Published Feb 14, 2026, 4:00 PM EST
Nicolas Ayala is a Senior Writer for the Comics team at ScreenRant, with over five years of experience writing about Superhero media, action movies, and TV shows.
Some of the best shōnen from the past two years have flown under the radar. Titles like Undead Unluck and Hell’s Paradise deliver inventive power mechanics and strong character dynamics, yet fail to reach the place of the genre’s biggest names. In an era crowded with blockbuster franchises, it's easy for some titles to fall through the cracks even though they have the potential to eventually become big hits.
Tougen Anki Is A Fresh Entry Point For Those Interested In Shonen
Tougen Anki: Demon of Paradise Could Be The Start Of Something Great
Written and illustrated by Yura Urushibara, Tougen Anki: Dark Demon of Paradise is a dark battle shōnen that reimagines the Japanese folktale of Momotaro through a violent, modern lens. The story follows the hot-headed delinquent Shiki Ichinose, who discovers he carries Oni blood after his adoptive father is killed by members of the Momotaro Agency. Enrolled at the Rakshasa Academy, Shiki trains alongside other Oni youths, each possessing unique blood-based abilities tied to their demonic lineage.
Tougen Anki is easily accessible as a shōnen due to its adherence to genre fundamentals. It features a fiery, overconfident protagonist, a structured combat academy setting, rivalries that evolve into camaraderie, and clearly defined antagonistic forces. The blood-based abilities are easy to grasp yet flexible enough to allow visually creative battles. Unlike denser long-running franchises, Tougen Anki offers a relatively streamlined mythology that makes it ideal for viewers who want the intensity of series like Jujutsu Kaisen or Blue Exorcist without navigating decades of continuity.
Tougen Anki Season 2 Has Potential
Tougen Anki Season 2 Promises To Be Better Than Season 1
The upcoming Tougen Anki season 2 is set to adapt the intense Nikko Kegon Falls arc, which pushes Shiki Ichinose further into the brutal reality of the Oni-Momotaro war. The Nikko Kegon Falls storyline can dive straight into the conflict right from the get-go and give the characters more time to develop, not to mention more creative action sequences.
Tougen Anki season 1 received mixed reactions that criticized it for not adding bolder twists to its formula. However, season 2 promises to refine the series’ strongest elements, particularly its combat choreography, revenge plot, supernatural politics, and Shiki's evolving relationship with Mei. If executed with tighter writing and stronger animation consistency, season 2 could transform Tougen Anki from a promising but polarizing newcomer into a firmly established modern dark shōnen contender.
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Release Date July 11, 2025
Network Nippon TV
Episodes 24
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Release Date July 11, 2025
Network Nippon TV
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Kazuki Ura
Shiki Ichinose (voice)
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Hiroshi Kamiya
Naito Mudano (voice)
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English (US) ·