Summary
Sengoku Youkois a great show with bad timing since it unfortunately came out at a time when competition is incredibly fierce. 2024 is an incredible year for shōnen anime, from old classics making comebacks likeDragon BallandRanma 1/2, to new seasons of modern classics likeDemon SlayerandRe:Zero, to newer series appearing and being instant hits likeDandadanandShangri-La Frontier.
One downside to a year of fantastic shows is that anime that would have normally been well-received tend to get buried. For viewers still looking for more shows to watch though,Sengoku Youkois at least worth a shot. The first season aired from January to April 2024, with the second season quickly following suit in July and is still ongoing.
What Is Sengoku Youko About?
An Action Fantasy Anime Set in Feudal Japan
Sengoku Youkois about a group of adventurersduring Japan’s warring states period, specifically around the mid-1500s based on the appearance of a real historical figure in season 2. The general plot show revolves around the group traveling across Japan and keeping the balance between humans and magical creatures known as the Katawara. In terms of vibe, the show is similar to something likeInuyasha.
The main characters in season 1 are:
Get ready for a big switch-up in season 2 though, becauseSengoku Youkopulls offaJojo’s Bizarre Adventureand makes major changes to the main cast. Surprisingly, they pulled it off well.
The Plot Starts Slow, but Once It Picks Up, It Never Goes Back Down
Get past Season 1, Episode 6 and Strap In
Of course,Sengoku Youkoisn’t a perfect show by any means, and one of the reasons it didn’t catch on early is probably that the pacing in the first half of season 1 was a little slow.The show’s world-buildingalso leaves much to be desired early on; doing little to explain what exactly the magical creatures in the world are, what rules they’re bound by, and how the world’s power system works. When you combine the issues with the pacing and world-building, it felt like the first half of season 1 was just a bunch of random events that happened with little to no rhyme or reason. There were some good moments, but it didn’t feel like the story was leading up to anything, which is fine for a slice-of-life anime, but doesn’t feel right for a shōnen.
After episode 6 though, it felt like the show switched writers because every episode since then felt completely different in all the right ways. The plot suddenly hadstakes, and big ones at that; the show also gained a sense of purpose, and the characters started to get more fleshed out. The first six episodes didn’t give you much reason to care about the main characters, but one from episode 7 onward could suddenly get you attached to a character in just that episode, but then decide to get rid of said character in the same episode.Sengoku Youko’s ability totug at the heartstrings, especially in season 2 is really impressive.
The slow start is truly unfortunate because several viewers would have already dropped the show before the switch-up. No one can blame someone for dropping a show after watching three episodes and not liking it. However, if youdomake it to episode 7, youwillbe getting back your time’s worth and then some. There isn’t a single episode, post-episode 7, that felt boring or didn’t make you care for what was going on. The plot and writing are undeniably what set the show apart from mediocrity; goingfrom an average-at-bestto one of the more captivating stories about love and loss in a shōnen anime this year.
Sengoku Youko’s Visual and Audio Presentation Is Good, Not Great
And That’s Totally Fine
Sure, the visuals don’t really hold a candle to some of the 2024’s heavy hitters in the shōnen space, likeDemon Slayer: Hashira Training Arc,Dragon Ball Daima, orDandadan, but it’s still good and enjoyable. It’s not fair to compare a smaller project likeSengoku Youkoto those shows anyway. Several fight scenes had great dynamic movement and well-thought-out choreography, though you could feel corners were cut in some of the less important fights. Still, love and passion have been put into the production and animation, and it’s not ugly by any measure.
Both seasons ofSengoku Youkoare animated by White Fox, which is alsocurrently animatingRe:Zeroseason 3, which they almost certainly allocated more resources tobecause it does noticeably look better. Despite that, it’s surprising that they managed to makeSengoku Youkolook as good as it is, knowing that they’re handling something else at the same time.
Audio-wise, there’s nothing to really write home about. The sound effects, voice acting, and OSTs are all serviceable; nothing more, nothing less.
