Tokyo Revengers has been garnering a lot of attention as of this Winter season. Especially considering the topic of its second season, along with a new arc and a new antagonistic force for Takemichi to overcome. It doesn't fail to give the audience what they wanted to see, a follow-up to the cliffhanger from the first season, and an explanation of the next arc as well as introducing the Black Dragons. However, with the title of Tokyo Revengers: Christmas Showdown, it may seem odd to consider naming a season after simply one arc. Which does beg the question of why exactly does the arc alone have a season for itself, as opposed to fitting in this arc along with the next one in the future?
When Tokyo Revengers was first released around 2021, many fans of the Manga and show gravitated towards its high-tension arcs as well as the characters struggles towards each of their own goals and dreams. Takemichi is one such individual trying to save a future and helping his friends. With the second season of the show released in 2023, there will be more of what audiences loved about the show. However, whereas the first season focused on two important arcs that intensified as the story went one, the second season was titled after one of the major events of the single arc. Why is that? Sure the arc is a big deal, as this is the biggest obstacle for Takemichi recently, especially since he is a captain of the Tokyo Manji Gang. Although, why this arc in particular is the only one with its own season is something to be understood.
Understanding The Difference
There is something to be said about how seasons being adapted from a Manga into an anime, specifically in regard to Tokyo Revengers. While the first season covered two major arcs and a mini arc that had a 25 episode run, the second season only has the run of 13 episodes along with covering the Christmas Showdown arc on its own. It may seem unfair for the second season to focus merely on one arc as opposed to two more, but the season only has the run-time of half of season 1. With this specific information, it is no surprise why the second season has one entire arc to itself, because the run-time has to focus all of its episodes in developing the characters and the world in thirteen episodes.
Tokyo Revengers focusing on one arc for an entire season of halved run-time is a result because of the studio as well as the importance of the arc and what will happen in the future. Without entirely giving away all the details, the Christmas Showdown arc is an important arc to develop more characters from the story as well as presenting Takemichi's best moments to follow in the future episodes in the best light.
However, the story will not end after this arc, and it is most likely that Tokyo Revengers will set up arcs and season with anticipation to not rush certain moments and to build up the fans expectations and hopes for future seasons. It seems that with the focus of the season being surrounding the Black Dragon Arc, it is most likely that in the future season we will be focusing on an entirely different conflict in the future.
Why The Season Is Focused
While the story seems to have shifted with the amount of episodes it used to have from 25 to 13 between seasons, the focus itself is what allows for a variety of elements to work together and to gauge the audiences' reaction. After all, making an entire season of one anime takes a lot of work and production to make sure it lives up to the audience's expectations.
If Tokyo Revengers does well in the second season despite its shortened run-time with the 13 episodes, then it is most likely that there will be more seasons of the show being adapted in future seasons. One of the benefits of having a season focus entirely on one arc is the ability to focus on certain emotional scenes, work on animation as well as adapting the Manga with no issues. If it weren't for that fact, the Christmas Showdown Arc could possibly have not been at its best if that were such the case.
Despite all that, the characters and the current arc are dense in themes, character dynamics behind Takemichi and the rest of the cast. This means that the story needs more time to be able to portray these conversations and events in detail, along with providing the proper musical score and animation direction to make the second season memorable for the audience. Thankfully, at the moment this is starting to pay off for the season, as the story has seen success and the fans seem to enjoy the entire season as of right now.
It is likely that there will be more to see and witness, as long as the story is building up to the titular Christmas showdown of the second season. After all, character dynamics and stakes need to be established for the audience to be invested as well as concerned for Takemichi to succeed in changing the future for the better. Tokyo Revengers: Christmas Showdown certainly hasn't neglected its arc, or its production as a result, if its episodes speak for themselves as a result, which means for the audience a much more engaging story and anime as a result. Perhaps it is for the best that the arc has its own season, and it could be the same for future seasons.