Is the cat actually a cat?

Technically, no. Rago is a 'mononoke'—a supernatural spirit—who just happens to look like a black cat. Don't expect him to act like a pet; he's more of a powerful, grumpy warrior trapped in a feline body.

How violent does it get compared to Naruto?

It's a step up. While Naruto has plenty of action, Black Torch has a slightly more 'seinen' (adult) feel to its violence. It's more about sharp blades and physical impact, and the monster designs are significantly more unsettling.

Is there a lot of 'fan service' or inappropriate content?

Based on the source material, Black Torch is pretty clean in this department. It focuses heavily on action and plot rather than the typical 'beach episodes' or suggestive humor found in other shonen series.

Do I need to know anything about ninjas to enjoy this?

Not really. The show explains its own 'Bureau of Espionage' and shinobi lore as it goes. It's a self-contained world that blends history with sci-fi.

BLACK TORCH

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

show2026

80%

WISE Score

A teenage ninja and a legendary demon-cat team up for a high-octane supernatural spy thriller that's as sharp as a kunai.

BLACK TORCH

show

16, 2026

80%

WISE Score

A teenage ninja and a legendary demon-cat team up for a high-octane supernatural spy thriller that's as sharp as a kunai.

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Screenwise Verdict

Black Torch is the kind of show that reminds you why the 'ninja' trope is a classic. It’s fast, it’s stylish, and it doesn’t waste your time with 50 episodes of training arcs. By pairing a descendant of the shinobi with a legendary cat-demon, it creates a buddy-cop dynamic that actually feels earned rather than forced.

If your kid is graduating from basic shonen and looking for something with a bit more edge and a lot more style, this is a top-tier pick for 2026. Just be ready for some fairly intense monster fights and a plot that moves at a breakneck pace.

Age Fit

Best for the 12 and up crowd. It hits that sweet spot for middle schoolers who want something 'cooler' and more mature than Pokémon but aren't ready for the heavy-duty seinen stuff.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

At its core, this is a story about loyalty and the bond between a boy and his (very dangerous) cat. It models discipline and the weight of legacy, though the 'ninja spy' world is inherently cynical.

Imaginative

The blend of ancient shinobi techniques, modern secret-ops tech, and supernatural mononoke folklore is stylish and fresh. It avoids the tired 'magic school' tropes for something more like a supernatural thriller.

Safe

It's a battle shonen, so expect swordplay, blood, and some grotesque monster designs. It's safe for the middle school crowd, but the mononoke can be nightmare fuel for younger kids.

Enriching

It tackles the ethics of power and what it means to protect those who can't protect themselves. It also provides a great entry point into Japanese folklore and the concept of 'mononoke'.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Stunning Art Direction: Based on Tsuyoshi Takaki's manga, the show is expected to maintain a sleek, high-contrast aesthetic that stands out from typical bright anime.
Unique Partnership: The dynamic between Jiro and the cat-demon Rago isn't a 'cute mascot' situation; it's a begrudging, complex alliance built on survival.
Fast-Paced Action: Unlike many long-running series, this story is built for tight, impactful combat sequences rather than endless 'power-up' filler.
Modern Folklore: It does a great job of grounding ancient Japanese myths in a contemporary, urban setting Crunchyroll.

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What to Watch For

The mononoke (monsters) are genuinely creepy—think body-horror and unsettling shapes that might bother younger or sensitive viewers.
Combat is frequent and can be bloody; characters get slashed, bruised, and beaten, though it rarely veers into gratuitous 'gore' for gore's sake.

Conversation Starters

"If you could talk to one animal, which one would it be, and do you think they'd actually have anything nice to say?"
"Jiro feels a responsibility to use his ninja heritage for good. Do you think we have a responsibility to use our talents to help others?"
"Rago is feared because of his power. Is it fair to judge someone based on what they are capable of, or only on what they actually do?"

Deep Dive

The Shinobi Secret Service

What makes Black Torch work is that it doesn't just treat 'ninja' as a costume. It treats it as a tactical discipline. Jiro Azuma isn't just a kid with powers; he's a trained martial artist who happens to have the weirdest roommate in the world—a legendary cat-demon named Rago.

Style Over Slop

In an era where a lot of anime can feel like it's being cranked out of a factory, the source material for Black Torch was famous for its incredible line work and character design. The show is expected to lean into that 'street-style' ninja look. It feels modern, urban, and slightly dangerous.

The Rago Factor

Rago is the highlight here. He isn't a talking cat for comic relief. He's the 'Black Star of Doom,' and the show treats him with the appropriate level of dread. The tension between Jiro’s desire to live a normal life and Rago’s status as a supernatural nuclear weapon drives the drama. It’s a great way to talk to kids about burden and responsibility—what do you do when you're handed a problem you didn't ask for, but only you can solve?

If your kid liked Jujutsu Kaisen or Naruto but wants something with a tighter focus on espionage and hand-to-hand combat, this is the one to watch this year.

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BLACK TORCH – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise