Reviews Anime / Kill La Kill

As long as the great that all that matter to me. Not every show needs to bring something new on the table to be consider good.

Not even touching its frankly horrendous designs for the kamui and the really poorly handled message about "being comfortable with your own body" that came across more to me and a number of other people as "get used to guys oogling you."

Not to mention it's really, really poor pacing.

I tend to agree with those that think the fanservice is a deliberate parody. I think those uniforms are supposed to be one hot (pardon the pun) overdesigned mess that presents as much flesh as possible. It's supposed to be uncomfortable to watch, on some level. I hope. But frankly, I don't care either way. Anime is so oversexualized these days that I just blank out most of it.

1. The first thing I think needs to be said is that, according to the producer of the show and CEO of Trigger, Kill la Kill's "core" lies in its second "half" (which I take to mean "Episode 16 onward," seeing as that's where the new opening and ending themes kick in, along with the "recap"). Considering all that, let's just match up the first fifteen episodes of Kl K and TTGL. Unlike TTGL, much of Kl K's progression lies in the change in a character and development in our understanding of that character along with their true goals and ideals, Ryuuko exemplifying the former; Satsuki and her elites, the latter. So far, Kill la Kill plays out a lot like a mystery and, as the creators put it, a "character drama". The direction of the series is defined as the relationship between Ryuuko and Senketsu develops and we come to learn more about Satsuki, the Elite 4, Life Fibers, and REVOCS. The "leveling up" argument may also be used against TTGL, and at least villains' speeches and interactions in Kl K create a feeling that a much larger conflict is on the way.

2. I didn't really get this point at all. None of that really tells me why TTGL is more distinct.

3. . . . Eh? The importance of clothing is both shown and told practically nonstop. We see the way no-stars are pushed into poverty, and by extension, crime; we see the one-stars fall into line robotically, their total lack of individuality; we see the brutishness and obsession with position of the two-stars; we see the self-righteousness of Satsuki and the Elite 4, their absolute, undeniable authority. I could go on and on.

Ok, as of Eps. 16 & 17 I am now completely sold on the show, so I'd just delete the review if it didn't seem cowardly. Still, I'd like to respod to you.

1. With hindsight, the previous episodes did indeed serve as a buildup, laying out all the necessary pieces in a nice way. I don't think there was that much character development, except for Kyoko switching from revenge to fighting for something more. But I have to admit that most of the exposition, esp. that about the four generals was done very nicely.

2. Never mind, that was just my feelings. To my mind, Kl K lacks a certain something. It's like tasting a dish that is made out of spectacular ingrediends, and it's very good, but still not quite right. I still think Kl K could be a bit more distinct, but I also suppose that these concerns will be laid to rest by the end of the show.

3. The big one: Yes clothing is "important," it defines status and power. I get that. But it does so in an absolutely generic way. As I said, any form of Applied Phlebotinum could have been substituted for it, and there would be no big difference. I mentioned Yakitate Japan; remember how many different skills and techniques there were relating to bread? It would have been cool for Kl K to do something similar, have different skills that relate to sewing, tailoring, fitting, styling, wearing clothes, and then turn them up to eleven. Sure, it would not have been necessary, but it would have fleshed out the world they created.

But, as I said leading into this comment: never mind. I like the show, and I think it'll just get better.

3.

1. So Ryuko interacting with Senketsu from being a piece of clothing to being her friend is not character development. Not focusing on revenge because she has friends like Mako to keep her in check. There is character development, but because she is shortsighted in nature it does make you think that she has not grown as a character. Remember her origin: she always acts first and think later. 2. First of all the cast is different, the setting is different, and putting expectations on a show and comparing the same show to an old one, will always leave a bad taste in your mouth. I learned that the hard way when I read some of the Grant Morrison graphic novels. 3. To each their own, personally the show is already ridiculous, and adding that would make it similar to the manga cloth road (check it out if you can). And one last thing this is Hiroyuki Imaishi we are talking about, the guy reinvent himself each time while putting affectionate parodies of evangelion in some of his works (kill la kill, Gurren Lagann and inferno cop). Also, he is an unconventional director and very polarizing among the anime fanbase. Thanks for the critical analysis, but sometimes you have to wait until a series end if you want to make an objective review. I learned it with Stein's Gate, slow ass pacing but rewarding in the end.

I wouldn't find that cowardly; it's a "whole series" review, after all, so it should reflect on the entire series.

1. I tend to avoid the term "character development," as that suggests merely the change in the way a character thinks and acts, and not the change in our own understanding of how a character thinks and acts, which I find equally important.

2. Fair enough; I must admit that I got a similar feeling from what I saw of Steins;Gate.

3. I dunno; if it's Phlebotinum, it's the best they could have chosen in my eyes. I can think of no better symbol that could represent status, power, subjugation, individuality, shame and sin all at once. Also, there are the scissor blades, the ways in which Ryuuko uses Senketsu's threads, how she blinded Sanageyama, her transformed outfits, the Banshi, the measuring tape Nui used against Ryuuko's father, Tsumugu's sewing needle guns, his grenades shaped like spools of thread, the patches of Senketsu given to the one-stars, etc. While there are also a lot of things are used that aren't directly related to clothing, they often represent similar aspects, like Gamagoori's rulebooks and his machine to change Ryuuko's body.