keenanrutledge

[keenanrutledge]

Hello Dillon, I find your comments on the film's lack of an antagonist to be interesting. I agree that the true villain of this movie is corruption as a whole in a broken society.

Akira

Akira is a film that I don’t really know how to interpret. It tackles a number of issues regarding government corruption, intervention, suppression, and censorship while exploring the liminal boundaries that are prevalent behind existential powers - all of which is done so through a rather unsettling dystopian setting. With a jarring exposition filled with plot twists that are reminiscent of Neon Genesis Evangelion, the film offers a unique commentary on contemporary societal issues through the depiction of theoretical scenarios.

The film is set in a dystopian setting known as Neo-Tokyo, the reconstructed city of Tokyo following the aftermath of an atomic bombing. Neo-Tokyo is nearly filled to the brim with rampant corruption, with violent protests and demonstrations ever-so present on a near-daily basis. Akira follows Shotaro Kaneda, the leader of a biker gang who inevitably becomes wrapped in a government scientific experiment involving Espers after his fellow biker and friend, Tetsuo Shima, is caught in an unfortunate crash. 

At its core, Akira seemingly comments on the presence of the government in a dystopian society run by corruption. It’s one of those films where there’s not really a clear-cut antagonist at the start. However, by the end of it… there still really isn’t one. Arguably, though, the film touches on how corruption can bleed into society through immoral politicians who only seem to care about lining their own pockets. Interestingly, Colonel Shikishima, as brash and brazen as he might be, is Akira’s answer to corruption. It’s not the increasingly prominent protests or the imminent destruction of the city that leads to the downfall of the corrupted politicians, but his own attempt at creating a coup d’etat.

Overall, the film is rather interesting in how it exhibits the presence of corruption. There are other caveats to the film that are addressed through the brilliant characterization of the main cast, ranging from Tetsuo’s battle for identity to Kaneda’s struggle to protect others. Akira is one of those films that seems to leave a lasting impression on you for a long while. That being said, I think seeing it once was enough for me - the Tetsuo mutation scene is something I definitely do not want to watch again.

[keenanrutledge]

Jujutsu Kaisen

            In this viewing of the anime Jujutsu Kaisen, we explored the Shibuya Incident Arc. This arc begins as the city of Shibuya is being sealed by a powerful curse, trapping innocent civilians and causing chaos. Satoru Gojo quickly enters the barrier to confront this special grade cursed spirit; however, he falls into a trap and is sealed inside the Prison Realm. With Gojo gone, panic begins to spread amongst the other Jujutsu sorcerers in the city. In their efforts to save Shibuya, the sorcerers must face intense moral struggles as they confront death, sacrifice, and loss of order.

            In this arc of the anime Jujutsu Kaisen, we see characters take collective responsibility and work together while they risk their lives to protect others from curses despite overwhelming odds. This theme of working towards the greater good is very common in the real world. During times like pandemics or natural disasters, individuals have a tendency to come together and act selflessly for the betterment of their community. Through their actions in Shibuya, the jujutsu sorcerers are able to reflect the universal dilemma of balancing one’s personal needs with the need to protect and serve the less fortunate during times of shared hardship.

            These episodes of Jujutsu Kaisen also explore the dangers associated with the misuse of power. This is shown through the destructive actions of curses who get their power through the fear and misfortune of humans. This theme is relevant in the real world, as leaders or powerful organizations will exploit society for their individual gain. Jujutsu Kaisen works to raise important questions about who holds the power and how they should use it.

[keenanrutledge]

Violet Evergarden: Recollections

            Violet Evergarden: Recollections is a film that condenses the key events from the Violet Evergarden anime series into a cohesive video. The story follows a former child soldier named Violet who becomes an Auto Memory Doll, or someone who writes letters for others, after the war. Throughout the film, Violet is in constant struggle with her emotions and the weight of her past. As she wrote letters for people dealing with love, loss, and healing, Violet would slowly begin to better understand her own grief, emotions, and connections.

            The film Violet Evergarden: Recollections takes a deep dive into the real-life consequences associated with emotional repression. This is portrayed in Violet’s struggle to understand and express her feelings after experiencing the horrors of war. It proves to be very difficult for Violet to recognize things like love, grief, or empathy. This reflects a larger issue in the real world, where society generally faces challenges in acknowledging and addressing emotions. Mental health is a growing topic globally today and it is unique for popular media to comment on it. As a whole, Violet Evergarden: Recollections works to emphasize that emotional connection is vital for recovery and personal growth.

