English Dub Review: Black Torch “The Future Is in Our Hands”

Overview

Based on the Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Tsuyoshi Takaki, the story follows seventeen-year-old Jirou Azuma, a descendant of a long-standing shinobi clan who lives a quiet life with his grandfather while using his supernatural ability to communicate with animals to protect and befriend them. His peaceful existence is turned upside down after rescuing a seemingly ordinary black cat named Rago, who is actually a mononoke, a powerful demonic spirit locked in a centuries-old conflict with humanity. When a hostile mononoke attacks in pursuit of Rago, Jirou bravely steps in to defend him but suffers a fatal injury. Faced with the choice of consuming Jirou’s remaining life force to regain his full power, Rago instead makes an unthinkable decision that changes both of their lives forever…

Our Take

For a series premiere, Black Torch gets off to a solid start with an interesting premise, even if it wears its shonen influences on its sleeve. The setup shares some familiar elements with other series like Yuyu Hakusho & Bleach, from its supernatural themes to its lead inheriting unusual powers, but it introduces enough of its own identity through its blend of ninja traditions, mononoke folklore, and an animal-loving protagonist. While the story moves at a brisk pace and leaves many questions unanswered, it does enough to establish the world and hint at the larger conflict ahead.

The premiere’s biggest strengths are its production values and the chemistry between Jiro and Rago, whose interactions quickly become the episode’s highlight. The action is energetic, the animation is consistently polished, and the voice cast delivers strong performances throughout. SiM’s opening theme is a perfect fit for the series’ high-energy atmosphere, while the ending provides a more relaxed contrast. That said, the storytelling can feel a bit conventional at times, and some scenes move so quickly that they don’t leave much room for emotional impact or world-building.

Overall, this was an enjoyable introduction that succeeds in laying a solid foundation without revealing too much too soon. While it doesn’t completely separate itself from other supernatural battle shonen just yet, the likable cast, intriguing concepts, and strong presentation give it enough potential to keep me interested in seeing where the series goes next.