More than a Comedy: Aggretsuko (2018)

Synopsis

Retsuka is a red panda who as everyone knows, is a responsible office worker in the accounting division. Every day she deals with her chauvinistic pig of a boss, colorful co-workers and being constantly piled up with paperwork. At the end of each day though, this seemingly sweet red panda lets out her frustrations in a most unorthodox way, heavy metal.

The Good

On the surface, this is an office comedy that features a cute protagonist with a surprising quirk, however, the series presents a depth that leaves a rather pleasant surprise. It gives exploration on the stress that comes with being in working force and how different characters dealt with it. Retsuka out of everyone though, presents as a highly relatable character with her frustrations over her job and how we often show a certain side to certain people.

Still, the secondary characters make for an enjoyable watch as they pretty much emulate the second aspect of Retsuko’s relatability. At first, the other characters may seem like exaggerated versions of certain stereotypes. However, in the progression of the series, like Retsuko, there’s more to them than meets the eye. It’s nice to see that there is more placed into the secondary characters other than them being background people or simple supporters for the protagonist. Their different personalities and quirks just make them even more likeable.

What truly makes this series more than a comedy however is the subtle ways that it developed Retsuko in the face of her struggles. The most prominent and clear show that this was no mere comedy was in the final half of the series where Retsuko faces the joys and pains of falling love. Honestly the way that the drama counteracts with the cuteness of the art and design helps in developing the depth of the series.

The Bad

The issues to be found in the series are minor at best. With the first episode, this writer feels that it would have been more impactful for a new viewer to have gotten the reveal of Retsuko’s metal love at the end rather than middle. Other than that, it’s mainly on little things that viewers need to refer to the 1-minute shorts to fully understand. Really, as a cute show with depth, it mostly covered its basis.
Conclusion

There are all kinds of series that take on the different struggles we must face in life. “Aggretsuko” takes that concept on with a slightly more realistic touch to it with relatable characters and understandable situations. It’s not perfect or even ground breaking, but it is a series that is worth watching. It’s the kind of series that helps remind you that life doesn’t always go the way we want, and sometimes, it’s good to let out your frustrations, even through metal.

Rating: 9.5/10