Tokyo Ghoul:re review: A deeper story and the appeal of its characters

"Tokyo Ghoul:re" - A story of a soul wavering between the darkness of the abyss and the light

"Tokyo Ghoul:re" is a TV anime series based on the original manga by Ishida Sui, which aired from April 3 to June 19, 2018. While inheriting the deep themes and detailed storytelling of the original, the anime's unique perspective left a strong impression on viewers. In this article, we will explain in detail the appeal and background of "Tokyo Ghoul:re", and provide an evaluation and recommendation of the work.

■Overview of the work

"Tokyo Ghoul:re" is set two years after "Tokyo Ghoul √A". The story revolves around the exploits of the Quinx, a new group of experimental subjects that shakes up the boundary between humans and ghouls. The protagonist, Sasaki Haise, is a former ghoul who has lost his memory and begins a new life as the leader of the Quinx squad. The story of the difficulties they face and their growth will move viewers deeply and provoke thought.

■ Story

The story of "Tokyo Ghoul:re" revolves around the conflict between "ghouls," beings who blend into the crowd and eat human flesh, and the CCG, an organization that exterminates and studies them. The CCG creates a new group called "Quinx," who use the powers of ghouls but retain their human consciousness, and appoints Sasaki Haise as their leader. Despite losing his memories of the past, Haise joins the rest of the Quinx squad in a new battle in "Tokyo."

The story depicts the backgrounds and growth of each member of the Quinx Squad, while addressing the grand theme of exploring the coexistence of ghouls and humans. In particular, the conflict between Haise's past and present, the relationships between the Quinx Squad members, and the internal affairs of the CCG are all skillfully intertwined, drawing viewers in.

■ Characters

Each character in "Tokyo Ghoul:re" has a deep background and personality, which enriches the story. Below are the main characters.

Sasaki Haise

Voice actor: Natsuki Hanae

The leader of the Quinx Squad, who aims to become an investigator who surpasses Arima Kishou, the CCG's strongest special investigator. He has a gentle, friendly personality and a strong sense of responsibility, but has lost his memory of the past 20 years. He lives together with his squad members and strives to provide guidance, but is often at the mercy of the problem children. He looks up to his superiors, Mado Akira and Arima, as if they were his parents.

Hisao Urie

Voice actor: Kaito Ishikawa

The leader of the Quinx Squad. A scholarship student who graduated from the Academy early, he has a keen observational eye and excellent combat sense. He is not good at cooperating and prefers acting alone, and looks down on the other members of his squad. He is poor at expressing his emotions, but his jealousy is stronger than most. His father was a former special agent who was killed in the line of duty while confronting the One-Eyed Owl, so he is aiming to be promoted to S3 Squad in order to get revenge.

Shirazu Ginshi

Voice actor: Yuuma Uchida

A young man with distinctive shark-like teeth. He is obsessed with money, and agreed to the Quinx procedure for the money. He has a simple but honest personality, and is the type who works hard when given a responsible job. Contrary to his bad-boy appearance and rough behavior, he also has a caring side for his friends. He has a personality that is the polar opposite of Urie, and they often clash.

June Tohru

Voice actor: Natsumi Fujiwara

An investigator who calls Haise "Sensei" and adores him. After his parents were killed by ghouls, he was taken in by the academy. He is earnest but shy, and doesn't like the sight of blood. Even after the Quinx treatment, his strength and agility have not improved, and he is stagnating. As a result of the treatment, he covers his right eye with an eyepatch, and because his Rc value is the lowest in the squad, he is unable to produce his kagune.

Saiko Yonebayashi

Voice actor: Sakura Ayane

A NEET investigator who shuts himself away in his room and lives a carefree life. He has the best aptitude for Quinx treatment among his team, but has no intention of becoming an investigator and is unmotivated. He has poor time management skills, and even his team leader, Urie, has given up on letting him participate in investigative activities. His hobbies include anime, games, manga, and collecting figurines, and he is self-conscious about being a little on the chubby side.

Akira Mado

Voice actor: Seto Asami

A senior investigator and Haise's leader. Following in the footsteps of his late father, Kureo, he is passionate about defeating ghouls. He is pursuing the ghoul group "Aogiri Tree."

Arima Takamasa

Voice actor: Daisuke Namikawa

A special investigator, he is an undefeated figure that many investigators look up to. He is like a father to Haise, who has lost his memory.

