“A girl awakens from cold sleep in a virus-ravaged world to discover the facility overrun by monsters and uncover the corporation's dark secrets.”
King of Thorn
いばらの王
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AI-powered analysis tailored to your taste
Based on your preference for character-driven stories with layered emotional arcs, this title's exploration of identity and belonging would deeply resonate. The pacing mirrors series you've rated highly, and its thematic depth aligns with your appreciation for nuanced storytelling...
However, the slow initial episodes might test your patience given your history of dropping shows that don't hook you early. The art style shift in the middle arc could also be a concern...
Synopsis
A girl awakens from cold sleep in a virus-ravaged world to discover the facility overrun by monsters and uncover the corporation's dark secrets.
When a deadly virus known as Medousa sweeps across the globe, turning people to stone with no chance of recovery, humanity finds itself on the verge of destruction. The only hope is the Venus Gate Corporation's shocking new plan: to put 160 people in cold sleep for up to one hundred years, or until a treatment is developed. Kasumi Ishiki is one of the fortunate to be selected, and though she fears being separated from her twin sister, Shizuku, the girls hope that they can be reunited in the future. When Kasumi awakens, however, the world is not what she expected. The cold sleep facility is covered in thorns, and strange monsters start attacking them. Although most of those who have woken up die in the immediate confusion, Kasumi and a small group of survivors begin to investigate the maze-like facility and unravel the secrets of Medousa, as well as the true intentions of the Venus Gate Corporation.
What people say
Community consensus
Derived from 30 sampled reviews
What 30 viewers settled on.
Polarized
σ 2.08 · split reception
5.6 pts
Recommenders 7.8 · others 2.3
↑ 0.57
Running avg · Oct 2009 → Oct 2025
- 7 “It was a good anime but I was very displeased with how much of the story they removed and changed. While watching I couldn't help but always point out mistakes like "What happened to this part?" or...”
- 8 “When i started to watch Ibara no Ou i didn't really have any expectations expect the fact that i probably going to like it. In the beginning everything was there a killer virus that turns everyone...”
- 7 “King of thorn is a sci-fi fantasy type thriller in which this killer parasite tries to destroy the earth. It involves a few characters, and a plot that at times, really makes no sense. Especially...”
Watch Order & Related
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- Format 1 × 109′ eps × min
- Total runtime 1h 49m all episodes
- Aired Oct 2009 – ongoing
- Source Movie media type
- Rated R+ Mild Nudity
- Ref. BS-4651 catalog
Produced by
- TV Tokyo Producer
- Bandai Visual Producer
- Dentsu Producer
- Kadokawa Pictures Japan Producer
- Enterbrain Producer
- Sony PCL Producer
Licensed by
- Funimation Licensor