“It’s said that when an object is treated with care, a soul will come to inhabit it. So when trash is thrown out, what comes to inhabit it?”
In Gachiakuta, “legit trash” isn’t a paradox—it’s a way of life. Mangaka Kei Urana creates a world where the divide between value and worthlessness is enforced by the powerful, and they discard people faster than broken things.
Studio Bones brings us a new dark fantasy anime, adapted from Urana’s hit shonen manga, with graffiti design by Hideyoshi Andou. The series launches July 6 on Crunchyroll, and the anticipation is high for the bold visuals, dystopian steam/punk energy, and a premise that’s as much about social commentary as it is about supernatural brawls. How do we know? In collaboration with the Gachiakuta Anime Production Committee, Crunchyroll unveiled the Gachiakuta World Takeover, an international anime initiative designed to bring global fans together for what’s predicted to be a shonen sensation:
In the floating world, Sphere, the privileged rule a city filled with blue water canals, bright white masonry, and golden trim. On the other side of the tracks, cut off by a huge wall, the working class lives in slums reminiscent of the shantytowns and favelas in our world. Intolerant of the smallest blemish or infraction, the wealthy toss their trash and their outcasts over the edge of their world on a whim. Down below, the Pit waits.
“I heard they built the slums on the edge of the city, so they could drive it into our heads, if you do anything bad, it’s the pit for you.”
Rudo stands out on both sides. He’s a greyish white-haired, red-eyed orphan with scarred hands he hides beneath battered gloves. While everyone else is obsessed with eradicating “filth,” Rudo refuses to believe anything is trash. During the nights, he raids the sunny side of Sphere, searching for items to upcycle or repair. But when he’s accused of a pair of crimes—one he’s guilty of, the other he’s not—the Pit claims him. Exiled into a seemingly endless sea of garbage, Rudo wakes up in a trash heap version of hell, where massive Trash Beast Kaiju, made of bone, crystal, and twisted metal prowl the filth. Apparently something inhabitants trash, too. There’s only one decision for Rudo to make: choke on the stink of his exile or adapt.
That’s when things get interesting. “Interesting” wears a mask, carries an umbrella, and calls himself Enjin. He claims to be “a simple Cleaner,” but he’s boyband pretty—with the hair, the double hoop earrings, and the golden eyes to prove it. I’m just saying, if Enjin started singing a grimy remix of “Your Idol”—from KPop Demon Hunters—it would feel right.
The first two episodes of Gachiakuta got me. I’m a shonen girlie, a sci-fi acolyte, and a paranormal princess. This anime had me at the first mention of spirits inhabiting well-loved objects, and what inhabits trash. It hooked me more with its socio-economic commentary on consumption without renewal, and the accusatory finger it points at toxic hierarchical structures. But this show kept reeling me in. There are weapons, called Vital Instruments, that are given power by an object’s connection to its wielder. Y’all, I’m so locked in on this trash show—because for the first time, “legit trash” is high praise. You have to love the paradox, and this series seriously does.
Things get hectic, sinister, and brutal pretty quickly. Remember Itadori and Sukuna’s fingers in Jujutsu Kaisen? That…only worse…and somehow funnier. There’s so much bad blood in Gachiakuta; the lore is calling me like a siren song. But I’ll wait for you to catch up, then we’ll watch Episode 3 together. Until then: “If you treat an object with care, a soul will come to inhabit it…and [maybe] that soul will come to your aid.”
There’s one last thing you need to know before you dive into the Pit: The ones who connect with objects and draw out their power? They’re Givers. And since this anime is all about up-cycling, I’m going to bring back some old slang and say Gachiakuta is giving. I’m ready for more.
Episode 1 – “The Sphere” streams on Crunchyroll on July 6
Episode 2 – “The Inhabited” streams on Crunchyroll on July 13
New episodes every Sunday.
JAPANESE VOICE CAST & CHARACTERS
from Crunchyroll
Aoi Ichikawa as Rudo
A boy with no family who survives by picking up trash on the Sphere. Though discriminated against as one of the Sphereite underclass known as the tribesfolk, he lived with Regto, the man who raised him. One day, he is falsely accused of a crime and cast into the Pit.
Katsuyuki Konishi as Enjin
– Vital Instrument: Umbrella / Member of the Cleaners’ Team Akuta –
Enjin finds Rudo after he is cast into the Pit and recognizes his potential as a Giver. He recruits him into the Cleaners, an organization dedicated to hunting down trash beasts.
Yoshitsugu Matsuoka as Zanka
– Vital Instrument: Stick / Member of the Cleaners’ Team Akuta –
Appointed by Enjin as Rudo’s trainer, he is the Giver who is best at handling vital instruments. On the ground, he is as close to a spoiled rich kid as one can get.
Yumiri Hanamori as Riyo
– Vital Instrument: Scissors / Member of the Cleaners’ Team Akuta –
A Giver who expertly wields the vital instrument “the Ripper” with her feet. Normally cheerful and playful, she becomes strikingly pragmatic in battle.
Toshiyuki Morikawa as Regto
The man who raised Rudo after he lost his parents. He gave Rudo a pair of gloves.
Yuuki Shin as Jabber
– Vital instrument: Rings / The Raiders –
A Giver who belongs to the Raiders. He fights with a vital instrument called “Mankira” that contains a strong neurotoxin, and flaunts his tenacity to other powerful Givers.
ENGLISH VOICE CAST
Bryson Baugus as Rudo
Christopher Wehkamp as Enjin
Corey Wilder as Zanka
Katie Caruso as Riyo
Zeno Robinson as Jabber
John Burgmeier as Regto
CREATIVES
Original Work: Based on the manga “Gachiakuta” written and illustrated by Kei Urana, with graffiti design by Hideyoshi Andou
Directed by: Fumihiko Suganuma
Series Composition Written by: Hiroshi Seko
Character Design and Chief Animation Director: Satoshi Ishino
Sub Character Design and Chief Animation Director: Yoshino Matsumoto
Trash Beast Design: Eiji Yamamori
Vital Instrument Design: Arisa Hoshina
Art Design by: Nariyuki Ogi
Art Director: Yusa Ito (Kusanagi)
Color Design: Naomi Nakano (Stella)
In-Between Animation Director: Chiori Haneda
Director of Photography: Masataka Ikegami
3DCG Director: Takuma Miyake
Editor: Ayumu Takahashi
Sound Director: Fumiyuki Goh
Sound Effects: Rei Ueno
Music Composed by: Taku Iwasaki
Production Supervision: Bones
Animation Studio: Bones Film
