Itou Kaiji is a bum who steals car emblems and slashes tires on what seems to be a regular basis. This
routine changes one day when he is paid a visit by a man in a trench-coat. Once the two get talking,
it seems that the visitor (Calling himself Endou) is a debt collector. The reason for his visit is an
unpaid loan which Kaiji had previously co-signed for a work-mate (Furuhata Takeshi). The original loan
was 300,000 yen and once Takeshi had disappeared, the loan then fell on Kaiji.
Kaiji is then told of a way to clear the interest compounded debt (which stood at 3,850,000 yen),
which involved getting on a boat with others in his position. Once on the boat the debtors would then
have to gamble with loaned money, which would end with a few winning, and others getting into deeper
debt and having to work to pay off their debts. After some coercion Kaiji accepts a position on the
boat, in order to clear his debt and make a bit of money as well...
This anime is relentless, not even letting you breathe for a second while still throwing everything it has against you. Not only do the side characters progress well, focussing on how gambling can cause the darkest human traits to surface when under enough pressure, but the main character's progression from an impressionable yet hopeless lowlife to a man driven to the edge, only determined to push on because he has nothing else to lose helps to constantly drive the series forward amongst all the chaos. The show has a slow start, but quickly picks up the pace and never stops. The gambles and the stakes escalate very quickly and you are left gripping your chair as you wait for the next episode to load. The only breaks you get are at the start and after the first arc. The reason this anime does such a good job at building tension is because it constantly reminds the audience of the stakes and whether it's constant cuts of the time limit or a sweeping shot of the danger that threatens the character's lives, the audience really gets a taste of what kind of peril the characters are in. Even though money is the main prize that most of the characters are aiming for and are motivated by, they are constantly questioned to weigh the life of one another against said money. Kaiji's morals constantly flip as the series goes on because of the gambles that he finds himself in, whether he should dive into his inner demon or try to keep sane by upholding his humanity. Also, seeing the constant changes in the side characters really help to illustrate the strain and pressure they are in, though sometimes the characters aren't really justified in how they change like this. Sometimes it's hard to believe Kaiji is such a genius and is so determined to win considering that he started the show as a lowlife with nothing really to lose. But, it works well enough that I can shelf my disbelief for most of the show. The gambles themselves and the games that the characters have to participate in are really pushed to their limits, with the anime exploring every possible facet of the game including cheating. The fact that cheating is used alone helps to push the boundary of the games that are played and they are done quite cleverly, apart from the simplicity of the final game that Kaiji plays against Hyoudou, the mastermind behind all the sick games. This entire underground gambling world and hierarchy are explored very lightly, but I think it hits pretty well when the characters turn out to be the things that people are gambling on. Admittedly, the artstyle will drive many people away from the series despite it suiting the dark tone of the series because of how the unique face shapes allow the anime to express the very twisted expressions needed to sell the dire situations of the characters. The way the faces contort and bend to the will of the animators help in emphasising the desperation, which is important considering the stakes that the characters are pit up against. In terms of imagery, I thought that this series would be kind of boring because even though the games are ridiculous, it would be pretty hard to entertain an audience with that alone. The imagery is simple, but because of the crazy artstyle the series manages to use the imagery to enhance the tense moments for the most part, though most of the actual imagery and what they mean is a bit too simple. The narrator in my opinion is the most distracting element of the show, and so are some of the inner monologues of some of the side characters. Though the narrator is necessary to explain the rules and establish some of the inner workings of the games to the audience, he repeats himself way too much and as an audience member I feel a bit insulted. Sometimes the show really does respect your intelligence, and then the narrator just adds a layer of unnecessary fat on top, essentially negating how the show actually respected your intelligence. However, the show does show moments of brilliance in terms of perspective and inner monologues especially in the most climactic moments. The show usually shifts the perspective from Kaiji to the other character that he is dueling, making it a lot more tense since the audience is forced in a position to second-guess what Kaiji is thinking and what he concludes to be the correct decision. These moments to me are the best parts of the show because it causes the audience to actually think about what actions will have what repercussions by disecting the mind of the character that we spend the most time with.
