Episode 1 of Tougen Anki: Nikko Kegon Falls Arc felt like a noticeable step up from the previous season for me. The animation looks cleaner, the opening is great, and the whole episode has a more confident feel to it. 🔥
I liked seeing how much the group has changed too, especially Jin. He feels calmer and more natural as a leader now, while Yaoroshi going completely against Mudano’s idea of friendship creates an interesting conflict right from the start.
The mountain training section was probably my favorite part. It starts off almost like a normal training mission, then things quickly become more dangerous than expected. Even the instructors felt suspicious from the beginning, especially with that handshake scene. 😂
Mikado being pushed aside after trying to talk about peace also shows that the Momotaro side is still nowhere near ready to change.
Overall, this was a strong return. Better visuals, more mature character dynamics, and enough mystery around the Oni Brigade and Kegon Falls to make me genuinely excited for this arc. ⚔️👹