Raven of the Inner Palace
Raven of the Inner Palace
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Raven of the Inner Palace

"What is the true identity of the solitary Raven Consort?"

6.5
Yr 2022
Rt 24m
Status Ended
Animation Drama Mystery Sci-Fi & Fantasy
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Series Brief

Overview

The Raven Consort is a special consort living deep in the inner palace who, despite her title, does not perform nighttime duties for the emperor. Some who have seen her say she has the appearance of an old woman, while others describe her as a young girl. The Raven Consort's name is Shouxue. She can use mysterious arts and will accept any favor asked of her, whether it is to find something lost or to curse someone to death. The current emperor, Gaojun, visits her one night to ask a favor. Their meeting exposes a secret that will turn history on its head...

Critical Reception

What critics are saying

Score 81 /100

Critics generally received Raven of the Inner Palace as a hidden gem of the Fall 2022 anime season. Reviewers celebrated the series for its rich atmosphere, supernatural mysteries, and intriguing core themes, noting that behind its courtly drama lies a compelling exploration of love and its potentially destructive consequences.

While the animation is described as subdued rather than flashy or dynamic, critics appreciated its grounded character designs and beautiful magical sequences. Some reviewers pointed out that the show's low-key pacing occasionally borders on slow or boring, but many appreciated that it avoids forced comedy in favor of maintaining a consistent tone.

“Mystery and intrigue surround the anime, but at the end of the day, Raven of the Inner Palace is also about love and how destructive and scary it can be.”

“The Raven of the Inner Palace feels like one of those series where you want to watch each episode twice...”

“...there are episodes where the low-key energy and tone of the show stray a bit too close to boring....”

Transmission Paths

Where to Watch

Crunchyroll
US • CA • UK
Crunchyroll Amazon Channel
US • UK • CA
Why fans love it

This 2022 animation leans into the intersection of palace intrigue and supernatural phenomena. Set in a version of ancient China, the story centers on Shouxue, a recluse operating outside the traditional expectations of the imperial harem. By blending political maneuverings with ghost stories, the show establishes a tone where the cost of a favor is often as dangerous as the secrets uncovered in the process.

The dynamic between Shouxue and the visiting emperor drives the mystery forward, forcing a collision between formal authority and elusive mythology. Saku Mizuno provides the voice for a lead character who occupies a space between legend and reality, moving through a narrative that draws from its light novel roots to examine the weight of an orphan’s burden. It is a calculated take on the shoujo genre, favoring atmospheric tension over standard fantasy tropes.

