Tougen Anki

TOUGEN ANKI

Characters

Jin Kougasaki

MAIN

Naito Mudano

MAIN

Shiki Ichinose

MAIN

Kyouya Oiranzaka

SUPPORTING

Yomogi Momokusa

SUPPORTING

Tsubakiri Momomiya

SUPPORTING

Jyuuji Yusurube

SUPPORTING

Samidare Momoya

SUPPORTING

Ikari Yaoroshi

SUPPORTING

Tsuyoshi Ichinose

SUPPORTING

Homare Byobugaura

SUPPORTING

Kouchou

SUPPORTING

Rokuro Kiriyama

SUPPORTING

Kuina Sazanami

SUPPORTING

Narrator

BACKGROUND

Tougen Anki Season 1 Review: A Blood-Soaked Shonen That Dares to Bleed Differently

Tougen Anki: Legend of the Cursed Blood burst onto the anime scene in July 2025, adapting Yura Urushibara’s manga with a ferocity that both embraces and challenges the shonen genre’s conventions. This 12-episode first season, animated by Studio Hibari, is a visceral exploration of identity, vengeance, and the cost of power, set against a backdrop of warring bloodlines. While it leans heavily on familiar tropes, Tougen Anki distinguishes itself through its psychosomatic power system, unflinching violence, and a protagonist who feels like a raw nerve exposed to the world. This review delves into the series’ narrative, characters, animation, and thematic depth, offering a critical lens on what makes Season 1 a compelling, if imperfect, addition to the shonen landscape.

Narrative: A Familiar Frame with a Bloody Twist

At its core, Tougen Anki follows Shiki Ichinose, a rebellious teenager unaware of his Oni heritage until a Momotarou assassin kills his adoptive father, Tsuyoshi, in the premiere episode. This inciting incident—Tsuyoshi’s death and Shiki’s awakening as an Oni—sets the stage for a revenge-driven journey that sees Shiki enrolled in Rakshasa Academy, a Tweet: a school for Oni to hone their blood-based powers. The story revolves around the ancient feud between the Oni, who wield their blood as weapons, and the Momotarou, who use shadow magic to hunt them. It’s a premise that echoes Blue Exorcist or Jujutsu Kaisen, with a secret war and an academy setting, but Tougen Anki carves its own path with a darker, more grounded tone.

The narrative hits shonen checkpoints: a tragic loss, a protagonist discovering latent powers, and a training arc. Yet, it subverts expectations by refusing to romanticize Shiki’s transformation. His Oni blood manifests as an uncontrollable, rage-fueled force, turning him into a berserk monster in early episodes. This lack of initial control—coupled with the show’s willingness to linger on the emotional fallout of Tsuyoshi’s death—grounds Shiki’s journey in a raw, almost primal grief. The plot moves at a breakneck pace, sometimes to its detriment, rushing through world-building to prioritize action. For instance, the Oni-Momotarou conflict is introduced abruptly, leaving viewers piecing together its nuances over episodes. By Episode 3, “Blood Eclipse Release,” the narrative finds its footing, weaving in themes of systemic prejudice against Oni and their history of experimentation, adding a layer of moral ambiguity that elevates the story beyond a simple good-vs-evil framework.

The season’s structure is episodic but cohesive, with each episode introducing new characters or powers while advancing Shiki’s quest for revenge. The pacing, while relentless, ensures that every fight feels like a step toward understanding the broader conflict. However, the rushed exposition in early episodes can leave viewers wanting more context about the world’s factions and history, a flaw that may resolve in future seasons as the manga’s 25 volumes offer ample material to adapt.

Characters: A Mixed Bag of Archetypes and Depth

Shiki Ichinose is both the series’ greatest strength and its occasional stumbling block. His brash, gun-obsessed personality can feel grating, especially in Episode 1, where his defiance and foul mouth lack context. Yet, as the season progresses, his vulnerability—rooted in guilt over Tsuyoshi’s sacrifice and his struggle to control his Oni blood—makes him compelling. Shiki’s not a hero by design; he’s a wounded kid lashing out, and Kazuki Ura’s voice acting (with Zeno Robinson’s English dub equally effective) captures this raw edge, especially in moments of berserk rage.