            Violet Evergarden: Recollections also works to comment on the importance and complexity of things like communication and understanding in human relationships. In the film, Violet learned to convey other’s emotions through writing letters for them. The movie also portrays how people tend to struggle to express themselves when dealing with strong emotions. This is especially relevant today with modern technology. It can be difficult to maintain genuine connections with people when not communicating face to face. Violet's growth in emotional understanding show the power of sincere communication, even in its simplest form.

[keenanrutledge]

Akira

            Akira is a dystopian anime film set in Neo-Tokyo, a city that had to be rebuilt after an explosion had destroyed the original city of Tokyo. The story is based around 2 teenagers named Kaneda and Tetsuo who are members of a biker gang. After Tetsuo got into a motorcycle accident, he gained psychic powers. We come to find out that these powers are linked to a secret government project involving a mysterious figure named Akira. As Tetsuo begins to lose control of his powers, Kaneda and a group of rebels lead a charge to try and stop him. As a whole, the movie serves as a warning about the dangers of unchecked technological and scientific advancement.

            Akira gives us a look into the dangers associated with rapid urbanization. In the film, the city of Neo-Tokyo is portrayed as chaotic and plagued by inequality, crime, social unrest, and overpopulation. Society seems to be on the brink of collapse, with things like corrupt public officials and violent protests exemplifying the city’s social and political instability. The movie also explores how dangerous it can be when the military tries to control science. This is shown as secret government experiments dealing with psychic powers lead to terrible results.

            Akira also explores how societies tend to deal with trauma after disaster strikes, a theme that has commonly been brought up throughout many of the previous viewings. Akira, in particular, depicts a massive explosion that destroys large parts of the city in a similar fashion to the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This film, as well as many other anime, use imagery to represent how the memory of war and tragedy continues to shape Japan and Japanese culture.

[keenanrutledge]

Hetalia: Axis Powers

           

Hetalia: Axis Powers is a satirical anime where countries are turned into cute boys, portraying them interacting in comedic skits based on historical events. The viewing focused on the dynamics between the Axis Powers (Italy, Germany, and Japan) during World Wars 1 and 2. The anime uses exaggerated stereotypes in order to depict things like diplomatic relations, cultural quirks, and wartime alliances. The series is able to blend education and entertainment by portraying historical events in a comedic context.

            Hetalia: Axis Powers uses satire to show international relations and historical events, encouraging viewers to reflect on and think critically about how history is presented. By exaggerating the characters of each country, the anime highlights the impact of cultural biases. Hetalia challenges viewers to question the accuracy and perspective of the histories they’ve learned, especially in relation to global conflicts like the World Wars. With the use of humor, the show brings attention to how different cultures will tend to remember the same events in different ways, often influenced by pride, guilt, or political agendas.

            By choosing to portray the countries as humans, Hetalia: Axis Powers is able to bring attention to the fluid and human-like nature of national identities. Each character possesses cultural stereotypes and historical traits, which, while exaggerated for humor, show how identities are shaped by both internal values and external thoughts. The anime reflects on real world alliances and conflicts through interactions between characters. Things like friendships and rivalries provide a comedic peek into real life issues.

[keenanrutledge]

Your Name

The film “Your Name” follows the story of 2 teenagers, Taki and Mitsuha, who mysteriously begin swapping bodies despite living in different locations and times. As they navigate life through each other’s eyes, they form a deep connection. Later in the story, the teenagers end up working together to prevent a catastrophic comet strike in Mitsuha’s town. Their bond is able to exceed time and memory, even after they forget each other's names. In the end, fate brings them together again, suggesting that true connections can last despite negative factors like distance, disaster, or the passage of time.

Your Name works to highlight the dramatic divide between urban and rural life. Mitsuha lives in the quiet, traditional town of Itomori while Taki lives a fast-paced life in Tokyo. Mitsuha dreams of escaping the slow and uneventful style of rural life, reflecting the real-world trend in Japan and the rest of the world where younger generations move to cities for greater opportunities, leaving small towns to face declining populations and cultural decline. The film is able to emphasize the idea that identity can be shaped by location and connection and understanding between urban and rural life is not only possible but deeply meaningful.

Your Name is able to display a society with a heightened disaster consciousness. The comet impact threatening to destroy Mitsuha’s town mirrors the sudden and uncontrollable nature of real-life disasters that have devastated communities throughout Japan. The film portrays the emotional weight of loss, evacuation, and the powerlessness people often feel during emergencies. By adding the narrative of a natural disaster, the film is able to emphasize the human drive to protect one another, even when faced with overwhelming, unpredictable forces.

