TL;DR: Tougen Anki (S1) is a dark, violent action anime intended strictly for mature audiences, featuring intense blood and gore, heavy themes, and minimal romance—not recommended for children or younger teens.
Section 1: Tougen Anki (Currently Airing — Season 1; 21 Episodes) — At a Glance
Anime Summary | Taken directly from MyAnimeList
Long ago, demon-like creatures known as Oni butchered humans and brought on destruction solely for their own delight. A lone man named Momotarou opposed these gruesome, near-invincible monsters, but the war against them was just beginning.
Thousands of years in the future, temperamental gun enthusiast Shiki Ichinose leads a carefree life. However, after his expulsion from school, everything changes. Shiki is suddenly attacked by a man and is rescued by his adoptive father, Tsuyoshi. As the two flee, Tsuyoshi reveals that Shiki is actually a descendant of the Oni, while both he and their pursuer are from the Momotarou lineage.
The two Momotarou soon clash in a fierce battle, and Tsuyoshi sacrifices himself to protect Shiki. Devastated, Shiki awakens to his Oni blood that grants him immense strength at the cost of going berserk. Although the enemy escapes, Naito Mudano, an Oni teacher at Rasetsu Academy, takes an interest in Shiki. Under Mudano’s guidance, Shiki must learn to control the Oni blood—if he ever hopes to avenge his father.
Genres & Themes
Action, Fantasy, Supernatural, Shounen[1]
MyAnimeList Rating
R-17+ | Violence and Profanity
The Anime Momma Rating
R-17+ | Not recommended for children or younger teens⚠️
Section 2: Star Levels
Each category below is rated on a five-star scale:
⭐ = very little present | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ = a lot present
- Action/Violence Level: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
- Addiction Level: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)
- Blood/Gore Level: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
- Inappropriate, Heavy, or Mature Themes or Conduct: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
- Alternative Lifestyle Themes: ⭐☆☆☆☆ (1/5)
- Level of Magical Elements: ⭐⭐☆☆☆ (2/5)
- Level of Romance: ⭐⭐☆☆☆ (2/5)
Section 3: Star Levels — Explained
Action/Violence Level
Expect constant, intense combat: hand-to-hand fighting, guns, daggers, and blood-based weapons. Action is frequent, aggressive, and central to the story.
Addiction Level
While I wouldn’t say I fell in love with this anime, I did very much enjoy it. Early on, I kept up with episodes within days of release. As the season progressed, my viewing shifted to watching in short bursts every few weeks.
Blood/Gore Level
This series earns its 5/5 rating without question. The Oni characters weaponize their own blood—forming blades, guns, and even umbrellas (did you know an umbrella could be a weapon? I sure didn’t). Episode 21 includes a particularly disturbing scene where a villain bleeds out in graphic detail, which was unsettling even for me as an adult.
Additionally, recurring character Kougasaki Jin has an extremely dark backstory involving severe physical and psychological abuse. His father murdered his mother and sister, and it is strongly implied that Kougasaki himself was tortured and dissected as a child. While not shown explicitly, the implications are heavy and disturbing.
Inappropriate, Heavy, or Mature Themes or Conduct
Profanity is frequent, and so is Sexualized Imagery: One female character, Momokusa Yomogi, is consistently dressed in extremely revealing clothing, with frequent breast and panty shots that feel unnecessary. (Notably, underage female characters are usually more conservatively dressed in school uniforms.)
Sazanami Kuina, one of said underage female students, exhibits intense and controlling behavior toward her male classmate, bordering on sexual dominance. In Episode 7, she fights a creature while wearing only a bra and underwear while “protecting” him. While there is no explicit sexual content, some scenes—particularly involving Kuina—may feel suggestive or uncomfortable for many viewers.
Alternative Lifestyle Themes
Alternative lifestyle themes are extremely minimal and largely background-level.
Level of Magical Elements
While not traditional “magic,” the series includes supernatural abilities such as manipulating luck, summoning weapons, blood-forged tools, and encounters with mystical creatures.
Level of Romance
Romantic elements are limited. Outside of the relationship mentioned above, romance appears briefly through gentle interactions or passing mentions.
Section 4: Special Notes for Parents & Guardians
- Tougen Anki is a Shounen anime, which means its demographic is meant for young men between the ages of 12-18. Please keep this review in mind if you allow your child under 17 (The Anime Momma’s age rec) to watch this anime.[1]
- This anime contains frequent death, often through murder or reckless use of powers, and displays a general lack of value placed on human life. One of the Momotaru villains even has the ability to manipulate corpses— ranging from full bodies of deceased coworkers to severed heads of Oni soldiers.
- One of the most thought-provoking elements of the series is its portrayal of villains. The Momotarou firmly believe they are the “good” side and repeatedly refuse compromise—even when peaceful solutions are offered. This moral rigidity feels eerily reflective of real-world conflicts today.
- Episode 21 includes a tarot-themed monster summoned from a “devil” card. The creature resembles an ox-lion and bears a sigil on its chest. Though brief, this imagery may be disturbing to younger or sensitive viewers and personally made me uncomfortable due to its demonic associations.
Final Thoughts
Tougen Anki is a brutal, emotionally heavy anime that explores identity, vengeance, and moral absolutism through violent storytelling. While it raises interesting questions about power and righteousness, its graphic content and disturbing themes firmly place it in adult-only territory.
This is not a casual watch—and it is certainly not one I recommend for children—but for mature viewers who can handle intense material, it offers a dark and thought-provoking experience.
I look forward to hearing your all’s thoughts on Tougen Anki. Please continue to stay tuned for our next review. 💛
The Anime Momma Blog 
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