3ET: Kill la Kill

"My name is Matoi Ryuuko. You know who killed my father. Prepare to die."

Studio: Trigger

Director: Imaishi Hiroyuki (Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann)

Writer: Nakashima Kazuki (Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann)

Main Cast:

Koshimizu Ami as Matoi Ryuuko

Yuzuki Ryouka as Kiriyuuin Satsuki

Seki Toshihiko as Senketsu

Character Design: Sushio (Kiss Dum: Engage Planet)

Music: Sawano Hiroyuki (Shingeki no Kyoujin, Guilty Crown)

I have arrived at what is probably the most anticipated show of the Fall 2013 season, Kill la Kill. And with a staff like that, I can see why. In addition to what's listed above the cut, I'm assuming most of the experienced talent at Gainax left for Trigger sometime after Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann was completed. However, no matter how good the talent is, the proof is always in the pudding. Let's see how this one tastes, and whether or not it used to much of the fanservice seasoning.

The plot of Kill la Kill is remarkably straightforward for how much batshit insanity is packed into the show. Matoi Ryuuko's father was killed in front of her and she's looking for his killer. She believes the president of the Honnouji Academy, Kiriyuuin Satsuki, knows who is behind his murder and will do anything to get answers. This includes wield half of a giant pair of scissors while wearing a sentient school uniform that barely covers her and feeds on her blood. She also has to fight all of the students in the school, who have been ordered by Satsuki to stop her at any cost. And these students wear their own super-powered school uniforms powerd by special fibers. Yeah, that looks ridiculous all typed out like that. But, it's quite coherent, seeing as at it's core, it's your basic tale of the dish best served cold, revenge.

...

As for the look and feel of the series, everything is turned to eleven. The yelling, the stupidity of the best friend, the destruction caused by the shockwaves of the weapons clashing, the yelling, the school clubs, the glaring, the music; it's all turned up to an insane level, and it works. The example I'll use is the school. The visual structure of the school casts an imposing figure in episode one, with Ryuuko being a small figure at the very bottom. It's an obvious use of visual language that gets more concrete as the episodes run. The school itself is like a prison atop a giant shantytown that houses most of the students and their families, with only the chosen few allowed to live in the rich part of the city. And Satsuki rules it with an iron fist, much to the chagrin of the powerless administrators. It's an anime high school on black tar heroin. 

But, there is one major thing I need to talk about, the fanservice. It is a problem. And it's not because Ryuuko is fighting nearly naked while guys are ogling her tits, ass, and crotch. Portraying teenage boys like that is natural, since it has been proven that teenage boys are pigs. No, the bigger problems I have are with the value judgments placed on her by other people, like her friend who thinks she's an exhibitionist for wearing that outfit, despite her vehement denials. Also, no, there is not equal opportunity fanservice thanks to the creepy teacher who seems to know quite a bit about the magical school uniforms, which is often revealed as his clothes mysteriously fall off of his body. For one, sexualizing male characters is far less problematic than sexualizing female characters. And second, he's obviously trying to fuck her. Now, there are developments that could help fix some of these problems, and if Ryuuko takes that development to use her sexuality as a weapon and not be a victim, a lot of these problems would go away.

God. Fucking. Damnit. Japan.

And I trust the people involved enough to get better on that front, so this is an easy pass. I'm cautiously optimistic that things will improve from the first couple of episodes. It has established its premise and has room to explore some of the characters while fighting a badass student of the week for a while. When a show is this energetic, the monster of the week formula can work for a while. This show is a lot of fun, and I'd hate for ridiculous fanservice to hold it back from reaching a broad audience.