Imagine a future Tokyo where the morning commute isn’t just about traffic, it’s about survival. You’re on a train, coffee in hand, when someone suddenly bursts into a living, screaming pillar of fire. That’s the terrifying reality of Fire Force Season 1, and honestly, it’s one of the most unique hooks I’ve seen in years.
Created by Atsushi Ohkubo, the mastermind behind the cult classic Soul Eater, this show dropped in 2019 and immediately set the community on fire (pun intended). Whether you missed the initial hype or want a refresher before the newer seasons, this Fire Force Season 1 review breaks down exactly why the show deserves a spot on your watchlist.
Fire Force Plot Summary: More Than Just Firefighters
Before we get into the heavy spoilers, let’s talk about what this show actually is. Fire Force isn’t just your run-of-the-mill action series; it’s this weird, beautiful blend of superhero battles, deep-state conspiracies, and surprisingly heavy questions about religion and science.
It’s animated by David Production (the same studio that gave us the vibrant world of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure), and you can really see that DNA in the animation. The way they handle fire isn’t just “orange scribbles”, it’s fluid, colorful, and genuinely intimidating.
If you’re a fan of Black Clover or Demon Slayer, you’ll feel right at home here. It hits that sweet spot of “found family” dynamics mixed with high-octane combat. Plus, for the eagle-eyed fans, keep an eye on the moon, Ohkubo loves sneaking in those creepy, grinning faces that’ll take you right back to his Soul Eater days.
Fire Force Season 1 Official Trailer
Is the Fire Force Trailer Accurate? Animation and Sound Design
If you haven’t watched the official fire force season 1 trailer lately, do yourself a favor and look it up. Even years later, it’s a masterclass in building anticipation. Usually, anime fire looks standard, but David Production treated it like high art. You’ll see neon greens, electric blues, and deep crimson flames that make every frame look like a painting.
But it’s the sound design that really got me. When Shinra (our protagonist) ignites the flames from his feet, it doesn’t just “whoosh”, it thumps. It’s a heavy, mechanical sound that makes you feel the power behind his kicks. Toss in the opening theme “Inferno” by Mrs. GREEN APPLE, and you’ve got one of the most iconic intros in modern anime.
Fire Force Characters: Company 8 Explained
The heart of the show is Company 8, a ragtag group of firefighters who are basically the underdogs of the Special Fire Force.
- Shinra Kusakabe: He’s a “Third Generation” user who can blast fire from his feet. People call him a “Devil” because he has this involuntary, creepy smile when he’s nervous, a smile that hides a lot of trauma from a fire that killed his family.
- Arthur Boyle: He’s Shinra’s rival and honestly provides half the comedy. He’s convinced he’s a medieval knight, using a plasma sword he calls Excalibur. He’s an idiot, but he’s our idiot.
- Maki Oze: A total fan favorite. She’s a former military officer who is incredibly tough but also has a soft spot for making “fire spirits” that her teammates think are creepy.
- Captain Obi: The leader who actually has no superpowers. He just hits the gym and uses raw human strength and high-tech gear to fight literal fire demons. He’s the moral compass the team needs.
Fire Force Season 1 Mid-Season Recap
The opening arc of fire force season 1 does a fantastic job of setting the stakes. We learn that “Infernals” (the people who combust) are basically lost souls, and the Fire Force’s job is to “extinguish” them to bring them peace.
Things start getting messy when the team realizes that some Infernals aren’t happening naturally, they’re being created. This leads us into a clash with Company 5 and their leader, Princess Hibana. The fight between Shinra and Hibana is a major highlight; it’s the moment the show transitions from “monster-of-the-week” into a much larger conspiracy involving a mysterious group in white and a power known as the “Adolla Burst.”
By the time you hit episode 10, the training wheels are off. You start realizing that the world is much darker than it looks, and the mystery of who burned down Shinra’s house is connected to the very foundation of Tokyo.
Things really start to pick up when the crew heads over to Asakusa. This is where we meet Benimaru Shinmon, and honestly, he’s one of the coolest characters in the entire series. He’s the captain of Company 7, and he doesn’t care about the government or the church, he just cares about his neighborhood.
What makes Benimaru a total beast is that he’s a hybrid; he can create his own fire and control everyone else’s. Seeing the contrast between the high-tech, modern feel of Tokyo and the old-school, traditional Japanese festival vibes of Asakusa is a breath of fresh air. It’s not just for show, either, it sets the stage for how much bigger and more diverse this world is than we first thought.
The Fire Force Nether Arc: Explaining the Season 1 Ending
The season culminates in a massive raid on the Nether, the spooky, abandoned subway tunnels under Tokyo. This is where the “vibe” shifts from a bright action show to something almost like a horror-thriller. It’s dark, it’s claustrophobic, and the stakes finally feel life-or-death.
Fair warning: We’re entering spoiler territory here.
The team gets split up, and we finally get to see the side characters shine. Maki Oze proves she’s more than just a “muscle girl” trope with a fight that shows exactly why you don’t mess with an ex-soldier. But the real emotional gut-punch is the confrontation between Shinra and the leader of the White-Clad.
It turns out that Sho, Shinra’s “dead” little brother, is not only alive but has been brainwashed into being a cold-blooded killer for the enemy. The power gap here is insane. Sho’s “Severed Universe” ability, which basically lets him stop time by cooling the universe around him, is one of those “how do you even beat that?” powers. The animation during their final fight is mind-bending. It’s fast, frantic, and heartbreaking, ending the season on a massive cliffhanger that practically forces you to hit “Next Episode” on Season 2 immediately.
Fire Force Review: The Pros and Cons of Season 1
Look, I love Fire Force, but we have to talk about the elephant in the room: Tamaki.
If there’s one thing that holds this season back for a lot of people, it’s the “Lucky Lewd Loser” trope. There are some incredibly serious, high-stakes moments where the tension is completely broken because Tamaki’s clothes somehow fall off. It’s a classic Ohkubo quirk, but in 2025, it definitely feels a bit dated and distracting.
However, if you can look past that flaw, the rest of this fire force season 1 review highlights why the show is top-tier. The sound design continues to be industry-leading; every explosion has a “crunch” to it that sounds like a physical weight hitting the ground. The mystery of the Adolla Burst remains genuinely intriguing.
Final Verdict: Should You Watch Fire Force in 2025?
In my book, absolutely. Even with its flaws, Fire Force Season 1 stands out because it has an identity. It doesn’t look like My Hero Academia, and it doesn’t sound like Jujutsu Kaisen. It’s got this weird, gritty, religious-punk aesthetic that works surprisingly well.
With Season 3 finally here and the final arc on the horizon in 2026, there’s never been a better time to binge the complete fire force season 1 total episode run. It starts as a show about firefighters and ends as a cosmic mystery regarding the end of the world.
Don’t let your watch list cool down! Check out our latest anime news for Season 3 updates, character deep-dives, and the best new releases of 2025 on Shinime Anime.