Anime Review: Gachiakuta Episodes 1 And 2 (Spoiler Free)
Gachiakuta is a TV anime adaptation based on the original manga written and illustrated by Kei Urana, with graffiti designs by Hideyoshi Andou, and serialized in Kodansha's Weekly Shonen in February 2022. The anime series is produced by the animation studio Bones Film.
The story takes place in a floating city where the rich live and dump their rubbish, and people into the Pit. Rudo, a teen from the slums, was framed and thrown into the hellish scrapyard filled with mutated garbage beasts. Fueled by revenge, Rudo must use his extraordinary powers to survive and return to the city to rid it of its corrupt, dystopian society.
The main protagonist is obviously hell-bent on getting some payback, not just to the one who framed him, but also to the society that betrayed him. While there are some goofy moments with Rudo, his stoic personality certainly fits the bill of being an anti-hero.
From the get-go, this is certainly not your ordinary anime series, but it has a compelling story and striking visuals. The graffiti art seen in the anime is a nice touch, reminiscent of the hip-hop culture. Bones Film, as always, did a great job with the animation, especially the fight scenes with the CGI mutated garbage beasts.
Though Episode Two showed a glimpse of his abilities, there's definitely more to learn about the main character's new ally, Enjin, in the coming episodes. Speaking of abilities, Rudo certainly has so much to learn not just his powers but also himself.
The comparisons between the original manga and the anime adaptation are expected, but overall, Gachiakuta is definitely worth watching.
The Tagalog-dubbed version* is also well-done. The Filipino voice actors did a wonderful job replicating the original Japanese voice characterizations. They certainly didn't cut corners in the translation of Gachiakuta in Tagalog. Absolutely top notch.
Gachiakiuta is now streaming on Crunchyroll with new episodes every Sunday.
*Gachiakuta Tagalog-dubbed version is available via Ani-One Philippines.