~~~I will talk mainly about the first arc, Espoir ship, and a slight spoiler for the second arc in the last paragraph, though only slight. The anime is about gambling. Kaiji was the guarantor of his friend who disappeared, and now has the debt his friend had. As a jobless man, he has no way to clear this debt in anyway possible. Except if he agrees to what Endou offers, a cruise ship in which he gambles and clears his debt. From the first 15 minutes of the first episode, we were shown how pathetic Kaiji is, how the lone sharks persuade people into joining their games, and how the world is a wolf in sheep's clothing. No one sides with him, yet Kaiji refuses to believe that. Then we proceed to the ship, and this is the best part in which I complement in the opening arc. What is the gamble about? restricted Rock-paper-scissors [abbreviated as RPS]. We all know and have played RPS before, while the restricted version is less common but is acceptable and easy to understand since we know everything about the normal RPS. When they tell Kaiji the rules of gambling, if you were an engaging watcher, then you would have thought of some strategies, especially the 'waste your cards and don't be greedy' strategy. When Funai comes and complements Kaiji for his courage and intelligence, and ridicule the others, he sets up the mood, similar to what Endou did but a different approach, a more passive one. He proposed the strategy mentioned above, and at first it is a great one. But here comes the first mistake, and if you noticed it then well done. Funai proposed a rock>scissors>paper pattern. What is wrong with it? It increases the chances of betrayal, just like what happened. If Kaiji thought for just some little time "to make sure", then he might have refused or changed the pattern to like 4 rocks>4 scissors> 4 papers. Next, Kaiji teams with his friend and a third person. The third person took a card from them and went to gamble, and lost both the card and the star. Kaiji should have seen the red flag, but ignored it because of the kindness of his heart. Then Kaiji tells them to go and find someone with 9 cards and the last 2 used cards were a rock and a scissor. It is a strange strategy, since it depends on the psyche of the opponent, if he sees through Kaiji's bluff or not. Fortunately, he succeeded and won 2 stars, in which he gave them to his companions (too kind). This strategy high risk/high value, which enforces the thought of gambling in Kaiji. The next strategy is hoarding rock cards. At first, it is a great strategy, since everyone has to play or else. But now there is another group who discovered this strategy and countered it by hoarding papers. We now see that every strategy we think of, there is a counter to it, and yet sometimes we fail to see it. Kaiji won through intuitive, logic and luck. After that he hoarded the paper too, so what could be the counter to it? Shuffling! he was forced to shuffle with the others, or he would be deserted and would find no opponents. And who proposed it? Funai! Here we see the first growth Kaiji undergoes, trying to figure what went wrong and how to make use of it. Why did he underwent it, because of a tongue-slip from Funai. He then proceeded to show how he rigged the shuffle to make sure that he will have the upper hand in any opponent aside from Kaiji. We now see how much depth a simple restricted RPS could be. I could have said a simple game with extreme depth, but I had to showcase the strategies and how much thinking went into it. This is an extraordinary opening arc, in which you will be overconfident at first "it's a RPS game, it's all about luck and some logic since it is restricted". But then we see hoarding, card switching, neutral strategy, guessing the extra card, balanced vs unbalanced decks and predicting or playing around the balanced line of thinking, all of this is showcased in mere 7-9 episodes, in which we don't feel overwhelmed nor bored. The strategies are not the only good thing about the arc. I did say "to the world", and it is not only about gambling. We see Kaiji's naivety and kindness destroys him many times, and he barely survives. Then we are questioned (not directly, but subtly) should we abandon our morals for the sake of money? If killing someone could get us 20 millions, will we kill him? If everyone does it, is it still okay? Is it okay to trust people? How can Kaiji trusts people after everything he went through? This is the brilliance of the Espoir arc, and the author's greatness at writing characters. Even if some of them were tropes, they were tropes done right.~~~ Also check StupidWeeaboo's review, it's good: https://anilist.co/review/3486
Ultimate Survivor doesn't fall into the typical anime category. It's far removed from a lot of shows out there. Kaiji focuses on the struggle of a lone gambler who is forced to endure a number of psychological battles in the form of different games. Not only does he bet on fame and fortune, he also bets his life. Kaiji isn't the average guy, he steals for a living, he's a heavy drinker and more importantly, he is in vast amounts of debt. In the first episode in he is visited by a loan shark who offers him a deal to clear his debt and possibly make a profit in the process. From here, quite literally, the games begin for Kaiji. Throughout the story, Kaiji is faced with a number of challenges that require some sort of thought. Although they might look simple such as Rock Paper Scissors, the amount of thought and tension put into each scene is gripping. In the first arc, Ultimate Survivor grabs the viewer right away. It becomes a game of survival, and it feels like you're on Kaiji's side rooting for him to make it out it. For something as simple as Rock, Paper, Scissors, the build-up is expertly crafted. Of course, the main downside to its game-centric focus is that it will often draw out the pacing. When moments pick up, they do so only for them to be abruptly cut off by the credits. While this is an effective method of getting you to binge episodes, it detracts from some of the pacing. Certain arcs will feel like a drag as a result. This might be a good time to bring up the style of Kaiji. Even though I'm charmed by its bold emphasis and heavy outlines, others may find Kaiji alienating. These exaggerated facial features might be weird to some, so it may take some time to adjust to the style. Oh and the excessive use of man tears. The soundtrack is a rather interesting one, making the viewer feel the tension of the games being played. The inclusion of the "ZAWA ZAWA ZAWA..." becomes a unique series staple. As for the opening and endings, they both maintain this franticness of being lost or cut off in society. The soundtrack, in general, maintains this sense of survival and disconnectedness very well. While it might be true that Kaiji is alone in his journey, he does comes into contact with a cast of colourful characters. Some might be backstabbing pricks, while others just need a way out. There's plenty of good unexpected twists as the show throws in unpredictable characters to shake things up. It's almost perfect as the world of gambling is just that. People will do whatever means necessary to obtain wealth, and I mean anything. The world presented within Kaiji is not a happy place, and over time you'll realize just how messed up it is. Kaiji starts off as a weak and undecided individual, however over the course of the show he blossoms into his own. I realized that he became this strong-willed fighter who is determined to win. Sure, becoming the _Ultimate Survivor_ is the main goal, but you start to feel sorry for the amount of physical hell Kaiji goes through. It ends up being this vicious cycle of gambling where Kaiji and the viewer must endure these games, coaxing you into finishing the next episode. When Kaiji clicks for you, it does so perfectly. You'll realize how trivial the moe genre is, and how poorly handled other gambling animes are. _Ultimate Survivor_ has so much going for it that after I craved more of this kind of story. I just had to watch the second season. The fact that it's a well-crafted series that plays up darker themes makes it all the more memorable. _Kaiji_ is a mature show with little need to baby the viewer by cushioning their reactions. There's a lot here that works so well, and yet the series isn't going to become mainstream anytime soon. It's a niche series with a very distinct art style that might not appeal to everyone's taste. Sure it might be __my__ favourite, and a classic, I have to admit that it's a show tailored to specific tastes in mind. It might sound like a hard sell, but I can absolutely guarantee you that Kaiji is a show worth your time investment. If you're willing to look past its art style, then I can assure you that you're going to be in for a refreshingly new experience filled with the most masculine sense of pride.
