If anime is art, then Gachiakuta is a masterpiece. And our world, flooded as it is with prosaic isekai trash, needs masterpieces.
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Gachiakuta Reminds Us It’s All in the Eyes
We all know anime characters have large eyes to convey emotion. They’re the proverbial window to the soul. Studio Bones Film has perfected the “big eyes” device, and the result is on show in Gachiakuta. We’re treated to layered representations of rage, fear, and madness displayed through the eyes of main character Rudo (voiced by Aoi Ichikawa and Yō Taichi) and support characters like Riyo Reaper (Yumiri Hanamori) and Enjin (Katsuyuki Konishi).
And every monster and villain drips with malice. The hate shines clearly in each threat’s eyes.
But Gachiakuta’s representation of eyes is only the spear tip of the animators’ skills.
Sharp Animation. Sharp Hits.
Gachiakuta drives a hard-hitting combo of edgy animation and frenetic action straight to the heart. Bones Film synthesized the artistry of the Kung-Fu movie and modern animation techniques, and it’s driven by soulful storytelling.
You’ll stay on your toes because there’s no anticipating where the spear will strike next.
Gachiakuta and the Bait and Switch
And Gachiakuta is hard to predict. The writer, Hiroshi Seko, uses his storytelling artistry to hit you with clever twists. Sometimes subtle. Sometimes shattering. But the writer never yanks the wool too hard to leave you feeling cheated, only teased. It’s a good kind of teasing.
We won’t stay waiting too long for more teasing either. The second cour of Gachiakuta kicks off soon.
Watch Gachiakuta for the Love of Anime Fights
Gachiakuta (roughly “awesome trash”) is everything it says on the box: a raw, action anime set in a dystopian, trash-littered future. Watch it to see anime at its best, to enjoy bone-shattering anime fights, or to drink in this season’s hottest dark skinned waifu, Semiu Grier (voiced by Mie Sonozaki). She should take a job at J-List.
You can watch Gachiakuta on Crunchyroll (are there many other choices?). The second cour kicks off on October 12th. Mori Calliope, of Hololive fame, made the opening song for this next arc of Gachiakuta. Rudo’s fight for revenge earns a smashing five Chibi Megumis. Gachiakuta is a must-watch.
Rudo joins with the Cleaners, a team of specialists who use Vital Instruments (spirit-infused household items) to destroy the trash beasts that threaten life in the trash wastes. What would your Vital Instrument be? Mine would be a mug of tea, because who can stand up against dust bunnies without sufficient caffeine? Tell us about your Vital Instrument in the comments below.
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Happy New Year from your Friend in Japan, J-List! We hope 2026 is a year of happiness and peace for you. To get things off right, we’re having a huge site-wide New Year’s Sale through Jan. 6, giving you 15$ off all in-stock products. Start browsing now!
