FIF#253-Gachiakuta

In a world where a wall separates the wealthy from the degenerates, there’s a punishment for those who even the dirtiest fear to live alongside: the Pit.  No one knows what it is, only that’s its where human are discarded with all the worlds trash.  When he’s wrongfully accused of a crime, Rudo Surebrec is sent to this Hell.  Once there he learns the Pit isnt all that it seems, a realm where Monsters made of pure trash roam and the only force against them is the mysteriously powered Cleaners.  Despite this, Rudo only has one single goal in mind: return to the society that wronged him and bring all the trash they fear back with him.

 
When I first saw the trailer for Gachiakuta earlier this year, I assumed we might be looking at another Chainsaw Man, another high octane, uber violent dystopian Anime that excites the senses and pulverizes the soul at the same time.  Wouldn’t you know it, the first couple of episodes proved me wrong in a couple of ways, good ways.  Not only do we have a very proven Anime studio handling another Shonen Anime adaptation in Studio Bones (Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood), but the premise of a vengeful boy seeing only red…well by the end of the first episode I kinda sympathize with Rudo and man do I want to see his vengeance come to fruition…oh and the rest of what I saw is cool too.
 
It's hard not to get Attack on Titan vibes from Gachiakuta’s premiere, from the Kaiju sized Trash Beasts to society separated by walls keeping out the unwanted.  The show goes the distance to show that both sides of The Sphere are just as bad both inside and out given how quickly Rudo is judged and sentenced to the Pit.  And it’s not just a case of angry boy is always angry cause anger is his default character mode.  Rudo is a great lead, funny and instantly likeable.  When his sentenced is handed down, you’re just as pissed off as he is.  When a show locks you into a character and his motivations that quickly, it promises good things to come.
 
The Pit is visually amazing and it must be a nightmare to draw and animate it all.  This goes double for the Trash Beasts who are basically sentient trash combined into Kaiju and all those little pieces of garbage have to be made by someone.  The Cleaners do admittedly give off similarities to the Soul Reapers of Bleach with their outfits and powers but then again there’s nothing wrong with Mad Max style Soul Reapers tearing through Monsters like butter.  There’s definitely more to the Pit than meets the eye as well as the people who dwell there.  As far as early mysteries go, including who really framed Rudo, these are all good places to start.
 
I’ll def be keeping an eye on Gachiakuta (for the life of me though I cant pronounce its name at all).  Studio Bones is going next level with the visuals and action and Rudo’s got equally solid writing behind him, making you easily want to see his thirst for revenge quenched.  Plus if he can pull a God of War 2 cliffhanger and ascend the Pit, riding a Trash Beast, with a bunch of Trash Beasts right behind him…how freaking awesome would that be?

And with that, First Impression Friday signs off it's tenth season.  FIF will be back at some point in 2026, still mapping out what coming throughout the year.  What titles will grace Season 11?  Find out in 2026 right here at the Gundam Anime Corner.