Tougen Anki Episode 15 Review: A Daring Rescue That’s Almost Too Easy
Tougen Anki Episode 15 sets up the endgame but pulls its punches—the hyped Kougasaki rescue breezes by, leaving the promised heat for later.
Episode 15 of Tougen Anki does the job: it moves the pieces into place for the endgame. But if this rescue was supposed to be a high-stakes nail-biter, the show forgot to turn the screws. It goes down easy. Almost too easy. The upside is we pick up some useful intel, meet a couple abilities worth noting, and the bigger fight we actually care about inches closer.
The rescue that barely broke a sweat
Kougasaki gets saved, and the operation runs smoother than buttered glass. The real takeaway isn’t the danger; it’s the reveal of two Recon Unit Oni members and what they can do. Both of them matter in how the rescue plays out, and both land squarely on my list of people to watch as we head into the back half.
On the character side, the mission shakes Juji a bit. He starts questioning the ceiling on his own power. Mudano, ever the calm center, talks him down and gets his head right again. Even so, the mission itself feels undercooked. Thankfully, the show leaves a live fuse: Juji tells Mudano that the Oni and their gang buddies are holding that little girl hostage. So yeah, the Oni still have the edge for now.
Shinya’s chessboard: setting up Mikado vs Shiki
The episode opens with a sit-down featuring Tsukuyomi and Osuke (the two Oni currently stationed in Tokyo), plus Shinya and Mikado. Shinya dangles the exact bait these two would bite on: a shot at Mudano. He’s billed here as the Oni who did the impossible and took down 100 Momotaro by himself.
'Mudano: the only Oni who took down 100 Momotaro solo.'
As Shinya puts it, Tsukuyomi and Osuke are basically fiends for a good brawl, and the offer lands. Meanwhile, Shinya’s over here quietly masterminding the Kougasaki kidnapping and the move to capture Shiki (yes, the Kishin’s kid). He isn’t a frontline fighter, so of course he points Mikado at the target. And if you’ve seen the new opening for the second half of Season 1, you already know where this is headed: Shiki and Mikado are on a collision course. Expect that one to hit the feelings, not just the floor.
Pacing and production: a mixed bag this week
The middle of the episode takes its time. A little too much time. Some prep beats could’ve been trimmed, there are a few saggy dialogue stretches, and the camera work gets sleepy in spots. The overall look, though, still absolutely slaps. It does feel like the show is pocketing animation juice for the bigger swings coming up, which is fair — you can see the savings account.
- We learn what two Recon Unit Oni can actually do, and they matter to the mission.
- Juji spirals about his power; Mudano steadies him.
- Shinya lures Tsukuyomi and Osuke by offering Mudano as a fight.
- Mudano’s reputation: the Oni who soloed 100 Momotaro.
- Shinya’s plotting continues: he orchestrated Kougasaki’s kidnapping and wants Shiki.
- Shiki vs Mikado is basically guaranteed — the new OP all but says so.
- The Oni and their gang have a little girl hostage, keeping them one move ahead.
- There are 9 episodes left in Season 1; the finale is positioned to go big.
Where this leaves us
With Episode 15 out, we’re nine episodes from the finish line. If the trajectory holds, the last stretch could be a blast — the kind of 'unlimited budget works' moment fans hope for. This week’s slower tempo doesn’t mean the rest will follow suit, and honestly, the anticipation is doing just fine.
Tougen Anki is streaming on Netflix.