Bom, nesta review eu vou pagar um pouco de pau para o Fukumoto e a Madhouse, basicamente isso. Então, Kaiji é um anime adaptado do mangá (de mesmo nome) do Fukumoto em 2007. Vou falar sobre a primeira temporada. Depois de ter visto Kakegurui, fiquei bem impressionado do quanto esse anime é ruim, por conta disso não liguei mais para animes focados em gambling (apostas). Até que descubro uma das, senão a obra mais aclamada desse gênero. Demorei para criar coragem, mas finalmente, assisti essa maravilha. Vou fazer aquela divisão simples em tópicos pois acho que fica mais fácil. __Personagens:__ Então, comecemos pelo nosso protagonista, o próprio Kaiji. Eu adoro ele, o espectador acompanha a evolução dele, desde o começo, quando ele é aquela cara inocente, ingênuo. Mas conforme vai... TOMANDO NO CU, percebe como as coisas funcionam e vai mudando sua própria filosofia de vida. Eu amei isso. Os outros personagens também são legais, porém, bem mais secundários. Eles estão lá para quebrar o Kaiji emocionalmente ainda mais, por isso não vou citar cada um em específico. __Enredo:__ Eu adorei a proposta de Kaiji. De ser esse anime de altas apostas que tem um preço muito alto, enquanto nosso protagonista tenta driblar isso usando lógica, é incrível. E todas as vezes as estratégias fazem sentido e nunca são iguais. O anime respeita a inteligência do espectador, ele sabe dar dicas mas sem dar a resposta final. Deixando aquele gostinho de "como será que o Kaiji vai sair dessa?" Mas isso nem sempre é uma verdade, pois o anime é sério, sabe trabalhar consequência, se o Kaiji não tem saída dentro da lógica, ele vai perder e acabou. O anime respeita muito bem o rumo de cada decisão. __Produção:__ A produção de Kaiji é conhecida por ser meio bizarrona, com aqueles traços "feios" e bem acentuados. Eu, honestamente, não me incomodei muito, no começo até achei estranho, mas quando se acostuma vai que vai. A animação é super fluída, traços extremamente consistentes e a trilha sonora é 10/10. Aquelas metáforas que são colocadas na tela, os famosos "zawa, zawa" que passa na mente do Kaiji, tudo isso dá um resultado excepcional. __Críticas e Filosofias:__ Kaiji é um anime que está sempre criticando a sociedade atual. A todo momento dando exemplos de como o dinheiro e a ganância dominam os corações dos endividados (inclusive o Kaiji no começo do anime). Inclusive, a evolução de Kaiji perante a isso é uma das melhores coisas do anime. No começo ele não questiona muito, mas quando passa a ser vida ou morte ele realmente se preocupa com sua vida depois de tudo que passou. E o final do anime está lá pra contrastar Kaiji do começo com o Kaiji evoluído, ele fica receoso em apostar, mas lembra de seus amigos que morreram e segue em frente. Você sente a sensação do que ele está passando, aquela frustração de que ele poderia ter ganho se fizesse algo diferente, o anime te prende muito. __Experiência:__ Como já disse anteriormente, o anime te tem na palma da mão, ele sabe o que você está passando naquele momento. Kaiji te prende em todos os arcos, só dá vontade de parar de assistir quando tem aquele episódio de transição entre arcos. Tirando isso, os episódios passam voando, você nem percebe direito. __Conclusões:__ Sem dúvidas, Kaiji é um anime excepcional e muito divertido de assistir. Recomendo a todos. Principalmente para aqueles que querem um anime de apostas muito bem feito e arquitetado. Valeu por ter lido até aqui... Zawa... Zawa...
