King of Bandit Jing

Reviewed By: Carla Land

ADV DVD

Review based on volume 1 (episodes 1-4)

Rating 13+

What it’s (basically) all about: Jing, the King of Bandits, has a very serious advantage on his side- he’s a kid, and no one ever suspects a kid. Every day brings an adventure, and every adventure brings a new treasure- and a new girl.

Nitty Gritty: Jing is an incredibly gifted bandit, except for one thing. He never seems to steal anything. He’s more of a wandering do-gooder. The thrill of doing the deed seems to mean more to him than actually getting something out of it, though he usually does get something. Along with Jing travels his companion/ pet/ weapon Kir, who is totally girl crazy. At least once every episode Kir becomes a sort of massive weapon that is wrapped around Jing’s arm, turning him into the most messed up puppet ever imagined.

There’s little fan service, and Kir seems to be the only one interested in ladies (though Jing is the one who keeps getting kissed.) There is some violence, but it’s not much more than you find on Cartoon Network at 3 pm. There is also some drinking going on when Jing is around bandits, but you never see him partake. At one point Jing outwits a group of naked thieves, but the most you see is a backside. (They used their clothes to make a hot air balloon that was supposed to take them to the top of a tower. Jing wisely did not join them.)

Special features include production sketches, clean opening/ closing animation, DVD credits and previews for Eden’s Bowy, Rune Soldier, Full Metal Panic!, Pretear, Saiyuki, and Blue Seed Beyond. The disk also opens with Anime Network and Newtype USA magazine ads.

Survey says: This title is wholly appropriate for teen collections.

Personal Ad: I really, really liked King of Bandit Jing.  It reminded me ever so slightly of One Piece, only it is well written and not annoying, and I’d like to see more of it.