History ANime / KillLaKill

''Kill la Kill'' (キルラキル)[[note]]A pun based off several readings of the word "kiru", which can mean 'to wear (clothes)' (着る), 'to cut' (切る), 'to kill a person' (斬る), and the English word 'kill' (キル). Loosely translated, the title could be read as ''Dressed to Kill.''[[/note]] is a 2013 anime produced by Creator/StudioTrigger. A relatively new studio's first television production wouldn't normally raise too many eyebrows [[http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-05-08/kill-la-kill-anime-reunites-gurren-lagann-director-writer when announced...]] unless said studio happened to be made up of ex-Creator/StudioGainax and Creator/Studio4C members, and the production's director, writer, and lead character designer also worked together on ''Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann'' and a [[Music/HiroyukiSawano composer]] who did the music for ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamUnicorn'' and ''Manga/AttackOnTitan''.

** Episode 4. It's not too far from being a glorified, poorly done Website/{{Newgrounds}} animation.

''Kill la Kill'' (キルラキル)[[note]]A pun based off several pronounciations of the word "kiru", which can mean 'to wear (clothes)' (着る), 'to cut' (切る), 'to kill a person' (斬る), and the English word 'kill' (キル). Loosely translated, the title could be read as ''Dressed to Kill.''[[/note]] is a 2013 anime produced by Creator/StudioTrigger. A relatively new studio's first television production wouldn't normally raise too many eyebrows [[http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-05-08/kill-la-kill-anime-reunites-gurren-lagann-director-writer when announced...]] unless said studio happened to be made up of ex-Creator/StudioGainax and Creator/Studio4C members, and the production's director, writer, and lead character designer also worked together on ''Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann'' and a [[Music/HiroyukiSawano composer]] who did the music for ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamUnicorn'' and ''Manga/AttackOnTitan''.

''Kill la Kill'' (キルラキル) is a 2013 anime produced by Creator/StudioTrigger. A relatively new studio's first television production wouldn't normally raise too many eyebrows [[http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-05-08/kill-la-kill-anime-reunites-gurren-lagann-director-writer when announced...]] unless said studio happened to be made up of ex-Creator/StudioGainax and Creator/Studio4C members, and the production's director, writer, and lead character designer also worked together on ''Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann'' and a [[Music/HiroyukiSawano composer]] who did the music for ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamUnicorn'' and ''Manga/AttackOnTitan''.

''Kill la Kill'' is a 2013 anime produced by Creator/StudioTrigger. A relatively new studio's first television production wouldn't normally raise too many eyebrows [[http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-05-08/kill-la-kill-anime-reunites-gurren-lagann-director-writer when announced...]] unless said studio happened to be made up of ex-Creator/StudioGainax and Creator/Studio4C members, and the production's director, writer, and lead character designer also worked together on ''Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann'' and a [[Music/HiroyukiSawano composer]] who did the music for ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamUnicorn'' and ''Manga/AttackOnTitan''.

On June 16, 2018, Creator/ArcSystemWorks announced a video game adaptation of the series, titled ''[[VideoGame/KillLaKillIF Kill la Kill-If]]'', for a 2019 release on the PC, Platform/PlayStation4, and UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch.

* AnAesop: The overarching themes seem to be:
** Having TrueCompanions, versus simply using people, as demonstrated by Ryuko and Senketsu, Ryuko and Mako, as well as [[spoiler:Satsuki]] and [[spoiler:the Elite Four]], who play the trope straight, vs. Satsuki and Junketsu, [[spoiler:who seem to actually be fighting each other for dominance]].
** That [[AmbitionIsEvil power corrupts]], as demonstrated time and time again, notably by Ragyo Kiryuin, the [[spoiler:berserk Ryuko/Senketsu hybrid]] in Episode 12, and [[spoiler:Ryuko and Junketsu]] in Episode 20, though more notably averted by [[spoiler:Satsuki Kiryuin]].
** Individuality, as batshit crazy as it can be, is what makes us human.
** Clothes do ''not'' make the man.
** Clothing is not to be seen as a shield for your shame against the rest of the world, nor used as a visual tool to mark out and enact subjugation or repression against distinct groups of people.

