Kino's Journey

Tokyopop's English release of the first light novel volume featured a radically redesigned cover.

Kino's Journey began as a series of light novels written by Keiichi Sigsawa, and illustrated by Kouhaku Kuroboshi. The series originally started serialization in MediaWorks' now-defunct light novel magazine Dengeki hp with the release of volume six on March 17, 2000.[5] The first volume of the series was published on July 10, 2000 by ASCII Media Works under their Dengeki Bunko publishing imprint. As of July 10, 2019, 22 volumes have been published. The eighth volume of Kino's Journey, originally published in October 2004, was Dengeki Bunko's 1000th published novel.[6] An additional volume entitled Kino's Journey —the Beautiful World— Country of Theater —Kino— (キノの旅 —the Beautiful World— 劇場の国 —KINO—, Kino no Tabi —the Beautiful World— Gekijō no Kuni —KINO—) was only released as a promotional gift for the second animated movie.[7] A collection of special chapters entitled Kino's Journey: the Sigsawa's World came with the first volume of ASCII Media Works' light novel magazine Dengeki Bunko Magazine on April 10, 2008.

In commemoration of Dengeki Bunko's 20th anniversary, Kino's Journey was serialized weekly from April to September 2013 in several Japanese regional newspapers.[8] The ten stories serialized during this period were included in the 17th volume published in October of the same year. The previous 16 volumes were released with new cover artwork also in commemoration of the anniversary.[8]

The light novel series has also been translated into Chinese, Korean, and German. Tokyopop licensed the novels under the original title Kino no Tabi for release in North America, and the first volume was published on October 3, 2006. The chapter order of Tokyopop's English release of the first volume differed from the original Japanese release. According to Tokyopop representatives, there are issues with the licensor that have left them unable to release further volumes of the series. Tokyopop used an image from the sixth chapter-title page from the original novel for use as the English novel cover.

The first volume of a spin-off of the regular series titled Gakuen Kino was published on July 10, 2006 under Dengeki Bunko; as of October 10, 2019, six volumes have been released. The series is a collection of parodies originally published in three spin-off magazines of Dengeki hp: Dengeki p, Dengeki h, and Dengeki hpa. The spin-off features Kino as a magical girl in a school setting. Gakuen Kino was translated into Chinese and Korean.

A 96-page art book containing illustrations by Kouhaku Kuroboshi was released by ASCII Media Works in March 2003. The book contained illustrations from Kino's Journey and the Allison series of light novels, which is created by the same people as Kino's Journey. Also included in the art book are original illustrations never released in the novel volumes, and an original Kino's Journey short story by Keiichi Sigsawa.[9] Two more artbooks from Kouhaku Kuroboshi were released in commemoration of the novel series' 15th anniversary. These artbooks include illustrations from Kino's Journey up to the 18th volume, Gakuen Kino, all of the Allison light novels, and other novels by Keiichi Sigsawa, as well as artwork by Kouhaku Kuroboshi as Takeshi Iizuka.

Three picture books were also released by ASCII Media Works under their Dengeki Bunko Visual Novel label. The first, released on December 3, 2003, contained forty-eight pages and is entitled Country of Memories —Their Memories— (記憶の国 —Their Memories—, Kioku no Kuni —Their Memories—).[10] The first picture book came bundled with an audio CD containing image songs (one of which is based on the tune of Pachelbel's Canon).[9] The second book, released on October 19, 2005, contained eighty pages and is entitled The Traveler's Story —You— (旅人の話 —You—, Tabibito no Hanashi —You—).[11] The second book was released in two editions, with the difference between the two being a DVD of the first animated film Kino's Journey: In Order to Do Something —Life Goes On—.[9] The third book, released on December 25, 2007, contained 40 pages and is entitled My Country —Own Will— (わたしの国 —Own Will—, Watashi no Kuni —Own Will—).[12] The third book came bundled with a DVD of the second animated film Kino's Journey: Country of Illness —For You—.[9]

A manga adaptation of the spin-off series Gakuen Kino was illustrated by the dōjinshi group Dennō Ōwadan. It began serialization in volume 10 of ASCII Media Works' Dengeki G's Festival! Comic released on February 23, 2010.[13] The manga continued serialization until volume 14 of Dengeki G's Festival! Comic published on October 26, 2010. It was transferred to ASCII Media Works' Dengeki G's Magazine with the December 2010 issue and ran until the June 2012 issue. It was compiled in three volumes. A manga adaptation of Kino's Journey, drawn by Iruka Shiomiya, began serialization in the April 2017 issue of Kodansha's Shonen Magazine Edge released on March 17, 2017.[14] A second manga, with art by Gou, began serialization in the July 2017 issue of ASCII Media Works' Dengeki Daioh magazine released on May 27, 2017.[15]

