Tokyo Revengers: Tenjiku-hen
“one shot, one opportunity”
Last year, Tokyo Revengers experienced one of the biggest downfalls in the modern anime industry. The fan-favorite first season from 2021 was followed up with a second season that failed to deliver and was chewed on and trashed because it was inadequate and disappointing. I don't entirely disagree with that, even though anime fans can go a little overboard with their emotions, and that's not right.
But the people there at LIDENFILMS sure heard our claims loud and clear since one look at the third season, Tokyo Revengers: Tenjiku-hen, and you can tell that the people at the studio focused on a lot of areas that needed to be worked on.
Even if not wholly, we tend to give credit for the good they've done. That cliffhanger at the end of season 2 was enough to make a lot of us rush to the manga chapters and see what this world has in store for us down the road.
Thankfully, Tokyo Revengers: Tenjiku-hen went on air soon after season 2, and with it now ending, I can honestly say that this might be the best time to get back to this delinquent universe where a bunch of kids are manlier than those gym freaks we see on TikTok. That said, let's look at what this season was all about!
No mistakes allowed
Tokyo Revengers follows a strict rule, and each subsequent arc begins the same way, leaping through time to save things that have gone wrong. It is no surprise that we are going down the same path this time because after Mikey went insane and killed what was left of Toman, there was only one way to turn things around and ensure a positive outcome for every gang member.
With that in mind, Takemitchy goes back in time only to find out that the supposed bad guy, Kisaki Tetta, has joined Tenjiku. Despite Takemitchy exposing him for the better in season 2, there still exists a need to fight him off and save a future that guarantees everyone's safety and happiness.
That's good, but this time around, time travel is not allowed. With that final shake of hands, Takemitchy won't be getting any second chances. Despite the foes being deadlier than ever this season, he has to leave no stone unturned if he wants to save everyone since now it matters the most.
This season was able to grab my attention from the get-go, given that we've gotten rid of the lifeline, that safety measure in case our beloved protagonist messes something up. No second chances mean no mistakes, meaning the Toman member must bring the best out of him.
That also made us witness some excellent character development from the protagonist, and all in all, I don't hate the character at this point. In fact, this was one of my favorite shows from the last seasonal lineup. Season 2's failure played a massive part in making this sequel successful since everyone had zero expectations from this series after that. Well, all is well that ends well, as they say.
Animation problems still exist
Season 2 was heavily criticized for having animation that looked like a PowerPoint presentation—a slideshow at best—and I don't disagree either. Tokyo Revengers was never known to have great animation that could rival the likes of Ufotable and David Production, sure. But in an anime that thrives on action and has fist fighting and close-quarters combat as its bread and butter, it goes without saying that the action needs to be above average.
Coming into season 3, LIDENFILMS has worked hard, and it's noticeable. The animation sequences have much more life, and the fights look better. But it still needs to be thoroughly done, if that makes sense. Some scenes are great, some fights are excellent, while others make it seem like someone got drunk at a late-night afterparty and decided to work on the episode right after they got home.
However, this season also features some of the series' best moments. I mean, with many backstories, reveals happening around every corner, and the whole last stand, last resort thing, you tend to overlook the action when it comes to this season since I can't remember the last time that Tokyo Revengers connected with us like this.
A significant development in the series made us experience how our leader Mikey felt and see him and Draken express it all; it was peak fiction, as they say. The whole thing is even better thanks to the animators' special attention to the most vital scenes: the music and the animation come together to etch a beautiful memory into our heads, one we won't be able to forget for a while to come.
The newest kid in town and this season's main antagonist, Izana Kurokawa, will become your favorite character in a heartbeat, and I can't blame you for liking the guy, either. He's just that guy! I’m sure he will inspire some great cosplays around the globe, so be on the lookout for the Yokohama gangster at the convention or expo.
That ending is back!
Tokyo Revengers stole the show regarding the opening and ending themes back in 2021. The anime still kills the opening/ending theme game as far as the first season is concerned. The second season fell flat, sure. But with this sequel, we're returning to that ending that made the series blow up on the internet. The ending sequence is well done and blends well with the music, making us compare which is better repeatedly.
It's way better than the opening theme, which only feels like a slideshow. Plus, the voice acting is also really on point, with many scenes having a lot more meaning and life, thanks to the different artists going above and beyond to deliver nothing but the very best.
Tokyo Revengers has been slept on for the longest time in recent years. The series took off in 2021, with Mikey and Draken carrying the universe to the finish line while dragging the crybaby Takemitchy alongside them. It's just one of those anime series where the side characters have much more presence than the main character.
After a disappointing second season, Tokyo Revengers had to redeem itself to take on the best in the business. This third season did the trick and made the title something many people would get into or return to. The story just kills it, and thanks to all those flashbacks, you can't help but feel invested in this show that brushed you off earlier in 2023. The climax is there at the end, just like last season, but this time, it's much better and showcases just how far Takemitchy has come as a character.
Many people compare him to Deku, and despite the two characters having some similarities, as long as you look at the early arcs of the series, they've diverged, with Deku having won the character game.
If you haven't already, do yourself a favor and return to this series. Although some aspects may appear illogical, I assure you, it would be an absolute disgrace to forego this sequel. Plus, it’s Tokyo Revengers! Things don’t need to make sense!
This is the best we've gotten from Tokyo Revengers and probably the best we'll get, given that the manga fell off after this arc. I anticipate bad things happening soon after hearing how harshly the community has criticized the manga's ending.
Who knows when we'll get a new season after that second one? Getting a third one is indeed a miracle. Fingers crossed! Let's pray for a better tomorrow! As for the rating, I'd give it a 7.5. As I mentioned above, the anime can use some work in many areas, but it was a fun experience and reminded me of the old Tokyo Revengers days, and that’s more than enough for me.
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https://pinnedupink.com/blogs/random-thoughts-because-mondays-suck
https://pinnedupink.com/blogs/on-screen
https://pinnedupink.com/blogs/flashbacks