On June 16, 2018, Creator/ArcSystemWorks announced a video game adaptation of the series, titled ''[[VideoGame/KillLaKillIF Kill la Kill-If]]'', for a 2019 release on the PC, UsefulNotes/PlayStation4, and UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch.

** In Episode 22, [[spoiler:Ryuko defeats Nui by instantly [[AnArmAndALeg slicing off her arms]]. It takes her a moment to realize what just happened]].

** In Episode 22, [[spoiler:Ryuko defeats Nui thoroughly and [[{{Pun}} handily]]]].

** In Episode 22, [[spoiler:Ryuko defeats Nui thoroughly and handily]].

** In Episode 22, [[spoiler:Ryuko defeats Nui thoroughly and [[JustForPun handily]]]].

** [[TomboyAndGirlyGirl Ryuko and Mako]] are comparable to [[Manga/KillMeBaby Sonya and Yasuna]], though Ryuko never abuses Mako and Mako can handle ''much'' more nasty beatings. Funny enough, there are fans [[JustForPun who make puns with the two anime's titles]].

** It's also hinted that Ryuko may be related to Kinue and Tsumugu Kinagase due to their physical resemblance, specifically the red streaks in their hair. This is Jossed, however, when we find out that [[spoiler:Ryuko is actually a Kiryuin]] meaning that the resemblance was quite literally a [[JustForPun red hairing!]]

->'''''"SEN-I-SOSHITSU (FIBER LOST ([[ClothingDamage STRIPPED]]" [[ClothesMakeTheSuperman OF THE WILL]] TO [[FinishingMove FIGHT]]))!'''''\\

->'''''"[[ClothingDamage STRIPPED]]" [[ClothesMakeTheSuperman OF THE WILL]] TO [[FinishingMove FIGHT!]]'''''\\

** Ragyo's theme, "Blumenkranz", is sung entirely in GratuitousGerman, albeit a BlindIdiotTranslation with incorrect pronunciation. Also, her {{Catchphrase}}, [[GratuitousFrench "La vie est drôle!"]] Not to mention that several other tracks from the OST feature GratuitousEnglish, or are sung purely in it.

*** Creator/SarahWilliams provides the voice of a girl with music-themed [[spoiler:power-ups]]? Must be [[Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica Sayaka Miki]].

* OffhandBackhand: The Elite Four, sans [[TheDarkChick Jakuzure]], do this repeatedly while walking through a crowd of No-Stars in Episode 8.

* SurprisinglyGoodEnglish: "Before My Body Is Dry" is sung by a Japanese woman in slightly accented but clear and grammatically correct English, although it places AccentUponTheWrongSyllable.

** After she's ejected from Shinra Koketsu in the final episode, [[spoiler:Rei]] kind of just disappears. [[spoiler:In a last minute subversion, she returns as the BigBad of the OVA.]] Similarly, after the final fight in the same episode, Ryuko's Scissor Blades just disappear... [[spoiler:only for the OVA to reveal that they were still in space the whole time, and Senkutsu's spirit sends them back down to Earth to help Ryuko]].

** It gets kind of funny when [[spoiler:it's revealed that both girls are fighting to avenge the same person. Isshin Matoi was the alternate identity of Souchiro Kiryuin that he assumed after he faked his death to raise Ryuko in secret from his former wife, and the girls' mother, Ragyo]].

* HugeGuyTinyGirl: Mako and Gamagoori, who are surprisingly [[FriendlyEnemy friendly enemies]] and seem to receive more and more ShipTease with each new episode.

* ShipTease: A small but growing amount between [[OppositesAttract Mako and Gamagoori]], kicking off from their first meeting in Episode 4. By Episode 19, the rest of the cast has started commenting on it, resulting in a rather flustered SuspiciouslySpecificDenial from the latter.

** In the first episode, Gamugori kicks in the door of Aikurō's classroom. It bounces off the window frame and crashes back into the room, which knocks everyone for a loop. [[spoiler:Everyone except Aikurō, who [[FreezeFrameBonus dodges the impact without even dropping his book]]. Because he's not a sleepy, lazy teacher, he's actually a physically capable Nudist Beach operative.]]

