Tokyo Revengers is one of the most popular anime Crunchyroll streamed in April 2021 and has enjoyed tremendous success ever since. After discovering he has the ability to leap through time, this shonen anime follows 26-year-old Takemichi Hanagaki as he embarks on a mission to save his middle school girlfriend from a fatal future.
The series offers entertainment, comedy, and an assortment of exciting characters. Notably, Tokyo Revengers contains some incredibly heavy themes, making this series one of the most harrowing anime in recent memory.
10 Resist: Takemichi Is Brutally Beaten With A Baseball Bat
Takemichi returns to the past for the second time in "Resist" and is immediately thrown into the lion's den. After being knocked out too quickly in Kiyomasa's fighting ring, Takemichi takes a beating at the hands of Kiyomasa and his gang. Following the beating, Takemichi notices who Kiyomasa is and asks to be introduced to Toman's leader.
Annoyed by Takemichi's audacious request, Kiyomasa beats him brutally with a baseball bat, which subsequently makes Takemichi question whether he's capable of saving Hina at all. This moment cements just how helpless and alone he really is.
9 Rechange: Takemichi Realizes He Failed To Protect Draken
During a passionate moment with Hina, Takemichi receives a call from Yamagishi regarding the internal conflict within Toman. Yamagishi tells Takemichi that there are several members of Toman upset with Draken and Mikey reconciling. Takemichi, alarmed by this revelation, realizes Draken may still be in serious danger and races off to find him.
Takemichi runs into Kiyomasa and his gang on the way. When he asks Kiyomasa why he is trying to kill Draken, he and the rest of the gang batter him and leave him tied up in the rain. Shortly after, Hina finds Takemichi, who bursts into tears over being a failure. Though Hina comforts him, it's hard to see Takemichi in such a helpless state.
8 Reborn: Takemichi's Traumatic Middle School Past Is Revealed
Tokyo Revengers wastes little time introducing fans to the bleak events in store for its protagonist, Takemichi. After learning that his ex-girlfriend from middle school, Hina, and her brother Naoto were killed in a gang dispute, the 26-year-old loner is pushed in front of an oncoming train. However, instead of dying, Takemichi finds himself thrust 12 years into the past.
From there, Takemichi and his friends take a vicious beating from Kioymasa and his gang, and Takemichi is forced to remember just how awful that time was for him. The series' first episode really sets the stage for an unpropitious time to come.
7 Dead Or Alive: Takemichi Witnesses Kazutora Stab Baji
As the Toman and Valhalla battle wages on, Takemichi wraps his arms around Baji's waist in the hope of protecting him from impending doom. Baji tries to break free to no avail before Kazutora stuns everyone by sticking a knife into his back.
In one surprising moment, not only does Kazutora betray Baji, the person who has stood by him since the beginning, but Takemichi also ends up being the reason Baji is stabbed in the first place. For all his troubles, Takemichi is forced to witness another traumatic event unfold right before his eyes. This time, he's largely responsible.
6 Revive: Pah Is Mercilessly Beaten By Osanai
After Pah is determined to avenge his friend after he learns that Moebius' leader, Osanai, beat his friend and forced him to watch as Osanai assaulted his girlfriend. Unfortunately, when Toman and Moebius finally come face-to-face, Pah suffers a vicious beating at the hands of Osanai while the rest of Toman look on. Mikey steps in and floors Osanai, embarrassing him in front of Moebius.
Incensed, Osanai attempts to stab Mikey but Draken stops him. Pah takes this opportunity to stab Osanai instead, to everyone's surprise. In the end, Pah is arrested as the rest of Toman and Moebius escape. This event leads to an internal conflict that very nearly tears Toman apart.
5 Once Upon A Time: Toman's Troubled Backstory Is Revealed
In a flashback episode, Kazutora hatches a plan to steal the bike Mikey wants to present to him on his upcoming birthday. Baji, who accompanies Kazutora, tells him that Mikey won't be pleased with him stealing it. Kazutora is adamant, however, explaining that he doesn't intend on telling Mikey how they got the bike.
Later that night, they break into the bike shop, but Baji is quickly confronted by the bike shop's owner, Shinichiro — Mikey's older brother. Kazutora sees what's happening and acts rashly, smashing Shinichiro in the head with some bolt cutters. This incident kills Mikey's brother and changes Toman forever.
4 Return: Akkun Confesses That He Tried To Kill Takemichi
Takemichi returns to the present and learns that one of his friends, Akkun, is now among the upper echelon in the Tokyo Manji Gang. After finding Akkun's old number, Takemichi calls him to arrange a meeting at the hostess bar Akkun now runs. When Takemichi and Akkun reunite, Akkun requests that they speak on the rooftop.
There, he reveals to Takemichi that he attempted to kill him at the railway station per order of Kisaki Tetta, Toman's leader. Akkun then jumps to his death as Takemichi looks on in disbelief. This event immediately heightens the stakes and makes it amply clear that Takemichi has his work cut out for him.
3 One And Only: Baji Stabs Himself To Stop Mikey
After stabbing Baji and suffering a brutal beating from Mikey, Kazutora realizes that Baji was the one person he could rely on. Baji is concerned for Kazutora's wellbeing and calls out to Mikey to get him to stop before mustering enough strength to walk over to his downed friend.
Baji tells Kazutora that he won't die by his hand, then pulls out a knife and plunges it into his own belly, to the shock and horror of the rest of Toman. Shortly after, in one of the series' most heart-wrenching moments, Baji dies in Chifuyu's arms.
2 A Cry Baby: Kisaki Shoots Takemichi
Takemichi returns to the present following the battle between Toman and Valhalla and learns that he's now the Tokyo Manji Gang's top exec. Takemichi and Chifuyu later attend a Toman meeting held by the upper echelon where Takemichi discovers Kisaki is the gang's leader. Kisaki pulls Takemichi and Chifuyu into a private room and proceeds to shoot Chifuyu in the head for being a traitor.
Moments later, he shoots Takemichi in the leg, then raises the gun to his head. As the episode fades to black, a gunshot rings out, leaving viewers unaware of Takemichi's fate. After all he's been through, Takemichi ends up in a present still plagued with the pain he's so desperate to escape.
1 Revenge: Takemichi Helplessly Witnesses Hina's Death
Takemichi returns to the present after saving Draken, believing that he's changed things for the better. He reunites with Naoto in a present where Hina is still alive, so he visits her. While the two are alone, Hina effectively professes her love to Takemichi, taking him by surprise. Takemichi composes himself in a public toilet while Hina returns to Naoto's car only to be rammed into by a vehicle driven by Akkun.
Takemichi rushes to the scene and sees Akkun briefly before his car explodes, then dashes to Naoto's vehicle where Hina is trapped beneath twisted metal. Takemichi hurriedly confesses his love for Hina mere moments before the car explodes, killing her, and making "Revenge" the most traumatic episode in the first season of Tokyo Revengers.