Blog post 1: Gachiakuta
Could it be true that television reflects society? Not the one we pretend to be; the one that bleeds beneath the surface of all the pretense and extravagance? Or is television a weapon used for propaganda and fear-mongering? Or is it a tool for capitalism to suck out every penny you’ve earned by trading in your time? Personally, I think it is like food for your mind, and just like food, it is a test of your choice and responsibility to consume what is good and pure. One such example is the shonen/seinen manga/anime Gachiakuta, written by a cool lady named Kei Urana. When I began watching Gachiakuta on Crunchyroll, I didn’t expect a show with such wild art direction and chaotic energy to reflect the spiritual, psychological, and moral fractures of our time.
DESCRIPTION OF THE SHOW
The show appears childish, but delves deep into the concept of being grateful for the objects in our lives that we have been blessed with, and how the lack of a meticulous, intimate kind of gratitude for the things we own produces trash simply because we consume them and then throw them away. The show emphasizes the phenomenon of cherishing things we own and makes it a need for survival within its universe.
The world is divided into two categories: the sphere and the ground. Interestingly, it is not a division between the poor and the rich, even though it definitely looks like that. Instead, the show emphasizes that even though the ground folk may not have access to anything but trash, they are rich because of the community.
Additionally, the show, through its main villain, asks the question, “Why is so much trash being produced from the sphere? They must live in abundance!”, highlighting the aspect of inequality and inequity, and how eventually there will be natural repercussions because of such bad acting and behavioral issues (for example, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch). Within the show, we see such phenomena come alive as trash beasts and other forms of supernatural powers.
CULTURAL ANALYSIS
The attitude of Gachiakuta is raw defiance mixed with painful humility. Characters dress in cool, makeshift clothes crafted from trash and things that belonged to them, highlighting the beauty of human adaptability and dignity as well as the traumas within their lives. The style resonates deeply with both younger and older viewers, and anyone who feels discarded by economic systems, social expectations, and political realities. Interestingly, the show is popular in Brazil and France as well. The editing is engaging, not super choppy, the pacing is controlled very well with interesting cliffhangers and smooth plot flow, and the music throughout the series flows really well with the theme and vibe of the show. One of my favorite things about this show is the music and how different yet familiar it is, kind of streetish.
Although this show is similar to Jujutsu Kaisen, Chainsaw Man, and Dorohedoro, all anime where trauma, power, and moral ambiguity are central, Gachiakuta stands apart in its thematic obsession with “trash” like societal waste, human waste, and emotional waste, and asks a very relevant question: what makes something or someone valuable?
A scene from the anime
INTERPRETATION
The show avoids lazy stereotypes. Criminals are not “villains”; many are victims of a broken system. Authority figures are not noble; many are corrupt. Heroism isn’t clean; it’s desperate, painful, and often ugly. This complexity makes the world feel more real and relatable. At the same time, the show maintains a beautiful positive message about fighting past the ugliness and finding beauty in great intention, purpose, and action, all wrapped around a unique art style and groovy music.
The target audience is likely 14+, diverse, globally connected, and emotionally literate. On social media, Gachiakuta has active communities on TikTok, Instagram, Reddit, and X. Fans praise its animation and art (especially the manga), discuss theories, and resonate with themes of injustice and redemption. The show’s official accounts share trailers, character art, and behind-the-scenes content to keep engagement high.
I am curious how Americans who consume Gachiakuta feel about the show. I think that no matter where you are from, though, if you have lived even a little bit of life, you’ll be able to relate to the show. The show seems influenced by some cities in Brazil, India, and even has some North American mixed in, from its characters to the graffiti to entire towns, but really, nowadays, the whole world is a sort of melting pot on the internet. With globalization, everybody’s a bit of everybody. In that regard, this show is very relatable and reflects that back to the viewer.
EVALUATION
As entertainment, Gachiakuta is chaotic, loud, and brutally honest. As a cultural mirror, it’s even sharper. While it’s a lovely form of entertainment and something to watch while doing something else or eating food, the show's themes explore a beautiful and deep subject about valuing people and objects and not taking them for granted. This enables this show to leave good messages and lessons behind for children and everybody else to learn from. It reminds us that even discarded things can carry power. Even brokenness can become a weapon for good. It’s all about how you view and leverage what is in your life.
I agree with the many critics who praise this anime for its interesting characters, themes, and art style, and its willingness to confront societal ugliness without losing heart. What I like most is its message: one person’s trash is another person’s treasure. What I dislike, I am still trying to figure out. Perhaps a minor weakness is that the art in the manga sometimes is superior to the anime, but I mean not to be ungrateful for the amazing efforts put in by the artists and animators.
Here is a link to the MyAnimeList page for Gachiakuta: https://myanimelist.net/anime/59062/Gachiakuta
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| A page from the manga |
ENGAGEMENT
I watch it weekly on Crunchyroll. I binged the first few episodes that were out and then watched it weekly as it came out. I don’t know anybody else who watches it, but it’s one of the most popular anime/manga out right now.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the show reminded me of the value in being careful with stuff I buy or am gifted, to cherish, repair, and take care of them rather than just use and throw them away. Personally, I do try to take care of the things I am blessed with, but the show reminded me of what my parents taught me when I was young: that if we take care of our things, our things will take care of us in the future. It was a profound wisdom that echoed the proverb “a stitch in time saves nine”, and that spending a few extra seconds being grateful for something will save us money and time in the future repairing or having to replace it.
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