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I’ll admit it.
BLACK TORCH sounds completely ridiculous.
A teenage ninja.
He can talk to animals.
Then a mysterious cat fuses with him.
Now they’re fighting supernatural Japanese spirits.
Yeah.
That sounds like something you’d scroll past after watching the trailer.
But somehow, BLACK TORCH works.
The anime follows Jiro Azuma, a teenager from a ninja family with the unusual ability to communicate with animals. After meeting a mysterious cat named Rago, Jiro gets pulled into a hidden conflict involving powerful supernatural beings called mononoke.
And honestly?
It’s much more fun than that description makes it sound.
Jiro Is What Makes It Work
Jiro isn’t your typical serious anime protagonist.
He’s rough around the edges.
He’s loud.
He’s impulsive.
But there’s one thing that immediately makes him likable.
He genuinely cares about animals.
That’s actually what gets him into trouble.
His ability to communicate with animals isn’t treated like some random cool power. It’s part of who he is.
Then comes Rago.
A cat that definitely isn’t just a cat.
After Rago fuses with Jiro, the two are suddenly connected to a world Jiro didn’t even know existed.
And that’s when the story really starts.
If you enjoy character-driven anime, you can explore more of our anime reviews for similar recommendations.
The Cat Is Somehow One of the Best Parts
Rago could have easily been annoying.
Instead, the relationship between him and Jiro gives the series personality.
They’re not immediately best friends.
They have different personalities.
Different priorities.
And neither one seems particularly interested in making things easy for the other.
That creates some genuinely fun moments between the action.
And I think that’s important.
Because without those quieter moments, BLACK TORCH could easily become another supernatural action anime where everyone just punches monsters.
The character chemistry gives it some life.
Then the Supernatural World Opens Up
This is where the anime starts getting more interesting.
Jiro discovers that the world contains powerful mononoke supernatural beings that exist alongside humanity.
Rago is connected to that world in a much bigger way than Jiro initially understands.
And suddenly, the kid who could talk to animals is involved in something far beyond his everyday life.
The official BLACK TORCH guide from Crunchyroll confirms that the anime is based on Tsuyoshi Takaki’s manga and is produced by 100studio.
That supernatural setup gives the show plenty of room to grow.
And that’s probably what I’m most interested in.
It Doesn’t Feel Like Every Other New Anime
This is probably the biggest compliment I can give BLACK TORCH.
It has a familiar foundation.
Action.
A young protagonist.
A mysterious power.
Supernatural enemies.
A secret organization.
We’ve seen those ingredients before.
But the combination feels different enough to stand out.
The ninja element gives Jiro a unique background.
The animal communication ability gives him personality.
And Rago gives the story a weird little twist that I didn’t expect to enjoy this much.
It’s not trying to reinvent anime.
It doesn’t need to.
Sometimes you just need a good combination of familiar ideas.
The Action Has Potential
The fights are another reason to keep watching.
Jiro isn’t simply given an overpowered ability and told to destroy everything.
His connection with Rago changes how he fights.
And as the story expands, the supernatural abilities of the characters create more interesting possibilities.
The series is currently at the halfway point of its first season, with six episodes aired and six more remaining as of August 14.
That’s actually a good time to start.
You’re not hundreds of episodes behind.
But you’re also not starting something that has barely begun.
You can catch up and experience the remaining episodes with everyone else.
Is BLACK TORCH Worth Watching?
I think so.
Especially if you’re looking for something new instead of immediately jumping into another sequel.
BLACK TORCH is currently streaming on Crunchyroll, including subtitled and dubbed versions.
And if you’re coming from something like Gachiakuta, you’ll probably appreciate that BLACK TORCH also has a strong visual identity and a protagonist thrown into a world he doesn’t fully understand.
If you’re more interested in darker character journeys, our Re:ZERO anime review is another anime article worth checking out.
Final Verdict
BLACK TORCH – 8/10 so far
It’s weird.
It’s energetic.
It’s got ninjas, spirits, and a supernatural cat.
And somehow, those things work together.
I’m not ready to call BLACK TORCH a masterpiece.
It’s still early.
But that’s exactly why I think people should start paying attention now.
Because sometimes the best anime to discover aren’t the ones everyone is already screaming about.
They’re the ones you randomly try because the premise sounds stupid…
And then suddenly you’re watching episode six at 2 a.m.
BLACK TORCH might just be one of those anime.