Going into this I already had an inkling that I'd really enjoy this, since Kaiji is the sort of show that's right up my alley. Here you've got high stakes games constantly, strategic absurdity to a high degree, with plans and ridiculous 20 step games of 4D Chess that have no right to be as intense as they are, and a constantly escalating sense of tension that backs up these progressively more insane ideas all the better. What made this particular show so special to me in this regard was this sense of tension it brought to the table, as despite the fact that the pacing was extremely slow in places, I never felt like it affected my opinion on this, for almost every scene was full of nail-biting tension that had me at the edge of my seat. This largely was due to the soundtrack, being dramatic and foreboding without becoming distracting or overbearing. It's this balance that gets struck that allows it all to flourish and make even the most mundane scenes be heart stopping and ominous. The series lack of fear towards this slower pace ultimately ends up being one of its biggest assets as well, as each minute detail gets focused on so powerfully to the point where you really start thinking that everything could come down to the splitting of hairs, making it also extremely difficult to predict exactly how things will play out and what will eventually be the point of breakthrough where everything comes together. The portrayal of the titular character Kaiji also proves to be a massive part to making this series work, as he is not portrayed to be some sort of strategic genius who has the knowledge and skill to almost effortlessly succeed in every situation. Kaiji's portrayal as a mostly normal person who's just overly righteous and cunning when he wants to be. He's frequently shown to be outplayed and have his plans fall through, and its this lack of safety that is the crux of the show, this lack of plot armour that makes the high stakes presented feel very real. The animation is also wonderful, with the very pointy looking faces of the characters contributing to a unique and appealing artstyle, and the facial expressions themselves being extremely expressive and evocative to give things a certain charm that I'm all for. Overall an amazing experience that got me hooked more than any other series I can think of that I've seen in the last couple of years. This one's extremely highly recommended especially to those who enjoy series built around the idea of strategy and intense games where everything gets put on the line. I'm unsure if there's anything else that manages to strike such a perfect balance as there is here, but in any case, this is what I feel really solidified my fondness for a good death game show.
Kaiji, a regular guy who works for 900 yen (approx. $9) an hour at his local convenience store. Although he is faced with debt left by the guy who he cosigned a loan with. Seeking to clear his debt, Kaiji goes underground to the Yakuza in order to gamble. Bone chilling and blood pumping, Kaiji is some of the best gourmet shit I've seen when it comes to psychological thrillers. The games are simple, yet they always develop in ways I never expect and the suspense that builds is intense. There is no plot armor or much ass pulling. There is always a looming threat of Kaiji actually losing, and people actually die and suffer. Furthermore, the thought processes and logic behind each arc is super interesting and I find it to be pretty sound. Although, sometimes it can get a little weird. But I think that the adrenaline behind the games in tandem with the themes of deception and morality Kaiji presents play really well together. I also think that Kaiji is just a great protagonist because he's only a normal dude who is trying to live and make things right for himself and for others. Tonegawa and Hyodo on the other hand don't have anything crazy going on either, but they have interesting thought processes and they're conniving enough to clash with Kaiji's character. None of the characters are the deepest I've seen, but they don't try to be something that they're not and I appreciate that. It's less about the characters and just more about the psychological factor anyway, which these ones do a good job of intertwining with that. Kaiji is also super enjoyable for me because of the art and the music. Now, I don't think the art could be for everyone since it's a little rough and everyone looks like ugly bastards. But as for myself, I actually love how the art looks and I think it's appropriate for a story that runs its themes. As for the soundtrack, it's so god damn good. Each track does a great job of building the scene and provoking the right feelings while also managing to sound catchy alone. The only issue (besides some minor asspulling in like 2/3 places) that I think could make it or break it for someone is the pacing. The pacing is absolutely glacial and you need to be patient with it in the first half of its run. Although, I only found that it hit me between the Espoir arc and the Human Derby arc. But things start to pick up more near the end of the Human Derby, and afterwards it becomes quite gripping again. Other than that, the show takes its time but I don't think it's terrible. As long as you're patient, Kaiji is an incredibly exciting show, and I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a great drama or thriller.
“Myself! The only one who can save me is myself!” - Kaiji Itou, Episode 11 _Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor_ is not a series for the faint of heart. With long, almost inactive dialogue scenes that are sprinkled with a couple of truly brutal moments, it is a series that may push some of its audience to the limit. So, as an early warning, if you don’t like series that rely on dialogue a lot then _Kaiji_ might leave a sour taste in your mouth. However, if you find inner monologues and psychological discussions interesting, then _Kaiji_ is well worth watching. The series’ premise is an intriguing one; utilising characters that have nothing left to lose and placing them in gambling situations where things can only get worse. This establishes an exploration into the relationship between hope, trust, and gambling as the characters are pushed to breaking point time and time again. _Kaiji_’s evaluation of trust and hope extends beyond the characters and to the audience as our expectations are toyed with and there is often a need to re-evaluate how we perceive certain actions or characters. There is a subtle inevitability in _Kaiji_ that is portrayed well, whether it is for failure or the draw that pulls the characters back into the gambling world. It really emphasises one of the most dangerous aspects of gambling; that it can easily become a self-destructive cycle that offers very little way of escape. Whether it is through a character’s own choice or the situation they are in, _Kaiji_ really portrays this “pull” well; often drawing the audience in along with the characters. By establishing its own rules for familiar games, _Kaiji_ eases the audience in and doesn’t require any prior knowledge of gambling. This makes the show more accessible and allows the core themes to shine more brightly as the audience finds themselves rooting for Kaiji. It also allows the series’ progression into a