MeinMMO editor Jasmin Beverungen was able to watch the first two episodes of Gachiakuta before release. Even though she has only seen the beginning of the anime, she can hardly wait for the rest.
My anime taste is in complete contrast to my video game taste. While I am currently drawn to cozy games like Fantasy Life i or Rune Factory, I cannot wait for the new film of Chainsaw Man. I also love well-known shonen like Naruto, One Piece, or Dragon Ball for their battles.
I was all the more excited when Gachiakuta was announced as an anime. It’s one of the highlights this summer and stands out with its dark setting. Our editorial team jokingly refers to the series as “trash anime” because it deals with, well, trash. Even the first trailers have shown that things get rough.
Thanks to Crunchyroll, I got the chance to watch the first two episodes of the anime before their release. And if you’re still not quite sure whether Gachiakuta might be for you, I can give you an initial assessment.
Gachiakuta is about trash, plays in trash, lives off trash
In Gachiakuta, it’s about the boy Rudo, who lives with his guardian between two social classes. They all somehow relate to trash:
- The wealthy citizens deal wastefully with their trash and isolate themselves from other social classes.
- The residents of the slums must cope with what the rich leave behind. They try to lead a normal life in poverty.
- Those who commit a crime in the slums end up in an abyss, also known as hell. Down here lives the true scum among trash heaps and trash monsters.
Rudo becomes a suspect in a murder case due to an unfortunate incident. He is abandoned by the people from the slums and thrown into hell. In doing so, he swears to take revenge on all those who have done this to him.
The big message of the first two episodes is to be more careful with your trash. Rudo appreciates the value of what is thrown away and thereby develops a kind of bond with trash, through which he develops special powers. He even repairs a discarded stuffed rabbit for a friend, who then simply throws it away after the accusations against Rudo.
Trash reigns on the junkyard
However, the trash also comes from the more unpleasant side. During the two episodes, I could almost smell how bad it must be in hell. There are piles of trash bags everywhere. As soon as characters take off their gas masks, they start to gag. This emphasizes the rough tone of the anime, which is present everywhere.
The mountains of trash even develop their own lives in Gachiakuta. Monsters with poisonous breath emerge from them, wanting to kill people. Hell makes it clear from the very beginning that the inhabitants live under the worst conditions – and thus distrust each other accordingly.
Another feature that shows how rough and brutal the anime is, is the use of blood. In his first fight, Rudo spits so much blood that I thought he would soon kick the bucket. Although the level is not quite on par with Chainsaw Man or Elfen Lied, where the guts and limbs are flying around, Gachiakuta is already not for the faint-hearted.
In addition, the treatment of people towards each other makes the anime seem hopeless and dark. Rudo loses his only point of reference and is abandoned by both society and his childhood friend. Down in hell, it doesn’t look any better.
There is also often resentment shown towards other characters, whether they are the wealthy people behind the protective walls or the residents of the slums, who already don’t have much in their lives. The occasional dialect that comes through and the above-average use of swear words fit perfectly, like a lid on a garbage can.
Hope for a strong anime
Gachiakuta has already shown in the first two episodes that the anime is of a high quality. There were some cutscenes that suddenly had a cartoon-like drawing style. The synchronization also fits perfectly with the characters. Especially Rudo with his rough voice is a particularly good choice, both in Japanese and in German.
Unfortunately, there were no great battles to see in the first two episodes yet. Rudo is just beginning to discover his abilities, which can be applied in various ways. Thanks to the manga, it is already known that Rudo will experience several battles and continue to develop his powers.
As the story of the manga is not yet complete, it remains to be seen whether the anime will also establish itself in the long term. So far, Rudo and the cleaning crew are going on various missions where they want to uncover some secrets. Depending on the outcome, Gachiakuta could develop into a great anime!
If you are not afraid of a lot of brutality, Gachiakuta is definitely worth recommending for you. Aside from that, MeinMMO has listed 5 more animes that are even more brutal and therefore rated 18+: Anime 18+ – These 5 series are not for kids
