While at Anime Expo I got to check out a lot of things, and I noticed there was a big theme going on, Gachiakuta. Panels, manga artist, graffiti artist, graffiti, activations, and mini art exhibits.
Gachiakuta is a new anime series that just premiered on Saturday, July 5th, and is about a floating city that throws out anything dirty or slightly worn into the Pit. Rudo is someone who lives outside this perfect city and steals trash from it and fixes it up to sell. One day he is framed for murdering the man that raised him and is dropped into the Pit, like all other murders and criminals. In this new place of garbage, mutated beasts, Rudo learns to survive with rogue Cleaners and begins to learn about a new power he has. Now as he fights monsters and men, he aims to go back to the city that dropped him into the Pit and fix the corrupt world.
Going into Anime Expo I didn’t know a lot about the Gachiakuta series, only that it was one NOT to miss out on. The art style looked amazing, and I knew the anime was getting close to coming out, which it did at Anime Expo. Anyway, as soon as we walked into the front main entrance of AX there was a mini exhibit for the series, with sculptures, art panels, bios on characters, and character art. It was so cool to take photos of and with it all. Everyday I would go back to look at more and read as I walked around it.
Friday, I attended the premiere of the show, in which they showed the audience the first two episodes of the season. They were incredible and it was so much fun to watch on the big screen. Before the showing we also heard from the two artists that work on the manga series, and we heard them talk about the giant graffiti art that was put up all over the world (and in LA too). When all the pieces are lined up together they create a hidden message, very cool.
Crunchyroll also had an activation set up for people to experience and learn more about the characters and show. Kodansha had one as well for fans to win free merch, they had a giant claw machine for fans to try and win t-shirts from the series (and from Ghost in the Shell), as well as photo ops.
I’m really excited to see what happens next in the series, and I’ll be heading to the bookstore to pick up the manga volumes that are currently out now (four volumes so far). If you haven’t yet, give Gachiakuta a watch on Crunchyroll (now streaming) and keep up with the series every Saturday.
Are you a fan of Gachiakuta? Were you at Anime Expo? Feel free to leave a comment below or chat with us on Threads at @theconventioncollective, or Bluesky at @theconcollective.bsky.social
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