noticeably darker territory to stand out, matching the plot developments and mirroring the rising stakes that are synonymous with gambling. Despite this, _Kaiji_ keeps its cards close to its chest; retaining a layer of mystery that keeps the tensions high throughout its run. _Kaiji_ is nicely animated and, while a majority of it is spent on close-ups of characters' faces and talking, it conveys tension and emotion well while retaining its distinctive style. This is especially true during moments of emotional distress where the combination of facial expressions and distorted backgrounds really drill in how the characters feel. For some, the series may be a little bit too stylised but, if you find yourself thinking this, then give the series a chance as the style will grow on you over time. The animation works well with the soundtrack to foster a foreboding atmosphere that draws its audience into the tension of the scenes. There is always a feeling that something is going to go wrong which is a difficult element to sustain effectively. One of the most notable stylistic choices is the sound effects which are atmospheric and become a useful shorthand for the audience however, by the end of the series, they can begin to feel a little bit repetitive. There is a small number of interesting characters in _Kaiji_, especially those who act as antagonists as they work well to consistently increase tension. The transition between antagonists is also well-handled, remaining a realistic interpretation of the tight power structures which envelope the world that Kaiji is trapped in. It heightens the futility of the character’s actions, yet it also makes the audience root for them more. As the main character, Kaiji offers an interesting perspective on the world that he is thrown into and his conviction is something that keeps the audience on his side. He also shows a more human reaction, not shying away from the cowardice and fear that most would feel in his place. In keeping him as an average guy, the series allows him to make mistakes that don’t feel like contrived plot devices and keeps the audience on their toes. The secondary characters are more of a mixed bag. Some work well; propelling the plot forward while challenging Kaiji’s beliefs and assumptions, but they don’t have much characterisation outside of this. Ishida is one of the few who really stands out and also highlights the flaws of the other minor characters. Towards the end of the series, they become more of a homogenous mass which, while matching the tone of the narrative, makes them a bit difficult to care for. Having a narrator is a necessity for a show like _Kaiji_ as he conveys key information about the plot and games, although he can be a little bit repetitive. This is especially true when he regurgitates what we have already heard from the characters themselves. This issue is replicated by the sheer amount of internal monologues used. It is clear that these are also necessary for a weekly series, but at times it can feel more like they are a necessary evil. I think one of the best ways to make these elements less overbearing would be to watch _Kaiji_ more intermittently as this breaks up the narration and monologues enough for them to not disrupt the flow of the narrative as a whole. Overall, _Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor_ is an intense series that draws its audience in and presents them with a number of intriguing scenarios. It doesn’t shy away from gambling as a subject matter; especially the darker and more psychological elements which are often glamourised. It is definitely a must-watch for anyone who likes the gambling genre.
Our main character Kaiji was very unlucky, he was forced into the hell that is gambling because a coworker disappeared on a loan that he happened to cosign it. Thus starting the craziest yet addicting ride I've seen from any gambling anime I've ever seen. What made this show addicting is the fact just like kaji, you spend so much time thinking about how is it even possible to come out on top. Most of the games presented seem simple and impossible to cheat them based on the rules, only for you to find out the game is designed to bring out the worst in a person. Because of the high stakes, one mistake and your whole life could be forfeited. Sometimes you will be on the edge of your seat wondering is it even possible for kaji to survive or will he fail?. Especially when how the stakes keep rising with each passing episode, you wonder how would anyone have the guts to continue this hellish journey. Kaiji is such an amazing character, probably one of my favorite characters of all time. Kaji is not an overpowered main character or saint, he's just a regular guy who is fighting for his life to survive. He has done a lot of questionable things that a sane person should never attempt in their wildest dreams but you have to consider the mind of a gambler. Your mental state literally impacts everything, if you don't feel lucky or confident in your ability to win, you might as well give up. I initially hated kaji for being a self-centered coward who talked a big game and could barely back it up. However, you see several times that kaji goes out of his way to help the people he meets along the way, even when he doesn't have to. He reminds us of the duality of humanity, we can be disgusting and vile monsters but we can also be beautiful and gentle creatures. The antagonists of the series are some cruel and hungry debt collectors, they see kaji and the remaining member of the cast as gullible losers. They take pride and joy in seeing kaji and co suffer for their greed and ignorance. This is understandable but they already lost their sense of humanity a long time ago, they are under no obligation or reason to care what happens to kaji and co, they are simply collecting the debt they are owed. The plot is simple yet satisfying, Kaiji and others like him are tasked with paying off their debts plus the interest by participating in various high-stakes gambles. If they can pay off their debts, they can return to their normal lives and never have to worry about the cruel fate that would await them should they fail. The debt collectors only care about receiving the full payment they are owed, they stop at nothing to collect their payments. The players are encouraged to do whatever it takes to survive, their desire to survive creates insane and heart retching displays of inhumanity. If someone told you, you're the only one to pay back your debt and no one will save you, what would you do? Kaji seeks to show us how far greed and the desire to survive can motivate us. Sometimes the simplest games show you just how deranged the debt collectors are, we watched caged animals scream and fight for their lives while the predator devours them whole. The opening and music really capture the essence of the show, despair and hope is a very thin line. No one is safe no matter what path they chose, the only option you have is to survive. The za za sound effect made me tense up EVERY TIME, I was never prepared for the despair and misfortune to come afterward. That being said, you should definitely watch this show. The stakes, music, and voice acting sometimes still haunts me to this day, it's the perfect blend of fear, despair, hope, and entertainment.
