Tougen Anki, the 2025 anime adaptation of Yura Urushibara's manga, is a disappointing slog that fails to deliver anything fresh to the shonen genre. Its tired reliance on overdone tropes, bland blood-manipulation power system, and subpar animation make it a forgettable experience that's hard to sit through, even for diehard shonen fans.
The story follows Shiki Ichinose, a generic delinquent teen who discovers his Oni heritage after his adoptive father's death. It's a painfully predictable setup-angry protagonist, dead parent, revenge quest, and a demon academy arc that feels ripped straight from Naruto or Ao no Exorcist without a shred of originality. The plot plods along with every shonen cliché in the book, offering nothing to surprise or engage viewers who've seen even a handful of genre staples. It's a repetitive, soulless rehash that lacks any spark to keep you invested.
The power system, based on manipulating Oni blood to form weapons like Shiki's guns, is a complete letdown. What could've been a gritty, creative mechanic feels like a lazy gimmick, with no depth or strategy to make fights interesting. The blood-formedweapons look cool for about five seconds before devolving into repetitive, uninspired action scenes that fail to capitalize on the concept's potential. Compared to something like Tokyo Ghoul's visceral kagune, Tougen Anki's system is shallow and forgettable, dragging down every battle with its lack of imagination.
Animation-wise, Studio Hibari's work is flat-out mediocre. The visuals are stiff and lackluster, with clunky CGI and recycled shots that make action scenes feel cheap and lifeless. Compared to the bold, stylized animation of Jujutsu Kaisen or Dandadan, Tougen Anki looks like a low-budget knockoff. Character designs are forgettable, and the overall aesthetic has no personality, making it impossible to care about the world or its stakes.
The characters are equally lifeless. Shiki is a one-note, angry teen with zero depth, and the supporting cast-Naito Mudano, Rasetsu students, and assorted stereotypes-are bland archetypes with no development or memorable traits. They're just placeholders in a story that feels like it's going through the motions.
Streaming on Netflix and Crunchyroll, Tougen Anki is a chore to watch, even for shonen newcomers. Its folklore-inspired premise had potential, but it's buried under a mountain of clichés, a boring power system, and animation that fails to impress. Save your time for something with actual creativity or heart.
Rating: 2/10 - A derivative, poorly animated mess that offers nothing new and barely anything watchable.
