Title: Bucchigiri

Episodes: 12

Genres: Comedy, Fantasy

Studio: MAPPA

Year: 2024

Source: Original

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So, apparently everyone hates Bucchigiri. I'm not about that. Not only do I think Bucchigiri did very little wrong, but I find it did nearly everything right. First of, I am a bit of a Hiroko Utsumi enjoyer now. Surprisingly, I haven't seen Free or Banana Fish, but I really liked SK8. So if it's more of that, count me in. I think I actually liked Bucchigiri even more than SK8, which is probably blasphemy to many but I can't just like... lie. 

The Bad

Yeah, we're mixing it up. Bad stuff first. Like everyone else, I agree that Arajin is the obvious downside of the show, but not nearly to the extent that some people take it. I just think he's a little annoying and over the place thematically. What's his deal? For the people who actually finished the show, its pretty obvious. Arajin is a pathetic loser who let a friend down and now he can't even be around him because he's so ashamed and unable to deal with the expectations the friend keeps of him. Instead, he stays cold and pushes him away while pursuing meaningless things like losing his virginity and a girl who literally wants nothing to do with him. Sounds not too bad in theory, but it wasn't that great in execution. That's literally the only drawback for me, Arajin's motives are a little to stretched out, the "comedic" pursuit of Mahoro doesn't make that much sense with the very dramatic confrontation with Matakara that finally occurs at the end. 

Honestly, I don't really get people's hate for Arajin when Denji from Chainsaw Man was literally everyone's favourite like less than a few months ago. Denji is actually a much worse character, he literally gets what he wants despite it being a pretty sleazy surface-level wish that is supposed to act as the proxy of his real needs. Arajin doesn't get shit because the plot acknowledges that he is pathetic and his wish is stupid too. Honestly, I don't know how else to put it but that Arajin is a female-gaze creep/loser. Lots of dudes on the very legal websites where I consume anime hate him because even when he's treated like dirt, he keeps chasing Mahoro and is always letting his bros down. Like yeah, these guys do exist, I don't know what to tell you. If his behavior was rewarded with attention from girls, I bet all these guys would be singing a different tune.

 P.S. You're all acting like he's the first little bitch in anime.

You know what? I'm wrong. The worst part is Mahoro's whole shtick. Not that she's a massive bitch, I find that funny. But the brother stuff. It's just weird, man...

The Good

Okay, you still hate Arajin. You still hate Mahoro (who I literally don't think she is that bad, outside the incestuous crush stuff...). How can this show be good if two important characters suck? Easy. One word. Matakara. Matakara is literally the best. I don't even want to explain it. But he literally is. He might start out as a bit too perfect and way naive, being a nice guy, a strong fighter, and having so much faith in Arajin. But episode 8 is a real change. Matakara is hit with one bad thing after another, his brother is near death after trying to stop a fight in juvie, he finds out that Arajin's strength is a total fraud, and he's left completely alone. This allows Ichiya to reach into Matakara's deepest fear, that he is nothing and no one will be beside him. That's so depressing... and a great fucking story. Under Ichiya's influence, Matakara fights people left and right, friends and enemies alike, until pretty much every bridge has been burned. When it seems like Matakara is in too deep, Arajin stops him. And Arajin finally undergoes some form of character development, shouting 'I want to help Matakara wake up!' instead of 'I want to lose my virginity!' for once. I don't get how people can't love Matakara, he's an excellent character.

 P.S. The best thing to happen to any of us. Be grateful, live your life.

The show also looks great, I'm almost never drawn to modern shows these days because of how they look. Even watching Tasogare Out Focus right now, I am enjoying the story but I am bored to death with the visuals, they cannot be anymore plain. Well, none of that in Bucchigiri! The show has vibrant and awesome looking characters, delinquents with extra flavour. Some of them are almost pushing 2000s emo art style, but I like that. More importantly, the show invents a pseudo-Arabic environment and text style that is prevalent in every location. Palm trees, dome-like roof tops, and Arabic-style scripture on road signs and temple stones. It looks super original and awesome. The name Arajin is basically a mildly altered version of Aladdin as the whole story is very directly inspired by the tales of 1001 Nights. I am obsessed. 

