Sengoku Youko is One of 2024’s Underrated Shonen Anime

Key Takeaways

• Sengoku Youko is a hidden gem amidst fierce competition in 2024’s shōnen anime lineup.
• The show gains momentum after a slow start in season 1, delivering emotional and captivating storytelling.
• While not visually impressive compared to other shows, Sengoku Youko’s animation and production show passion and effort.

Sengoku Youko is 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 like Dragon Ball and Ranma 1/2, to new seasons of modern classics like Demon Slayer and Re:Zero, to newer series appearing and being instant hits like Dandadan and Shangri-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 Youko is 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 Youko is about a group of adventurers during 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 like Inuyasha.

The main characters in season 1 are:

• Tama Youko, an altruistic fox Katawara devoted to achieving world peace.
• Jinka Yamato, a human who hates other humans, but is loyal to Tama, his sworn elder sister, who keeps him in check.
• Shinsuke Hyoudo, a wandering ronin who sees Tama and Jinka’s power and decides to team up with them in the hopes of getting stronger himself.
• Shakugan, a cheerful human/Katawara hybrid who befriends and joins the group after being rescued by them.

Get ready for a big switch-up in season 2 though, because Sengoku Youko pulls off a Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure and 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 Youko isn’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-building also 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 had stakes, 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 to tug 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 you do make it to episode 7, you will be 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; going from an average-at-best to 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, like Demon Slayer: Hashira Training Arc, Dragon Ball Daima, or Dandadan, but it’s still good and enjoyable. It’s not fair to compare a smaller project like Sengoku Youko to 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 of Sengoku Youko are animated by White Fox, which is also currently animating Re:Zero season 3, which they almost certainly allocated more resources to because it does noticeably look better. Despite that, it’s surprising that they managed to make Sengoku Youko look 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.

Sengoku Youko is now available to stream on Crunchyroll and Ani-One Asia.