The anime adaptation of “Tougen Anki: Legend of the Cursed Blood” has rapidly ascended the Netflix charts, securing the #1 spot in Japan and entering the global top 5 for non-English TV series in the third week of July. The series, which premiered on July 11, has quickly garnered significant attention, amassing 2 million views in one week on Netflix alone.
A Global Sensation in Summer 2025 Anime
“Tougen Anki” has become a breakout hit in the highly competitive Summer 2025 anime season. Despite a perceived lack of significant pre-release buzz, the series has surpassed expectations, outpacing other anticipated titles. Its success on Netflix is particularly notable, given the platform’s global reach and the anime’s ability to compete with established shows like “Squid Game Season 2” and “The Summer Hikaru Died.”
Chart-Topping Performance
For the period of July 14 to July 20, “Tougen Anki” was the fifth most-streamed non-English series worldwide on Netflix. In Japan, it claimed the top position, even ranking above “Kaiju No. 8 Season 2”. The series also holds the distinction of being the second most-watched anime on Netflix overall, trailing only “DAN DA DAN.”
The Story of “Tougen Anki”
The anime adapts Yura Urushibara’s popular manga series, which has sold over 4 million copies in Japan since its serialization began in Weekly Shonen Champion in 2020. The narrative centers on Shiki Ichinose, a rebellious teenager who discovers he is an Oni (demon), despite being raised to be a Momotaro, or demon hunter. This revelation plunges him into a deep-rooted war between the Oni and the Momotaro, forcing him to navigate a shattered world while seeking to avenge his adoptive father’s death.
Themes and Comparisons
“Tougen Anki” explores themes of good versus evil and the importance of protecting others, drawing comparisons to popular shonen anime like “Demon Slayer” and “Jujutsu Kaisen.” Its morally gray plot, where not all Oni are inherently evil, adds depth to the conflict between the Oni and the Momotaro Clan, who indiscriminately hunt Oni regardless of age.
Production and Accessibility
The “Tougen Anki” anime is directed by Ato Nonaka, with Hiroyuki Hashimoto as assistant director, and features series composition and script by Yukie Sugawara. Ryoko Amisaki is responsible for character design, while KOHTA YAMAMOTO composes the music. Studio Hibari, known for works such as Classroom of the Elite and Toilet-Bound Hanako-Kun, is handling the animation, contributing impressive visuals and thrilling fight sequences.
The series has been marketed as one of the most widely available new anime of 2025, streaming globally across multiple platforms. In addition to Netflix, “Tougen Anki” is available on Crunchyroll, Prime Video, and the It’s Anime’s YouTube channel, among others, with additional services in Latin America, Europe, and Asia. Crunchyroll is also providing an English dub for the series. A mini companion anime titled “Onimomomomo” is also being released weekly alongside the main episodes.