# ~~~__FROM GAMBLING, THE GENRE OF UNCERTAINTY AND RISK, A MASTERPIECE OF UNDOUBTED VALUE IS BORN__~~~ ~~~__NO SPOILER__~~~ ~~~~~~ ~~~[KAIJI-AGAINST ALL RULES REVIEW](https://anilist.co/review/14101)~~~ The "Gambling" genre in TV series and anime is a genre that has always teased me with regard to the potential it has to offer, especially from the point of view of psychological games between players. It is precisely my interest in this type of plot that led me to see Kakegurui, anime that I found quite valid with regard to these mental games, obviously avoiding talking about other peculiarities of that not so family-friendly anime. Beyond this, just a few days ago, during my search for the next anime to watch, I found myself on the page of this series which, however, I had already heard positively about its quality without ever strangely finding out that it was a "Gambling" series. The genre and the good reviews I heard convinced me enough to start it immediately and even go so far as to review it as much as I liked (I had never reviewed a non-seasonal yet). ~~~img1000(https://imgur.com/RQhAOKn.png)~~~ ~~~~~~ ___________________________ __PLOT:__ In a nutshell, the plot tells of a very difficult period of life for Itou Kaiji, a boy buried in debt and who has found no purpose in life. But one day, an unmissable opportunity knocks on his door inviting him to participate in a betting event aboard a ship that could end all his suffering and help him get a new life. The first season of the anime is therefore divided into 2 great narrative arcs: the Espoir ship arc and the subsequent (and more emotional) Starside Hotel arc. That said, it seems that the underlying plot does not stand out particularly for its originality in comparison to other works (anime and otherwise) of the same genre. And indeed it is so; however, Kaiji reaches its maximum value during the bets. The psychological games between the protagonist and his opponents characterizes the anime most and elevates it to a series of the highest level. The strategies with which the players fight each other and the drama that follows from the victories and defeats immediately make the anime captivating during the first narrative arc and then reach their apex during the second narrative arc, much more intense as offers risks and situations that seemed unthinkable to reach seeing the type of drama that the Espoir arc presented. ~~~img300(https://imgur.com/XT1Tovh.png) img300(https://imgur.com/rRvvkeR.png)~~~ ~~~~~~ ___________________________ __CHARACTERS:__ Leaving the best for last, I start by giving a general idea of the 2 main villains of the series: Tonegawa and the president. Both play this role during the 2nd arc since in the 1st arc the "villains" are none other than other players at the same level as Kaiji who play to cancel their debts like him. Both represent the classic manipulative, sadistic character who enjoys the suffering of others and who has no qualms in trying to plunge his opponent into the abyss. Excluding them 2, the secondary characters of the series do not occupy a particularly prominent role (at least for now, then I don't know if we will see anyone again in the 2nd season) and do not have a well-defined characterization. They simply have the function of accompanying the protagonist or hindering him in certain situations. ~~~img1000(https://imgur.com/ilrLoJz.png)~~~ At this point we can talk about the main dish, that is our protagonist Itou Kaiji. For his character I have only nice words to say: beautiful characterization that best represents the mentality of a normal guy in his situation. In fact, Kaiji is a 100% complete character, he is intelligent and awake enough to be able to think of some tactics (even very efficient) in situations that need an extra help to simple luck. At the same time, however, he immediately presents himself as a very naive person who easily gets caught up in emotions, who trusts others more than he should and who, while not repeating the exact same mistake twice, never definitively condemns a person who has it deceived or defeated, maintaining a kind of respect towards him. The 2nd arc is the one in which this ambivalent mentality of his is highlighted most, when he is faced with situations in which one should always act in cold blood but in which he never manages to completely maintain this coldness by falling into the temptations offered by his same emotions. ~~~img1000(https://imgur.com/4cZgsWx.png)~~~ ~~~~~~ _____________________ __ART / ANIMATIONS:__ I am aware of the fact that the artistic style of Kaiji-Ultimate Survivor is one of the biggest reasons for drop or of little appreciation of the series but it is one of the elements that I personally found most fascinating. I was warned that they might not have liked me initially but despite this I appreciated them right away. I really admire anime with a particular style, which differs from the series that are based on more "classic" drawings and animations. Absolute strength of the artwork are the facial expressions of the characters, which are able to perfectly convey the emotions (especially desperation) of the characters and which make the viewer much more emotionally involved in the events. MADHOUSE has never been a 100% reliable studio, it has had a fluctuating history regarding its anime, but I think it did a great job here (we always keep in mind that we are talking about a 2007 series). ~~~img300(https://imgur.com/ScInao5.png) img300(https://imgur.com/5p6kuzZ.png) img300(https://imgur.com/Ftsxm80.png) img300(https://imgur.com/Sh4sI4A.png)~~~ ~~~~~~ ___________________ __MUSIC:__ The soundtracks that characterize the work are absolutely perfect and, in excellent harmony with the graphics, they manage to make the work express to its fullest potential. I would also like to underline a peculiarity that I had never encountered yet, namely the 45-second TV size opening. This obviously has no weight in my evaluation, I just wanted to point it out because it was something that surprised me the moment I noticed it. ~~~~~~ ___________________ __CONCLUSION:__ In conclusion I would like to recommend this anime to anyone, especially lovers of the "Gambling" genre. Despite what I said in the ART / ANIMATIONS section, I still want to support what I was told: the graphic style could leave you a bit confused at first but after a few episodes I'm sure you will get used to it and that you can appreciate all the consequences that the adoption of this style leads to the work. I can't wait to start the 2nd