The supporting cast, introduced primarily in Episode 2, is a mixed bag. Naito Mudano, Shiki’s umbrella-wielding mentor, is a standout, balancing stoic wisdom with flashes of brutal efficiency in combat. His ability to manipulate blood into precise, elegant weapons contrasts beautifully with Shiki’s chaotic style. Homare, a shy Oni girl, and Jin, Shiki’s chainsaw-blade-wielding rival, show promise but fall into trope-heavy roles—Homare as the timid ally, Jin as the arrogant antagonist. Episode 3’s team exercise, “Oni Tag,” highlights their dynamics but doesn’t give them enough depth to stand out in a crowded cast. The Momotarou, particularly Samidare Momoya, are menacing but underdeveloped, serving more as plot devices than fully realized characters. This lack of depth in secondary characters is a recurring critique, as the series prioritizes Shiki’s arc over fleshing out its ensemble.

Animation and Action: A Kinetic, Blood-Drenched Spectacle

Studio Hibari’s animation is a highlight, blending 2D and CGI to create some of the Summer 2025 season’s most dynamic action sequences. The Oni’s blood-based powers—manifesting as guns, chainsaws, or massive constructs like Shiki’s shotgun in Episode 3—are visually inventive, with CGI enhancing the fluidity and scale of combat without feeling jarring. The show leans into gore, covering battlefields in blood and emphasizing the visceral cost of the Oni’s abilities, which sets it apart from tamer shonen like Demon Slayer.

However, the animation isn’t flawless. Normal scenes can feel static compared to the explosive fight sequences, and some fans have noted that the CGI, while effective, doesn’t reach the heights of Beastars or Trigun: Stampede. Character designs stay faithful to Urushibara’s manga, with Shiki’s wild energy and Naito’s sleek menace shining through, but the visual brilliance is reserved for combat, leaving everyday moments less memorable. The art style captures emotional beats—fear, rage, and grief—with precision, particularly in Shiki’s transformations, where his Oni form feels both terrifying and tragic.

Themes: Identity, Prejudice, and the Weight of Blood

Tougen Anki distinguishes itself thematically by framing the Oni as a marginalized group, subjected to experimentation and societal stigma. This perspective, explored most deeply in Episode 3, casts the Oni-Momotarou conflict as less black-and-white than it first appears, evoking comparisons to My Hero Academia’s exploration of societal outcasts. Shiki’s dual heritage—Oni by blood, raised by a Momotarou—creates a tension between destiny and choice, questioning whether his path is defined by his lineage or his actions.

The blood-based power system is a masterstroke, tying abilities to the characters’ psyches. The “Blood Eclipse Release” technique, revealed in Episode 3, requires a clear mental image of the weapon, making powers an extension of personality and trauma. Shiki’s guns reflect his reckless aggression, while Jin’s chainsaw blades hint at a brutal, unyielding nature. This psychosomatic approach adds depth, making each fight a window into the character’s inner world.

Yet, the series doesn’t fully capitalize on these themes in Season 1. The rushed pacing limits exploration of the Oni’s history, and the Momotarou remain one-dimensional villains. Future seasons could delve deeper, but Season 1 lays a promising foundation.

Reception and Context: A Polarizing Premiere

Fan reactions, as seen on platforms like Reddit and X, are divided. Some praise the unique power system and intense action, with one viewer noting the fights’ “kinetic, visually complex” nature. Others criticize the reliance on shonen tropes and Shiki’s initially unlikable demeanor, with one calling the premiere “unoriginal” and rushed. The series’ popularity—ranking as Netflix’s second most popular anime by Episode 3—suggests it resonates, particularly for its action and CGI execution. Critics note that while it doesn’t reinvent the genre, its execution of familiar elements keeps it engaging, with potential for growth if it leans into its darker themes.

Verdict: A Bloody, Promising Start

Tougen Anki Season 1 is a paradox: a textbook shonen that feels both comfortingly familiar and refreshingly raw. Its strengths—stunning action, a psychologically rich power system, and Shiki’s flawed, grieving core—shine against a backdrop of overused tropes and underdeveloped side characters. Studio Hibari’s animation elevates the series, making each blood-soaked fight a spectacle, but the rushed pacing and thin world-building hold it back from greatness. For fans of Blue Exorcist or Jujutsu Kaisen, it’s a worthy watch, available on Crunchyroll and Netflix, with a manga that promises deeper exploration in future seasons. Season 1 is a bloody, imperfect foundation, but one that leaves you eager for Shiki’s next shot.¹