ANIME IMPRESSIONS: KILL LA KILL

Kill la Kill had a huge rep built up long before it dropped, what with Hiroyuki Imashi’s noteriety, Kazuki Nakashima’s phoenamenal writing ability, and let’s be real: slapping something like “The duo that brought you "GURREN LAGANN” are back!“ is enough to get any anime fan hype.

Of course, with the season introduction being a series of very modular feeling episodes, a wholehearted silliness to a lot of the situations, action sequences that at first weren’t much more than a blink and a breath long, and the ever problematic fan service, I personally felt very early on that this one wouldn’t be anywhere near as big, do anywhere near as well, or come anywhere close to the level of iconic that Gurren Lagann is at. 

19 episodes in, however, and I’m feeling more and more confident in thinking I was wrong. 

Considering all the hype before it’s official release I’ll admit it didn’t necessarily live up to my expectations. Don’t get me wrong, there was a lot about it I loved: a cool new concept, a spunky, tomboyish MC, gorgeous artwork, a badass soundtrack, glorious variety in character design and a weapon that I’m mad I didn’t think of first…it all seemed like a recipie for success. 

You know me, though. At the end of the day it’s all about the story. 

Yeah, there were bits and pieces of it here and there: dead father, strange talking uniform, Satsuki’s iron fisted rule…bits and pieces here and there. It all started adding up, but very very very slowly, again with a lot of episodes feeling more modular than anything else.

Eventually, however, things started becoming more and more focused and I started paying more attention. Then episode 17 happened.

Then episode 18 happened. 

It does raise the question of whether or not it’s smart to hold your real punches til this far in, but when said punches meet their mark, when the boom is brought to the degree it has been, it becomes really tough to criticize. I was off and on with this one for a while, but I’m locked in tight and ready for the ride now. 

8/10, Easy. Don’t lose your way, KLK.