Disclaimer
This anime review is based on plot, characterization, emotional pull and action, episode quality, and creativity, and how strong each section is. I will not reference the manga or other media to hold this form of media to a particular standard, but I may compare to make a point. Also, keep in mind that season 1 of this anime is incredibly short despite the large amount of money the DVDs cost in American currency. The review and the score will not reflect how short the season is however, and will not reflect the cost either, but I feel it is significant enough to mention.Thank you for reading.
WARNING possible spoilers WARNING
So the plot of Tokyo Ghoul is that people live in a world where creatures who go bump in the night and need to physically eat one person a month exist. Being out at night isn't the easiest thing in the world unfortunately. The main character, a mild mannered young boy goes on a date with a girl who turns out to be a ghoul and tries to eat him. An accident happens and the ghoul girl dies, and the boy is saved by having his damaged organs replaced with hers, turning him half ghoul. He meets other ghouls and tries to live his life as a ghoul now, without ditching his human life either. Situations ensue involving his new life and other lives of ghouls as well.
So is the plot good? Yes the plot is really focused around individual characters, some die, some fight, and there is a large amount of things going on that my little preview writing doesn't catch like the ghouls really being exactly like the humans, and really no one is right and no one is wrong. It is a fascinating take on race and a lot could be compared to current issues we have in the United Sates despite the anime originating in Japan. I"m not sure if Japan has these same problems, but some of the issues this anime covers hits home a little in a horror fantasy way.
The only issue I've had here is the main character is boring. He works, but he is a bore up until the final few episodes as he doesn't really develop much until then. That being said he develops by leaps and bounds in the final few episodes of the season and he becomes a really interesting character right when the season ends so it sort of makes up for it. The other characters however I have yet to get enough of them. Everyone has a past, some fight for survival, some fight because they are sadistic, and some fight for loved ones, and that is for both humans and ghouls. It once again hits home a little bit, no one is particularly evil excluding a select few, and no side, ghouls or the Doves are on the right either. Great stuff honestly with no one particular character standing out as being more or less interesting in their struggle during this war on the ghouls excluding the main character for most of the season.
People die. This does have some action moments for action junkies, but there is more going on here too. People die, some of the characters feel guilt for killing, some are insane, and some are on the brink of insanity. There is pain, turmoil, and guilt, and it all does a really good job in bringing that to the audience. Don't get me wrong, the action is pretty awesome in the anime as well, but it takes a back seat for the drama and pain that being a ghoul brings to the table.
There certainly can't be a pointless episode in such a short season. The episodes are animated very well, and none of them were overly complex, giving you enough detail in a way so you can gradually learn details of characters and plot as well as some of the events going on that are affecting our characters. It works really well, and none of the scenes in the episodes are overly confusing, all being done really well especially during fight scenes.
A flamboyant gourmet, a girl who has a brother as a rival, an insane ghoul who loves to torture other ghouls, binge eater ghouls, and a few more mysterious pasts, this anime is a creative draw for sure. Each ghoul has a unique power with a unique design, and so far I haven't seen one that isn't creative. Some ghouls have simple tentacles, while others have energy wings, and some just have unique appendages, but each one is used in a creative way and is excellent. The weapons of the Doves, the humans who hunt ghouls are just as creative and well done. teh creative elements of this anime are really well done.
This anime is incredibly well done. If you like horror anime this anime is easily highly recommended. It is well done in story and characters, and it is hard to not find something to like in the anime in general. Action junkies tread with caution however as while the action is really well done, it isn't the main focus of the anime, and if you want a protagonist busting with charisma then this may not be the best place to look, though the main character does eventually pick up at the end.
This anime is highly recommended to check out. Yes it is short, and yes the DVD prices are probably a little high, so I don't recommend buying it right off the shelf for 30$ or more, but I highly recommend giving this anime a look if you don't mind horror based anime, as there is a lot here. If you like character studies, horror, decent action, emotionally jarring scenes, then this anime is a pretty good choice so far.