An anime adaptation produced by A.C.G.T and Genco, and directed by Ryūtarō Nakamura, aired on the WOWOW satellite television network between April 8 and July 8, 2003, containing 13 episodes.[16][17] The anime series was also rebroadcast across Japan by the anime satellite television network Animax, which also aired the series across its worldwide networks in Southeast Asia, East Asia, and South Asia. The episodes were released on six DVD compilations released between June 18 and November 19, 2003; the first volume contained three episodes, while each of the subsequent volumes contained two episodes. The series was re-released on DVD in popular editions again in six volumes, with the first three volumes bundled together and sold on January 19, 2005, and the last three volumes bundled together and sold on February 16, 2005.[18] In addition to the main series, there is also a 12-minute-long prologue titled "Episode 0: The Tower Country —Freelance—" which was released as an original video animation with the first animated film's DVD release on October 19, 2005.[19] The anime's opening theme is "All the way" by Mikuni Shimokawa and the ending theme is "The Beautiful World" by Ai Maeda; both singles were released on June 18, 2003.[19]

The 13-episode anime series was licensed for North American distribution by ADV Films. The episodes were initially released on four DVD compilations released between February 24, 2004 and June 29, 2004; the first volume contained four episodes, while each of the subsequent volumes contained three episodes. The first DVD volume was sold in two editions, with the difference between the two being a series box all four DVDs could fit inside. A DVD box set entitled Kino's Journey: The Complete Collection was released on October 25, 2005 containing three discs. In 2009, the series was re-released on three DVDs in a single case. Re-releases also happened in 2011, 2013, and 2017, all through ADV Films, one of the three anime series currently distributed by them while being succeeded by Section23 Films. It was announced by them that a SDBD set is also coming for a February 26, 2019 release.[20]

A second anime television series adaptation titled Kino's Journey —the Beautiful World— the Animated Series aired 12 episodes between October 6[21][22] and December 22, 2017. It was animated by Lerche and produced by Egg Firm. The series is directed by Tomohisa Taguchi, with Yukie Sugawara supervising scripts and Ryoko Amisaki designing the characters.[23] The opening theme is "Here and There" and the ending theme is "Satōdama no Tsuki" (砂糖玉の月), both by Nagi Yanagi.[21] Crunchyroll streamed the anime with subtitles,[24] and Funimation streamed the series with a simuldub.[25]

Two anime films have been created as part of the Kino's Journey series. The first, Kino's Journey: In Order to Do Something —Life Goes On.— (何かをするために—life goes on.—, Nanika o Suru Tame ni —life goes on.—) was produced by A.C.G.T and directed by Takashi Watanabe. It premiered in Japanese theaters on February 19, 2005.[26] Spanning 30-minutes, the film is a prequel to the series, showing Kino being trained by her teacher, learning to ride Hermes, and discovering her naturally excellent marksmanship before eventually deciding to return the original Kino's coat to his mother. The ending theme for the first animated film is "Hajimari no Hi" (始まりの日) by Ai Maeda, and was released on Maeda's Night Fly album on March 16, 2005.

The second film, Kino's Journey: Country of Illness —For You— (キノの旅：病気の国 —For You—, Kino no Tabi: Byōki no Kuni —For You—), premiered on April 21, 2007 as one of the three movies released at Dengeki Bunko's Movie Festival.[27] Produced by Shaft and directed by Ryūtarō Nakamura, it follows Kino and Hermes journey to a highly advanced country where the people live confined in a sealed environment. By request of her father, Kino tells about her travels to a sick girl who is hospitalized there. The second animated film's ending theme is "Bird" by Mikuni Shimokawa, and the single was released on March 14, 2007.

A Kino's Journey drama CD was available through mail order via volume fifteen of MediaWorks' now-defunct light novel magazine Dengeki hp released on December 18, 2001.[28] The drama tracks on the CD were originally broadcast on ASCII Media Works' radio program Dengeki Taishō in 2001.

Kino's Journey has been adapted into two visual novel adventure games for the PlayStation 2 by Tycoon and ASCII Media Works. The first game, titled Kino's Journey —the Beautiful World—, was released on July 17, 2003,[29] and a "best" version was later released on November 25, 2004.[30] Most of the story for the first game is taken from volumes one, two, three, five, and six of the original light novels, but there is one scenario written specifically for the game by Keiichi Sigsawa.[31] The original soundtrack for the first visual novel was released on July 24, 2003.[19] The second game, titled Kino's Journey II —the Beautiful World—, was released on December 1, 2005, and a "best" version was later released on March 8, 2007.[32] Like the first game, most of the story is taken from the light novels, but there is another original scenario written by Sigsawa.[33] Additionally, the second game came bundled with a thirty-six page book entitled Various Stories —a Beautiful Dreamer— (いろいろな話 —a Beautiful Dreamer—, Iroirona Hanashi —a Beautiful Dreamer—) containing the story of the original scenario written for the game.[34] Both of the visual novels were voiced, mainly using the same cast from the first anime series. At one time, ASCII Media Works had planned to release a version for the PlayStation Portable.[35]