K

Shiro is an ordinary student whose calm life is shattered when a violent, firelit clan tries to kill him on the street. Accused of murdering one of their members, he suddenly finds himself hunted and bewildered by forces he barely understands. A skilled swordsman named Kurou Yatogami appears and helps Shiro flee, but his motives are unclear, and danger keeps arriving from rival factions. As suspicion spreads, Shiro scrambles to stay alive, clear his name, and learn why seven powerful leaders and their followers are so determined to find him, all while strange allies and enemies blur the line between friend and foe.

Released in 2012, K is an animated action series created by Tatsuki Miyazawa, Rei Rairaku, and Kouhei Azano. The show features voice work from Daisuke Namikawa as Yashiro "Shiro" Isana, Daisuke Ono as Kurou Yatogami, and Mikako Komatsu as Neko, pairing slick visuals with stylized action sequences.

It wasn't a major awards contender, so there aren’t headline industry trophies attached to the series, but it did help raise the profiles of its lead cast and composers among anime viewers, and voice performances are often singled out by fans.

K stood out for its bold visual language, using distinct color motifs to mark clans and characters, which made it easy to spot in fan art and cosplay. The show’s kinetic fight scenes and soundtrack also helped it carve out a recognizable identity among 2010s anime, inspiring online discussion and a steady cult following.

Audience response has been generally positive, the series holding a user score of about 7.11 out of 10 from viewers. People praise the animation, character designs, and music, while some say the plot can be confusing at first because of its cryptic worldbuilding. Main themes include identity, loyalty, and the politics of power among supernatural factions.