Time To Get Naked! - KILL LA KILL

This was an anime I stepped into with a little bit of caution. It had been generating a lot of hype with its preview pictures, and with the excitement that several people who had worked with Gainax - the company responsible for classics like Gurren Lagann, Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt, and Neon Genesis Evangelion - were involved in the direction and creation of the show. Plenty of people counted down to this show's premier and the hype was overwhelming, so I was disappointed that the first time I sat down to watch the series, I could only shrug it off as "okay" and let it sit halfway finished. I have to say, after finishing the series the entire way through, nearly in tears, this show is worth exactly as much hype as it received.

Kill la Kill follows the story of Ryuko Matoi, a girl on the hunt for her father's killer and the owner of the second half of her ultimate weapon, her scissor blade. Her hunt brings her to Honnouji Academy and its student council president, Satsuki Kiryuin, where she must defeat her students, her student council, and ultimately best her in combat if she wants to learn the truth about her father's death. Their weapons of choice? The Goku uniforms, made up of Life Fibers that are used to increase the strength of their wearers and transform their clothes into armor and weapons. Ryuko comes with an ace up her sleeve, though: Senketsu, a school uniform made by her father made up entirely of these Life Fibers. To reach her goal, Ryuko must master Senketsu's powers and fight her way to the top of the school chain.

The show has received lots of hype and praise but also lots of criticism initially for some of its overly sexual character designs, most notably: 

It's time to get naked!

Really, really naked apparently

Ryuko and Satsuki's kamui (their armored uniforms) both transform into weapons that leave them rather...exposed, for a lack of better words. This rivals your typical irrational RPG gear, pairing thigh highs and elaborate shoulder armor with exposed breasts, butts, and middles. While the armor does effectively protect the girls by arguing that the Life Fibers that created them increase their constitution, the question remains of why the designs were meant to look this so, well, exposed. Some argue that it's a metaphor, a deep meaning about overcoming the male gaze to reach your best potential, and that how others try to objectify you does not define you or what you are capable of. Others argue that no, these designs are an exaggerated, sexist display of two teenage girls. Regardless of the intention of these designs, while they are initially distracting, I found that it becomes less and less noticeable or bothersome as episodes go on. Not only do you become jaded to the designs, but the male stares and comments played for laughs slowly stop, and Ryuko herself - who is initially too embarrassed by the exposure the armor gives her to even work with it properly - overcomes the embarrassment and doesn't let it bother her, instead focusing on the power she gains and the fight, and as soon as Ryuko herself stops being bothered by it, the audience seems to as well. (By the end of the series, nudity becomes a prominent theme, and the kamui armor looks modest by comparison)

Ryuko is extremely unhappy with her uniform

As for the setting and environment of Kill la Kill, Satsuki seems to have hijacked an entire city to live under the rule of Honnouji Academy and the school lives of the children directly affect their families. The club presidents, for example, live in luxury and comfort, while the students that slack off live in the slums and can barely scrape up enough food to survive. This is seen most notably in an episode where Mako Mankanshoku, a slacker friend of Ryuko's, founds a fight club and allows her family to live more comfortably. When Satsuki declares competitions and festivals, the entire city is put on hold in order to hold them, and students use the public roads, houses, and anything that may get in their way as their battlefield or their race track. The student council's iron fist extents out of the school walls, which may at first seem a little campy, but eventually is revealed to be a brilliant and magnificent plan orchestrated by Satsuki.

Ryuko approaching Honnouji Academy for the first time

As stated before, I had initially watched this show about halfway through before stepping away. The first couple of episodes show some promise to a unique plot line, but seem to fall victim to the 'monster of the week' grind. Ryuko over and over again faces different club leaders, eventually taking on Satsuki's student council, the Elite Four. It lost my interest and had me questioning the hype, since shonen-style monsters of the week tend to grow old on me fairly quickly if they are not handled well. However, it was after this point that the series picks up, full of emotion, rebellion, complicated mother-daughter relationships, fascism, and a plot to turn humans into slaves of clothing escalating far quicker than the viewers will anticipate. All of a sudden, I found myself on the edge of my seat, excited to see which twist and turn each episode would take me on.  All questions that arise throughout the series are answered absolutely beautifully, but I was biting my nails for the fate of our heroine and her friends throughout the second half, and it more than satisfied me. The emotions I suddenly formed for these characters when more than a reputation or a place on the student council was at stake took me by surprise, but it was an epic adventure that's worth the beginning bumps to see the end of the journey.

