NOTE- This review contains spoilers.
The unique style of storytelling in Kaiji is what really makes it suspenseful and gripping. Kaiji is a malingerer in his twenties who finds himself behind in massive debt due to some poor choices made during gambling and co-signing a loan for a less-than-reliable friend. He is therefore approached by some sort of loan shark with an opportunity to erase his large debt and start fresh. Of course, there is a catch. What unfolds is a series of intense life-or-death gambles that will put you on the edge of your seat. One important thing to note in Kaiji is that this is not an uplifting story of redemption… not at all. Expect few victories when you watch this anime, as it constantly seems that Kaiji ends up on the foul end of things. This helped make Kaiji even more unique with the community becoming saturated with overpowered harem animes.
I was impressed with the sheer intensity of the “games” that Kaiji and the others play in attempt to wash away their debts. The initial “rock, paper scissors” gamble seems purely luck based on the surface, but it becomes much more intricate as Kaiji starts to become betrayed and formulates his own internal strategies. It also showcases the true nature of the human persona with the deceit unfolding at the end when he needed his friends to save him the most. I can agree with the multiple comparisons Kaiji has to Deathnote in the complex mapping out of plans and ideas… even though the route they end up taking may be completely different. I wanted to cheer for Kaiji when he thought of a genius strategy, and cry with him when his morale was at its lowest. It’s hard for me to become that emotionally attached to a character I don’t particularly like, but the storytelling was just that good. The ledge crossing game quickly became my favorite due to the common fear I have of heights. I could imagine myself in Kaiji and the other’s shoes and actually ended up feeling somewhat nauseous due to the intensity of the situation.
On the other hand, this score was prevented from being a 10 due to the annoyance I had with the narrator and some of the drug out sequences. I felt the need for a narrator in this series was entirely pointless, and only detracted from the anime. Whenever he talked, I was like “Okay, yeah I got that part thanks.” With the narrator to confirm our estimations of what would happen next at every turn, the hypothesizing from the viewer was ultimately ruined. Also, some of the scenes near the end of the series (particularly with E Card) were paced too slow and felt extremely drawn out. Sometimes this added to the empathy you would feel for Kaiji in his losses, but other times I found myself wanted to yell, “Let’s get on with it already!” The series concluded on a melancholy note, but left room for interpreting an eventual sequel. Kaiji was a cut above the rest when it came to unique storytelling elements, and it became a breath of fresh air with an anticipation factor resonating within me throughout the entire series.
I feel like Kaiji really only has three characters that really receive any sort of development. Our main protagonist is one you can really feel for. He’s young, behind the eight ball but has a thirst for success and vengeance which assured me that he’d never back down to a challenge issued to him. Having this personality also allowed the series to progress in the manner that it did, and Kaiji’s patience and mental fortitude was constantly tested by the gambles he encountered. That being said, there wasn’t much character development to be had other than what was incorporated in Kaiji’s scheming and plots during gambles. You wanted to root for him regardless, but I found myself wondering how he got into the life of gambling in the first place, and some of the decisions he made near the end of the series (i.e. the choice to challenge the director) felt a tad uncharacteristic of someone in his shoes. The director of the irregular gambling organization, Kazutaka Hyoudou was a straight devil. He was creepily aroused by the sight of individuals suffering, even when it came down to his own right hand man. I enjoyed the interactions and mind games he and Kaiji shared in the final moments of the lottery game where he chalked his countless victories up to predetermined luck, based on his own social standing. I also liked Tonegawa’s character and how Kaiji grew to feel a sense of respect for him as the series went on. The scene with him bowing before Kazutaka on the hot plate was one of the most uncomfortable scenes I can recall from an anime. The rest of the characters felt more like filler and neither added or detracted from the overall series.
Let’s be honest, Kaiji can turn a lot of people off to it purely based on its atypical style of art. I personally didn’t like it, but I was given a disclaimer prior to even starting the series that I have to learn to get past the art style if I want to truly enjoy the show. After all, Kaiji is not about flashy artwork or cutesy character models. Hell, I’m quite certain there’s only one female in the entire anime to look at. The environments and backgrounds are drawn nicely, and I never felt as if the artists were being lazy during dialogue scenes... which there are a LOT of. The sound is actually very refreshing and impressive in Kaiji. The OP is a punk rock anthem focused on nonconformity and punches you right in the face with sheer intensity. It’s short, which I loved as well. Too many a time, animes suffer from having intros extending too long and detract from the viewer’s anticipation level. The ED reminds me of something out of a Tarrantino movie, I loved it. The rest of the soundtrack is decent, but I couldn’t help but become confused by the “Zawa zawa, ZAWA” sound effects randomly snuck in. After further investigation, I now know that this is a staple in the creator Fukumoto’s animes and is the Japanese word for an intense or agitating moment. I understand it now, but it still feels unnecessary. Voice acting was also pretty good, I loved Hagiwara Masato’s role as Kaiji and thought he did a fantastic job.
Despite some minor flaws it had, I really enjoyed Kaiji overall. It was definitely a breath of fresh air in the anime community and one that many people might overlook based on its unusual artwork. I urge you to give it a chance, and you’ll quickly see how this series is praised highly on MAL. Though I can’t give it a ten based on the issues I had with the show, a solid 8 is in order for this anime. Thank you all for reading this review and have a great day!