[keenanrutledge]

Xenoblade Chronicles 2

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is a roleplay video game with an anime style narrative. It is set in the world of Alrest where people live on the backs of giant creatures called Titans. The story follows Rex, a salvager who becomes the driver of a powerful blade named Pyra, as he sets on a journey to reach the mythical paradise of Elysium. As they progress, Rex and his allies confront themes of loss, identity, war, and coexistence as they learn of ancient technologies and truths about their world.

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 addresses objectification through the relationship between drivers and their blades. Blades are powerful, sentient beings who are often treated as tools or weapons rather than individuals with their own thoughts and emotions. Many characters in the game, particularly antagonists, choose to exploit their blades only for power. Rex, however, treats Pyra and the other blades with respect and compassion, creating a mutually beneficial relationship. The game critiques the use of live beings as nothing but tools, raising questions about identity and values. The game emphasizes the importance of recognizing humanity in others, even those seen as different or less than.

            In the game, the world of Alrest is built upon the backs of titans. These titans are gradually dying, threatening the collapse of civilization as a whole. This gradual death could be representative of how fragile ecosystems can be, as well as the dangers associated with overreliance on natural resources. The dying titans is a similar concept to climate change, where things like rising temperatures, deforestation, and resource depletion endanger both human and ecological life. The game urges its players to reflect on the ways that society exploits nature.

[keenanrutledge]

Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind

            The movie Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind follows the story of Princess Nausicaa, the leader of a peaceful valley surrounded by a toxic jungle, known as the Sea of Decay, filled with giant insects. In a world that is devastated by pollution and war, Princess Nausicaa attempts to understand the jungle instead of destroying it. Her compassion, curiosity, and commitment to non-violence allow her to uncover the truth about the origins of her environment. As a whole, Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind emphasizes the importance of harmony between humans and nature in a world that is struggling to recover from its past.

            In the movie, the toxic jungle serves as a relatively straightforward and powerful metaphor for human initiated environmental destruction. Pollution is a very prevalent issue both in the past and today. The jungle, although seen by most as dangerous, is eventually revealed to be purifying the Earth. This points out nature’s tendency to heal itself over time. This idea could be relevant today with things like climate change, pollution, or deforestation. Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind works as a warning to its viewers of the long-term impacts of the relationship between humans and their environment.

            The devastated war in Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind and the general attitudes of citizens could be a reference to post-World War II Japan and their experience with the atomic bombings. The film shows both the cultural trauma caused by nuclear war and the fear of repeating it. The “Giant Warrior,” a symbol of past technological violence, represents the dangers of unchecked militarization and scientific advancement without morals, another theme relevant in postwar Japan.

[keenanrutledge]

End of Evangelion

            End of Evangelion works as an alternate ending to the Neon Genesis Evangelion series. The movie replaces the final 2 episodes of Neon Genesis Evangelion with a more literal and intense conclusion. The viewing displays brutal violence and the deaths of major characters. The anime also explores Shinji’s mental health and eventual psychological collapse. The viewing begins to conclude when The Human Instrumentality Project begins, merging all human souls into a collective consciousness, however Shinji is able to reject this forced unity by choosing to embrace individuality and the struggles that come with it. The viewing finally comes to an end with Shinji and Asuka, the only two seen in the aftermath, symbolizing rebirth, pain, and the hope of human connection.

            The biggest thing that stood out for me while watching En fog Evangelion was the intense and often unique imagery that could have been used to critique how society has become desensitized to violence, particularly through media and political systems. Things like the visualization of military assault or the brutal deaths of significant characters highlights the tendency of institutions to easily justify violence with control or progress. Additionally, this film challenges and questions the normalization of violence in popular media. This is done by forcing the audience to witness a graphic and emotional sequence of suffering.

            Similar to the original series, End of Evangelion also addresses intense themes involving mental health.         Rather than sugarcoating it, the anime chooses to fully immerse its viewers into the raw emotions and mental state of the characters. This is most notable in Shinji, who feels paralyzed by guilt, loneliness, and a lack of self-worth throughout the entire viewing.

[keenanrutledge]

Neon Genesis Evangelion (Part 2)

            As the second part of the viewing of Neon Genesis Evangelion progressed, the series deepens its psychological and emotional focus. We are introduced to Asuka Langley Soryu, a confident new Eva pilot whose arrival adds tension to the established group dynamic. As the viewing went on, Shinji is confronted with various emotional challenges, where he struggles with being forced to look within himself. The series concludes with a look into Shinji’s psyche where he confronts his self-worth, fears, and desire for acceptance, ultimately arriving at the realization that his value must come from within.

