Tokyo Revengers: 10 Things You Need To Know Before Watching The Anime

Despite Tokyo Revengers' growing popularity, some have yet to watch the series, and there are a lot of interesting facts to cover before they start.

As one of the most highly anticipated shonen anime of the year, Tokyo Revengers is a series that has introduced a riveting plot, aesthetically pleasing animation, and a long list of uniquely interesting characters to viewers everywhere. The series is the first of its kind to blend aspects from various genres including supernatural, action, and drama, in such an extraordinary way.

The story of the protagonist, Hanagaki Takemichi, portrays real-life issues that fans can relate to, while also remaining in the realm of science fiction and fantasy. Although the series is fairly new, it has garnered a lot of attention, and many have tuned in to watch it every week since its premiere in April 2021. Despite its growing popularity, some have yet to watch the series, and there are a lot of interesting facts to cover before they start.

10

Hanagaki Takemichi Is An Atypical Shonen Protagonist

 Unlike the many other outgoing and confidently driven protagonists, Hanagaki Takemichi is introduced as a timid, insecure young man, who struggles with finding a path in life. His lack of purpose and his financial instability causes him to envy the wealthy individuals in society.

Takemichi's passive nature and self-deprecating views fuel his self-destructive behavior. He is known for being incessantly apologetic and overly emotional. It is not until he travels back in time that he drops his pathetic ways and becomes truly brave and determined.

9

It's Similar To An Isekai Anime But Is Not An Isekai Anime

Main Characters In Tokyo Revengers

Like many other series that involve time travel, viewers often mistakenly place it under the isekai subgenre, which is a type of fantasy where one or more characters are transported to another world. The shift to an alternate world in isekai is usually triggered by an accidental head injury or a collision with a moving vehicle.

In Takemichi's case, his first encounter with time travel occurs when he is pushed onto the tracks in front of an oncoming train. This gives the series an isekai-like feel, but because he travels to the past rather than another world, Tokyo Revengers isn't considered an isekai anime.

 

8

It Has An Unprecedented Approach To The Time Travel Genre Of Anime

Takemichi And Naoto As Adults In Tokyo Revengers

Takemichi's journey back in time is unique in the way that he created a time paradox and was granted the ability to travel through time at will. After traveling 12 years into the past and briefly reliving his life as a middle schooler, he notifies his girlfriend's younger brother, Naoto Tachibana, of Hinata's death in the future, unknowingly creating a paradox in time.

Immediately after doing so, Takemichi is transported back to a present-day timeline where Naoto is an adult detective, who is alive and well. Naoto and Takemichi then set up a plan to work together to alter the past and save Hinata.

 

7

The Story Is Similar To That Of Erased

Takemichi From Tokyo Revengers And Satoru From Erased

One of the best ways to get into a new series is to have it remind you of one you already love. Erased, an anime series released in early 2016, was popular among anime fans due to its captivating storyline and admirable protagonist, Satoru Fujinuma.

Like Takemichi, Satoru was sent back in time on a self-assigned rescue mission to save his childhood friends and prevent death from occurring in the future as a result of past events. The themes of time travel and heroism are found in both of these amazing series.

 

6

It Shares The Same Animation Studio As Berserk

Takemichi From Tokyo Revengers And Guts From Berserk

Those who have tuned into the series are already expressing their excitement and appreciation for its beautiful animation style. The attention to detail, color, and individualized character design has not gone unnoticed.

The series is produced by the highly successful animation studio Liden Films, which is responsible for producing and animating many other great series, including Cells at Work! Code Black. Most notably, Liden Films is the studio behind the anime adaptation of the talented, late Kentaro Miura's famous manga series, Berserk.

 

5

Hinata's Younger Brother Is The Most Important Key To The Story

Naoto Tachibana In Tokyo Revengers

Most shonen protagonists have abilities they are born with or given at some point in their lives. Usually, these superhuman and supernatural abilities are ones they can control on their own. However, while Takemichi was gifted with the ability to time travel, it is not something he can do independently.

After his first time-traveling experience, Takemichi was informed that his ex-girlfriend's younger brother, Naoto, was the key. Naoto revealed that for Takemichi to journey 12 years into the past, they must hold hands to trigger a time-traveling event.

 

4

The Tokyo Manji Gang Is Comprised Of Middle School Delinquents

Mikey And Draken From The Tokyo Manji Gang In Tokyo Revengers

The Tokyo Manji Gang in the series is a biker gang like no other. Commonly referred to as Toman, the gang was founded by and comprised of middle school children. Despite the young age of its founders and members, the gang was a highly structured one, with a leader, vice-leader, and 25 members divided amongst a total of five divisions.

Led by Manjiro Sano, better known as Mikey, the Tokyo Manji Gang began as a group of middle schoolers who believed in honoring, defending, and protecting one another at all cost, and it was later developed into a full-fledged crime syndicate.

 

3

Mikey & Kazuya Are Voiced By The Same English Voice Actor

Mikey From Tokyo Revengers And Kazuya From Rent-A-Girlfriend

Despite being totally opposite in appearance and personality, Mikey, the Tokyo Manji Gang leader in Tokyo Revengers, and Kazuya, the hopelessly romantic, collegiate protagonist in Rent-A-Girlfriend, have one thing in common. While they differ in age, both characters seem to have the same voice, and that is because they do.

Aleks Le, an experienced American voice actor, is the voice for Mikey and Kazuya in the English dubbed versions of both series. He is also known for his work in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba as the voice of Zenitsu Agatsuma.

 

2

It Won The Kodansha Manga Award In The Shonen Category For 2020

Tokyo Manji Gang In Tokyo Revengers Manga

Since 2017, the manga for Tokyo Revengers has been serialized by Weekly Shonen Jump. Fans appreciated the manga for its fascinating story and elaborate illustrations, which were both written and illustrated by Ken Wakui.

The highly successful manga was recognized in 2020 at the 44th Kodansha Manga Award event where it won the award for Best Shonen Manga. Due to its award from the publishing company, Kodansha, and worldwide recognition from its continuously growing fanbase, Tokyo Revengers has now sold over 17 million copies.

 

1

Watch It Every Saturday At 2:00 Pm CDT On Crunchyroll

Hanagaki Takemichi In Tokyo Revengers

For those who are now excited and ready to watch Tokyo Revengers, the series is exclusively being streamed on Crunchyroll. Crunchyroll holds the official license for the series and releases new episodes every Saturday at 2:00 pm CDT.

Crunchyroll will also be releasing dubbed versions of the series in six different languages including English, Spanish, German, Portuguese, French, and Russian. The first eight episodes have already been released, and each new episode will be free to watch one week after it premieres.