Crunchyroll’s New Streaming Hit Anime of 2026 Is Naruto Meets Chainsaw Man

Every anime season has one surprise hit that nobody sees coming. Summer 2026 has found its breakout success, and it isn’t a long-running franchise. According to FlixPatrol’s list of the top anime TV shows on the streaming site Crunchyroll, Black Torch has managed to rise to number one.

That is an impressive achievement in a season filled with major sequels and brand-new releases. Thanks to its exciting mix of ninja action, supernatural battles, and memorable characters, Black Torch stands out among the rest.

Black Torch Takes the No. 1 Spot on Crunchyroll

Black Torch is currently the most-watched TV show on Crunchyroll, according to FlixPatrol’s rankings for August 3, 2026 (via FlixPatrol). The series has overtaken several popular fantasy and action anime, showing just how fast it has become a fan favorite.

Jiro’s first look from Black Torch anime’s trailer. | Credit: 100studio

Here are the current Top 10 anime TV Shows on Crunchyroll –

Reaching the top of this list is a big milestone. The summer 2026 anime lineup is packed with highly anticipated anime, yet Black Torch has managed to stand above them all. The anime has introduced many new viewers to Tsuyoshi Takaki’s manga and has become one of Crunchyroll’s biggest streaming successes this year.

What Is Black Torch About?

Black Torch follows Jiro Azuma, a teenager from a long line of ninja who has a very unusual gift – he can communicate with animals. His peaceful life changes forever after he rescues a mysterious black cat named Rago, who is actually a legendary Mononoke, or supernatural spirit.

Jiro is interacting with Rago, a mononoke spirit that takes the form of a black cat. | Credit: 100studio

After Jiro gets severely injured trying to protect Rago, the spirit saves his life by merging their vital energy together. In doing so, Jiro and the spirit become one being with an unstable and strong relationship affecting both of them.

Shortly after that, the duo gets recruited by the Bureau of Espionage, a secret governmental agency that deals with dangerous Mononoke that reside among humans. The two of them fight against spirits and grow closer while discovering the values of friendship, obligation, family, and struggle between human instincts and supernatural power.

Surprisingly enough, Black Torch could have ended up being forgotten altogether before even gaining any attention. The original manga series was released in Shueisha’s Jump Square from 2016 until 2018, and it lasted for a total of 19 chapters before the manga ended up being cancelled with five volumes due to poor pacing and low rankings among Japanese fans.

That being said, over time the manga gained more fans overseas, as many people admired the artistic style and the cool ideas presented throughout the series. As a result of the increasing cult following, the series recently earned an anime adaptation, with Black Torch giving hope to unexplored manga a new opportunity to shine.

Why Black Torch Feels Like Naruto Meets Chainsaw Man

It is easy to see why so many fans compare Black Torch to both Naruto and Chainsaw Man. Like Naruto, the story centers on a young ninja from a shinobi family who becomes involved in hidden battles that ordinary people never see. Jiro’s ability to communicate with animals and his ninja upbringing give the series a classic ninja feel.

At the same time, Black Torch shares clear similarities with Chainsaw Man. After nearly dying, Jiro survives by merging with Rago, a powerful supernatural being. Their relationship is similar to Denji and Pochita’s, as the two must learn to work together despite having completely different personalities.

The anime also features a secret government organization that hunts supernatural threats, creating a darker urban fantasy world filled with intense battles and powerful monsters. Even with those similarities, Black Torch never feels like a copy. Instead, it combines familiar ideas into something fresh, mixing ninja traditions with supernatural action to create one of the most exciting new anime.

Now the big question: Have you started watching Black Torch yet, or do you think it deserves to be Crunchyroll’s biggest anime hit? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Black Torch is currently available to watch on Crunchyroll.