Bucchigiri?! Episode 1 Discussion

@OnlyAraku Remember the moment Arajin told Senya his wish is to loose his virginity, Senya immediately refer to him doing it with a boy (double male symbols in the background). What does the ghost know that Arajin himself isnt even realizing? His fiery hair holds many secrets.

@Technopunk I'm biased towards interpreting things as gay subtext, but honestly, I feel there is far greater symbolism and foreshadowing to be found elsewhere. Namely, because the male symbols appeared in sync with Senya discussing his proclivities as a boy, and rather than linked together, they're just copied and pasted in a pattern; they're als- Nevermind, it took several rewatches but I see what you mean!!!! omg holy shit--also a few things I was going to mention, Asamine (Matakara's surname) rhymes with jasmine, and one of the kanji in his first name also corresponds to jasmine (his clothing also exhibits a lotus motif and similar colour to Jasmine from Disney's Aladdin). Incidentally, one of the other kanji in his name means Kannon, an androgynous (male or female) Buddhist deity which embodies mercy and compassion and just so happened to be the statue in the fountain behind Arajin and Mahoro on their "date" - eavesdropping. The ED also pairs characters together, seemingly courtesy of Mahoro lol, in the sequence where they're looking at staring at each other (seems we'll have other gang members paired up in a Romeo and Juliet fashion?). And Senya's desire to find their fated partner will likely intertwine Matakara with Arajin even further, as the blue energy emanating from Matakara in the OP is very similar to that emanating from Arajin when he synergizes with Senya during his counterattack against Marito.

@OnlyAraku The plot thickens. Nice analysis there, I do think its intentional as the entire Genie thing gave me very Aladdin vibes, your word digging just adds to that.

We still havent seen the blue genie character portrayed fighting Senya, maybe he will synergize with Matakara by the blue energy hints you mentioned in the OP. It could also be the NG Boys leader.

Feels like we are in the middle of a Jo-Jo reference

the animation is pretty good, the story is kinda interesting tbh, When Arajin made his wish and the majin granted it(I think) then did he take over Arajin's body or did he gave Arajin the power.


I think there are little arabic words and in the ED they were wearing arab's clothes right?.

@DSAO086 Yes, the story is Aladdin meets delinquents. We can't say with any certainty but the strength Arajin's arm gained may be momentary, and it's likely a combination of their wills that controlled Arajin's body (like synergising/synchronization).

Cute and fun start, Matakara clearly only has eyes for Arajin and talked him up the entire episode, loved how Zabu was basically teasing him over it, probably my favorite character outside of Arajin and Matakara, and also poor Arajin wanting to lose his virginity but Mahoro only has eyes for her cool brother when he loses control, at least Arajin has Matakara ❤️

Beautiful action moment and God Mode from BALLISTIK BOYZ from EXILE TRIBE already was amazing.

The ED was great even if it is an extension of the same theme in a previous Free!! ED but cuter.

It's so gay and I love it.
I was expecting that girl to be a guy though

@VirtueHunter how is it gay wtf lmao

@nexustom I understand not everyone may be familiar with the practices and culture at play in a foreign industry such as this, or with the director/creator of the series and their reputation, so I am willing to explain if you're willing to discuss it in good faith. But please refrain from needlessly and rudely deriding someone else's harmless interpretation of a literary and artistic work. In the meantime, you're welcome to read my other comments that highlight hidden details and subtext in the episode and support the conclusion some fans have reached. For example, the series is marketed as 1001 Nights (otherwise known as Arabian Nights) meets delinquents, but it has more specifically drawn inspiration from the story of Aladdin (Disney's Aladdin, to be precise), to the extent that it is a parody in some respects; Arajin, for example, sounds curiously similar to Aladdin (also Chinese themed in reference to Aladdin’s origins in 1001 Nights itself), but that's not all, Matakara's surname--Asamine--rhymes with Jasmine, and even Zabu rhymes with Abu. Of course, you also have the majin Senya, like the Genie (with the caveat that it too was included in the original story, but not characterised like either Senya or the Genie), among other notable similarities like the general aesthetic (although it's a combination of various influences from China, India, the Middle East, and mainly Japan), and highly Middle Eastern themed ED.

@nexustom I understand not everyone may be familiar with the practices and culture at play in a foreign industry such as this, or with the director/creator of the series and their reputation, so I am willing to explain if you're willing to discuss it in good faith. But please refrain from needlessly and rudely deriding someone else's harmless interpretation of a literary and artistic work. In the meantime, you're welcome to read my other comments that highlight hidden details and subtext in the episode and support the conclusion some fans have reached. For example, the series is marketed as 1001 Nights (otherwise known as Arabian Nights) meets delinquents, but it has more specifically drawn inspiration from the story of Aladdin (Disney's Aladdin, to be precise), to the extent that it is a parody in some respects; Arajin, for example, sounds curiously similar to Aladdin (also Chinese themed in reference to Aladdin’s origins in 1001 Nights itself), but that's not all, Matakara's surname--Asamine--rhymes with Jasmine, and even Zabu rhymes with Abu. Of course, you also have the majin Senya, like the Genie (with the caveat that it too was included in the original story, but not characterised like either Senya or the Genie), among other notable similarities like the general aesthetic (although it's a combination of various influences from China, India, the Middle East, and mainly Japan), and highly Middle Eastern themed ED.