Tokyo Ghoul is a horror-thriller anime that gained a lot of hype in 2014. It revolves around the life of a shy teenager named Ken Kaneki, who rarely socializes, and becomes the talk of anime lover forums worldwide. Created by Sui Ishida, it tells a story of a young boy who has to adapt to his new body after getting devoured by a ghoul, becoming a unique species hunted by two sides: the anti-ghoul forces and the ghoul taste testers who crave rare human blood and flesh.
Kaneki, the protagonist, is an orphan boy who loves reading novels with complex language. He spends most of his time reading books, and Hideyoshi Nagachika, his childhood friend, is his closest family. One sunny afternoon, Kaneki and Hide hang out at Anteiku café, where Kaneki shares his plan of inviting a woman he knows to a bookstore for a date. However, Hide laughs it off because he thinks that his friend’s plan is boring, and he lacks knowledge of the best spots.
Kaneki meets a woman who shares that she loves books from his favorite author. They click, exchange numbers, and arrange to meet the following day. Kaneki has no clue that the woman, who introduces herself as Rize Kamishiro, is a flesh-eating ghoul hunting him down. Their date becomes an abrupt and violent end to Kaneki’s normal life, as Rize eats him alive, leaving Kaneki’s body in critical condition. Fortunately, Kaneki’s life is saved through surgery that replaces some of his organs with Rize’s. As a result, Kaneki becomes a half-ghoul human whose instincts are still human, but with cravings for rare human flesh and blood.
Kaneki struggles to embrace his new life as a ghoul, as all they consume is human blood and flesh. While he feels the need to feed like a ghoul, he still retains his human nature. He meets Touka Kirishima, a ghoul who works as a waitress at Anteiku café, where ghouls gather to socialize and learn about human culture. Anteiku cafe’s owner also offers a safe haven for ghouls who cannot hunt and relies on the suicide victims’ bodies with no families for food. With the help of Yomo, Kaneki learns to adapt to his new life and suppress his cravings while fighting against the anti-ghoul forces and their mission to hunt and kill weak ghouls.
What sets the anime apart is the unique premise of mythology, with ghouls being creatures that feast on humans to survive. They also serve as a source of power, and in the anime, each ghoul has a unique organ, called Kagune, that emerges from their backs, serving as their weapon to protect themselves. The Kagune varies in strength, and each ghoul’s Kagune differs in shape and function, making the fights more thrilling and unique.
The team of Sui Ishida and Shin Towada put together a story that blends supernatural themes with the reality of the world, making it enthralling and worth watching. However, viewers ought to be aware that the show is filled with graphic violence, gore, and some sadistic scenes that are not for the faint-hearted.
In conclusion, Tokyo Ghoul is a dark and thrilling anime that delivers a unique story with a fresh take on ghoul mythology, packed with gore, brutal fight scenes, and edge-of-your-seat action. The flawless combination of the supernatural world and reality earns the anime a rating of 3.5 out of 5.
