Tokyo Revengers is a TV anime adaptation of the Tokyo Revengers Manga series of the same name written and illustrated by Ken Wakui, which Kodansha published. The English publisher of this Manga series was Kodansha USA in digital form and Seven Seas Entertainment in print form. The anime adaptation is directed by Koichi Hatsumi and produced by Liden Films. Kenichi Onuki and Keiko Ota do the character design.
This series comprises 24 episodes, each of about 24 minutes which grips the anime watchers in their grip as the genres associated are of a wide range, ranging from action, school, shounen, thriller, suicide, tragedy, bullying, revenge, crime, gangs, and delinquents to science fiction, time travel, and supernatural.
The series was aired from April 11, 2021, to September 19, 2021, covering Chapter 1 to Chapter 73 of the Manga Series. The opening theme, “Cry Baby” by official HIG DAN dism and the ending theme of the series, “Kokoda Iki o Shite” by Eill from episodes 2 to 12 and “Tokyo Wonder” by Makikushi from episodes 1 to 23.
Author ken Wakui, the author of the Manga Series Tokyo Revengers, who have crafted a fantastic story of gang members along with time travel, sacrifice and friendship, when asked in an interview, told that his senior wanted a story about Yankii, which interested him and to describe Yankii that were there at the time of 2000 through the time travel came to him as he remembers his time as a gang member himself.
Tokyo Manji Gang was inspired by the Black Emperor, one of the most significant gangs of its time. Tokyo Revengers is an anime with a riveting plot, aesthetically pleasing animation, list of unique characters with intense moments.
The plot revolves around Takemichi Hanagaki, a timid, insecure adult still trying to find the path of his life. His life is in the pits of despair, and his passive nature makes him an apologetic and emotional person. One day he finds out that the only girlfriend he had ever dated in his life is dead by ruthless and a group of vicious criminals who had been disturbing society’s peace, the Tokyo Manji Gang. He finds himself lost deep in his thoughts about his life.
The next day, while standing at the station waiting for the train, he was pushed onto the rails by a mysterious hand; the only thing that came to mind was Sano Manjiro, AKA Mickey, the head of the Tokyo Manji Gang. When he opened his eyes, to his surprise, he had travelled back in time 12 years, realizing he still stood a chance to save his girlfriend, Tachibana Hinata. The story revolves around him saving Hinata along with changing the way of his life. The series is filled with emotional, inspirational, motivational and sad quotes from the different characters.
1. “I never thought that my life would turn out like this.”
This line is of Takemichi Hanagaki, the series’ main protagonist, spoken in episode 1. Takemichi is seen as an insecure adult struggling to find a path in life and is living in a crappy apartment with thin walls, his six years younger boss treats him like an idiot, and even younger boys make fun of him. While living in the saddest despair of his life, he learns about the death of the only girlfriend he had ever dated in his entire lifetime, Tachibana Hinata, by Tokyo Manji Gang. This line is a monologue while he stands and waits for the train to arrive.
2. “My life’s ending, and I’m reliving the worst part of it.”
This line is of Takemichi Hanagaki in episode 1 after being beaten up by the Shibuya’s third years delinquents. He remembers his past life when he was their slave and had to run errands for them, because of which he is devastated. This point of life was like hell for him from which he was escaping till now, and now he had to relive this hell again. This line is also a monologue after being beaten up, after which he remembers Hinata’s voice and rushes to see her as if he had forgotten what she looked like.
3. “If this is real, I want to change the future.”
This line is of Takemichi Hanagaki in episode 1 while talking to Tachibana Naoto, the younger brother of Tachibana Hinata. He was telling about his and his sister’s death and reversing about it as he loves her a lot. He was living like hell. That’s why he left, and he wanted to change the future. He says this because he still doubts that he remembers the things from the past as he is dead. So he says this line that even if this is true, he wants to change it for good and save Hinata from dying.
4. “I had forgotten! I am just me.”
This line is of Takemichi Hanagaki in episode 2 after he got beaten up by Kiyomasa. As Takemichi wanted to be one of two leaders of the Toyo Manji Gang, he tried to ask Kiyomasa about their whereabouts and, in the end, got beaten up by him. After getting beaten up, he remembers who he is. He is a nobody afraid of getting hurt, beaten up, or bleeding, and he has lived his life escaping and running away. This line is also a monologue when he returns from the ground after getting beaten up by Kiyomasa. He was moving toward Tachibana Naoto’s house so that he could return to the future of his life.
