The first few times I heard the words "Kill la Kill", I was far from excited. Other than Pokémon and Dragon Ball Z, shōnen usually isn't my thing. With the exception of those few anime that I grew up watching and can't help loving, it just tends to be too... well, boyish. Not only that, but the art style (or what I'd seen of it) didn't really appeal and the show as a whole didn't seem very interesting to me. How wrong I was. I'm so glad that I decided to give in to the hype and watch this show, because what I'd expected was
...
not what I got. What I did get was fast-paced, unrelenting fun and non-stop action with plenty of fanservice and enough silliness to keep even the most restless person in awe. But I also got an interesting story, likeable characters and a soundtrack that would satisfy any music lover with its incredible blend of styles and genres.
Story: 7
The plot in Kill la Kill is deceptively interesting, spending the better part of 24 episodes seeming as though it exists purely to keep the action and craziness moving. And in some ways, that's kind of true. This show is, as many others have said, definitely more style than substance, but even so, the story was compelling enough to keep me asking "what happens next?" and it continued to keep that standard from beginning to end. I wasn't just sticking around because the show was so much fun - I also genuinely wanted to know where the story would go next and whether or not the problems faced by the characters could be overcome. In essence, it's a typical coming-of-age story, with Ryuko facing issues either the same as or symbolic of those that every teenage girl does, only on a far more extreme level which is both far more exciting and more confusing than real life.
Art: 8
While the animation during some scenes might not be perfect, there's no doubt that this show has style. Right from the beginning, it felt more like something that had been made twenty years ago than something brand new, and it was this exciting sense of nostalgia that first won me over when I finally started watching. While the art is far from the cute, girly styles that I normally enjoy, there's something undeniably appealing about a show that is neither riddled with moe blobs or a sufferer of "same-face syndrome". Every character here looks completely different, and their proportions are constantly being changed and exaggerated in a way that really highlights just how ridiculous and over-the-top this show is. Interestingly, the one thing that seemed to turn off most people - that is, the (arguably) excessive fanservice - never bothered me at all. In fact, I didn't even notice a lot of it after the first few episodes, because there was always so much going on that I didn't have time to pay attention to it. I will say though, that Ryuko's transformation sequence came up just a little too often for my liking in the earlier episodes, when I would've preferred if the show would just get going, but it's such a satisfying sequence that I can forgive Trigger for wanting to repeat it as often as possible.
Sound: 9
DON'T LOSE YOUR WAAAYYYYYYYY!! Okay, but seriously, the soundtrack to Kill la Kill is about as close to perfection as you can get without actually being perfect and it just seems to get better and better the more you warm to it. From the upbeat openings and end songs to the incredibly fitting character themes, there is really nothing to complain about here. Sawano Hiroyuki's chaotic mix of pop, rock, electro and classical creates a backdrop that fits Kill la Kill almost as well as Senketsu fits Ryuko, and the fact that the music is always implemented at precisely the right moment brings the entire show up to another level. Without doubt, some of the scenes in the show would have had half the impact they did if it weren't for the incredible use of music. The seiyuu also do an amazing job and are well-suited to the roles they played.
Character: 9
Another strong point in the show comes in the form of its immensely charismatic range of characters. From the fierce and stubborn Ryuko and the unwaveringly prideful Satsuki, to the flamboyant and flirty Mikisugi and the loyal (but still unique and individual) Elite Four, every character feels fleshed out and three-dimensional. I immediately found myself empathising with the characters, and couldn't help but find myself rooting for both the protagonists and antagonists because both sides were so likeable. For the most part, the characters showed a good deal of growth and also their fair share of setbacks, which helped to make them more human. Even Senketsu has a great deal of character development over the course of the show, and despite starting out as nothing much more exciting than a talking sailor uniform, he actually ended up being one of my favourite characters in the series.
Enjoyment: 10
In the end, it was the combination of the story, art, sound and cast that made Kill la Kill truly enjoyable. It's a show that somehow manages to be ridiculous, hilarious, exhilarating and heartbreaking, sometimes all at once. There were moments when I wasn't sure if I should laugh or cry, and ended up doing both. Some scenes had my heart racing and shivers running down my spine, while others had me in fits of laughter. It had enough plot to keep it from being pointless, and it had enough silliness and sexiness for a classroom full of sugar-hyped teenage boys. Put simply, every episode was worthwhile, and every episode left me craving more. So thanks, Trigger. It's been one hell of a ride.
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Apr 10, 2014
Kill la Kill
(Anime)
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The first few times I heard the words "Kill la Kill", I was far from excited. Other than Pokémon and Dragon Ball Z, shōnen usually isn't my thing. With the exception of those few anime that I grew up watching and can't help loving, it just tends to be too... well, boyish. Not only that, but the art style (or what I'd seen of it) didn't really appeal and the show as a whole didn't seem very interesting to me. How wrong I was. I'm so glad that I decided to give in to the hype and watch this show, because what I'd expected was
...
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