season of this amazing anime and I ask anyone who has come to the bottom of this review to recommend me privately other anime of this genre. _P.S. I am not a native English speaker so I apologize for any mistakes._
To think that this anime would take me over a year and a half to complete is not something I would have thought about when I initially asked EpikProStarZ to watch this show with me. This was when we used to play amq together all of the time and the idea of watching ghost stories together was floating in the air. I ended up asking EpikProStarZ one day to watch kaiji with me and he did end up agreeing but I mainly decided to watch it because of the yakuza tag score on anilist being somewhat high. The show we watched together before this was wonder egg priority if I remember right and I only watched one episode before losing interest but yeah. Now to come back to the show, I was not even close to prepared on what this show truly was. It's a sad tale about one man and his struggles to pay back the debt he has accumulated due to being wronged by one guy and also because of his gambling addiction. The show itself though starts off on a cruise ship where kaiji is given a chance to payback his debt by playing rock paper scissors using cards and if he wins he will pay off a certain amount of money after the game's end. I believe that if you lose the game, you basically become a slave to the organization and have to do years of manual labor to pay off the debt. Just with this first arc, I was enthralled with the world that kaiji had created because they made a simple game of rock paper scissors have REAL WORLD STAKES and made it so fun while also showing the true nature of humans. The show also does a great job exploring the human psyche and the characters feel very realistic due to this. All of this was done with just a rock paper scissors game and that's a testament to the mangaka and their abilities. There are some side characters introduced here but really only one of them is important because of the next gamble which involves walking on a metal pipe to get to another building and if you fall, you die. This arc is called the human derby and there's a really profound moment in this arc where someone talks about how everyone leads their own separate lives and are all trying to get by but I can't seem to find the exact quote sadly. It is something similar to what I said though but this is the arc where people start to die and I started to get pissed at the people in charge of this gamble and so did the winners of this gamble who got cucked out of the money they were supposed to get. Then kaiji has to end up negotiating and eventually wins and we get e-card which is the next gamble. This is also a really high stakes gamble where if kaiji loses, he loses an ear and could potentially die because of a machine attached to his ear. It's really intense and this is when kaiji truly loses all hope and you can finally start to see his spirit start to dwindle and he truly starts to feel ultimate despair. I believe this is the arc where the amount of kaiji I was watching with anthony started to dwindle and the gap between the last time I had seen the show really started to widen. Getting to the actual arc though, it's really intense and serious and the characters are truly written well because by the end of it, I could sympathize with one of the characters who was actually supposed to be a villain. This is because there is an even bigger evil that is truly nonredeemable at the top of it all who is finally challenged in the final gamble which is the tissue box gamble. When you actually get the backstory of this villainous character, I felt some sympathy but then his actions were way too extreme to even start to sympathize with him and he turned out to be a sociopath who truly didn't care what it took to get the money he loaned out. The final gamble seems to be in kaiji's favor since he organized it but at the end, you realize that kaiji was never in control of his situation and the ending leaves kaiji way worse off than he originally started with. I just love how the characterization of kaiji and even though he isn't a great person, you can still sympathize with him because of the situations he ends up being in and you can start to feel the pain he feels as the show goes on. This show pulls 0 punches when it comes to making kaiji suffer and it just helps make the show that much more impactful and convincing. The actual gambling games itself may seem long at first because there's usually an episode dedicated to explaining the rules and the characters end up playing a game for like 3 or 4 episodes but I think because of high the stakes are, it makes sense in the context and it doesn't feel like they drag on for too long. Also kaiji loses his left nut in the final tissue box gamble but yeah. The ost of this anime is FUCKING BRILLIANT and every time a song comes on, it serves to heighten the mood and can put the viewer at unease because of what is about to happen next and though other shows have done this before, this just does an exceptional job at it where if one song comes on, you can instantly tell the outcome of the next scene. The artstyle may look weird for the show since every character has a huge ass nose or the eyes are really big but I really think that madhouse did a great job with animating the show and you can look past the character designs to watch the show. Kaiji truly does pose some interesting philosophical questions on the value of human life and how far you really will go for money and some other things but you guys can figure that out yourself. Now since I have taken over a year and a half to finish this show you may be wondering, did it impact my experience of the show in a positive or negative way? I'd say it impacted my experience in a positive way because I didn't end up forgetting what happened in kaiji even after all of the long breaks and I had more time to appreciate and fall in love with the story's elements. It also felt all the more satisfying when I finally finished it because it felt like the end to an era and heightened my enjoyment of the series as a whole to another level. Also the op and ed of the show are really good! Overall I am giving this show a 10/10 because it did everything right and it is the best if not the greatest gambling anime to be ever made. There sadly wasn't that much yakuza screen time though but yeah I'm giving kaiji the ultimate survivor a 10/10. If you liked squid game you will definitely love this.
