Funimation looks like they’re ready to give us a new fantasy anime in the form of Ranking of Kings. Even better, they’ve even got a new promotional trailer for us today. A rather promising trailer, actually:

I sense a hint of Studio Ghibli in this, even if they’re not involved in this in any way.

Funimation officially announces that they will stream the Ranking of Kings anime series with this trailer. This will be the anime adaptation of the seinen manga of the same name by Sōsuke Tōka. If you’ve never heard of this manga or mangaka, this anime might be your chance to get to know both.

Funimation will start streaming Ranking of Kings on Friday, October 15, 2021. Funimation will stream this anime in both dubbed and subbed versions in the United States and Canada; the United Kingdom and Ireland; Australia and New Zealand; Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Chile and Peru; and all of Wakanim’s territories throughout Europe. Oh, and Funimation will stream this anime exclusively, so if you want to watch it, head over to Funimation. Hopefully, since they also own Crunchyroll now, we might also see it there later.

Ranking of Kings: Details

Ranking of Kings key visual.
Definitely getting Studio Ghibli vibes here, with a hint of Ni no Kuni.

So what is Ranking of Kings about, you might ask? Well, it’s a fantasy comedy seinen manga by Sōsuke Tōka. The manga is currently at 11 volumes and is still going. The fact that it got an anime by Wit Studio (Attack on Titan, Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress, The Ancient Magus’ Bride) this early really speaks well of it. Obviously, the downside is that the anime is going to end before the story is over, but that just means that we’ll have a second season to look forward to.

Ranking of Kings still image 14.
Why do I hear Mufasa speaking about how everything the light touches is our kingdom?

The story of Ranking of Kings is about a young prince named Bojji. Bojji is the crown prince of his kingdom. However, he’s not only tiny and weak, he’s also deaf and mute. His people, and even his family’s retainers, doubt that he’ll ever be a good king. One day however, Bojji meets a strange monster named Kage, and befriends it. The result is a dramatic change for both of their lives, and perhaps Bojji’s kingdom to boot. The official synopsis from Funimation is as follows:

Ranking of Kings is based on Tōka Sōsuke’s beloved high-fantasy manga, which debuted in 2017. How prosperous your nation is, how many powerful warriors it boasts, and how heroic and strong its king is. These are the criteria that factor into the system known as the Ranking of Kings. Bojji, was born the first prince of the kingdom ruled by King Bosse, who is ranked number seven in the Ranking of Kings. But  Bojji  was  born  unable  to  hear  and  is  so  powerless  that  he  can’t  even  swing  a sword. In consequence, not only his own retainers, but also the public, look down upon him as completely unfit to be king. It is then that Bojji finds his first friend, Kage. His fateful encounter with Kage ignites a tiny spark of courage, and their lives both take a dramatic turn.

Conclusion

Funimation will stream Wit Studio’s Ranking of Kings exclusively on their streaming platform. This anime adaptation of the fantasy comedy seinen manga of the same name by Sōsuke Tōka will premiere on October 15, 2021. If you have a thing for high fantasy anime done in a style reminiscent of Studio Ghibli, then check out this anime on Funimation then.

Source: Funimation Blog, Funimation YouTube, Wikipedia