■ Production staff

Many talented staff members are involved in the production of "Tokyo Ghoul:re." Below are the main staff members:

original work

Sui Ishida (serialized in Shueisha's "Weekly Young Jump")

director

Watanabe Yasuhiro

Screenplay and series composition

Chuji Mikasa

Character Design

Atsuko Nakajima

Sub-character design

Hiroaki Karasu

Sound Director

Noboru Haraguchi

music

Yutaka Yamada

Animation Production

Studio Pierrot

Animation production cooperation

studio Pierrot+

■ Main robot items

In "Tokyo Ghoul:re," there are special items that are used to fight ghouls. The main items are introduced below.

Quinque

A device that processes a ghoul's "kakuhou" and artificially generates "kagune" using electrical signals. The CCG succeeded in researching and developing it, making it possible for humans to fight back against ghouls. It is a special weapon that only ghoul investigators are permitted to use, and requires appropriate skill and aptitude to handle. Since they are often carried in large bags or attaché cases, investigators who carry Quinques are relatively easy targets for ghouls to be wary of.

mask

A mask that hides the real face of a ghoul when fighting or coming into contact with a CCG ghoul investigator. Once a person is recognized as a ghoul, they become a target of investigation, so it is an ironclad rule for ghouls that their real identity and real face do not match. Different ghouls have different masks, and the design changes depending on the individual's tastes and preferences, and the creator's image.

■Subtitle

The subtitles for each episode of "Tokyo Ghoul:re" symbolize the development of the story. Below are the subtitles for all episodes.

• Episode 1: "The Hunters START" (2018/04/03)
• Episode 2: "Fragment Member" (2018/04/10)
• Episode 3: "Pre-Festival Fresh" (2018/04/17)
• Episode 4: "Auction MAIN" (2018/04/24)
• Episode 5: "Fading Night Press" (2018/05/01)
• Episode 6: "Turn at the End" (2018/05/08)
• Episode 7: "Mind" (2018/05/15)
• Episode 8: "TAKe, the Writhing Thing" (2018/05/22)
• Episode 9: "Ghost Play" (2018/05/29)
• Episode 10: "Shaking Think" (2018/06/05)
• Episode 11: "Missing Person WritE" (2018/06/12)
• Episode 12: "Beautiful Dream at Dawn" (2018/06/19)

■ Related works

Tokyo Ghoul:re is deeply connected to the following related works:

• Original work: Sui Ishida (serialized in Shueisha's "Weekly Young Jump")
• Anime: "Tokyo Ghoul"
• Anime: "Tokyo Ghoul √A"

■ Theme songs and music

The theme song and insert songs of "Tokyo Ghoul:re" are important elements that enhance the atmosphere of the work. Below are the theme songs and insert songs.

Opening Theme

• Period: Episodes 1 to 12
• Song title: asphyxia
• Lyricist: Nakamura Miki
• Composer: Nakamura Miki
• Arrangement: C? shu Nie
• Sung by: C? shu Nie

Ending Theme

• Period: Episodes 1 to 12
• Song Name: HALF
• Lyricist: Rose Garden Av
• Composer: Rose Garden Av
• Sung by: Queen Bee

■ Evaluation and recommendation

"Tokyo Ghoul:re" is a work that inherits the deep themes and detailed storytelling of the original work, but is drawn from an anime-specific perspective. In particular, the growth and conflicts of each member of the Quinx Squad, as well as the grand theme of exploring the coexistence of ghouls and humans, leave a strong impression on viewers. In addition, the personalities and backgrounds of the characters are carefully drawn, adding depth to the story.

Thanks to the talent and hard work of the production staff, the worldview of the original work has been beautifully reproduced, and the visual appeal is also great. The opening and ending themes also add to the atmosphere of the work and enhance the emotions of the viewers.

This work is highly recommended for viewers who enjoy dark fantasy and psychological depth. In particular, those who have read the original work will enjoy the anime's unique interpretation and expression. Also, those who are experiencing the world of "Tokyo Ghoul" for the first time will be satisfied with the deep story and fascinating characters.

"Tokyo Ghoul:re" is a story of a soul wavering between darkness and light, and is a work that will give viewers a lot of inspiration and thought. Please watch this work and experience its profound world.