Is Amon Alive in Tokyo Ghoul Re? Spoiler Alert: It’s Complicated (Like Most Things in Tokyo Ghoul)
You are starting Tokyo Ghoul:re. Amon Kotaro has you puzzled. He went up against Kaneki before. Things did not end well for our beloved Ghoul Investigator. Let’s dig into this mystery. Be ready for surprises. In Tokyo Ghoul, death is just a career change.
Amon’s Dubious Demise and Shocking Return
Let’s rewind. If you have a cloudy memory or you saw Root A, you may remember Amon appearing to die in a fierce battle with Kaneki. The anime shows this as his end. But Tokyo Ghoul enjoys messing with our feelings. Like whether Hide is really dead, Amon’s story continues.
Jump to Tokyo Ghoul:re, and Amon returns. Not as a ghost, thankfully, but as a ghoul-human hybrid. Yes, it’s true. Our devoted ghoul investigator who fought ghouls is now one of them. What irony! It resembles a vegetarian suddenly wanting steak— only much more dramatic and with tentacles.
Amon returns during the Rushima Landing Operation as an artificial one-eyed ghoul. It’s truly a “out of the frying pan, into the Kakuja-induced fire” moment. You may have felt as shocked as walking into Anteiku with Kaneki brewing coffee using his Kagune. Confusing, right?
From Ghoul Investigator to Ghoul Hybrid: The Unpleasant Transformation
How does Amon shift from fighting ghouls to becoming one? This transformation was not relaxing or easy. After his supposed death, Amon was captured by Aogiri Tree. Those kind folks are into kidnapping and chaos.
Who masterminded this capture? Dr. Kanou, the mad scientist of Tokyo Ghoul. In his curious mind, he selected Amon for his twisted plans. Amon experienced endless torture just to become a ghoul. Think less spa-day and more medieval torture.
This process was not random cruelty, though there was plenty of that. Kanou aimed to develop new Rc pathways in Amon. He sought to rewire Amon’s body to act like a ghoul’s. This was designed to enhance Amon, wipe out human weaknesses, and ruin his life. Success! (from Kanou’s angle).
Amon 2.0: The Righteous Ghoul in Tokyo Ghoul:re
Amon’s role in Tokyo Ghoul:re becomes fascinating. He does not strongly align with any group. He resembles a lone wolf, appearing unexpectedly, leaving onlookers puzzled about his loyalty.
Despite the transformation and torture, Amon’s core traits survive. He maintains justice and righteousness from his time as a human investigator. Even as a ghoul, he still won’t kill humans or eat other ghouls. This choice is significant. It’s against the usual nature of ghouls. Amon becomes a Kakuja—a ghoul evolved by cannibalism—but not through eating others. Go figure! Tokyo Ghoul loves to twist its rules.
Amon evolves into a mythical figure, arriving suddenly to help those in distress. Imagine a grumpy guardian angel with a Kagune but no taste for human flesh. This mysterious savior aspect boosts his diverse role and depth of character in :re. One might wonder about connections to figures like Amon of Judah, known for complex narratives, but perhaps that’s over-analysis.
Yet, some pieces of Amon’s journey in :re feel unresolved. His bond with Akira Mado, an essential emotional tie in the original series, lacks proper focus. The writers had many plot threads to juggle, leaving some relationships shallow. This feels like a narrative misstep, especially given audience investment in Amon and Akira.
Takizawa: A Ghoul Transformation Gone Wrong (So Amon Looks Better By Comparison)
To appreciate Amon’s unique journey, let’s briefly discuss Takizawa Seidou. Remember him? The eager, somewhat insecure investigator? He likewise encountered Aogiri and Dr. Kanou and surprise—he became a ghoul too.
Takizawa’s change resembles Amon’s in many ways: capture, torment, transformation by Dr. Kanou. The good doctor seems to have a type. But they diverge significantly. Amon maintained his moral beliefs, but Takizawa fell apart mentally.
Takizawa lost his sanity. Rather than confronting his ghoul identity with remnants of his past self, he became a psychotic monster. Once motivated and hopeful, he turned into a terrifying force. His hair became white—because why not? Tokyo Ghoul loves white hair—and emerged as the One-Eyed Ghoul known as The Owl. So if Amon is the moody guardian angel ghoul, Takizawa evolved into the chaotic evil type. Such contrasts!
Amon: Guardian Angel or Just a Ghoul Who Doesn’t Like Cannibalism? (Maybe Both)
Let’s return to Amon as a mysterious savior. An example is when he saves Saiko Yonebayashi from Shikorae. He swoops in and neutralizes the threat before disappearing, leaving Saiko puzzled and unable to express gratitude—or to flee in fear. Classic Amon: enigmatic, effective, and socially awkward as a ghoul.
Amon’s survival and transformation in Tokyo Ghoul:re add depth to his persona. He is alive but has changed fundamentally while clinging to his values in a corrupting world. Whether he is a tragic hero, misunderstood beast, or something more complex contributes to his engaging and sometimes overlooked character in Tokyo Ghoul’s latter sections. As for ending theories? Well, Tokyo Ghoul :re fans hold plenty of dark theories that will keep you up at night. That’s another rabbit hole to explore later.
