Kill la Kill

***Kill la Kill*** (Japanese: キルラキル Hepburn: *Kiru Ra Kiru*), stylized as ***KILL la KILL***, is a 2013

   Japanese anime television series produced by Trigger. The series is their first original anime television project, directed by Hiroyuki Imaishi and written by Kazuki Nakashima, both of whom had previously worked together on *Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann*. It aired in Japan between October 4, 2013 and March 28, 2014.  Aniplex of America licensed the anime for a simulcast with a home video release starting July 2014. The series premiered on Adult Swim's Toonami block from February 8, 2015 to August 2, 2015. A manga adaptation by Ryō Akizuki began serialization in Kadokawa Shoten's *Young Ace* magazine from October 4, 2013. An OVA was released as a 25th episode on September 3, 2014.

## Plot

*Kill La Kill* follows vagrant schoolgirl Ryuko Matoi on her search for her father's killer, which brings her into violent conflict with Satsuki Kiryuin, the iron-willed student council president of Honnouji Academy, and her mother's fashion empire.

## Why it rocks

1. Beautiful art and animation. The show had contribution from animators who previously worked at Studio 4°C (*Transformers Animated*) and Gainax (*Neon Genesis Evangelion*, *FLCL*).
2. Excellent soundtrack from Hiroyuki Sawano (*Blue Exorcist*, *Attack on Titan*).
3. The openings and endings are masterpieces.
4. Fantastic voice acting in Japanese, English, French, German, and Italian. The English dub is widely seen as Bang Zoom! Entertainment's best dub yet.
5. Great, lovable, and memorable characters. To name a few examples:
	1. Ryuko Matoi is one of the best female protagonists that fiction has to offer. She's hot-tempered, confident, and powerful.
	2. Mako Mankanshoku is constantly bursting with energy. If she opens her mouth, she's bound to say something insane, funny, or both.
	3. Ira Gamagoori is the embodiment of the manliest man, with an intimidating physique and a powerful voice.
	4. Satsuki Kiryuin is the perfect antagonist for Ryuko. An authoritarian who doesn't take orders from anyone.
6. Loads of humor. In fact, the finale even makes a self-referential joke about Nonon's voice being ear-grading.
7. Great fanservice to please audiences of all sexual orientations.
8. Spawned a lot of funny memes, such as Don't Lose Your Way, Ryuko Matoi Bikini Edit, Kaneo Takarada, and Nonon's infamous "What does that mean?"
9. The success of this anime led Trigger to collaborate with Arc System Works to make an upcoming *Kill La Kill* video game.

## Bad qualities

1. It's short (only 25 episodes, and no second season in production!).
2. Because of its fanservice, non-anime fans will think it's hentai.

## Reception

*Kill la Kill* was well received by critics. Eliot Gay of *Japanator* called the "uniquely fun, even gripping" series "a reminder of how fun and creative anime can be at its best", despite the readily apparent budget constraints.[63] Kat Bailey of IGN, describing the series as "magical girl anime on speed", noted that its over-the-top absurdity was part of its charm.[3]Joseph Luster of *Otaku USA* described the series's concept as "mostly straightforward setup for revenge and shonen-style 'stronger! STRONGER!' battle progression", but praised its execution.[64] Richard Eisenbeis of *Kotaku* appreciated the series for "perfectly mixing comedy and action", its pacing, internal consistency and over-the-top straightforward adaptation of standard action anime tropes.[65]

The animation of fight scenes and character movements, as well as the "keen selection of music", were particularly praised by Robert Frazer of *UK Anime Network*,[66] The site selected it as the 2013 UK Anime Network Awards winner in the "Best streaming anime" category.[67] Carl Kimlinger of *Anime News Network* also appreciated the inventive and funny animation and the series's "retro shonen action pushed to (...) loony, hyperactive extremes".[68] Michael Logarta of GMA News Online likewise noted the "superb pacing", to-the-point storytelling and well-realized characters in the series's "whirlwind of gorgeous visuals, story, and unfettered insanity".[69]

*Kill la Kill* won multiple prizes during the 4th Newtype Anime Awards, including Best Character Design (Sushio), Best Script (Kazuki Nakashima), Best Sound, and Best Picture (TV Broadcast). It placed second for Best Theme Song ("Sirius"), Best Director (Hiroyuki Imaishi) and Best Studio (Trigger). In the Best Mascot category, Senketsu placed third and Guts placed ninth. In Best Character (female), Ryuko placed second, and Mako placed third.[70]