# Is the Tougen Anki anime worth watching? Your Guide to the Next Big Shonen – 8 Things to Know Before Watching Tougen Anki
Ngetrenz – The hunt for the next big shonen is a sacred ritual for anime fans. In a sea of new releases, finding that one series that hits all the right notes—visceral action, a compelling world, and characters you can’t help but root for—is a challenge. But every so often, a contender emerges with so much buzz and raw energy that you have to pay attention. Right now, that contender is Tougen Anki.
This series is a dark, action-packed story about a centuries-old war between the descendants of monstrous Oni and the legendary hero Momotarō. But it’s not the story you think you know. This is your ultimate, spoiler-free guide. We’ll give you all the things to know before watching Tougen Anki to jump into episode one with zero confusion and maximum hype.
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Tougen Anki at a Glance
| Category | Detail |
| Genre | Dark Fantasy, Action, Supernatural |
| Source Material | Manga by Yura Urushibara (Weekly Shōnen Champion) |
| Animation Studio | Studio Hibari |
| For Fans Of | Jujutsu Kaisen, Chainsaw Man, Bleach, Blue Exorcist |
| Where to Watch | Crunchyroll |
1. It’s a Dark Reimagining of a Famous Japanese Folktale
Before you dive in, you need to know the legend of Momotarō, the Peach Boy. It’s one of Japan’s most famous folktales: a heroic boy, born from a giant peach, befriends a dog, a monkey, and a pheasant. Together, they travel to Onigashima (“Demon Island”) to defeat a band of marauding Oni (demons or ogres) and bring peace to the land. It’s a classic story of good triumphing over evil.
Tougen Anki takes that beloved tale and flips it completely on its head. The story is told from the perspective of the Oni, who are not mindless monsters but a secluded people who were brutally attacked by Momotarō and have been hunted ever since. In this world, the descendants of the “hero” Momotarō have formed a ruthless organization dedicated to the extermination of all Oni. This inversion immediately sets up a fascinating Oni vs Momotaro anime conflict where the lines between hero and villain are blurred from the very first scene.
This isn’t just a simple role reversal; it’s a powerful exploration of how history is written by the victors. The narrative delves into themes of propaganda and systemic prejudice, where the Momotarō Agency justifies its genocidal mission by painting the Oni as subhuman “devils”. The story challenges you to question the “official” history and consider the perspective of those who were labeled monsters.
2. A Protagonist Fueled by Rage and Heritage
At the heart of this bloody conflict is the Tougen Anki protagonist, Shiki Ichinose. Forget your typical bright-eyed, optimistic hero. Shiki is a rebellious, hot-headed, and often confrontational teenager with a deep-seated distrust of authority. His life is violently upended when he discovers a shocking truth: he carries the blood of an Oni, and his beloved adoptive father was once a member of the Momotarō Agency who defected to raise him.
When a Momotarō agent murders his father, Shiki’s dormant Oni powers awaken in a blind rage, setting him on a path of brutal revenge. If you’re a fan of modern shonen protagonists like Jujutsu Kaisen‘s Yuji Itadori or Chainsaw Man‘s Denji, you’ll feel right at home with the Tougen Anki protagonist. However, Shiki’s journey is uniquely his own. His primary conflict isn’t just with the organization that killed his father, but with the demonic blood raging inside him. A core part of what is Tougen Anki about is Shiki‘s struggle to control his own inner monster so he can fight the ones outside. This internal war is what truly defines him and his quest for strength.
3. The Art Style is a Visual Masterpiece
The original Tougen Anki manga is drawn by Yura Urushibara, a creator with a unique background as a former hairdresser, which might explain the series’ sharp and memorable character designs. Fans of the manga consistently praise its art style for being raw, dynamic, and crackling with kinetic energy, making every action panel feel explosive and visceral. This is a key part of the answer to the question, is Tougen Anki anime good.
The anime adaptation, helmed by Studio Hibari, aims to translate this distinct visual identity to the screen. The art style is a narrative tool in itself; its raw, sometimes chaotic nature perfectly mirrors the story’s brutal themes and the characters’ untamed emotions. It’s important to set expectations, however. The anime incorporates CGI into its high-speed fight scenes, a choice that has sparked discussion among early viewers. Some find it seamlessly integrated and effective, while others find it a bit jarring. Knowing this ahead of time will help you appreciate how the Yura Urushibara anime adaptation brings the manga’s incredible energy to life.
4. The Power System is Bloody and Personal
One of the most compelling things to know before watching Tougen Anki is its unique power system: the “Blood Arts,” also known as the “Blood Eclipse Release”. Oni possess the ability to manipulate their own blood, shaping it into deadly weapons and tools. It’s a concept that feels both familiar to shonen fans and refreshingly creative.
The best example is the Tougen Anki protagonist, Shiki. As a massive firearms enthusiast, his Oni powers manifest as an arsenal of blood-forged guns, from pistols to shotguns. What makes this system truly special is that each Oni’s abilities are deeply personal, manifesting based on their individual interests, life experiences, or even deep-seated trauma. This means that a character’s fighting style is a direct extension of their psyche and backstory. Understanding how an Oni fights is to understand a piece of who they are, creating an incredibly powerful link between character development and power progression. This is fundamental to understanding what is Tougen Anki about.
5. It Explores Deep Themes of Prejudice and Identity
Beneath the high-octane action, the true core of the story answers the question of what is Tougen Anki about: it’s a powerful examination of systemic prejudice, inherited hatred, and the struggle for identity. The Oni vs Momotaro anime conflict is not a simple war for territory; it is a campaign of extermination fueled by centuries of propaganda. The Momotarō Agency operates on the unwavering belief that Oni are not people, but monsters that must be eradicated for the good of humanity.