            Neon Genesis Evangelion works to critique various common societal norms in Japan, particularly those surrounding emotional repression, perfectionism, and traditional gender roles. Asuka constantly feels pressured to be exceptional, leading to a highly competitive attitude. Asuka felt even more pressure to succeed and stand out as a woman in a male dominated field. On the other hand, Shinji shows feelings of emotional sensitivity, self-doubt, and a desire for connection rather than dominance that aren’t necessarily masculine. Both characters are negatively impacted mentally by the preexisting societal expectations, highlighting how some individuals can be forced to suppress their true emotions in order to meet the unrealistic ideals of the people around them.

            In a similar yet deeper fashion than the first part of the viewing, this part of Neon Genesis Evangelion addresses sensitive topics related to mental health and mental health awareness. Shinji’s isolation could have been representative of the internal battles that many people face with depression and self-worth. In addition to this, the anime allows us to get a deep dive into the psyche where intense visuals are used to depict both internal and external chaos.

[keenanrutledge]

Neon Genesis Evangelion (Part 1)

            The early episodes of Neon Genesis Evangelion introduce us to Shinji Ikari as he is summoned to Tokyo-3 by his father be a pilot. Shinji is tasked to fly Evangelion Unit-01, a giant biomechanical weapon used to combat mysterious alien beings called Angels. During his first fight, Eva went berserk and defeated the Angel on its own, which left Shinji emotionally shaken. These emotional struggles continue as Shinji attempts to adjust to life with his new guardian, a man named Misato Katsuragi. The viewing concludes as focus is shifted to an injured girl that we saw at the beginning named Rei Ayanami. It is revealed that Rei has a strange relationship with Shinji's father, adding to the emotional complexity and mystery of the series.

            Neon Genesis Evangelion touches on interesting topics relating to mental health that aren’t really addressed by other sources of media. The characters, especially Shinji, struggle with serious feelings of worthlessness, isolation, and the fear of being unloved or misunderstood. These feelings have become very common and faced commonly all throughout the world, especially by adolescents and young adults. The show uniquely places these complex topics in a fast-paced sci-fi setting, forcing viewers to look within themselves while watching.

            Neon Genesis Evangelion also addresses something that has been very commonly addressed throughout the required viewings. This would be young people being forced to take on adult responsibilities before they are ready. This is reflected in the anime when Shinji and the other Eva pilots are forced to play intense roles without being emotionally prepared. Shinji’s lack of a stable relationship with his father is also representative of this theme, as he was already forced into a role that he was not prepared for early in life.

[keenanrutledge]

My First Convention

            This week I was able to experience my first convention of any kind. I have known about and been around SwampCon ever since my older sister’s freshman year about 5 years ago, however things like negative prejudices from my friends and family have prevented me from attending. Although I am not and probably will not ever be involved or confident enough to directly participate in any kind of these conventions, I have always wanted to attend one. Because of this, I was very excited when this class encouraged me to go to SwampCon for the first time.

            Because I had never been to anything like SwampCon before, I had no idea what to expect. When I told my mom about my assignment to go to SwampCon she was even more confused. To clear up both of our confusion, we decided to go to the website (this did not help much). Shortly after discovering the website, we came across the convention rules page. A couple of these rules stood out to both of us and only increased how much I was intrigued by the whole situation. The first rule that raised questions came pretty early in the list and stated “Attendees are expected to maintain good personal hygiene while at the convention. This includes showering regularly and wearing deodorant”. I was very confused while reading this. I have never attended a social event in which personal hygiene is referenced as an expectation. Another rule, stating “Do not touch, follow, or repeatedly interact with attendees, guests, or staff unless given express permission. This includes “glomping” or any other unexpected physical contact,” used a word that I had never heard before. After looking it up, I learned that glomping is basically the act of violently hugging and/or pouncing on someone, usually unexpectedly. I was unaware of this issue in any setting, however, came to learn that glomping is relatively common in the anime and manga communities.

            As the day of the event neared, I was able to find a detailed schedule of the convention and the exact times of its events. I was surprised at the wide variety of genres that were addressed at SwampCon, opening its doors to all kinds of individual. The most interesting events that I noticed on the schedule were the costume contest and the drag show. SwampCon took place over the course of 2 days, however I was only able to attend for a brief amount of time the first day because it rained for all of the second day. Because of this, I feel like I wasn’t able to get all that I could out of my first convention, however I saw enough to be willing to go back.

