The 7 Best Anime Like Black Torch to Add to Your Watchlist

For fans searching for an anime like Black Torch, the best next watch is JUJUTSU KAISEN. Both series begin with a high schooler who merges with a powerful supernatural entity and is then recruited into a secret organization. The similarities between protagonists Jirou Azuma and Yuji Itadori make it a natural follow-up.

Black Torch offers a specific blend of urban fantasy, a 'monster-boy' protagonist, and the action of a secret agency. The story's core appeal is Jirou Azuma's fusion with the mononoke Ragou and his recruitment into the Bureau of Espionage. This list ranks recommendations based on how closely they match this premise, from modern hits to the classics that inspired the subgenre.

Key takeaways

• The best recommendation for Black Torch fans is JUJUTSU KAISEN, due to its identical premise of a teen merging with a supernatural entity and joining a secret organization.
• Chainsaw Man offers a grittier, more mature take on the same core concept of a protagonist fusing with a monster and being conscripted into a government agency.
• Classic shonen series like Bleach and Naruto established the 'super-powered teen fights monsters' formula that Black Torch modernizes.
• Kaiju No. 8 and Blue Exorcist explore the theme of a hero who must hide or overcome his monstrous nature while working for an organization that hunts his kind.
• Black Torch is a 12-episode urban fantasy anime from studio 100studio, based on the finished manga of the same name.

What Makes Black Torch Stand Out?

Black Torch centers on Jirou Azuma, a high schooler from a ninja lineage who can talk to animals. His life changes after he encounters Ragou, a powerful cat-like mononoke, which is a type of youkai or spirit.

The story's defining moment is Jirou's fusion with Ragou, which turns him into a human-mononoke hybrid. This transformation grants him immense power but also makes him a target. This 'monster-boy' trope, where a human gains monstrous abilities by merging with a supernatural being, is the story's main hook.

Following this event, Jirou is recruited by the Bureau of Espionage, a secret government agency that handles supernatural affairs. He joins a team of agents to fight other mononoke. The combination of a monster-fused hero, a secret organization, and urban fantasy action is the core formula this list uses for its recommendations.

JUJUTSU KAISEN: The Definitive Recommendation

JUJUTSU KAISEN offers an experience very similar to Black Torch. Protagonist Yuji Itadori, a gifted high school student, swallows a cursed object and becomes the vessel for a powerful Curse named Ryomen Sukuna. This directly parallels Jirou becoming the host for Ragou.

Like Jirou, Yuji is immediately pulled into a hidden world. He is found by Jujutsu Sorcerers, a secret society that exorcises Curses. Instead of being executed, he is enrolled in Tokyo Jujutsu High to aid their cause. This mirrors Jirou’s recruitment into the Bureau of Espionage, as both heroes join a team of specialists to fight supernatural threats.

Produced by studio MAPPA, JUJUTSU KAISEN features high-energy combat against grotesque monsters, similar to the action in Black Torch. Both anime are modern urban fantasies that focus on the teamwork required to police supernatural threats.

The dynamic between Yuji and Sukuna echoes the one between Jirou and Ragou. Although Sukuna is more antagonistic, the theme of a young man drawing power from a chaotic being inside him is central to both stories.

Chainsaw Man: For a Grittier Take on Monster Fusion

For a darker and gorier take on the 'monster-boy joins a government agency' premise, watch Chainsaw Man. The story follows Denji, a young man who merges with his Chainsaw Devil companion, Pochita, after being killed. He is reborn as a human-devil hybrid.

Immediately after his transformation, Denji is conscripted by the Public Safety Devil Hunters, a government organization that hunts devils. Like Jirou, Denji has monstrous powers and is forced into service by an agency that views him as both a weapon and a threat.

However, Chainsaw Man has a much more mature tone than Black Torch. It is a brutal story with horror elements and dark comedy, exploring themes of poverty and exploitation in a visceral way.

Despite the tonal difference, the core premise is the same. Both Denji and Jirou gain powers through a bond with a non-human creature and must operate as part-monster soldiers. Chainsaw Man offers a grim variation on the formula for viewers who can handle its mature content.

Bleach: The Classic 'Substitute Soul Reaper'

Bleach is a foundational series for the subgenre that Black Torch belongs to. The story begins when high school student Ichigo Kurosaki, who can see ghosts, absorbs the powers of a Soul Reaper named Rukia Kuchiki to protect his family from a monstrous spirit called a Hollow.

This act makes him a 'Substitute Soul Reaper,' tasked with cleansing Hollows in his hometown. He operates as an agent of the Soul Society, a spiritual bureaucracy that governs souls and fights Hollows. Over time, he becomes deeply involved with its hierarchy and conflicts.

