At the foundation of most organized religions are intricate collections of parables designed to instill morality. Such lore allows children to recognize many of life’s truths, while sparing them the unkindness of learning those things firsthand. The narrative of Kino's Journey is reminiscent of this type of storytelling, in that each episode tells a tale containing a lesson to be imparted to the viewer.

Kino, the title character, is a wanderer who abides by one simple rule in her journeys: stay only three days at each destination. While the path taken conforms to no direction, the timetable is immutable. The premise lends itself to compelling stories, which for the most part, can be viewed in any order.

Armed with a sharp tongue, wisdom unbecoming her age, and an assortment of weapons, Kino is as dangerous as she is enigmatic. Though clearly good-hearted, there exists an aloofness to how Kino regards the world around her.

Hermes, a talking motorcycle, is Kino's constant companion. While the character might initially strike the audience as bizarre, it quickly becomes clear that Hermes is a perfect foil for Kino, and their interaction makes what could be dull narration or silence into a fascinating, yet unobtrusive relationship that adds depth to the series without dispelling the loneliness of Kino's character.

Wisdom is the reward of experience, and can take many forms. Most of what the series depicts is cynical, and the tales often inspire a condemnation of human weakness, but recognition is required for transcendence, and there are rays of hope interspersed. The message in each story is clear, but is neither preached nor judgmental.

Never passive as she pays witness to the machinations of each plot, Kino's role is always reflexive as she processes the fate her visits bestow. The detachment Kino has developed came at a price, and through the course of the series, the audience is given a glimpse of the childhood events that shaped her soul, the encounters that necessitated her rules, and finally, a temptation for her to break them. Whether it's questioning the cost of life, or the recognition that things are rarely what they seem, there is plenty for the thoughtful to consider.

Journeys are undertaken with purpose, but what Kino seeks is never clear, leaving the viewer to contemplate her ultimate destination.