Synopsis
The world is divided into two factions: humans and monsters called katawara. Despite being a katawara, Tama loves humans and vows to protect them from evil, even if it means fighting her own kind. Her brother Jinka, however, hates humans, despite mostly being one. The siblings are joined by a cowardly swordsman named Shinsuke, who wants to learn how to become strong.
When the group uncovers a plot to experiment on humans and transform them into monsters, they vow to defeat whoever is behind it… Even if it means battling an entire army of warriors. (From Crunchyroll)
Comments
Alif Naufal H. (The Indonesian Anime Times)
Maybe I need to preface this commentary by saying: I’m a huge fan of Satoshi Mizukami’s works, and Sengoku Youko is my favorite manga. Ever. The problem is, his manga doesn’t exactly have the best track record for anime adaptations; Studio NAZ’s Lucifer and the Biscuit Hammer back in 2022 was infamous for its animation (or the lack thereof) and disappointed many fans of the original manga. This is why when I heard that Sengoku Youko would be adapted into an anime, I was cautiously excited. I didn’t want to set myself up for another disappointment, after all.
Fortunately, my worries were unfounded. WHITE FOX so far has adapted the first few chapters of the manga really well, showcasing the staff’s animation prowess with a visually captivating transformation scene. The ‘aura’ shown around the two main characters in the middle of their transformation is dazzling, and the moment where tails spurt out of Jinka’s body is really fluid as well. The action scenes aren’t exactly the best thing I have ever seen, with most of them being action stills and close-ups, but to me, it’s good enough after the disaster that was Lucifer and the Biscuit Hammer’s animation.
Animation-wise, the focus seems to be more on animating the characters’ mannerisms and their interaction with each other. They make up for the lack of a more fluid action scene. The small movements Tama’s ear does, the way she eats radish and licks her fingers after, and Shinsuke’s exaggerated reactions to the things around him really show the focus on the character moments. One gripe I have with the animation is that some of the 3DCG used for Jinka’s attacks feels disconnected from the rest of the scene, but it’s not too bad that it detracts from my enjoyment of the episode.
Another huge highlight of this adaptation for me is in the sound department; Evan Call has once again made a stellar soundtrack that fits the setting and vibe of the show perfectly, immersing me in the story even further. I’m also particularly impressed with Takada Yuuki’s portrayal of Tama, as she spectacularly portrayed the character as a centuries-old demon fox who has a childlike nature, but also has the wisdom that comes from her experience.
On the story side of things, Sengoku Youko tells the story of sworn siblings Tama and Jinka. Tama is a fox demon who loves humans, and Jinka is a human who despises his kind and wishes to be a demon instead. Despite having different worldviews, they are out on a quest to ‘reform’ the world by ridding it of wrongdoers, humans and demons alike. It’s a simple, but effective premise that explores the blurry line between humans and demons–of good and evil. Its simplicity might deter people who are experiencing this story for the first time, but if you stick to it long enough, I believe that it will hook you in sooner or later. If you like an action story that’s set in Japan during the Warring States era with some supernatural twists to it, this anime is worth checking out. Especially if you love character-driven stories with a slow build-up that pays off really well by the end, Sengoku Youko will be worth it.
Facts and Figures
| Alternate title(s) | – |
| Source material | Manga by Satoshi Mizukami |
| Casts | Aki Toyosaki as Nau Hiroki Nanami as Senya Kenji Nomura as Jinun Kenjiro Tsuda as Yazen Maaya Uchida as Tsukiko Ryohei Kimura as Shinsuke Hyodo Soma Saito as Jinka Tetsu Inada as Douren Tomoyo Kurosawa as Shakugan Yuuki Takada as Tama |
| Director | Masahiro Aizawa (Hakyu Hoshin Engi) |
| Series Composition | Jukki Hanada (Sound! Euphonium, The Dangers in My Heart, Bloom into You) |
| Character Design | Yosuke Okuda (CONCEPTION, Is the Order a Rabbit?) |
| Opening theme | “HIBANA” by MindaRyn |
| Ending theme | “Yuuyami no Uta” by KEIKO |
| Studio | WHITE FOX |
| Official site | https://sengoku-youko.com |
| @sengoku_youko | |
| Broadcast Date | 11 January 2024 (1500 GMT/2200 WIT/2400 JST) |
Screenshots and Trailer
The Indonesian Anime Times
