Tokyo Ghoul √A

Synopsis

Continues the story of Tokyo Ghoul

In Tokyo, a concealed threat exists in the form of ghouls—beings that appear human and integrate seamlessly into society. Ken Kaneki, a reserved university student dedicated to his studies, remains oblivious to this rising peril until he encounters Rize Kamishiro, an enchanting woman who asks him on a date. As they head home, Kaneki uncovers Rize's true nature when she exposes her lethal intent. Following a brutal confrontation, he awakens in a hospital to learn that his life was saved by transplanting Rize's organs, a procedure that has fundamentally altered his physiology. As his body undergoes disturbing transformations, Kaneki becomes a hybrid of human and ghoul. While striving to retain his humanity, he finds himself caught in the intensifying war between ghouls and the government forces committed to their extermination.

In this installment

In Tokyo Ghoul √A, Ken Kaneki slowly begins to accept his ghoul nature, a side of himself he previously dreaded and denied. Following a traumatic ordeal of imprisonment and torture, Kaneki chooses to join Aogiri Tree, the brutal ghoul faction that first kidnapped him, a decision that leads his friends to mistrust his allegiance and wonder about his real intentions. As tensions rise between humans and ghouls, the Commission of Counter Ghoul, the government's specialized anti-ghoul force, ramps up its mission to wipe out all ghouls in Tokyo. This escalating danger threatens the delicate balance held by Kaneki's friends and former comrades at the Anteiku coffee shop. Knowing the stakes, Kaneki engages in a series of battles that challenge the very last remnants of his humanity.

Background

Both the Tokyo Ghoul manga and Tokyo Ghoul √A anime concluded with the same last arc, but how the anime arrived at that ending diverged greatly from the source material. Besides changing the ending fight scene and the main major plot of the manga, which was the focus of many chapters in the manga, Tokyo Ghoul √A also features a watered-down and greatly changed version of the source manga's final arc. Episode 1 was previewed at a screening at TOHO Cinemas, Nihonbashi on January 4, 2015. Regular broadcasting began on January 9, 2015.