5. “In the past and the present, I have to change, or nothing else will.”
This line is of Takemichi Hanagaki in episode 2, which is a monologue. When he challenged Kiyomasa to a fight, he thought about two things. First, he wanted to save his friend Yamamoto Takuya from the fight and getting beaten up, and second, he wanted to save Hinata, for which he had to face the battle head-on. To change the future, he had to alter the past by his actions because if he can’t bring any change in the past, then there will be no change in the future, which implies that Hinata will be dead.
6. “If you want to win, you’re gonna have to kill me.”
This line is of Takemichi Hanagaki in episode 3 while fighting with Kiyomasa. Takemichi started the fight with Kiyomasa to save his friend Yamamoto Takuya as he was frail. While fighting, he remembers Hinata and his previous disastrous life, in which he had lived all that surged him up and gave him a reason. This line is said while he is fighting with Kiyomasa and adds that he is done running away. Now he has a reason to fight because he had to save Hinata from dying.
7. “There are times when you can’t give up.”
This line is of Ken Ryuguji, AKA Draken, in episode 3. He is saying this line to Takemichi Hanagaki when he sees him threatening. This happens when Tachibana Hinata slaps Sano Manjiro and dashes off with Takemichi Hanagaki when Ken holds his hand off Hinata. Tachibana reacted in response and threatened Ken, knowing he couldn’t win against him and didn’t even stand a chance. Even after knowing the consequences, he threatened him because Hinata’s life was at stake. When the misunderstanding is cleared, Ken says this on the pretext that what he did was excellent.
8. “There are plenty of guys, who are good at fighting, but standing up to anyone for something you won’t give up, there aren’t many guys like you.”
This line is of Ken Ryuguji, AKA Draken, in episode 3 while Ken, Sano (Mickey) and Takemichi were at the side of the field. They stopped there when Takemichi asked Mickey why he liked him, after which Mickey revealed his plans for the delinquents and why he liked him as he resembles his elder brother. As explained by Draken, Mickey told him and asked him to join his gang, and he likes him what he is. Draken expresses that he is not good at fighting, but he has the will and power to fight those he loves and cares for, which are very hard to find.
9. “We’ll deal with our problems in our world.”
This line is of Ken Ryuguji, AKA Draken, in episode 5. When a gang member’s girlfriend and girlfriend’s parents are molested by another elder gang group, Ken and Mickey meet them at the hospital, where the girl’s parents are posing them as criminals. Despite that, Ken asked Mickey to be calm and composed. Ken is seen here as a mature, kind and calm person who doesn’t want to involve family, family members and friends in their line of the world. He considers their world a place of hell and should exclude the people they love and care for. He tells Mickey that they can deal with the problem of who is responsible for this in their way in their world.
10. “You don’t have to bow your head. Just have a heart that cares for others.”
This line is of Ken Ryuguji, AKA Draken, in episode 5. While visiting the hospital to see Pah’s girlfriend, her parents approached Ken and Mickey and started blaming everything on them. Ken bowed to them, made Mickey bow to them, and said this line after her parents had gone. He doesn’t want to hurt any family members related to the gang, and he doesn’t want to involve the lives of innocent people in their world. Their world is different and is like a hell in which he wanted to hurt anyone from their close ones. He said this to Mickey so that Mickey could also have a heart that cares for others.
11. “I know there’s nothing we can do. But my heart can’t accept it.”
This quote is focusing on helpless feeling, when there is nothing left in our hand we anyway have to accept it.
12. “Hit me until you’re satisfied, Peh-yan. I don’t want to fight with my own family.”
Others may disagree and claim that family is an outrage, a source of suffering, and a source of harm. Families aren’t always biological relatives, but they consist of people in your life who depend on you for their experiences, who will happily see you smile, and who will unfailingly love you.
13. “If all you can do is destroying what’s precious to me… then I will destroy you.”
This quote is focusing on what can one do, if any person try to harm the precious thing of his/her. We can go beyond our limits if anything tries to harm the things that are close to us or related to us.
14.” The most important thing is not to win a fight, but to not let yourself be defeated.”
It takes a lot of courage to stand up for oneself or another. People sometimes decide to never stand out for anything they believe in because they are afraid that someone would disagree with them if they do.
15. “In the past and the present, I have to change, or nothing else will.”
The only thing that is permanent in this world is change. Life and individuals go through seasonal changes, too. When everything is going according to plan, something outside of your control irritates you. You make new pals and lose some. Through your trip, you mature and discover things you never imagined you would know.