Bucchigiri?!

'Bucchigiri?!' is the type of shows that I usually try to avoid. I literally went to watch it thinking that I'm going to drop it right after I finish the first episode. But the interesting mix of themes, good animations, and where I thought the anime is headed made me continue up until episode 7, though I'm not sure if I'm able keep on further.

I never thought someone is capable of creating a main character that is more insufferable than Kazuya from Rent-a-Girlfriend. And this is not to hate on Rent-a-Girlfriend, at least Kazuya kind of has a goal, trying to take things slowly, very ... slowly, and trying to set himself up to a better path on how he appears to people around him, while being somehow a decent friend.

Arajin on the other hand, his entire existence depends on this annoying shallow girl Mahoro that has a brother complex. He just wants to lose his virginity to her. That's all to it, no character development whatsoever without this, if any character development is there in the first place.
Adding to the previous, Arajin is a very bad friend. Honestly, I don't understand why Matakara keeps trying with him.

I'm really torn between to continue watching such a clown and his silly adventures or not.
In my opinion, if they just straight up removed Arajin it would be far better than the current situation with the story.

I have never felt more betrayed by such great production value.

The series has some banger opening and ending songs, great character design and characterization... and one of the worst main characters ever that manages to bring down the entire show to a cringe-inducing painful watch. The episodes where he's featured the least are the best ones, and that doesn't happen until you're over halfway through. If you cannot stand him during the first episode please just skip this, you'll be doing yourself a favor.

If you do decide to sit through this one, you'll have fantastic fighting scenes between colorful characters with some lighthearted humor sprinkled ... in, but the moments where the protagonist needs to step up either to a fight or to show some humanity, he takes the most self-centered option without any repercussions, letting down everyone else around him unless the sidechick prompts him to do otherwise. It finishes off with a coming-of-age of the main two friends, although not gonna lie I wish literally anyone else but Arajin had been the one to resolve it, it might've had some emotional weight to it. As a sidenote, I commend Mahoro (the girl) for being as fleshed out a character as the any other or even moreso, she's not just some eyecandy plot device.

Bucchigiri!? - Arabic themes of the power of friendship, with the aforementioned gay themes and so much more. This...could've been good, but it's a wreck.

If you have been in the AniManga industry for long, you would recognize people for their certain traits, as much as I have done throughout these years. Take for example: the young and rookie Keiichiro Saito, with 2 banger shows under his belt being both Fall shows of 2022's Bocchi the Rock! and last year's Sousou no Frieren a.k.a Frieren: Beyond Journey's End, his stardom as a rising director is quickly shining to great effect. To put this in contrast, Hiroko ... Utsumi, like Keiichiro Saito, is also a director, but she has earned her fame the same way by directing and creating shows that have always connected with the Yaoi fanbase, primarily of Summer-Fall 2018's Banana Fish and Winter 2021's SK8 the Infinity. With both shows having the same ripple effect of the delinquent and psychological themes, her next injection into the same creation has resulted in her next breakout: this Winter season's Bucchigiri?!, a delinquent-themed show that is centered in school with Arabic themes, alongside series composer Taku Kishimoto, TOHO Animation and of course, the marriage of Banana Fish, resulting in MAPPA having another work of Hiroko Utsumi's name. But as the saying goes: "Third's the charm", it sadly does not apply to this show whatsoever, and I'm going to tell you why.

Earnestly, reading the synopsis does not help you a lot in understanding what Bucchigiri!? is all about. The TL;DR is this: an old friend coming back to see his old friend, yet changed a lot, and just wants to live life the easy way, despite reality not being so. This is the story between childhood friends Arajin Tomoshibi and Matakara Asamine, both boys with the aspiration to grow stronger and become Honki People: people who finds a heart that does not flee, people who devoted themselves fully to reaching the top, in power and strength. And after a long absence, Matakara finds himself aspired to become a Honki Person, but Arajin...relapses on their childhood dream of being that, because he's done with it.