Kaiji is a series both about corruption and humanism, fuelled by outlandish setpieces and larger-than-life personalities while still remaining ultimately grounded, shying away from abstraction and towards powerfully blunt imagery and emotional beats. Restricted Rock Paper Scissors is an important way to introduce the situation Kaiji is in, and where he differentiates himself from the others in that situation. It seems obvious that he would change his attitude of trust, after being tricked by Funai into giving up two stars. Kaiji immediately trusting Furuhata and Andou as allies feels like a mistake in the wake of this last betrayal, and they predictably both turn their backs on him out of greed. This is the first instance of the show’s grounded representations of its societal observations, using diegetic imagery in place of abstraction. The losers of this game, separated from the rest due to poor strategies, or via a stab in the back, are placed behind a two way mirror, naked and in darkness. The ones behind the mirror can see the ones competing, hoping that someone might allow them back into the main floor, but those competing cannot see behind the wall, and are able to safely ignore everyone back there. Kaiji is insulted by Okabayashi behind the wall, claiming that he has guaranteed his safety with a threat, and smugly believes that Kaiji was mistaken in trusting anyone else. Kaiji learns a lesson about trust through Andou, and his betrayal by coworkers soon after, but his trick to buy himself out of the back room proves that these threats are not an assured path to victory. The ones on the next floor up can just as easily ignore someone failing on the game floor as they could turn a blind eye to the ones behind the glass. Instead of falling into despair at the injustice of his situation, Kaiji finds a way out, and bluntly rejects this despair, by punching his betrayer in the face. The following challenge, to cross the beams, proves Kaiji’s mindset even further. While it is clear that anyone behind Kaiji could and would easily pull him down, Kaiji chooses not to tear someone down to win, maintaining his belief that everyone here is fundamentally the same, and piling up bodies of the ones at the bottom to reach top is ignoring the broader picture, the ones that designed this situation. When the beams are electrified, Kaiji pictures this as a microcosm of humanity as a whole, a series of people walking their own narrow path, unable to reach out to each other. This poignant and hopeless image is immediately torn down, as Kaiji promises to win for the sake of Ishida, taking his ticket from him to save his family. Ishida tells us that Kaiji is truly someone exceptional, someone capable of prevailing under this pressure where someone like Ishida cannot. Kaiji again wins, mourning the loss of those he called comrades, but never falling into the trap of hopelessness against the corporation’s tricks. Kaiji proves himself as truly exceptional in his battle against Tonegawa. No longer allowing himself to be swayed by despair, or simply hope for victory, he uses the memory of Ishida and Sahara as fuel, taking every step necessary to outperform the game designed for him to lose. Another powerful image comes from this game, as the losers recognise Kaiji's ability to prevail, crawling into a crowd at his feet as some kind of messiah for the downtrodden. In Kaiji sacrificing his ear for the sake of Sahara and Ishida, and outsmarting him, Tonegawa is brought down low. He is punished at the hands of the chairman, but there is no satisfaction in this. At this point, it has been proven time and time again that those under the feet of the ones in power, no matter how grandiose they appear, will fall just as hard to a mistake as Kaiji does. When Tonegawa is forced to kneel, it proves that he came from the same place as Kaiji, or Andou, or Sahara, acting out of fear of the systems that govern him, and he is just as much of a victim of these systems as anyone we’ve seen suffering until now. Kaiji finally challenges the chairman directly, a nameless force presiding over all the misery in the show so far. The stakes will plunge Kaiji back into ruin if he loses, but Kaiji recognises the hollowness of his victory so far, wanting revenge whatever oversaw the whole affair. Kaiji’s plan is full of holes, but appears to miraculously succeed until the final, easiest step. Kaiji lets his guard down, and discovers that the plan failed, at first thinking a random chance ruined it. He then realises he had made a fatal mistake, failing to notice the winning slip had been folded, and the spirit that carried him through everything else is alive and well. Kaiji discovers the chairman’s name, Hyodo, and swears revenge. He has put a name to the force of evil at the top, realising that Hyodo is just as human as he is, and Kaiji’s victory was achievable through his own power as a human, not governed by random chance, fate, or some incomprehensible greater force. It’s easy to assume at the start of the series that Kaiji himself is the quintessential everyman, a fundamentally unspecial human on a lifelong streak of bad luck, easily manipulated into a cruel game designed for him to lose what little he has left in dignity and flesh. While never explicitly stated, the purpose of the events portrayed in this show are an effort to prove that this is a false conclusion, both about the nature of Kaiji, and the nature of his tormentors. Every progressive level of Kaiji’s journey raises the stakes against him, and sends him deeper into despair. He experiences more and more cruelty and betrayal from the ones above him, and yet Kaiji himself prevails at every step, never fully giving in to that despair. Kaiji is seemingly taught a lesson through Andou’s betrayal, to abandon his implicit trust in the people at rock bottom around him. Despite it all, he never chooses a path of cynicism, always making the decision to reach out and try to lift up the ones around him. Kaiji’s eyes are permanently set at the ones above, those orchestrating the misery, instead of choosing to ignore them and tear down the ones around him. He never fails to see the human element in the world, never reducing his peers to pawns or his bosses to unknowable puppet masters.They are all fallible as humans, but all equally worthy as humans alongside him.