The similarities to Black Torch are clear: a high school protagonist gains supernatural abilities and fights monsters that threaten the human world. The Soul Society's military arm, the Gotei 13, serves as a template for organizations like the Bureau of Espionage.

Kaiju No. 8: When the Hero Becomes the Monster He Fights

Kaiju No. 8 offers a different twist on the Black Torch formula. Protagonist Kafka Hibino is a 32-year-old man working to clean up kaiju corpses. His dream was to join the Japan Defense Force, which fights the giant monsters, but he failed the exam. His life changes when a small kaiju enters his body, giving him the ability to transform into a powerful kaiju himself.

Dubbed 'Kaiju No. 8' by the Defense Force, Kafka must hide his new identity while pursuing his dream. He enlists in the very organization tasked with destroying his kind, creating constant tension as he fights alongside his comrades while concealing his secret.

This premise shares a key theme with Black Torch: the hero becoming part of the threat he is meant to fight. Like Jirou, Kafka is a human who has merged with a monster and now operates within an elite squad. The Japan Defense Force is a direct analogue to the Bureau of Espionage.

The suspense of Jirou being a human-mononoke hybrid working for an agency is amplified in Kaiju No. 8, as Kafka is simultaneously a hero and the Defense Force's most wanted target.

Blue Exorcist: A Hero with Demonic Heritage

Blue Exorcist explores the theme of a hero using 'cursed' powers for good. Protagonist Rin Okumura discovers he is one of the sons of Satan. After his guardian is killed, Rin vows to become an exorcist to defeat his father.

Unlike Jirou, who fuses with a monster, Rin is born with his demonic power. He inherits the blue flames of Satan, which marks him as a target for both demons and many exorcists. He enrolls in the True Cross Academy, a training ground for the Knights of the True Cross, an organization that fights demons.

The core parallel to Black Torch is the concept of a protagonist with a monstrous connection joining an organization that opposes his nature. Rin must prove his demonic powers can be used for good, just as Jirou must prove he can be trusted despite being part-mononoke. Both series feature a hero who is an outcast among his peers, fighting to find his place.

Other Shonen Anime to Check Out

While the recommendations above are the closest fits, several other shonen series share elements with Black Torch that you might enjoy. These shows capture the spirit of supernatural combat, team-based action, and heroes with extraordinary inner power. Here are a few more to consider:

• Fire Force (Enen no Shouboutai): This series focuses on specialized team combat. The Special Fire Force brigades fight against demonic beings called 'Infernals' in an action series from david production. If the Bureau of Espionage’s team dynamics were your favorite part of Black Torch, this is a strong pick.
• Naruto: As Jirou is a descendant of ninjas, the connection to Naruto is clear. Protagonist Naruto Uzumaki is the host of the powerful Nine-Tailed Fox demon sealed inside him at birth. His journey to control this power and gain respect is a classic shonen story and a thematic predecessor to Jirou's bond with Ragou.
• Daemons of the Shadow Realm (Yomi no Tsugai): This series follows Yuru, a young man who fights alongside supernatural partners known as 'tsugai.' This partner dynamic strongly echoes the relationship between Jirou and Ragou, focusing on the synergy between a human warrior and his otherworldly companions.

BLACK TORCH at a glance

Facts checked against AniList on 2026-10-10.

Frequently asked questions

Is Black Torch a shonen anime?

Yes, Black Torch is a shonen anime. Its tags include Shounen, Action, and Supernatural, and it follows a young male protagonist who gains powers and fights monsters, which are hallmark traits of the genre.

What is the Black Torch anime about?

The Black Torch anime follows Jirou Azuma, a high schooler from a ninja lineage who can talk to animals. After he merges with a powerful cat-like mononoke named Ragou, he is recruited by the Bureau of Espionage to fight other supernatural threats.

How many episodes does the Black Torch anime have?

The Black Torch anime is a single season with 12 episodes. It aired during the Summer 2026 season and has a finished status.

Is the Black Torch manga finished?

Yes, the original Black Torch manga that the anime is based on has finished its run.

Keep reading on WeebMeta

• Our Definitive Ranking of the 10 Best Shonen Anime Ever
• Best Shonen Anime Movies: A Guide to Canon & Standalone Films

Sources

• AniList: BLACK TORCH
• AniList: titles AniList users recommend to fans of BLACK TORCH
• Crunchyroll News: SiM Releases BLACK TORCH Opening Song Anime Special Version Music Video
• Crunchyroll News: SiM on BLACK TORCH and Their Most Aggressive and Fun Album So Far