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Tokyo Ghoul

Tokyo Ghoul

Introduction

A sinister threat is invading Tokyo: flesh-eating "ghouls" who appear identical to humans and blend into their population. Reserved college student Ken Kaneki buries his nose in books and avoids the news of the growing crisis. However, the appearance of an attractive woman named Rize Kamishiro shatters his solitude when she forwardly asks him on a date. While walking Rize home, Kaneki discovers she isn't as kind as she first appeared, and she has led him on with sinister intent. After a tragic struggle, he later awakens in a hospital to learn his life was saved by transplanting the now deceased Rize's organs into his own body. Kaneki's body begins to change in horrifying ways, and he transforms into a human-ghoul hybrid. As he embarks on his new dreadful journey, Kaneki clings to his humanity in the evolving bloody conflict between society's new monsters and the government agents who hunt them. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

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Audience ratings

MyAnimeList / Tenrai : 7.79/10 · 2029533

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Audience reviews

20 · Sample from the first available page, separate from the total number of ratings.

Pedang_Katana

Quick disclosure: this is my first rewatch in over a decade, having originally caught Tokyo Ghoul live as it aired. I vividly remember the hype it kicked up back then, only to watch it come crashing down with Season 2 and everything after, souring the fanbase so badly that some viewers openly boycotted anything else bearing Studio Pierrot's name. Until now, I'd never gone beyond that first season. Years later, I finally circled back, mainly because I'm gearing up to start the manga and Season 1 remains a "somewhat" faithful adaptation, unlike the increasingly loose seasons that followed. So what finally pushed me over the edge? That "anime character final form" trend that keeps flooding my TikTok FYP, which kept surfacing this show's utterly unhinged, transformation of the protagonist. A…

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stephzem

Tokyo Ghoul is probably the closest thing I've found to my ideal anime. The story stays firmly centered on Ken Kaneki and his psychological and emotional evolution, which is exactly the kind of character-focused storytelling I enjoy. Nearly every major conflict ties back to his identity, relationships, and internal struggles, making almost everything that happens in the show about his internal conflicts and journey. The dark tone, personal stakes, and themes of belonging, morality, and self-acceptance all work extremely well for me. The anime adaptation definitely has flaws, especially in Season 2 and parts of :re where the story becomes rushed and less coherent, but Kaneki's character arc is so compelling that it remains my favorite anime despite those issues. Side Note, Kaneki Ken is pro…

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President_Megumi

What is there to say about “Tokyo Ghoul” in 2026? Watching it for the first time over a decade after it first aired was such a unique, almost nostalgic experience that made me wistful for when anime felt like this. The story is tight, the animation is visually striking, and I cannot say enough about how much the music is the bow that keeps this absolute gift wrapped together. This OP will always be one of my absolute favorites. I think the strangest thing about watching it so many years later is that I watched it knowing that this is the best “Tokyo Ghoul” gets and that (at least according to fan reception) it only gets worse from here; I imagine it’s a similar feeling that people picking up “Game of Thrones” only now must feel as well, but boy, is this first season worth a watch even in…

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reveriehina

Tokyo Ghoul is a dark, emotional, and visually striking anime that explores what it truly means to lose your identity and struggle between two worlds. From the very beginning, the story pulls you into a disturbing yet fascinating universe where humans and ghouls coexist in fear and conflict. What stood out most to me was the atmosphere — it’s heavy, haunting, and emotionally intense. The soundtrack enhances every moment, especially the more tragic and psychological scenes. The animation (especially in Season 1) is beautiful and really helps bring the world of Tokyo Ghoul to life. But the real highlight of the series is Ken Kaneki. His transformation from a shy, book-loving college student into someone forced to endure unimaginable pain is both heartbreaking and unforgettable. His interna…

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xKyro_

Tokyo ghoul for me was a good anime i cant lie at all here,i really enjoyed the moments of Anteiku and the growth of Ken Kaneki through the anime. The story was amazing,showing us how is it to live being a human and other being at the same time and the backstory of Ken Kaneki for me was devastating i was almost feeling his pain in real life. The animation wasn't the best at times that i can conclude but even so it didnt stop me to watch it until the end,and i really enjoyed this anime,like the first season and the second for me personally are peak,but the other seasons are not that great,Tokyo Ghoul has even the best Opening i've ever heard,the song "Unravel" is a banger and i would listen to it day and night. So overall Tokyo Ghoul is a masterpiece and it has a score of 10/10 from me ,…

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mkmkmk321

Largely very well done. While I haven't rewatched the show in a good few years, I will always remember the way I felt when I first watched it. The premise, storytelling, and characters are great, as well as the music obviously. However, if you've read the manga it just falls flat. It will always feel like it's missing the essence of the source material. It was a definitely a 10/10 when I was thirteen, but as time goes on, I just feel a bit more dispirited about the quality of the show. Good, but could have been peak. If I'd never read the manga, I might have still rated it a 10. It's absolutely still a cut above the masses, but I just wish it'd remained entirely loyal to the manga.