            The first thing that I noticed on the day of SwampCon came before I even entered the Reitz center. I saw a seemingly countless number of people either dressed in full cosplay or dressed in smaller accessories that represented their favorite characters. Entering the convention, I noticed a large number of people dressed in fur suits as well as people in their own personal cosplays. I also saw some professional cosplayers who were wearing extremely realistic costumes. My biggest takeaway from my experience at SwampCon was not to immediately accept stereotypes. Without this assignment, I would’ve stayed far away from the Reitz Center this weekend. However, because of this assignment, I was able to meet and have positive interactions with all kinds of people. Swampcon has created an open and accepting community that I would be open to going to again.

[keenanrutledge]

Hello Christian, I completely agree with your claim that the topics covered in this show were something that I haven't really seen addressed in modern media. I find your point about the double standard to be interesting as it is definitely a prevalent topic in the real world.

Wandering Son

To start off, this was also another anime I had never heard of and was again unexpectedly deep. This anime tackles a couple of topics, such as gender identity and transgenderism. Unlike a lot of topics we’ve covered in this class, like war, depression, dropouts, etc., which are usually shown in lots of media, like books, movies, and TV shows, transgenderism honestly doesn’t really get that, which I find kind of interesting.

Anyway, this anime follows Shuichi Nitori, who is a boy that wants to be a girl. Throughout Nitori’s youth (I know Nitori’s only in middle school), he has been dressing up as a girl because that was the only way that he could express himself. Throughout the anime he gets many mixed opinions about his crossdressing tendencies; on one hand his sister constantly berated him, calling him weird for dressing up like that as well as getting physical with him. On the other hand, whenever he dressed like a girl, he would get complements, with people calling him cute and even some people telling him to dress like that at school since he would look good. After a little bit of back and forth in his mind, he decided to go to school dressed as a girl. In his mind he thought that it would be fine because of the compliments he got, as well as already having a girl in school (Yoshino Takatsuki) who dresses as a boy. Unfortunately, he immediately got sent to the office/nurse and was sent home. This goes to show the double standard the school, as well as Japan, has on gender barriers and how hard it is for them to accept different gender views.

Overall, this anime was pretty interesting. I haven’t really seen any shows or media in general that cover transgenderism, so it was a nice change of pace.

[keenanrutledge]

Hello Jordan, I appreciate when you shared about how you would spend time watching Sailor Moon growing up. I completely agree with your claim that the values taught in the anime are applicable and important to learn early in life.

Sailor Moon – More Than Just Magic and Makeovers

Sailor Moon might seem like a sparkly, fun anime about magical girls fighting evil, but beneath the surface, it tackles real issues that are both specific to Japan and universally relatable. The show presents a group of teenage girls navigating friendship, responsibility, identity, and power. In Japan, where there’s often pressure for girls to be quiet, polite, and reserved, Sailor Moon breaks the mold by showing young women who are strong, emotional, and powerful—all at once.

Globally, Sailor Moon also speaks to issues like gender roles and the idea that femininity and strength can go hand in hand. Usagi (Sailor Moon) is clumsy, emotional, and kind, and those traits are often seen as weaknesses—but in the show, they’re part of what makes her a great leader. It’s a powerful message, especially for young girls who are told they need to “toughen up” or hide their feelings to be taken seriously.

On a personal level, I grew up watching Sailor Moon, and it shaped how I saw female friendship and leadership. It showed me that being soft doesn’t mean you’re weak—and that standing up for your friends and your values is its own kind of power. The team dynamic, where each girl brings something different to the group, also reminded me how important it is to embrace what makes each person unique.

While the assigned readings may dive deeper into media, gender, or youth culture, Sailor Moon is a great visual example of those themes in action. It blends fantasy with real social commentary, making it more than just an anime—it’s a cultural symbol of empowerment, then and now.

[keenanrutledge]

Hi Dillon, I like that one of the first thing you pointed out about the show was the humor in it, despite the fact that the anime covered very real and very serious topics. I also appreciate how you pointed out that, despite her true feelings, Retsuko knows better than to attempt to resist societal expectations.

Aggretsuko - Death Metal Frustrations!

Aggretsuko is an adorable yet pragmatic anime that tackles several contemporary issues regarding gender roles, grueling corporate workplaces, and performance. I ended up watching more of this anime than I probably needed to, but it was an enjoyable experience overall. The nuanced problems that the characters faced just felt so relatable.

