Based on the Manga series, Tokyo Ghoul is an anime series that came into the spotlight as soon as the Japanese series started airing. While some of the audience was all about how spectacular the show is, some directed a range of criticism towards it.
Tokyo Ghoul Controversy
The plot is set to revolve around the city of Tokyo that has become a cruel and merciless city, a place where vicious creatures called “Ghouls” have infiltrated the city and have started residing among humans. The citizens of this once great metropolis live in constant fear of these bloodthirsty savages and their thirst for human flesh. However the greatest threat these creatures pose to humanity is their dangerous ability to blend flawlessly and masquerade as humans and reside in society alongside humans.
Based on the best-selling supernatural horror manga by Sui Ishida, Tokyo Ghoul follows Ken Kaneki, a shy, bookish college student, who is instantly drawn to Rize Kamishiro, a beautiful violet-haired girl who is an avid reader like himself. However, Rize is not exactly who she seems to like and this is where the trouble begins and basically never ends. This unfortunate meeting pushes Kaneki into the dark depths of the ghouls’ inhuman world. In a twist of fate, Kaneki is saved by the enigmatic waitress Toyka Kirishima, and thus begins his new secret life as a human-ghoul hybrid who must find a way to fit into both of the societies.
Reason for the Hatred
For an anime to receive such degrading comments while its source is hailed as amazing, one would have to point fingers at the production house. A good amount of people agree the first season is decent/ good. However the season 2 or Tokyo Ghoul Root A takes a turn for the worst. Studio Pierrot attempted to mix the manga material with some original content which leads to there being no concrete explanation for leaving Anteiku.
A person’s mind will direct itself to the fact that Kaneki eating Jason unlocked a different side of him and pointed the whole dimension towards cannibalism. The anime does not provide context for situations and leaves you more confused. The reason for Kaneki’s decision to join Aoigiri Tree is cloudy whereas in manga, Kaneki created his own group to fight Aoigiri.
Tokyo Ghoul: Re
Tokyo ghoul:Re is the perfect example of the confused state the production house is in. Tokyo Ghoul: Re is a much more faithful adaptation of the manga. It ignores the events of the season 2 (Route A). is much harder to grasp for those who have not read the manga. The story is still rushed as they attempted to fit almost 180 chapters in 24 episodes.
This mismanagement of the studio, causes fans to lose hope in getting something that actually has a lasting impression. The fear of being eaten alive has been a source of horror since the dawn of time. Throughout history, countless stories are detailing how tragedy led to victims turning to cannibalism. But, in each case, acts of cannibalism function as a plot device to give the characters a reason to interact with and learn about creatures that they normally wouldn’t have by choice.
Tokyo Ghoul quickly became a popular anime title when it premiered, as it starred the sympathetic Ken Kaneki as he discovers the dark and twisted world of ghouls after becoming one himself. It had a lot of good going for it, unfortunately, the anime ended up flying too close to the sun.
While the first season wasn’t perfect, it was decent, but then the second season, Tokyo Ghoul √A, deviated heavily from the manga and pretty much tossed out everything that made the first season work. Tokyo Ghoul: re later tried to backtrack this, but suffered from a plot that was too densely packed, poorly paced, and paired it with low-quality animation. Tokyo Ghoul’s fall from grace isn’t easy to watch.
Why was Tokyo Ghoul banned in China?
Tokyo ghoul was the best selling manga series of all time and one of the most popular anime series around the world. However it was banned in China because some of the viewers and authorities believed that it promoted the idea and the dangerous concept of teens sewing threads and embroidery into their skin. Even the thought of that is gut wrenching.
It still stings to think about just how disastrous Tokyo Ghoul‘s anime adaptation is and that its poor reception has even negatively affected the manga. The Tokyo Ghoul franchise becomes another victim of playing fast and loose with source material.
Best Order to Watch Tokyo Ghoul
Tokyo Ghoul
Tokyo Ghoul Root A (Season 2)
Tokyo Ghoul: Re (Season 1)
Tokyo Ghoul: Re (Season 2)
Jack (OVA)
Pinto (OVA)
ALSO READ ABOUT: ANIME WORLD: 8 Best Romance Anime One Should Definitely Binge On