Noirit Mustapha

When director Hiroyuki Imaishi of Gurren Lagann fame left Gainax along with some other staff members, many were anticipating what his next crazy entry into the world of anime would be. Sure enough, he reunited with even the show’s head writer and popular composer Hiroyuki Sawano from Gundam Unicorn and Attack on Titan for what was touted as the next big anime hit. Kill la Kill dropped on the fall of 2013, following young Ryuko Matoi on a quest for revenge. Her search brings her to the prestigious yet hard as nails Honnouji Academy, where she immediately makes an enemy of the student council president Satsuki Kiryuin. After a quick initial defeat, she finds something left behind by her deceased father; a sentient student uniform that draws power from the wearer’s blood. Donning the outfit, Ryuko jumps back in to work up the ranks of the academy, aiming to best her new rival.
Right off the bat, the influences and staff working on this show are evident. Most people will and have drawn similarities between KLK and the popular Gurren Lagann, thanks in part to the outrageous style and art direction. Of course, there are no giant robots or weird human hunting mutants here. Instead we’re left with crazy personalities in super-powered school uniforms. For the most part the characters are enjoyable, though some can be hit or miss depending on preferences. Ryuko slowly develops into a more level-headed person instead of someone completely hellbent on revenge. Even her talking suit Senketsu provides fun moments of commentary and conversation. However, just like GL, the show goes through a crazy twist halfway through that truly shows how insane Imaishi’s plots can get. Nothing on the same galactic scale as GL but prepare for a lot of shocks anyway.
Coupled with a great score to set the mood for some crazy and well-animated battles, Kill la Kill can end up being a fun yet wild ride, given enough time to let it really shine.