The anime follows Retsuko, a 25-year-old red panda living in Japan. She’s an accountant who works in a physically and mentally taxing job dictated by demanding standards, co-workers, and unrelenting higher-ups. Despite all of this, she still quietly goes about her day, politely and reluctantly agreeing to whatever unfortunate tasks bestowed upon her with many complaints - at least, that’s how it looked at first. However, once out of work, she goes to vent her frustrations through… death metal karaoke? This idiosyncratic trait serves as a stark contrast to her normally submissive behavior.

Her demanding workplace has been the source of constant stress, and understandably so. This is especially present in Retsuko’s boss and the director of the accounting department, Ton. Ton is, quite literally, a pig, and a misogynistic one at that. Believing in conforming gender roles, he often subjects Retsuko to a number of both menial and strenuous tasks, even shouldering her with unnecessary amounts of work just so that he can “clock out on time.” He is a pretty common representation of the management present within corporate workplaces in Japan. As comical and amusing as the anime is, these issues exist within corporate work environments - not just in Japan. Societal expectations of gender are imposed on individuals all the time. Even Retsuko still adheres to these conformities on a certain level. While she would love to express these vitriolic emotions against those who displease her, she knows that doing so is impossible.

While Aggretsuko may seem like a cute and hilarious anime at first glance, it dives into a variety of issues prevalent within toxic environments and gender performances. From blatant power enforcement to subtle displays of sexism, Aggretsuko shows just how demanding and unfair the corporate world can sometimes be for women.

[keenanrutledge]

Wandering Son

Wandering Son follows two transgender middle school students named Shuichi Nitori and Yoshino Takatsuki as they explore their gender identities in a world that isn’t necessarily very accepting of them. The show begins with Shuichi transferring to a new school and quickly forming a strong bond with Yoshino because of their similar struggles with gender identity. As the viewing continued, Shuichi chooses to begin to further express her identity and dress more femininely. The show explores the difficult topics of anxiety, societal pressures, and the potential mixed reactions of peers.

Wandering Son works really well to powerfully capture the physical and emotional challenges faced by transgender youth around the world. The struggles faced by Shuichi, whether it be expressing her gender identity or facing judgment or confusion from others, effectively mirror the challenges faced by many transgender youth today. Being misgendered, worries about acceptance, and feelings of isolation are very common and well portrayed by the anime. Overall, the show works to give a voice to the people that have endured situations like this one. It emphasizes the difficulty in living in a world that isn’t necessarily ready to embrace you.

Wandering Son also highlights how schools and families, although not always intentionally, can often lack the education or resources to properly support transgender youth. In the show, teachers are shown struggling to come up with appropriate responses and school rules are exposed as leaving little to no room for self-expression. Similarly, families can often be unsure of how to properly assist a person struggling with their gender identity. This can be reflective of broader worldwide issues, as many institutions have yet to implement proper use of guidance or acceptance when dealing with transgender individuals.

[keenanrutledge]

Aggretsuko

            The anime Aggretsuko follows Retsuko, an overworked accountant who quietly goes about her toxic workday until she ultimately vents her frustrations through secret death metal karaoke. Retsuko’s secrete would eventually get out however instead of being met with ridicule, she would unexpectedly receive support by her powerful female coworkers. As the series went on, Retsuko would endure more social challenges. These episodes worked to emphasize the importance of self-expression, emotional honesty, and finding solidarity with others facing similar struggles in both professional and personal life.

            Throughout the viewing, Retsuko’s experiences highlight the real-life pressures that women face to be agreeable, accommodating, and focused on traditions like marriage. Although she is frustrated with her situation, she feels the need to remain cheerful and polite in an attempt to avoid conflict. The show begins display Retsuko challenging gender and societal norms as the show progressed. By doing things like ending her relationship because she felt it was unfulfilling, expressing her frustrations in the workplace, and questioning whether or not she truly wants to follow the path that she has chosen in life, Retsuko was able to stray away from stereotypes and accept herself and her emotions.

            Aggretsuko also addresses the real-world topic of the growing generational gap in communication styles and values. Retsuko had chosen to adopt a more traditional and respectful approach to Japanese work culture. A younger employee named Anai, on the other hand, chose to rely heavily on digital communication while at the same time reacting defensively to criticism. This clash in personality is reflective of what is happening today. Older generations can tend to view the behaviors of younger generations as unprofessional, causing these young people to feel unappreciated or undervalued in the workplace.