First off, Arajin Tomoshibi is just a rather weak character: one who does not fight for his own beliefs, yet allows people to shuffle him around like a tool, which he does not like people to manipulate him so. Be it on his first day in school where the usual fights are broken out by two main rival gangs: Minato Kai and Siguma, and hidden ones below, Arajin just does not care and has only one goal in mind: to lose his virginity. Thankfully, there's the only famed schoolgirl around: Mahoro, that he can take his time to flirt around with her and do his bidding. The reality is that Mahoro is twisted, and a temple that encases these Honki People, Arajin is forced to fuse together with Aladdin...er wrong, Senya, the Genie that provides him strength when he needs it the most. Like it or not, he's done with the delinquent life, and just wants to rest in peace...which if that's his goal, then leave him alone, but things are not easy around him as he easily cowers at the sight of conflict, very much like a conflict-avoidant person who just wants matters out of his hands. It's just that as an MC, Arajin is not properly thought out, or I'm going to assume that this is rather intentional to depict real human behaviours, of which I can say that I understand Arajin's character because I'm quite like him to some degree...which if this is the show's ideal of making him such an unlikable character, go through so much change, then it pretty much succeeded in that (refer to @CarlosRock's thread about Arajin not being a bad character as you'd think).

Friends, join in, which is where Matakara Asamine comes into play as the right-hand man of one of the rival gangs: Minato Kai. His upstanding as a delinquent has given him amounts of respect from the gang he belongs to, even by its leader: Doman "Ken" Kenichiro. He's the undoubted spokesman when it comes to affairs against rival gangs, as much with Siguma, under the leadership of Jin Marito, a crazed fighter who likes his big pork buns. Both he and Marito are the school's "legends" when it comes to rivalry, and they're not afraid to show off their strength in order to capture the stakehold of the entire school under their belt as the superior gang. Even on the Genie's side, Senya is not the only Honki People whose powers are granted to its user, but there is a yang for every yin, and Senya too, like Arajin and Matakara, has a close buddy which he regards as his close friend in search of true prowess, but has lost his way to evildoer status, looking for a fight through the right person who could extend his lead in real life.

In a way, Bucchigiri!? supposedly teaches about courage in weakness (which is its biggest lesson by the way), but the anime doubles down on that and applies to Arajin, of which he's really not the best character to be written and shown to the audience that he's all that. As much as a wimp that he is being similar to Takemichi Hanagaki of Tokyo Revengers (yet another delinquent series), I have to admit that even I've come to like Takemichi's character growth more than Arajin, who doesn't face his problems head-on.

Sigh, not even MAPPA can escape its arduous work processes, working on both high and low profile shows to no end, which is something they must be blamed for in taking too many simultaneous projects at once. On the other hand, you can expect the same MAPPA greatness in all of their shows, and Bucchigiri!? is no different in that regard with high-octane action and great animation, what's there not to love when MAPPA, despite not being given a break, can pump out consistent animation like this? It speaks volumes, both on the good and bad ends.

The music, which is mainly focused on Arabic themes, gets the good cut for the most part, thanks to veteran music composer Michiru Ooshima helping out on the project. This may be hip band Kroi's 2nd Anisong (after last Fall's Under Ninja), but it definitely fits the themes for a show like this, not to mention the song itself being funky and catchy. For Mahiru Coda's debut Anisong, her ED song "Love je t'aime" gets the rhythm down for the most part, but the song is rather fine and unmemorable at best.

The reiteration of the saying: "Third's the charm", and this time, it failed to resonate with people on another iteration of "SK8 the Infinity" if it was ever made on the delinquent level. I mean, props for the creativity, but the MC is really (literally) to die for the unpleasant experience of watching Bucchigiri!? as a whole. If you can tolerate his character, be my guest, because it's still a decent show with the whole "Arabian Nights" feel to it. Not great, but not bad either.

This capital R Rocks, recently I started reading windbreaker and I loved all those fellas and the story but it was lacking the one thing this show has and it's style and heart. Like holy hell this show has it in spades.

Agreeing with what most people point out that this is just ripped out of late 90's early 2000's anime, however it is filled with the current pizzaz's that newer anime have.

I think one of the problems I can see happening here is the same issue mashle and other over powered mc's have where it's hard to create a threat, however I think what ... this anime does best so far is the focus on an over arching story and homoeroticism(bless this anime for that.)

that's all shout out this show.

