Kakegurui, an anime series adaptation of the manga by Homura Kawamoto and Toru Naomura, is no stranger to controversy. With a premise that captivates those familiar with card games, the show promised to delve into Western and Japanese traditional games. However, certain themes explored in the series received mixed reactions from viewers.
Furthermore, the series excessively se*ualized its characters, significantly hindering the overall storytelling. The recurring presence of suggestive content proved to be one of the primary concerns that consistently sparked controversy surrounding the series, along with other contributing factors.
Kakegurui: Taking a look into the setting and themes explored in the anime and manga series
Located in the esteemed Hyakkou Private School, the captivating Kakegurui anime revolves around a group of students hailing from influential families nationwide. Within this renowned institution, a strict social structure dominates their every interaction.
This is a common theme among fans of anime and manga. However, the ranking system is not based on academic achievements, but rather the ability to gamble in different ways. This leads to a lot of toxicity in the storyline. Additionally, even Kakegurui fans were not fond of the "housepets" element in the series. Toxicity, harassment, abuse, and cheating were prevalent themes throughout the show.
Housepets, those ranked in the lowest 100 for contributions to the Student Council, are stripped of their basic human rights. They are mandated to wear identifying tags, setting them apart from others, and suffer constant harassment and abuse. Jun Kiwatari, a minor character and housepet, was so severely mistreated that he became emaciated with visible signs of fatigue. This portrayal serves as a clear depiction of the inhumane treatment within the school. The prevalence of bullying and harassment persists throughout the entire anime series.
One major point of discomfort for members of the anime and manga community in relation to Kakegurui is the series' protagonist, Jabami Yumeko. The presence of numerous suggestive scenes further contributes to this unease. From a writer's perspective, this character lacks depth and fails to exhibit any redeeming qualities.
Furthermore, players would resort to any means necessary in order to secure victory, hence making cheating a prevalent issue. The show unfortunately lacks a sense of honor among its competitors. At every possible opportunity, shortcuts were taken, consequently hindering the overall enjoyment of the viewers.
Kakegurui received mixed reviews within the anime and manga community due to its controversial themes of gambling, cheating, and bullying. Some viewers were put off by the poor character development, finding the characters to be one-dimensional and lacking depth. The only commonality among the characters was their shared love for gambling and their desire to dominate others.
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Editor's P/S
As an anime fan, I have mixed feelings about Kakegurui. On the one hand, I appreciate the show's daring themes and captivating setting. The world of Hyakkou Private School is a fascinating one, and the high-stakes gambling games are exciting to watch. On the other hand, I find the show's excessive se*ualization of its characters to be off-putting and unnecessary. It detracts from the story and makes it difficult to take the show seriously.
I also think that the show's portrayal of bullying and abuse is disturbing and harmful. The housepets are treated inhumanely, and the show seems to glorify their suffering. This is a major problem, and it's one that I think the show needs to address.