Welcome to another post here in the community.
Tougen Anki: Dark Demon of Paradise. I don't know if you've heard of it yet, but it's starting to gain some buzz, especially among those who enjoy a darker vibe in action anime. I decided to watch it on a whim, with zero expectations, just because I saw some cool art floating around on X. And honestly, the visual style grabs your attention right away. But since style isn’t everything, I decided to write down my honest thoughts what I liked, what bothered me, and why I think Tougen Anki has potential... if it doesn't lose its way.
The anime follows Shiki Ichinose, a hot-headed boy full of bottled-up anger who keeps getting into fights. Right in the first episodes, he finds out he’s a descendant of a race called Oni, who have supernatural blood-based powers.
These Oni are at war with the Momotarou, a kind of "hunter" whose mission is to exterminate the Oni.
The idea is clearly inspired by Japanese mythology, like the legend of MomotarĹŤ, the Peach Boy, but here everything is more modern, violent, and stylized. It really gives off a Tokyo Ghoul or Jujutsu Kaisen vibe. If you're into that dark aesthetic with blood flying and powers born out of pain, you're in for a treat. The original manga is by Yura Urushibara and has been published in Weekly ShĹŤnen Champion since 2020. The animation was handled by Bug Films, the same studio behind Zom 100. Visually, they did a great job the linework is solid, the color palette fits the tone of the story, and the fight scenes have flair.
The fights are really good.
They’ve got impact, speed, and a kind of brutality that doesn’t feel gratuitous it matches the tone of the series. The blood-based abilities look awesome. Honestly, that was a standout feature for me it reminded me of Deadman Wonderland, but with a more controlled execution.
Shiki, even though he's your typical impulsive protagonist, actually surprised me at times. He has trauma, internal conflicts, and little by little, he shows he’s more than just raw anger. He felt like a mix of Kaneki (from Tokyo Ghoul) with a touch of Yuuji Itadori but with a lot more pent-up rage.
I also liked the world they’re building.
The whole thing about bloodlines, clans, and the Oni vs. Momotarou hunt has a lot of potential.
You can tell the universe has depth and room to grow, which is always a plus.
Unfortunately, Tougen Anki suffers from that classic issue of a rushed start. Seriously, it feels like they dumped the entire plot on us in just three episodes. New characters showing up, flashbacks, secret organizations, training arcs, drama all crammed together. It makes it hard to form a real emotional connection with what’s going on. Another thing that bugged me was the lack of time for side characters to shine. Naito Mudano, for example, seemed like he’d have a major role, but then he just disappeared. A lot of people show up and vanish without leaving any impression, which is a shame.
There are also a few scenes trying too hard to be emotional like “oh no, this death was so sad” but they don’t really land because we didn’t have time to care about the character.
Tougen Anki has a lot of potential, especially if you enjoy bloodier stories, clan rivalries, unique powers, and a dark aesthetic. But it’s worth approaching with patience, knowing it’s still finding its footing. If the upcoming episodes slow things down a bit and let the characters breathe, I think it could grow into a strong name in the genre. I don’t know if it’ll stand toe-to-toe with Demon Slayer or Chainsaw Man, but it’s a solid bet for anyone who enjoys adrenaline and a little chaos.