Full disclosure upfront, I only picked this up because I was in dire need of some good bara-bait character designs and I thought the genie guy looked neat. If that's all you want from this show, it 100% deliver on that. Otherwise, it's been a mixed bag. The most succinct answer I can give in whether to recommend or not would be a pathetic "Mileage may vary"

Pros:
The art direction for this show is something amazing. Honestly some of the best designs for characters I've seen from anime in a long time
The aforementioned Bara-bait. Not just the genie, but a few others as well. ... If you're in want of some decently handsome muscled anime husbandos, you won't be for want with Bucchigiri?!
Piggybacking off the previous point, this show is INCREDIBLY homoerotic. It's not subtle about it either, especially when you factor in the way the only female love interest acts. Apparently, that's par for the course with one of the creators. A pleasant surprise nonetheless.
It's giving off some juicy early 2000s anime vibes. Especially the opening gives me some serious nostalgia for back when I'd watch School Rumble on old Hulu or staying up late to watch Toonami.

Cons:
The MC. This boy is... something. A lot of the humor with him falls flat to me. This is due to the act it can boil down to: MC shits his pants when he's nervous. MC is a massive simp for Girl Character. MC shouts at the genie (who only he can see) in public making a fool of himself. or MC wants to have sex. Credit to the fact that he's one of the most accurate portrayals of a teen boy with how he only thinks with his "second head" and has no higher brain function than that. This kid makes me grit my teeth every second of screen time I have to slog through. Normally it wouldn't be so bad if he wasn't, you know, the main character we spend most of the show with! I can only hope he improves in some capacity.
The story is moving so gosh dang Slow! who knows, maybe it'll ramp up the speed tenfold as we get further in, but 1/3 of the way in the story is slow and unfortunately boring. Again we are a THRID of the way through and it still feels like episode one.

In summary; The MC sucks, the story is slow, but the designs are rad, the vibe is nostalgic, the guys are hot, and the undertones are deliciously homoerotic. You just have to decide how much you can put up with. For me, My tolerance for stupid Main Characters dwindles further with each passing year. I don't know if I'll drop this show or not, but if I do, know it was the MC's rancid personality.

I was so excited to see a show from Mappa and the creator of Sk8 the Infinity, but unfortunately this one hugely disappoints. Everything about this show is fantastic- except the plot.

The initial draw of Bucchigiri was the character design, and it is absolutely phenomenal. The characters are all so uniquely and interestingly designed and the voice actors knock it out of the park. The animation is great, the opening, ending, and soundtrack are fantastic as well.

But what is even going on with the plot??? The MC is absolutely unbearable. I don’t inherently have a problem with simp characters - sometimes they’re really ... funny, at worst they’re usually just annoying. But Arajin is a huge piece of trash and not even in a funny way, just in a “Wow, this guy totally sucks” way. Zero character development after 10 episodes. Not to mention the bro-con, why are we still doing this in 2024????

Overall, Bucchigiri has its good points, but at the end of the day I just feel icky and disappointed after each episode I watch.

tbh this anime had potential, i liked the concept and the animation is pretty solid considering mappa animated it but god did they fumble so bad. I think i speak for everyone when i say the MC is so thrash, all he wants is to lose his virginity and is just a big simp, thats litrally it he has no other characteristic. He contributes nothing for the show and keeps getting stomach ache when shit gets serious. He also has no self respect and would do anything if a cute girl tells him to do it. There have been some anime like Chainsaw man ... who had a similar mc but the execution was good this is just plain boring and repetetive. Honestly expected a lot but now m disappointed.
(also this is my first every review, anime so bad it made me want to write a review)

bucchigiri is a gag humor slash sports anime. it's colorful with well done animation, nice looking characters and soundtrack but unhappily there's not much to look at other than that since almost all of them have very bland personalities, the episodes are also similar with each adding little to the storie, were already half way through the anime and they keep pushing the same random skits, but honestly nothing compares to how unlikeable, boring and just generally poorly written the mc is, it keeps feeling more like a drag to watch with every passing episode.
theres still 6 eps to go and ill see how ... this ends tho im not really hopeful

em português agr;;

bucchigiri é um anime de humor/esportivo. a animação é colorida e muito boa assim como o design dos personagens e a soundtrack, infelizmente os bons pontos ficam por ai já que quase todos tem pouca beirando nenhuma personalidade, os episódios são quase a mesma coisa adicionando bem pouco pra história e ainda usando as mesmas piadas que até no começo não eram tão boas assim, mas sinceramente o pior ainda é o quão desagradável, chato e basicamente mal escrito que o personagem principal é, vai ficando mais entendiante de assistir a cada ep.
ainda tem 6 eps faltando e quero ver como termina mas nao tô colocando muita expectativa

