Crunchyroll’s Darkest New Shonen Anime Breaks the Genre’s Core Trope (And It Delivers a Powerful and Unexpected Lesson)

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Crunchyroll’s new action anime is consistently excellent, and the latest episode once again subverts a common trope of the genre. While many action series follow a predictable pattern, with a chosen hero steadily growing stronger, a key element is usually the hero’s refusal to give up. This unwavering spirit, where characters constantly rise to face challenges, is a cornerstone of the genre.

I’ve noticed a trend in many stories where the main character overcomes a lack of natural ability to achieve victory, and it’s usually pretty uplifting. But the new anime Gachiakuta on Crunchyroll is different. It doesn’t shy away from the possibility of failure, and the latest episode really highlights that. From the beginning, Gachiakuta has been a darker take on the typical shonen revenge story, and this recent development – breaking yet another common trope – really sets it apart. It’s a powerful reminder that success isn’t guaranteed, and that’s a surprisingly compelling message.

Crunchyroll’s Gachiakuta Breaks the Shonen Genre’s Foundational Trope With a Heavy and Unexpected Lesson

One thing I really love about Gachiakuta is that the ‘bad guys’ actually win sometimes! It’s so refreshing because a lot of stories only let the heroes scrape by with a victory. But with Gachiakuta, the Raiders feel like protagonists themselves, and honestly, Jabber often totally dominates Zanka, which is awesome to watch!

— Amo (@AmoSurebrec) November 3, 2025

In Gachiakuta Episode 17, “Memories of a Mediocrity,” we learn about Zanka Nijiku’s past and his relentless drive to overcome natural talent through sheer effort. As a student, he worked his way up to become a powerful contender for the Hell Guard position. However, his ambition was shaken when a new trainee named Hyo easily defeated him, causing Zanka to feel deeply humiliated. This led him to leave the academy and join Enjin, becoming a Giver. Interestingly, this backstory unfolds while Zanka is currently being overpowered again – this time by the formidable villain, Jabber.

Many shonen anime rely on a character’s past to fuel their growth and victory, but this episode does something unexpected. It leads you to believe that Zanka will gain a new power after remembering his history, and even shows a scene of him seemingly defeating Jabber. However, this turns out to be a hallucination caused by Jabber’s poison – Zanka is actually defeated and lying helpless on the ground. This surprising twist is typical of Gachiakuta, which grounds its fantastical story in a sense of realism.

A key element of what happens next, and something the next episode will likely explore, is that Zanka will probably need help from his friend to win against a powerful opponent. This is suggested when Guita Hebby Fantasia shows up just as Jabber is taking Zanka away. Since Zanka is a main character, it’s clear he’ll survive, and Guita might be the ally who helps him overcome his weaknesses and ultimately succeed. This development is interesting because the anime Gachiakuta, which is one of the darkest shonen series in recent years, doesn’t just avoid a common shonen story pattern – it makes it even better by keeping things realistic and believable.

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2025-11-04 02:11