Satsuki's mother is revealed as a force to be reckoned with later in the series

The fight scenes and animation for this show are magnificent. I have to hand it to the team that came from Gainax, they brought their A-game, because each fight is action packed with unique weapons, armor evolution, and clever tactics that leave you wondering if Ryuko will actually succeed in her battle. While Senketsu powers Ryuko and increases her strength, endurance, and speed, her weapon of choice remains as her father's scissor blade, the last thing he left her after his death. Watching her master Senketsu and his abilities is a magnificent show, especially when new forms of Senketsu are revealed or when Ryuko's bond with the kamui strengthens, increasing her own strength and fighting abilities. It also never gets old watching each opponent line up one by one with their Goku Uniforms, and watching how their armor transforms, enhances them, and ultimately falls to its weakness. While the monster of the week fights at the beginning are a bit draining, each fight when Ryuko takes on the Elite Four and each battle afterwards feels fresh, new, and exciting while you wait to see how each set of clothes transforms into its respective weapon. Did I mention that Senketsu is a sentient being and sasses Ryuko while she fights? The added commentary of her scanty armor never ceases to be amusing.

Satsuki and Ryuko fighting in their respective kamuis, Junketsu and Senketsu

One of the most noted themes throughout the series - apart from nudity of course - is friendship and the power those relationships have. While the action is fantastic and the plot has you clicking the link to the next episode at breakneck speed, one of the most enjoyable parts of Kill la Kill is watching the friendship between Ryuko and Mako.

Friends whether Ryuko likes it or not

Mako and Ryuko are initially polar opposites. Ryuko is very bitter, edgy, and impatient, eager to lash out at anyone who stands between her and her prize. Mako, on the other hand, is extremely energetic and optimistic. While she is a slacker, she's full of excitement and eagerness that she simply channels into her relationships with her family and Ryuko. The two meet almost by accident in the first episode of the series, but Mako and her family immediately take Ryuko in to give her a place to sleep and a warm meal. Their relationship initially is comical, with Ryuko finding Mako little more than a nuisance and a loud distraction, but Mako's persistence pays off. Their relationship is strong, as Ryuko and Mako are each others only friends, and are ready to jump to the defense of the other in a heartbeat.

Mako encouraging Ryuko to stop being embarrassed by her armor

Ryuko has often saved Mako from harm's way, and has fought with the ultimate goal to protect her and her family. Mako, in turn, has always stepped in when Ryuko doubts herself, giving her a pep talk among the danger and the punches to make sure she knows exactly how capable she is of winning this fight. No matter what, they have each others backs in whatever way they can, and the heartwarming display is always the highlight of each episode.

Satsuki and her student council

The other relationship that warmed my heart was the dynamic between Satsuki and her student council. Right when the series starts, it seems to be apparent what kind of relationship this would be: a power play with Satsuki as the dictator and her four strongest students as her pawns, all easily replaceable were they to step out of line. However, as each episode goes by, you learn that this isn't the case. Satsuki's relationship with her council is not a black and white commander-and-underlings arrangement; it is a friendship formed through loyalty and deep respect for one another. Her council places their trust in Satsuki to rule the school and work toward their goals, while Satsuki in turn places her trust in the council to make her goals a reality and enforce her rules. The council protects Satsuki and her honor time and time again, not just because of an order or loyalty but because she is their friend. Satsuki, in turn, steps to the front line and protects her council, not out of pity but because they are her friends. Watching their relationship become more and more revealed in the show makes it hard to not get attached to these characters.

Don't lose your way!

Overall, Kill la Kill was a wonderful experience. While for me, personally, it started a bit slow and uncomfortable with the excessive awkward nudity played up for laughs, by the end of it I was laughing, crying, and yelling at my screen throughout each episode. This show sends the audience on a satisfying number of twists and turns that manages to not lose the audience, but also keeps them right on the edge of their seat. The themes of fashion and fascism are strong and consistent throughout the show, as are its themes of strong friendships and overcoming personal boundaries to reach your full potential. This is a show that I would highly recommend, maybe not as a beginner anime, but to someone who's familiar with the genre. 

This show is available on Crunchyroll and Netflix in Japanese with English subtitles. The English dub is scheduled for release soon, and previews have been released on the Aniplex youtube page.

Warnings for this show: Excessive nudity (played up for laughs initially and unfortunately to the discomfort of the protagonist, and even though it becomes less uncomfortable within the first few episodes, by the end of it literally everyone either is or has been at one time naked), sexual harassment, allusions to rape, gore (toward the end people literally rip their own hearts out left and right, it can be uncomfortable for those who are squicked easily)

Rewatch value: High

Overall rating: 4.5/5