Gachiakuta: The Gritty New Anime We're Obsessed With

A floating city, a corrupt society, and one hellish pit of mutated monsters, Gachiakuta is not here to play.

Dropping straight into our watchlists (and hearts), Gachiakuta has exploded onto the scene with its premiere on Crunchyroll, and it’s already being touted as the anime to watch in 2025. Based on the hit manga written and illustrated by Kei Urana, with graffiti design by Hideyoshi Andou and directed by Fumihiko Suganuma, this gritty, high-stakes series is setting itself up to be a breakout sensation.

The Premise

In a society where the elite live above the clouds, literally, waste isn’t just trash; it includes people, too. Enter Rudo, a rebellious teen who’s wrongfully accused of murder and thrown into The Pit, a seething underworld of grotesque garbage beasts and broken souls. Down there, Rudo discovers a new power and joins the Cleaners, a rogue crew fighting to survive, and maybe even bring justice to the corrupt world above.

Think Soul Eater meets Fire Force, but darker and dripping with emotion. And honestly? That checks out, Urana worked on both series before creating Gachiakuta, and their influence is clear in both the high-energy action and the layered emotional storytelling.

Our Take

We’re absolutely hooked. The first episode pulls no punches, introducing a brutal, stylish world where every frame is bursting with kinetic energy and rebellious heart. The animation is crisp, the designs are chef's kiss, and even though some of us haven’t read the manga (yet!), we can already tell this is going to be a banger. If you're a fan of dystopian worlds, underdog protagonists, or just really sick visuals, this one's for you.

When & Where to Watch

You can catch new episodes of Gachiakuta every Sunday on Crunchyroll, with the premiere dropping July 6, 2025 at 8:00 AM PT.

We’ll be watching. You should be too.