 P.S. The courtyard with the low fountain is also an excellent staple.

The Rest

The show has an excellent cast, most of the characters are essential for the narrative and there is basically no filler. The beach episode is great, because there is no beach episode. It's a bunch of half naked dude's beating the shit out of each other in a tent. 

P.S. That's right, blue lesbian, red lesbian. We are so back.

Senya is a nice guy who makes gay innuendo statements by accident and wants to fight. A gentle giant but if he was a more strict moral compass to Arajin, I think that would have made the story more interesting and also it would be a good transition to Arajin's evolution.

P.S. Wait til you see the slutty tassels.

Ichiya is also interesting, the darker mentor figure to Senya, his role makes sense. But maybe it's his late introduction into the show or something else, but he somehow feels incomplete.

P.S. ♬ Two bros... chilling in the bathhouse where Matakara lives... five feet apart cuz they're not gay. ♬

Zabu is a much better friend than Arajin. I think that's obvious on purpose, because we're not always smart enough to chose the thing that is actually better not just for us, but everyone around us. This whole show is about choosing to chase the wrong thing. The thing that will hurt you. The thing that doesn't make any sense. The thing you can't ever get. Zabu is a bit a part of that too, especially in his final showdown with Matakara which he has no chance of winning. Komao's just cute. He kind of looks like Anthony Kiedis in Point Break. I don't like Kiedis but that is a look.

P.S. You just wanna see your best friend be himself again (i.e. choosing violence).

Outa and Marito are a great pair, I'm always a sucker for not antagonists, not friends to the main character. Just some shady guys. Also their calm and reasonable guy coupled with eccentric psychopath dynamic is pleasant. SK8 also had this kind of thing going, where every character had some kind of ally-counterpart. I think it works.

P.S. Let's go! A nose that isn't like the others... we were deprived too long.

Jabashiri and Hagure are a good pair too but Hagure could use a little more development as his main scene is mostly made up of him getting his ass beat. Though it does spark a lot of rage in Jaba who then fights the newly changed Matakara. Also, I guess Hagure is like the lore-nerd of Siguma which is pretty funny, Die-hard friendships are always great, keep it up.

 P.S. Babygirl you are strange and off-putting.

Mahoro is a weirdo. She is super mean. But I genuinely did not find her that unlikable. At least she had her own ground to stand on, unlike many anime characters that happen to be girls. Especially in a fighting anime. 

 P.S. Don't let nerds do gang warfare, they are absolutely going to the suck the fun out of it and bring a knife.

Shindo is a pretty mediocre villain, I guess because he is a false villain. Still, he actually has some funny moments.

The Miss Jasmine gag was not that funny but I love cats so I don't really care. This show gets the Highest Recommendation Badge and I think it is totally misjudged by most.

The Score

 Story: A. Stronger in the second half, the plot and themes are super satisfying. I even liked the comedy aspects.

Characters: A+. If literally every character beside Matakara sucked, I would still give this an A. But the entire cast is likeable or at least interesting to me.

Style: A+. The show looks amazing! The designs, the settings! All of it is awesome.

Pacing: A. It was well-paced, I wasn't ever bored or confused or anything. It could have cut back on some gags but nothing drastic.

Animation: A. There weren't any fight scenes that totally blew me away but most of them were very good.

Music: A-. I really liked the ending theme, I'm more neutral on the opening. The visuals that come with the music are phenomenal though.

Final Score: A. This show fucking rocks. Stop flaming, haterz!1!!

More Reading . . .

SK8 The Infinity Review [xx/xx/xx].

Banana Fish Review [xx/xx/xx]. 

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Labels: anime2020s, anime2024, animecomedy, animefantasy, animereview, animeshounen, Bucchigiri!?!, Hiroko Utsumi, MAPPA, orginial