckoned with. When Honoka is hired by the mysterious young man named Ikus, the Third suddenly take great interest in them; and thus, Honoka’s story truly begins…
These are both about female wandering warriors. They have strong senses of character and tend to ponder things rather than judge them. Kino gets less involved with the people she meets than Balsa does, who has decided to save lives. However, despite their differences both have an overall slow pace, but get action packed occasionally.