This ideological war forces the Tougen Anki protagonist, Shiki, into a profound identity crisis. He is caught between the human world that raised him and the Oni heritage that now defines him in the eyes of his enemies. His journey becomes about more than revenge; it’s about forging his own identity, separate from the labels the world wants to force upon him. The story further complicates this by introducing Momotarō who have questioned their mission, like Shiki’s own father, proving that one’s bloodline does not have to be one’s destiny. The real villain isn’t a person, but the system of hate that perpetuates the cycle of violence.
6. Expect Brutal, High-Speed Action
Let’s be crystal clear: Tougen Anki is not for the faint of heart. This is a dark, intense, and often savage series. When the fighting starts, it is relentlessly fast, brutal, and bloody. Early reviews have described the action with words like “barbaric” and “ruthless,” with unforgettable introductions for villains who revel in cruelty. If you’re looking for a show that pulls no punches and delivers high-stakes, visceral combat, you’ve found it.
This brutality is not just for shock value; it serves the narrative by grounding the story in the grim reality of war. The violence has real, lasting consequences. Characters are shown suffering from the psychological toll of battle, and death is a constant, looming threat for everyone involved, even children. The sheer savagery of the combat is a physical manifestation of the dehumanizing hatred that fuels the
Oni vs Momotaro anime conflict, making every clash thematically resonant and emotionally impactful. The quality of its action is a major reason why the answer to “is Tougen Anki anime good” is a resounding yes for many fans.
7. It’s Based on a Critically Acclaimed Manga
One of the most reassuring things to know before watching Tougen Anki is that the anime is built on an incredibly strong foundation. The series adapts the popular and ongoing manga of the same name by Yura Urushibara, which has been serialized in the legendary Weekly Shōnen Champion magazine since 2020.
While some online discourse has noted that the series uses familiar shonen tropes, leading to comparisons with its contemporaries, it has cultivated a large and dedicated fanbase that praises its compelling characters, unique power system, and stunning artwork. For potential viewers, this is a huge plus. A successful source material means the core story, character arcs, and world-building are already proven to be engaging. This isn’t a gamble on an unknown story; it’s an adaptation of a beloved modern shonen hit. The Yura Urushibara anime is set to bring a story that already has a stamp of approval from thousands of manga readers.
8. It’s Not Just About Good vs. Evil
If you take away only one thing from this guide, let it be this: Tougen Anki thrives in the moral gray area. The central Oni vs Momotaro anime conflict completely dismantles the simple binary of good versus evil. There are no clear-cut heroes or villains here. The Momotarō Agency, the supposed heroes from the folktale, are portrayed as a ruthless, almost fanatical organization committing atrocities in the name of justice. Meanwhile, the Oni, the “demons” of legend, are the persecuted protagonists we follow, fighting simply for their right to exist.
This moral ambiguity is the series’ greatest strength and a core component of its Tougen Anki plot summary. It forces the audience to constantly question their assumptions and engage with the narrative on a much deeper level. The story doesn’t give you easy answers; instead, it presents a complex world where both sides believe they are right, leaving you to grapple with the difficult questions. This complexity is the ultimate reason why the answer to “is Tougen Anki anime good” is so compelling, and it’s what elevates the series from a simple action show to a potential modern classic. This is one of the most crucial things to know before watching Tougen Anki.
Don’t Miss the Next Shonen Heavyweight
To quickly recap the most important things to know before watching Tougen Anki: it’s a series built on a clever folklore twist, centered on a complex protagonist, and featuring a unique, personal power system. It delivers brutal, high-speed action that serves a deep, morally gray story about prejudice and identity.
If you’re looking for a dark, action-packed shonen with real substance, stop searching. Tougen Anki is it. Watch the first episode—you won’t regret it. For more deep dives into the best new anime, be sure to check out other articles from Raven C! And don’t forget to follow and like ngetrenz on Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok to stay on top of all the latest trends!
Summary of 8 Things to Know Before Watching Tougen Anki
- 1. A Dark Twist on a Classic Folktale: The series reimagines the Japanese legend of Momotarō (the Peach Boy), telling the story from the perspective of the Oni (demons), who are hunted by the descendants of the hero.
- 2. A Protagonist of Rage and Heritage: The main character, Shiki Ichinose, is a hot-headed teen who discovers he’s an Oni after his father is murdered, setting him on a dark path for revenge.
- 3. A Masterpiece of Art: Based on the manga by Yura Urushibara, the series features a raw, kinetic art style that the anime aims to capture, though it uses CGI in its action scenes.
- 4. A Bloody and Personal Power System: The “Blood Arts” allow Oni to manipulate their blood into weapons that reflect their personality, interests, and trauma, making each fighter’s style unique.
- 5. Deep Themes of Prejudice and Identity: The story explores complex themes of systemic hatred, propaganda, and an individual’s struggle to define themselves outside of their inherited lineage.
- 6. Brutal, High-Speed Action: Expect intense, savage, and bloody fight scenes that underscore the grim realities of the war between the Oni and the Momotarō.
- 7. Based on an Acclaimed Manga: The anime adapts a popular and well-regarded manga series, ensuring a strong foundation of story, characters, and world-building.
- 8. Not Just Good vs. Evil: The series thrives on moral ambiguity, presenting a conflict where neither side is purely good or evil, forcing the audience to question everything.