When I first noticed Fire Force popping up—streaming on Crunchyroll during the Spring 2025 anime season—it piqued my interest as one of the final great series of that lineup. I’d heard whispers that it carried forward some of the energy of Soul Eater, which instantly lit a spark of curiosity.
With the world in the grip of spontaneous human combustion, Shinra Kusakabe is a member of Special Fire Force Company 8 that fights against a horrifying enemy: the Infernals, who are humans who have been burned by spontaneous human combustion and transformed into monsters. Yet there is more than just flame-fighting going on: there are religious cults, haunting power, and reflections of the past trauma of Shinra himself.
The animation was burning with more intensity than I thought. David Production, which produces JoJo Bizarre Adventure, provides fire effects, which are alive, crackling, swirling, breathing. When Shinra brings down the flames, a blaze, or firemen fight with the religious fanatics White-Clad cult, it is simply kinetic cinema.
That is why Episode 6 of Season 3 in which Shinra fights against Captain Burns went viral. The fight was dubbed by fans as one of the best in anime in 2025 due to its perfect choreography and flashbacks that touch the heartstrings.
Not all the scenes set fire, though. The flow has stalled: Season 3, Part 1 is sharp in the beginning and dull in the end. Critics observe lessons about world lore, also find that not all emotional stakes connected
But Why Tho?
Setting is important: following chapters of explosions are chapters of slower arcs that are like long waits between action bursts.
The arc of Shinra is not light: a hero with a guilty conscience and with hope. Critics even recognize his strata of sorrow and self-questioning.
Supporting characters, such as Maki Oze and Arthur Boyle, arouse admiration of fans, although not all of them appreciate whether their characters are deep enough. Maki is not unpopular, yet certain fans feel marginalized. The bravado of Arthur is convincing, even arrogant.
It also has fan-service that is repeated, including with Tamaki Kotatsu, with the Reddit debates about it being either funny or despised because of its timing and tone. It occasionally breaks the tone--serious interspersed with suggestive humour.
I watched several episodes late at night with headphones—and I could feel that crackle when fire ignites on screen. The sound design is repeatedly praised: every casualty, roar, and whoosh feels visceral . Kenichiro Suehiro’s soundtrack flips between soaring heroism and smoldering tension—quite literally underscoring every emotional and action-packed moment.
In addition to hot fights, Fire Force gives a look at the identity under the veil of fire. The fight of Shinra is not only a fight between the outside and inside, but also the fight of trauma and hope. There are characters struggling with faith, authority, and intentions.
Religion is a theme (Infernals and the White-Clad), and the fire is not just fire, but the image of rebirth, faith and temptation of the power
Fire Force is not perfect. Its rhythm slows down when the initial excitement wears off, and some storylines seem to be used in the wrong way. Sometimes fan service takes the focus away of what could otherwise be a gripping moment.
Nevertheless it has what it is offering: spectacular fire animation, action packed fight scenes and a world burnt with emotion. The tragedy-fueled-but-redemption-illuminated path of Shinra still remains the core of it
I could not sleep because I was binge-watching Episode 6 of this season since it appeared and seemed to be alive. It was the sound, the visuals, emotional beats--they fitted. However, the weight was felt when the slow burn came. But yet I am tempted to complete, to be tempted by that promise of flame.
Streaming Season 3 is just like being on a rollercoaster and the ride is just going up again, perhaps it is about to hit the top. Part 2 will be released in January 2026, so I am willing to bet the finale will deliver the payoff the first few episodes warrant.
You might like Fire Force, in case you like a hot action, emotional character development surrounded in flames, and you can excuse the clumsy pacing and fan-service tangents. Just make sure you watch it with volume on- and perhaps do not drink coffee when you watch; the adrenaline may not let you sleep.
Thumbnail is designed by me on pixelLab and other images are screenshot from the movie
