The highly anticipated anime adaptation of Yura Urushibara’s Tougen Anki: Legend of the Cursed Blood manga has rapidly ascended the Netflix charts, securing the #1 position in Japan and breaking into the Global Top 5 for non-English TV series. The dark fantasy series, which premiered on July 11, has quickly become a significant hit in the summer 2025 anime lineup, amassing 2 million views globally in its initial weeks.
Rapid Ascent to Global Recognition
Tougen Anki debuted on Netflix on July 11, and by the third week of July, it had achieved remarkable success. It reached the #5 spot on Netflix’s Global Top 10 (Non-English TV) list, surpassing other notable series like Squid Game Season 2 and The Summer Hikaru Died. The anime’s swift rise highlights its unexpected popularity, especially given what some observers noted as a lack of extensive pre-release buzz.
#1 in Japan’s Competitive Streaming Landscape
In its home country, Tougen Anki has claimed the coveted #1 spot on Netflix Japan, even outperforming Kaiju No. 8 Season 2. This achievement is particularly noteworthy in Japan’s competitive anime market, where numerous new titles are constantly vying for viewership.
The Story of Oni and Momotaro Descendants
Tougen Anki plunges viewers into a centuries-old conflict between the descendants of Oni (demons) and Momotaro (the folk hero known for slaying demons). The protagonist, Shiki Ichinose, discovers his Oni lineage after an unexpected attack by a Momotaro descendant. This revelation thrusts him into the heart of the ongoing war, forcing him to confront his destiny and the dormant demonic power within him. The series explores themes of good versus evil and the importance of protecting others, drawing comparisons to popular shonen anime like Demon Slayer and Jujutsu Kaisen.
Production and Streaming Availability
The Tougen Anki anime is produced by Studio Hibari, with Ato Nonaka serving as director and Hiroyuki Hashimoto as assistant director. Yukie Sugawara is responsible for the series composition and script, while Ryoko Amisaki handles character design. Kohta Yamamoto composed the music, produced by PONY CANYON. The opening theme song, “Overnight,” is performed by THE ORAL CIGARETTES, and the ending theme, “What is justice?”, is by BAND-MAID.
While Tougen Anki is available on Netflix globally, it’s notable that Netflix Japan does not carry the series as a direct Netflix exclusive, but rather shares distribution with other platforms. Japanese viewers can find the anime on Nippon Television and other local networks, as well as streaming platforms like ABEMA, Hulu, Disney+, Prime Video, and d Anime Store. Outside of Japan, the series is widely accessible on Crunchyroll, Prime Video, Samsung TV Plus, and various other international streaming services. Crunchyroll is also releasing an English dub for the series.
The anime is slated for a 24-episode run, split into two cours, with new episodes releasing weekly on Fridays. The consistent release schedule and the compelling narrative have contributed to its growing fanbase and impressive viewership numbers.
