BLACK TORCH premiered on July 4, 2026 as a 12-episode Summer 2026 anime. Its premise mixes ninja training, supernatural creatures called mononoke, espionage and a talking black cat named Rago. AniList currently lists an average score of 70%, with the series still releasing.
What people expected
The hook was easy to understand: a ninja descendant who can communicate with animals gets pulled into a hidden supernatural conflict after discovering that the injured cat he helps is actually a powerful being. That setup naturally raised expectations for fast action, stylish battles and a strong partnership between Jiro and Rago. Early independent reviews also pointed to the show's combination of modern ninja ideas and monsters as its core selling point.
Because it was a new series without a huge anime franchise behind it, expectations were different from a major sequel. Viewers were mainly waiting to see whether the premise could grow beyond its prologue and whether the characters would become memorable enough to carry a full season.
How it actually went
The first episode produced a mixed but curious response. But Why Tho? rated the premiere 6.5/10 and said it spent much of its runtime on exposition, while still arguing that the world-building and potential were enough to bring viewers back for the next episode. Another early review praised the protagonist, the Jiro-Rago partnership and the action setup, giving the premiere 4.5/5.
As the season progressed, the audience picture became more nuanced. Filmarks currently shows a 3.2/5 overall rating, with 44% of listed ratings in the 3.1–4.0 band, 34% in the 2.1–3.0 band, and 22% at 4.1 or higher or 1.0–2.0 combined. A September 16 user review on the same service said the series became more tense and engaging around Episode 8.
Episode-level IMDb ratings also show that movement: the first episode is listed at 8.0/10, while later episodes fluctuate rather than collapsing across the run. The published episode data should be read as user ratings, not a scientific measure of universal reception.
What worked
The strongest part of BLACK TORCH is the underlying concept. The show has an easy-to-grasp central duo, a supernatural organization and room for escalating threats. The mix of comedy, ninja action and urban fantasy gives it several different tones to work with.
There is also evidence that the series improved its ability to create tension after the opening setup. That matters because the main criticism of Episode 1 was not that the concept failed, but that the anime spent too much time preparing the story before delivering its payoff. Later viewer reactions suggest that some of that patience was rewarded.
Where it fell short
The early pacing is the clearest weakness in the critical response. When a premiere feels like an extended prologue, viewers may judge the show on potential rather than on what it has actually delivered. That is a risky position for a 12-episode seasonal anime, where every episode has to establish momentum quickly.
Reception is also more divided than the strongest launch-week reviews suggested. AniList's 70% average and Filmarks' 3.2/5 indicate a series with an audience rather than a consensus.
Final takeaway
BLACK TORCH appears to be a “wait for it to develop” kind of anime. Early expectations focused on action and the Jiro-Rago partnership, while the actual season has been judged more heavily on pacing and whether the world-building pays off. The available ratings and later viewer comments suggest that the show has gained some momentum, but the response remains mixed rather than unanimous.
Sources
AniList · Filmarks user ratings · But Why Tho? Episode 1 review