Featured Players

Cast

Credited 72
Regulars 7
Longest run 13 eps
Saku Mizuno
Saku Mizuno
as Liu Shouxue / Ryuu Jusetsu (voice)
Masaaki Mizunaka
Masaaki Mizunaka
as Xia Gaojun / Ka Koushun (voice)
Taku Yashiro
Taku Yashiro
as Wei Qing / Ei Sei (voice)
Marika Kouno
Marika Kouno
as Jiujiu (voice)
13 episodes
Nobunaga Shimazaki
Nobunaga Shimazaki
as Wen Ying / Onkei (voice)
13 episodes
Nobuhiko Okamoto
Nobuhiko Okamoto
as Dan Hai / Tan Kai (voice)
13 episodes
Mana Hirata
Mana Hirata
as Yi Siha / Ishiha (voice)
13 episodes
Reina Ueda
Reina Ueda
as Yun Huaniang / Un Kajou (voice)
13 episodes
Show 64 more
Ayako Kawasumi as Xie Fei/Consort Sha (voice) 1 episode Makoto Koichi as Xia Gaojun/Ka Koushun (young) (voice) 1 episode Ryo Sugisaki as Yun Yongde/Un Eitoku (voice) 2 episodes Masako Katsuki as Empress Dowager (voice) 3 episodes Sachiko Kojima as Axiu/Ashuu (voice) 2 episodes Aya Yamane as Third Consort (voice) 1 episode Hiroki Maeda as Door guard B (voice) 1 episode Riho Sugiyama as Xingxing/Shinshin (voice) 12 episodes Ikumi Hasegawa as Court lady A (voice) 1 episode Kikuko Inoue as Narrator (voice) 13 episodes Yuka Nukui as Court lady B (voice) 2 episodes Mai Nakahara as Shouxue/Jusetsu's mother (voice) 2 episodes Soma Saito as Guohao/Kaku Kou (voice) 1 episode Naoko Komatsu as Su Hongqiao/So Kougyou (voice) 1 episode Yoshihito Sasaki as Flame Emperor (voice) 1 episode Junichi Yanagita as Soldier A (voice) 1 episode Akira Koga as Soldier B (voice) 1 episode Shogo Sakata as Eunuch A (voice) 1 episode Yuga Sato as Eunuch B (voice) 1 episode Yuki Ishikari as Master (voice) 2 episodes Takuya Eguchi as Luan Bingyue/Ran Hyougetsu (voice) 4 episodes Kana Ichinose as Ye Qingcheng/You Senjou (voice) 1 episode Misa Ishii as Female servant (voice) 1 episode Ken Mizukoshi as Master (voice) 1 episode Shoya Ishige as Merchant A (voice) 1 episode Shota Yamamoto as Merchant B (voice) 1 episode Yuna Yoshino as Lady-in-waiting (voice) 1 episode Tomokazu Sugita as Xue Yuyong/Setsu Gyoei (voice) 6 episodes Haruka Shiraishi as Yang Shiniang/You Juujou (voice) 1 episode Mari Hino as Court lady A (voice) 1 episode Rina Honnizumi as Court lady B (voice) 1 episode Chafurin as Yuyi/Ui (voice) 2 episodes Harumi Sakurai as Wei Qing/Ei Sei's mother (voice) 1 episode Akira Kuwabara as Fortune-teller (voice) 1 episode Masashi Nogawa as Aide (voice) 2 episodes Kenta Sasa as Bodyguard (voice) 1 episode Hana Sato as Old woman (voice) 1 episode Reimi as Woman (voice) 1 episode Yukiko Motoyoshi as Princess Mingzhu/Meiju (voice) 2 episodes Hayato Kimura as Soldier A (voice) 1 episode Ryo Yaginuma as Soldier B (voice) 1 episode Misato Matsuoka as Young eunuch A (voice) 1 episode Mayuko Kazama as Young eunuch B (voice) 1 episode Tasuku Hatanaka as Shi Yan/Shiken (voice) 1 episode Kohsuke Toriumi as Kang Lan/Kouran (voice) 1 episode Natsumi Fujiwara as Shi Yan/Shiken (young) (voice) 1 episode Mayu Minami as Yuisha/Yuisa (voice) 1 episode Manaka Iwami as Chang Huangying/Shou Kouei (voice) 1 episode Reigo Yamaguchi as Eunuch (voice) 1 episode Rie Kugimiya as Xi Wanlin/Sai Enrin (voice) 2 episodes Akira Ishida as Feng Xiao Yue/Hou Shougetsu (voice) 5 episodes Mitsuru Ogata as Feng Yixing/Hou Ichigyou (voice) 1 episode Hisako Kanemoto as Qin Huiyao/Kin Keiyou (voice) 4 episodes Kaori Nakamura as Guizi/Keishi (voice) 1 episode Yukiya Matsui as Bookseller (voice) 1 episode Hochu Otsuka as Zuoqiu Yao/Sakyuu You (voice) 1 episode Yuki Arai as He Mingyun/Ka Meiin (voice) 1 episode Yurina Amami as Xu Cheng/Jo Sei (voice) 3 episodes Kento Shiraishi as Qifu Shicui/Kippuku Shihitsu (voice) 3 episodes Takayuki Miyamoto as Guest (voice) 1 episode Marie Oi as Lady-in-waiting (voice) 2 episodes Yoji Ueda as Qin Xiaojing/Kin Koukei (voice) 1 episode Lynn as Xue Yuyong/Setsu Gyoei (young) (voice) 1 episode Honoka Inoue as Li Niang/Reijou (young) (voice) 1 episode
Signal Match

Similarity

Where Raven of the Inner Palace overlaps with other shows, and exactly what they have in common.

Keyword Cloud

Keywords

mythology magic politics supernatural royalty female protagonist orphan historical ghost shoujo anime based on light novel amused ancient china
Technical Sheet

Details

First Aired
October 01, 2022
Status
Ended
Episode Runtime
24 minutes
Origin
JP
TMDB Votes
45