*** Creator/MayumiShintani provides the voice for Nonon Jakuzure, a RoseHairedSweetie with [[BitchInSheepsClothing a vicious streak]] who uses [[InstrumentOfMurder instrument-themed weaponry]]. In her concept art, she was even going to use a guitar as a weapon [[Anime/{{FLCL}} Sound familiar?]]

** Nui, on the other hand, plays it straight most of the time. It serves effect of emphasizing how powerful she is in comparison to most other characters, and also goes hand in hand with that whole "[[{{Kawaiiko}} cutesy]]" theme she has going on with herself. Notably, when it ''is'' averted, it means that she just got taken down a major notch (ex. [[spoiler: getting her arms chopped off]].

* AsskickingLeadsToLeadership: Invoked in Episode 8. Satsuki makes the students fight for the spots in the student council, [[SocialDarwinist outright calling it natural selection]].

* AnimatedOuttakes: The mistakes made by the English voice actors were turn into animated video, and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Fd4UFoODdo was shown at Anime Expo]].

*** Sanageyama's middle school [[ShounenHair shounen-haired]] scrawny physicality and fashion sense in episode 6 is heavily based on [[spoiler: [[Manga/YuYuHakusho Hiei]]]]. ...And that goes with their FinishingMove [[http://imgur.com/ke2mE6O panel shots as well.]] The growth of Sanageyama from his scrawny PintSizedPowerhouse to the tall, [[{{Hunk}} handsome]], and badass [[TheAce Ace of the Elite Four]] is pretty much Trigger's way of acknowledging Hiyama's accomplishment as the voice actor risen to represent the {{Hotblooded}} [[TheHero Hero]] characters of their industry.

** After [[spoiler:Nui Harime]] cuts [[spoiler:[[LivingClothing Senketsu]]]] into dozens of pieces, Satsuki takes them and gives them to the EliteMooks sent to invade Kyoto, Kobe, and Osaka. Ryuko only has one piece left, and travels to all three cities to cut the pieces off the Goku uniforms and get them back.

** [[spoiler:The Primordial Life Fiber]] has waited ''since before mankind evolved'' to execute its plan, and actually [[spoiler:[[AncientAstronauts helped humans evolve]]]] to make it happen.

** If one were to rewatch the second fight between Fukuroda and Ryuko from the first episode, they'd notice that [[spoiler:[[ThemeSongReveal "Blumenkranz", Ragyo's theme]], starts playing]] once Ryuko's cloak comes off. Considering the revelation in episode 18, this may have been intentional.

** As of Episode 22, we not only get one for [[spoiler:[[GadgeteerGenius Shiro Iori's Three-Star uniform]]]] but also a [[spoiler:side-by-side dual transformation sequence for sisters [[SiblingTeam Ryuko and Satsuki]]]].

Part of the Fall 2013 season, the series premiered on October 3, 2013 and ended on March 27, 2014, with an OVA released on September 3, 2014. It was simulcast with English subs on [[https://www.daisuki.net/movies/seriesdetail/t Daisuki]],[[note]]also with German, Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese subs, available for all users an hour after Japan broadcast,[[/note]] [[http://www.crunchyroll.com/kill-la-kill Crunchyroll]], [[http://www.wakanim.co.uk/library/animes-1/0/kill-la-kill Wakanim,]][[note]]In the UK and France,[[/note]] [[http://www.hulu.com/kill-la-kill Hulu,]] and [[http://aniplexchannel.com/show-page/kill-la-kill Aniplex Channel.]] It was one of the most requested shows for Creator/{{Toonami}} on Creator/AdultSwim, which aired the series from February 7, 2015 to August 1, 2015, before being replaced by ''[[Manga/AkameGaKill a similarly-named-but-not-related show]]''. As of right now, both the sub and dub are available on [[https://www.netflix.com/title/70305217 Netflix]] in North America.

* DefeatByModesty: Subverted. When a character is defeated by having their clothes destroyed, it's not so much that they won't fight without their clothes so much as that they ''[[ClothesMakeTheSuperman can't]]''. Satsuki in particular during her first fight with Ryuko goes as far as to say that she'll bare all if it means victory. This is also subverted in the first episodes when it's revealed that Ryuko was ashamed of the amount of skin that was been shown when she wore Senketsu; once she overcomes her shame and shows her will to fight despite showing enough skin to violate many real-life dress codes, Senketsu becomes a ''lot'' stronger.