Aggretsuko It has been over for more than a year now, and I still believe it needs at least one more season. Originally premiering on Netflix in 2018, Aggretsuko Instantly struck a chord with fans for his relatable workplace-style humor. It follows a red panda named Retsuko as she navigates the struggles of adult life. However, when the pressure becomes too much, she vents her frustrations through her favorite pastime: death metal karaoke.
This hit Netflix anime starring Sanrio’s angriest character officially came to an end in February 2023, after five successful seasons. Although it went out with a bang, it ultimately feels like the series still has more stories to tell. To this day, it is still sorely missed by fans because of its humor and relatable cast of characters. While it’s understandable that the series probably wanted to end before the premise got too stale, The quality of the show over the years shows that it would benefit from at least one more season.
Aggretsuko nailed its premise of being hello kitty For adults
It’s adorable and relatable at the same time
The biggest reason why fans like themselves fell in love with Aggretsuko Is because of how much it felt like a more mature take on Sanrio’s globally popular hello kitty Franchise. Although Hello Kitty absolutely has its adult fans, it is made for an audience of all ages. AggretsukoOn the other hand, is strictly made with mature viewers in mind. There is much more cursing and mature subjects brought in throughout each season to stick Retsuko and her friends in a more mature environment. However, the themes behind the series catapulted it to become incredibly relatable.
“[Retsuko is] Constantly battling a cruel boss and societal pressures for someone her age, as well as navigating the dating scene.
Retsuko’s struggles mirror the difficulties viewers face in their early to mid-20s as they leave college and enter adulthood. Whether someone found a job after getting their degree or had difficulty finding a career, it’s incredibly easy to feel Retsuko’s pain as she tries to navigate her independence. She is constantly battling a cruel boss and societal pressures for someone her age, as well as navigating the dating scene. Given how common it is for adults to face at least one of these hardships in their early lives, it makes Retsuko’s story that much more relatable, especially when she takes her anger out on the karaoke bar.
AggretsukoIts English voice cast made it one of anime’s best dubs
Every voice actor brought their A-game
Unlike most anime, I found myself constantly watching Aggretsuko Dubbed in English over the subtitled version. The reason is how phenomenal the VA talents behind the dub were in bringing the series to English-speaking audiences. The series ultimately felt less like a line-reading to translate the series and more like a passion project for the actors. They brought their A-game to their roles as they matched the exaggerated style of the Aggretsuko world, while also adding a relatable sense of ennui and melancholy that resonates with mature viewers.
Some of ​​the biggest standout performances include Erica Mendez as Retsuko, who perfectly portrays a character at her wit’s end as she tries to put on her best face for her job before ranting once she’s off the clock. Katelyn Gault also brings a talented deadpan performance to Retsuko’s social media-savvy best friend, Fenneko, providing some of the show’s best laughs. However, Ben Diskin’s role as Retsuko’s charming co-worker, Heida, is The most notable performance of the showAs he finds himself in a constant battle to tell Retsuko he has feelings.
Aggretsukos story wasn’t afraid to get dark, keeping things interesting
The show’s story took Retsuko’s world to dark places
Given how Aggretsuko Primarily focused on exploring the adult world and its independence, there were absolutely times when the show would not be afraid to go a little dark, as shown in its stellar Christmas special. Of course, the first moment that comes to mind is in the season 3 finale when Retsuko is almost killed by a stalker after her short-lived career as a pop idol. However, the show goes even further than that. It delves into darker subject material that highlights precisely How unpredictable and cruel adult life can be.
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In the final season, Hyde, after losing his job, falls into a gaming addiction that impacts his productivity. This leads to him going completely into debt and having to live in a late-night computer lab. Addiction is a serious topic to cover, And Aggretsuko Handles it incredibly well. Viewers can see just how much Haida’s gaming addiction has impacted his life, as well as how crucial it is for Retsuko and Fenneko to intervene when they can. None of Sanrio’s other characters could ever handle this idea with such raw execution as Aggretsuko.
The series finale caps off Aggretsuko Well, but lefty fans want more
A rushed but satisfying ending needs some expansion
It is important to note that there is nothing wrong about this path Aggretsuko Completed. It wrapped things up nicely with Retsuko and Haida finally getting the job done. However, the journey to get there overall felt rushed. New characters like Shikabane were introduced and left under-developed, only to be brought back at the last minute. Ideally, a new season should be introduced to wrap up the loose ends and also give viewers a chance to see an epilogue to Retsuko’s story with Haida after making their romance official in season 5.
Sadly, it is unlikely that fans will ever see a day when a surprise season is announced by Netflix to give it a more fitting conclusion. In fact, given Netflix’s track record with series, it’s great that it got a proper ending rather than being canceled. However, the world of anime feels so empty nowadays without the unique and vibrant world that Sanrio created to tell a more mature tale. Aggretsuko is sorely missed, and although I’m not holding my breath for another time, I still hope that one day we will see the return of these characters.
Source: Netflix anime
Aggretsuko is an animated series created by Sanrio, focusing on Retsuko, an anthropomorphic red panda who navigates her stressful office job in Tokyo. The show explores themes of corporate burnout and societal expectations, with Retsuko expressing her frustrations through cathartic death metal karaoke sessions. With a mix of humor and relatable scenarios, Aggretsuko provides a unique commentary on modern work culture.