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mustifrusti

Tokyo Ghoul is a disgusting series. It attempts to equate humans hunting animals with ghouls hunting humans through absurd arguments. By highlighting only a few exceptional cases, it tries to portray beings like ghouls as endearing and legitimizes killing humans.There are so many unnecessary side characters. Fights are mid.The plot is actually good so it makes me think what did mangaka did to make it this bad.Don't waste your valuable time watching this nonsense, whose second season is full of filler.From here on, I'll be reading the manga series hoping to see Kaneki and Touka die and the ghouls wiped from the face of the earth.It was so bad that i wanted to write a review.

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_Bubassotto_

The first adaptation of the grotesque universe of Tokyo Ghoul. I still perfectly remember the impact of the first time I watched this season. At the time, I was mainly used to more traditional isekai and shonen anime, stories with light tones, exciting battles, but rarely disturbing ones. It was on a friend's recommendation that I decided to give Tokyo Ghoul a chance… and what I found was something completely different from what I expected. The shock was immediate. Watching the uncensored version, I encountered intense gore scenes and an extremely heavy atmosphere. That raw, almost uncomfortable violence wasn't gratuitous; it was part of the construction of that brutal world. It was the first work I saw that truly confronted me in this way, and it ended up changing my perception of what…

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Avengers007

I finished this amazing anime in one single day on 14 February 2026. Yes, the first episode alone was enough to force me to watch the whole series. And yes, yes, yes, I spent Valentine’s Day sitting at home watching this. When no one is ready to be with you, this is what you do, right? Story: This is a very emotional and depressing journey. The protagonist, Ken Kaneki, is a normal college student who suddenly becomes a ghoul. A ghoul can survive only by eating human flesh. His identity crisis, whether he is human or a monster, is the biggest highlight of the show. Action: The show has a lot of action and gore. The fights use “Kagune,” which are the biological weapons of ghouls, and that makes the visuals very unique. My personal opinion: If you like dark, psychological stories with deep…

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xAutisticKidx

im not great at blabbering unless its for school so ill try to make it readable. its either a swing or a miss. Tokyo Ghoul is a big swing that mostly misses. The premise is strong and fairly unique, but the story quickly becomes predictable and messy. While the dark fantasy setup should work, the way the plot escalates feels rushed and poorly handled, which made it hard to stay invested—even though the genre itself is appealing. The art style is a hit. It fits the bleak, violent tone perfectly and often carries the series when the writing falls short. Characters are a mixed bag. Kaneki has potential, but his development feels abrupt rather than earned. Many side characters are underdeveloped or act unrealistically, often changing behaviour just to push the plot forward. Despite this,…

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maya_kotori

This anime was an experience that completely overwhelmed me in the best possible way. From the very first episode, I was pulled straight into its dark, tragic, and beautifully painful world. I watched both the first and second season, and honestly, I was amazed by how deeply it affected me. Every sad scene hit me so hard that I ended up crying almost every single time. The emotions were just impossible to hold back. Kaneki’s journey especially broke me. Watching him struggle, change, and suffer felt so real and heartbreaking that I couldn’t look away even when it hurt. The atmosphere, the music, the intensity of the story just everything worked together to create something incredibly powerful. Even though it’s dark and heavy, I was completely obsessed with it. It’s one of those anime that…

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shiratori90

I rewatched the series because I wanted to see it again after many years. When I first watched it, I was 17 years old (now I'm 23). Even without intending to go beyond the first season for obvious reasons—like the drastic drop in quality afterward, with cuts everywhere—honestly, I don't know how they managed to continue with this kind of adaptation... Anyway, I rewatched it and it's really good so far. I recommend reading the manga first and then watching the anime to understand what isn't shown. Otherwise, you'll be confused throughout the anime marathon, which can ruin the experience, as you'll find yourself thinking things like: "Wait a minute, what happened to that?"—and questions like that will come to mind.

