At Anime Expo, io9 talked gachiyakuta What piqued his interest in bringing the series to life as an anime was director Fumihiko Suganuma and Rudo voice actor Aoi Ichikawa, their creative approach to handling tricky, sensitive scenes, and his thoughts on its growing fanbase.
Isaiah Colbert, io9: What appealed to you both about the world and the topics in the beginning gachiyakuta Which anime makes you want to be a part of it?
Aoi Ichikawa: I have to be somewhat in tune with Rudo’s character because he is the embodiment of anger. That’s what makes him who he is. All that emotional explosiveness is kind of energizing her life, and I feel like I resonate with those very warm feelings.
Fumihiko Suganuma: It’s possible that the strength of the original manga’s art is what attracted me to it as it is a bit different from the art styles popular in Japan. It’s very original, and it doesn’t really fall in line with the current manga art trend. I really think there is so much power in art that I was attracted to it.
io9: During production, was there any particular scene or moment that was particularly challenging, and that ultimately made it all the more sweet to bring it to life?
Ichikawa: The first episode was really challenging because how [Rudo] Fall from grace… without it, you can’t really show his anger and the motivation behind Rudo’s character. So that was the height of his anger. And it was really very difficult to be able to express it. But without being able to express that falling scene, Rudo cannot exist for the rest of the series, because that was its point of origin.
When I sat down during the broadcast and watched the entire footage In episode one, I really felt like this was the place gachiyakuta waS Finally starting. And I felt really accomplished watching it because it really affected me. It was a very touching moment, like, “This is where it all begins.”
Suganuma: The latter half of anime improvement is always a battle against time. I felt a little hesitant, but I made a lot of difficult requests of my staff, including a lot of improvements, and the staff worked really hard and helped me a lot on that front. Therefore, the fact that each episode aired on time was very gratifying. And I’m really grateful to my entire staff that we made it happen.
io9: One moment that viewers loved was Amo’s story, especially the way the anime depicts her suffering and her heart-to-heart conversations with Rudo about their conflicting ideals. From your perspective, what was involved in the sensitivity with which that scene needed to be approached, and how did each of you make sure it was handled with the care it deserved?
Ichikawa: I saw the emotional flow by reading the script and reading the manga. But I feel like Rudo and Amo’s hearts are not completely connected. They have one-sided feelings towards each other, and that’s not a proper dialogue. So I really felt like I shouldn’t really resonate to this situation because I feel like I, as that person-actor, need to cut off my feelings and resonance towards the scene, because Rudo is not going to go through that situation.
Suganuma: The whole Amo arc was quite sensitive stuff. That’s my style – my policy – to do it in a slightly factual manner and not make it too sensational because the dialogue in those scenes is really what the audience needs to hear. Because what they say is very important. I didn’t want the visuals to hinder what they were saying, so I made sure to set the stage in a way that brought the dialogue to the fore first and foremost.
io9: gachiyakuta There is a very distinct tone and energy within the shonen realm, thanks to the series’ mix of graffiti art and hip-hop-influenced soundtrack, which has led to the show being celebrated online as a cultural exchange between black culture in Japan and America through memes, fan art, and cosplay. What does that mean to you as an artist who helped bring this adaptation to life?
Ichikawa: I am very happy with this because we are enjoying the series together. and it’s inside love gachiyakuta-Whether it’s cosplay or fanart, whatever it is – everyone is expressing their love and trying to build the community as a whole. So I’m really happy with it.
Suganuma: First of all, just like this. I am very happy to see the reception. I wasn’t very versed in graffiti and hip-hop. The fact that it was so widely accepted made me feel like I really needed to learn more about these cultures so I could do even better.
io9: Since gachiyakuta’s magical system detects how much emotional load objects can carry, which everyday object from your life will become the most suitable “donor” object for you in the world of anime?
Ichikawa: My gachiyakuta The object will be my script. Because without it, I wouldn’t be Rudo. She’s my world, so she should be my thing.
Suganuma: I would have to say manga because I love reading manga. It also makes me think to some extent, “Imagine if I became a manga artist.” It’s most likely because I love manga so much that I wanted to be able to take a step back and have a job that has something to do with it, but I can still enjoy it as a reader.
gachiyakuta Season 2 is in production.
io9 is present at Anime Expo 2026. We’ll be bringing you updates on all the biggest panels, screenings, and announcements, as well as exclusive one-on-one interviews with the people behind some of the best and most popular anime. You can check out all of io9’s Anime Expo coverage here.
Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
<a href