Hello, this is my first ever anime review! Over 3 years of being on this website I have never written a review as I never really had an interest in writing for a particular show when I started off watching anime. This was actually the first ever show I watched when starting out on anime, I watched this during the Covid lockdowns. After rewatching this show, I felt like I had some thoughts to say about Kill La Kill so I felt like sharing them. Prior to writing this, I decided to read up on some other reviews on this site (shoutout to @AnimeDweeb and @TheRealKyuubey) and decided that I should be blunt on what I think about this show, so here goes: Kill La Kill is a batshit insane show and the whole purpose of this review is to either convince you to start watching this show or put it on your planning list.

This review won’t have any spoilers but I have to explain the plot of the show first in order to really start off this review. Ryuko Matoi is a highschool student attending the prestigious Honnouji Academy in order to search for her father’s murderer in which they leave behind a red scissor blade which is her father’s invention. With the other half of the blade still missing, Ryuko searches the academy to find the murderer, in the academy she comes eye to eye with Satsuki Kiryuin, the academy’s cold hearted student council president along with her powerful underlings, the Elite Four. At Honnouji academy, as you climb the ranks, Satsuki grants you a “Goku Uniform” which is a clothing that grants the wearer super-human abilities. As Ryuko becomes stronger, the identity of the culprit of her father’s murder gets closer, but what awaits her when she finds out is a cruel fate. With that being said, if there is something about the show that I have to list or point out and it involves a spoiler, I will be as vague as possible.

Anyways let's dig in.

Let’s start with the most crucial aspect of the show, unlike any other show that I watched, the literal plot of the show is fanservice, whether it be characters dressing up in skimpy outfits or characters having literal drip and then beating up other characters with literal drip. The fanservice in this show is pretty out there in terms of how characters are dressed up, especially Ryuko Matoi, the main protagonist of the show. It is an essential part of the show’s identity and the way the show uses this factor is pretty interesting, most of the fanservice in the show is either used as a visual gag or as a way to showcase the costume’s true abilities. Personally, I don’t mind the fanservice of the show, I think it’s hilarious and even surreal at times whenever it comes up on screen. Although I had to be careful about watching this in front of others. It’s a decent show but if I watch this in front of others they wouldn’t think of me as a decent person.

The only time where I felt mildly uncomfortable when something weird happens on screen is during the later episodes, I won’t spoil exactly what I mean but when you see it you will know what I’m talking about, maybe a certain scene with Satsuki with someone very prominent in the show, let's say that. That being said, the fanservice is pretty well executed and it is not the only component that makes Kill La Kill stand out. Not joking, for a comedy-battle anime, this show has more to it than it meets the eye.

Kill La Kill as a show, doesn’t really take itself seriously, which is what I like. The plotline of the show and the events are so insane that even the characters themselves question what is really going on to the point that they make fun of it. Like most anime, Kill La Kill relies on visuals in order to give a punchline to a joke, and Kill La Kill is effective in doing so. I swear, every time Mako Mankanshoku (Ryuko’s best friend) shows up, there is never a moment of her where I don’t break down laughing. It’s pretty insane how many hours I pass whenever I binge this show. Although to be quite frank I have to commend Nakashima Kazuki’s ability to write comedic characters with their own set of flaws that end up dragging them down. Because of this, Kill La Kill doesn’t hesitate to contain sombre moments where it DOES take itself seriously. From moments of depression, loneliness, self-hatred and self doubt to the meaning of friendship, fighting for what’s right and to stand against opposition, this anime has it all and I must commend how much time this anime takes in order to build up each character, for example, Ryuko has to go through a number of defeats in order to improve her combat abilities and her character thereby maturing at the end of the show.
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Kill La Kill also communicates its ideas visually and even by character dialogue, you will notice how every single character is interwoven into a certain theme, whether it is by fighting for freedom or fighting for oppression. It is not cohesive I admit but the way the show uses wordplay, symbolism and even character dialogue in order to communicate its ideas and its message is absolutely commendable and honestly it is unlike any show that I have ever seen. It’s charming and downright genius at times. It really questions the fabric of your reality. Although, as how witty as this show is, it is as a core (and you may not believe me), a social commentary piece of work, and a deliberate one at so. I won't dwell further into this, not because I don't think you will understand, but it is not the goal that I have in mind of me writing this review. Kill La Kill at its core contains many themes and references, if you love watching shows that use explicit references and literal metaphors, I would seriously consider watching this show.

Another aspect of the show that makes it so surreal is its lightning pacing. I swear, the plot develops so fast like a rapidly mutating virus but at the same time it feels just right. It’s weird, but it also makes sense, this show is an anime ORIGINAL meaning that it doesn’t follow a manga or light novel but instead, it is it’s own entity which is impressive. As a result the pacing is nothing but fluid and fits perfectly with the 24 minute format that it is placed in and you won’t miss much, because your eyes would be glued to the screen for the whole 24 minutes. It’s an entertaining show and at the same time it has so much passion behind it.

The show’s animation is also godly tier, because it switches from really amazing surreal transformation sequences

to really goofy and deadpan animation that is similar to a powerpoint presentation.

It is because of this that Kill La Kill excels in its comedy. Not only the animation but the art style is just as immaculate and even direct when it comes to its characters. Every single frame is a literal art canvas, it's crazy how much effort Trigger has put into the show, into its identity of its characters, surroundings, and even the clothing also. You’ll literally drown from the amount of drip this show has.

The show also has some pretty amazing music, and since music has been a huge part of my life, the whole ost of this show and it’s respective opening songs are eargasms to me. Especially Ryuko’s theme which plays when Ryuko overcomes her enemies and gains her confidence and it also contains a really awesome rap part that unfortunately you won’t hear in the show but I won’t be greedy and ask for everything. I’ll link a playlist for the ost from Youtube but you can also listen to it on Spotify too. Hiroyuki Sawana is a Mozart in his craft. I'll also leave a link for the two openings too, Sirius and Ambiguous. It’s a literal collection of masterpieces that are written beautifully for the show.

With that being said, this show is an immediate masterpiece for me, it is over the top, really fun to watch and is entertaining all the way from start to finish. There is never a second that I regret from watching this show. I hope this review is cohesive enough and has convinced you to start watching it! If you have any problems with this review, maybe my language or maybe about what I said here, then you can send me a message! I don’t mind a discussion. This review is more of a love letter to be quite frank but it’s my honest opinion about this show. Objectively speaking, this show could have done better in terms of piecing together its plot elements and is pretty niche, but if you like comedy, or battle anime’s then this show is for you!

Kill La Kill exudes a style and identity that no other shows contain and/or ever will, there will always be one Kill La Kill and it can’t ever be copied ever, it is seriously ahead of it’s time back then.

Although in all honesty, I lied to you, I'm sorry. This review isn't to convince you to watch this show, as it is ultimately up to your decision to watch this banger of the show and even if this review doesn't convince you to watch it, it's okay, as this review is more of a love letter to an anime that has a special place in my heart among other things so if you read this review up to this point, I thank you. This review might appear surface level to you but in a way I would let you figure out the anime yourself when you watch it. This anime is really special to me as it is a pretty amazing and a deliberate show and I hope to share this joy with other people who might watch this show with me.

By reading this review I realized that what I touched on here IS surface level, this anime has so much more to let on, Trigger are literal geniuses. If you have time, watch this show and you'll see what I mean.

Let me know your thoughts, I would love to it, till then thanks for stopping by!

[Tl:dr]

You should watch Kill La Kill