English Dub Review: Black Torch “The Choice Is Yours”

Overview

Jiro awakens in the hospital only to learn he is now under the surveillance of the Bureau of Espionage.


Our Take

Picking up from the previous episode, the story continues with Jirou recovering after the events of the premiere and discovering more about the Bureau of Espionage and the world of Mononoke. The anime continues its approach of adapting roughly one manga chapter per episode, which works well given the length of the early chapters. This slower pacing allows the story to develop naturally while giving the staff room to expand certain scenes and add extra character moments that help strengthen Jirou and Rago’s growing partnership.

The rest of the proceedings also does a great job of expanding the cast and exploring Jirou’s character, especially through his confrontation with his grandfather. Their conflict highlights Jirou’s determination while also providing more insight into the responsibilities and dangers that come with fighting Mononoke. The interactions between Jirou and Rago remain one of the strongest parts of the series, with their contrasting personalities creating an enjoyable dynamic as they begin working together.

Overall, Black Torch continues to be a surprisingly solid adaptation with a lot of care put into its production. The animation remains impressive, with fluid action, strong choreography, and impactful fight scenes despite being handled by many newer animators at 100Studio’s Korean animation department. Although the series is still establishing its identity, the consistent pacing, character development, and strong production values make it an enjoyable watch and leave plenty of potential for what’s to come.