I drop the rate every time new episode released.

It was fun episodes at the beginning, cool art style, cool character designs, OP-ED, setting, animation etc. Now, it's just boring. The expectation of Arajin will change his life positively because he got a cool power has gone. The character development of Araijn is so SLOW, it's been 10 episode and overall this guy still being kinda selfish I see. It took him like YEARS to actually care and help his friends. He's a SIMP that only start to care ab others if the girl he likes say so. On the other hand, his friend has ... been through a lot and consistently asking for his help or maybe as friends.

This anime might have potential if it's not for Arajin annoying-selfish-simp-personality. The plot is going nowhere given only 2 episodes left, will it have good ending? I doubt this anime would get 2nd season. The plot is pretty much generic and doesn't really give an impression.

Everything in this this anime screams FUN!
I don't remember when last time I had such a big energy boost watching anime.
Simple but really memorable characters, good music (opening and ending are the best of this season), eye-catching fights.
And excuse me THE STYLE? HELLO WAKE UP those colors, those city views with flashy buildings like it was dropped in the rainbow paint?
The amount of joy this anime gives me must be studied.

I don't expect much from this anime, it's supposed to be this silly, so maybe that's why I am having so much fun.
10 out of 10 and I am pretty sure it's gonna be ... like this till anime ends.

P.S. mc is a simple boy who wants a simple life so I forgive him his dumbness. Also his mom is cool so

The first impression of this anime is that it looks like Aladdin, maybe that's why in the ending song this anime combines a style like Aladdin, and I quite like the song.

At first I tried to enjoy this anime, even though I didn't really hope that this anime would present a good performance, especially seeing the score which was getting lower and lower.

And it turns out my guess was right, this anime doesn't have perfect charm, especially in the story part.
This anime tells the story of school children, right? But I only saw them studying occasionally and in the next episode the school lessons started ... to disappear, Maybe this isn't that important, but I think if the location is in a school, what's wrong with showing them studying too, right?

Another weakness is in the character design, some are good but some are irregular, such as hair color, hairstyle and voice acting.

Seeing all these shortcomings, I can still tolerate this anime because it has a beautiful character, namely Jin Mahoro, But unfortunately the existence of this character didn't last long, until finally I had to stop watching this anime, there was too much conflict and drama. Especially the relationship between Matakara and MC, Matakara is too obsessed with Arajin's greatness, even though Arajin himself always denies the praise. Honestly, this part makes me even less enthusiastic about watching the rest of the episode.

I believe this show had the potential to be something amazing. The art style is amazing and the concept is nothing but cool. However it all dips when it comes to the main character. Every story, every fight, every interaction is all built around him. To but it as kindly as possible he sucks. His only goal is to lose his virginity and to be honest they could go somewhere with that but they didn’t. He constantly ignores his best friend for a girl he met 3 days ago and will take every chance to not be cool and hide during fights. The art mixed ... with the supporting cast could’ve made this one of the best animes from the winter 2024 season but it completely fails. Like tokyo revengers we have an outsider in gangs situation but how the MC of tokyo revengers handled stuff made me understand why he was such a coward and how we saw him slowly grow to be an actual intresting MC. But here it fails in every way shape and form I despise this MC.

i really wanted to get into this one cause it's from mappa and the art is incredible!! like, I really love the character designs and how it's animated but god.... arajin is so.. crap. he's so unbearable to watch like the characters are not it at all, the only ones I like is arajin's mom and his childhood friend. if I truly do get bored in my life I might get back into this but right now I am repulsed. the story is.. alright, I guess. the characters weren't it, but they sure did it with the designs cause they look good.

