It’s time for episode two of Anime Fun Time, and boy do we have a show for you today: a massive, spoiler-laden, two-part examination of Kill la Kill, Studio Trigger’s first full length TV animation offering. Join Paul, Tom, and Jill as they perform a deep dive on a show that’s much, much more than just fan service and explosions. CLICK HERE for Part 1, and HERE for Part 2.
Topics of discussion include:
- Part 1 – general plot discussion; puns & homophones; formalistic elements such as pacing and structure; the nature of fan-service; a pro-feminist interpretation of the series; and listener questions.
- Part 2 – corrections and clarifications; the influence of shojo manga, fairy tales, and the erotic-grotesque-nonsense movement; the Sada Abe incident; manga and anime as counter-culture; more on feminism; our favorite moments; and additional listener questions.
Final Thought:
“Sometimes you just gotta be washed by a naked rainbow lady.” – Tom Pandich
The Greatest Movie EVER! Podcast 
I’m really conflicted about this podcast. There’s some really interesting discussion here about the themes and analysis of the works that may have directly, indirectly, intentionally or coincidentally influenced Kill la Kill as well as some of the ways in which the show itself may ostensibly be read. In that respect, I must say Jill provided had some particularly good comments, though clearly all three of you contributed to this too.
But I disagree with the apparent conclusion that the show is almost perfect. I think that’s taking it a little too far. While I don’t feel like being overly negative here and making a list of issues, there are various possible complaints and arguments against both the content and execution of Kill la Kill, despite its admitted positives, that weren’t brought up or were dismissed a little too quickly.
To make a long story short, I’d just say Kill la Kill had better supporting characters than Gurren Lagann but I felt its themes were a little confused and the main character’s specific arc wasn’t really handled too well, with interesting references and artistic energy not entirely making up for narrative weaknesses.
It’s fine to disagree. I don’t agree that its themes were confused or that Ryuko’s arc was handled poorly, for example.
Jill’s also her twitter is awesome.
I have to listen to this podcast, b/c I’ve never even heard of this anime.
I’m loving the anime episodes. I also loved how you guys went into Kill la Kill; I felt there was something under the surface. Next, y’all should do the Devilman manga.
Also, could you spell out people’s podcast titles? It took me a little while to figure out that O-Talk was spelt O-Talk and not Otalk, Ottalk, Ohtalk, or O Talk.
Could you link Jills podcast please?
I would love lo listen to it.
Technically, I think it’s Otaku Dan’s podcast: http://otakudan.com/
Fabulous podcast, Paul, I enjoyed it greatly and you have convinced me to try it on my dad. Also, thanks for pointing out that Ryuko’s streak of red hair was life fibers. Somehow I had totally missed that. Also thanks for sorta touching on clothing double standards with the story from your earlier time in theater. I agree with you on every facet of Kill la Kill.
Like the podcast, first time commenting.
I loved Kill la Kill, but I am from the “other side”. To me Gurren Lagann was the better show despite it’s flaws. I am mecha fan, so that show spoke more directly to me. The highs were higher and the lows lower compared to Kill la Kill. Kill la Kill is still one of the best anime’s I have seen though.
Thanks for filling me in on the puns of the name. It makes the rest of the show make more sense. I miss my old anime group where I could have been filled in on this.
Keep up good work.
I was actually really glad to hear this show about Kill la Kill. I found it really frustrating engaging in conversations about this show online because of people’s refusal to think of the series as anything beyond “a dumb action show”. Don’t get me wrong, I like dumb action shows, but it felt awfully reductive to think of the show as being stupid just because of naked people and fighting. It was nice hearing people actually thinking about the show in somewhat deeper ways.
Some would say that you shouldn’t even make jokes about rape to begin with; I am not one of these people. I totally forgot the “rape” of Ryoko until I was reminded. The scenes with Satsuki and Momma Kiriyuin, on the other hand, were very oogiefying. I could’ve done with out that. I don’t think I lose anything from the story with that cut from the series.
If you have, I estimate, way too much time on your hands, this is a podcast that takes a totally different view of Kill La Kill:
http://anime3000.com/krap-la-krap-the-other-side
BTW, if you want to see a live action show involving a Female lead, and two sisters, check out Sleepy Hollow, which is a Fox show.
Sorry, Vichus, but I don’t value Cody Baier’s opinion on anything related to anime.
Sa-nap!
I’m sure he’s pleasant enough IRL, but I don’t dig his schtick.
I’m not even sure if he’s pleasant enough IRL. I couldn’t imagine a quiet conversation about Kill la Kill, at least.
Just commenting to say that the OVA/episode 25 is out – It is spelling out the Graduation idea you discussed in this podcast explicitly and I think goes full TTGL while doing so.
No idea who Cody Baier is, Paul and VichusSmith, but yes to Vichus’s props to SLEEPY HOLLOW! One of the more enjoyably batshit shows I saw last year – though it posits Sleepy Hollow, NY as a medium-sized city of 144,000 (the size of Syracuse, NY where I now live) rather than a village of less than ten thousand.
Hmm. I don’t know anything about the actual Sleepy Hollow.
I vaguely know of the real Sleepy Hollow, since we drove through it sometimes on our way to this restaurant we liked in Westchester back when we lived in NYC, VishusSmith. It’s very quaint and touristy as Hell – not at all like the good-sized municipality presented in the television show (which is actually shot in North Carolina).
I guess when you can have Death toting a machine gun, you can play fast and loose with anything.