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Scanerior

Tokyo Ghoul perfectly depicts the fight between two "races", in which you don't even know who to root for, because both humans and ghouls have clear and understandable reasons for fighting the other - that's why it's probably easiest to identify with the main character and be a kind of "mediator" between the two sides. It's the main character's half-human, half-ghoul line that drives most of the story, and thanks to other characters like Touka or the perverted gourmet who complete the story line, it works great. It was the more unique part of the story that I really enjoyed and I'm a little sorry that it didn't continue in a similar direction until the end of the first season. At the end comes a "forced bigger battle", which didn't really draw me in and especially the kidnapping of the mai…

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Enyirou

This anime holds a special place in my heart as one of the first I ever watched back in primary school. I fell in love with it after just a few episodes, it gave me this indescribable feeling. Rewatching it now, including all the seasons, I’ve gained a deeper understanding of the story, probably because I’ve matured since then. I recently started reading the manga, and wow, the art style is absolutely stunning! I rate it a perfect 10/10 because it introduced me to so many other amazing animes. Plus, I can’t get enough of the opening and ending themes. They’re fantastic!!

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SPAIN777777

This anime is massively overhated, particularly the first season here. This was the first anime I really watched, outside of Pokemon and Dragon Ball as a kid, which I remember very little from and I wouldn't say I actually fully experienced anime and became a fan of anime at all until I watched Tokyo Ghoul. Yes, I am probably considered a new gen for that, lol. Anyways, this review pertains specifically to this first season of the anime, and while I personally enjoyed the second one (season 2 it is widely disliked for deviating from the manga storyline- but IMO, that doesn't necessarily make it bad, the new storyline is still interesting and has some really great moments) and mildly somewhat liked s3 and s4, this review is for the first season only. First off, it baffles me that this se…

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Abhinandan108

TOKYO GHOUL Season 1 is an exceptional dark fantasy anime that captivates across its 12 episodes. The animation is impressive, complemented by outstanding sound effects and a gripping storyline that keeps you hooked. Characters like Touka Kirishima, Kōtarō Amon, Nishiki Nishio, and Yoshimura are compelling, while Ken Kaneki’s character development is brilliantly crafted and deeply engaging. The opening song (Unravel) is an absolute masterpiece, and the ending song is also fine, enhancing the show’s emotional weight. The season finale (Episode 12) is a standout, delivering an intense and satisfying climax. The fight between Kaneki and Jason is packed with rage, action, and raw emotion, elevated to another level by the iconic “Unravel” song. Overall, Tokyo Ghoul Season 1 is a must-wat…

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SaveTheOA

Interesting concept, BANGER ICONIC OPENING! It's an interesting watch, for sure! Solid anime with a first episode that does an amazing job at roping the viewers in effortlessly. And what a way to be introduced to the lore and the characters! Kaneki is a great main character that goes through a wide array of emotions in just a few episodes, changing drastically! But all in all, I wouldn't call him memorable in any way, seeing that I watched this anime maybe around 6 years ago and I barely remember what he was driven by, and if he had any goals/ambitions aside from adapting to his new life and staying alive (which to be fair, is maybe something people still can relate to and find interesting). Sadly, the plot gets confusing in later episodes since the anime doesn't really get the time to…

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macaroonyum

An anime where all characters are varying levels of morally grey, and no one is right or wrong. It's up to the viewer to decide who's good and who's evil. The premise. After reading the synopsis, you might be thinking this is just another anime where the MC gets halfway transformed into one of the enemies and has to fit in. But that's a terrible presumption of Tokyo Ghoul. Arguably, the factor that makes TG better than all the other animes which follow that trope is how dark it is. At times it even felt disturbing, and I can't recommend this if you're not in a good headspace. If you like to see the darker, psychological, twisted animes and entertainment in general, I think you'll like this. To get an idea, similar to Bungo Stray Dogs and Black Butler, Tokyo Ghoul shows the grittier, terri…

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YannaeLou

Do you like gore? Horror anime?! Then this just might be for you. It plays in a world where monsters walk among men. Monsters that eat humans. But you can't tell them apart. Like vampires, but these can walk in the light. In my eyes a unique "anime themed" take on vampires. And I love their designs. You follow a guy who accidently finds himself face to face with one of these creatures and he gets converted into one of these creatures. And he walks the middle line between human and beast, struggling with a side to choose. I actually really enjoyed it. Season 1 and 2. For me it went downhill from there, but the first two seasons, definitely would watch again :)

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AniPal

Hey it's a good anime ... I rated it low cuz I couldn't handled the terrifying scenes of last few episodes at the end of 1st season on kaneki ... I watched it when I was young it's been almost 9 years because of this anime, it took me 6 yrs of break from anime to recover from those scenes... I watched only 1st season.. Btw I was watching this with clanned which is very bad combination uk sadness + terrifying scenes 😂 it's very bad combination trust me. At the end i would say tht if u can handle to watch torture scenes u can watch this... If I get the courage to watch I will do watch it (probably not cuz I watch for entertainment not for stress and depression or trauma). BUT, MAYBE on tht time the mental state of mine was not the right time...

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