Welcome to the void. Where worldbuilding or plot is needed, Bucchigiri provides pure nothingness. The first episode set up some pretty good building points: Chinese restaurant, Arabic vibes (did you know that Aladdin was Chinese in the original Arabian Nights story?), the mystery of lost friendship, school fights, etc. But from the second ep everything dissolves into nothing.

MC (the one-dimensional generic student) gets stuck in the infinite loop:
-Subplot №1-
MC's mother: Arajin, let me take care of you!
MC (being an insufferable brat): SHUT UP, MOM!
-Subplot №2-
MC's childhood friend (Matakara): Arajin, let's be friends again!
MC (as an insufferable brat): FUCK OFF!
-Main Plot-
MC (suffering from ... virginity): Mahoro, be my girl!
MC's love interest (Mahoro): Nah, I love my brother, but the plot needs to move, so Arajin, go back to simping.
-Subplot №3-
MC (simping to Mahoro) becomes a tennis ball in the turf wars between school gangs.
-Subplot №4-
Senya (MC's imaginary friend): Arajin, let's go fight some thugs!
MC (being a pathetic bitch): Nah, unless it helps my simping.

That's all, guys. It's Bucchigiri's ultimate algorithm, the sauce, the story, the void. Wait, I forgot about the teacher sneaking into the Neko Bar. You'll see this gag in every episode - feel the humor of the show and try not to cringe.
In the end, I was left with mixed feelings because it's a damn good looking anime. Everything about the art is excellent. And I can't thank the writers enough for the fanservice. So many beautiful boys <3 (I'm not counting the MC aka the pathetic plank of wood with one brain cell).

So my rating is 4: MAPPA production quality + yaoi vibes + cool songs + some action.

Very average anime.
Episodes 1-2 were good and I thought it would develop into an excellent anime.
Overall the main character is annoying and creepy.
That were the hardest mc for me to watch ever...
And To call it Arajin FR?!
The story is good but too many irrelevant characters with no background story at all.
The only thing I really liked was the opening song which was excellent.
Everything else is very messy and average.
The pace of the plot is average.
Everything is very AVG.
... Would I see it again? - No
Will I watch a second season if it comes out? - Yes, I think so..

Score 5 out of 10

Very mixed feelings.

Don't be put off by the way the mc seems to be dumb, and centered around a girls, he grows.

For me this is like if someone put together Tokyo Revengers and HiGH&LOW the series but added to this some different flavours so it's not repeating either one, just some minor similarities.

The art is good not gonna lie it was what made me check it out and I was pretty much sold by it alone because for me if I don't enjoy it it's not worth my time. The story also isn't as predictable as it seems from first few episodes.

It seems at ... first a little vain and simple but it isn't give it a chance and you won't be disappointed.

This series is pretty nostalgic with it's over-the-top comedy, character designs and colorful atmosphere. I've read a bit of other people's reviews. I understand this series wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea but clearly the anime is just for shits and giggles. MAPPA clearly made this like a side quest type of thing for people to experience and maybe show off other people's artworks as they focus on their popular series. (ex: JJK)

If you like to watch something with stupid humor, you're definitely going to get it here. I honestly love it. It doesn't top Ranma 1/2 and Love Hina for me but I ... do see the appeal.

I am a big fan of shows that il be quite honest doest just appeal “ to female gaze” , but also have a interesting story. that’s why I’m a big fan of Hiroko Utsumi work such sk8 as u can see by my pfp, and banana fish especially I feel like this is her talking theses aspects from these story’s and using them creative way to make something wild it’s honestly really interesting. whether It be the queer subtext she like ads in all her shows although il be honest this show compared to sk8 has its moments but ist ... as gay as pride parade like sk8 or and other aspects Like a relationship between two male mc that has emotional core , and the villain who no spoilers is Adam the antagonist of her previous series sk8 but even wilder
I honestly think this show is build up of good ideas she builded up as being a director all, in capsuled in something u tell definitely she passionate about , I think In a world we’re awhile ago the biggest concern was anime becoming boring and bland this really creative good time . I really recommend guys should give a chance too !