Gachiakuta (ガチアクタ) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kei Urana. It began serialization in Kodansha's Weekly Shōnen Magazine in February 2022. As of December 2024, the series' individual chapters have been collected in 13 tankōbon volumes. An anime television series adaptation produced by Bones is set to premiere in 2025.

Gachiakuta
First tankōbon volume cover, featuring Rudo
ガチアクタ
Genre
Manga
Written byKei Urana
Published byKodansha
English publisher
ImprintShōnen Magazine Comics
MagazineWeekly Shōnen Magazine
DemographicShōnen
Original runFebruary 16, 2022 – present
Volumes13
Anime television series
Directed byFumihiko Suganuma
Written byHiroshi Seko
StudioBones
Licensed byMedialink
Original run 2025 scheduled
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Plot

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Living in the slums of a wealthy society are a population of "tribesfolk", who are descended from criminals exiled from society. Living amongst the tribesfolk is a young boy named Rudo, who detests the upper class' wastefulness. They often dump anything deemed trash, including criminals, into a massive dump site below the town known as "The Pit". Rudo was told by his foster father, Regto, that his biological father was dumped into The Pit for a crime before he was born. One day, after rummaging through a dump site, Rudo returns home to find Regto killed. Apprehended at the scene, Rudo is immediately charged with murder despite his innocence, due to his status as a tribesman. Unable to escape his fate, Rudo swears revenge upon the people, and is dumped into The Pit.

After being dumped into The Pit, Rudo awakens to find himself disoriented in a foul-smelling, endless landscape of trash. Rudo is then attacked by large beasts made of trash, and fends them off until he is rescued by a man named Enjin. The man explains to Rudo that he is in fact not underground, but has fallen to the surface from "The Sphere". After testing him and awakening his power as a "Giver", Enjin invites Rudo to join him as a "Cleaner". Enjin explains that the Cleaners are an organization of Givers who use the power of unique weapons known as "vital instruments" to hunt the trash beasts which attacked him. Rudo reluctantly accepts Enjin's offer to join the Cleaners, so long as it helps accomplish his goal of returning to The Sphere and enacting revenge on those who dumped him into The Pit.

Characters

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Rudo Surebrec (ルド スレブレック, Rudo Sureburekku)
A former Sphereite as well as Regto's adopted son whose false convictions led to him being sentenced to The Pit. After being saved from a group of trash beasts, he joins the Cleaners as part of a plan to enact murderous vengeance on his accusers. His vital instrument consists of 3R, a pair of gloves from the Watchman series, which were given to him by Regto before his death.
Enjin (エンジン)
A fellow member of the Cleaners who saves Rudo from a horde of trash beasts. He carries a vital instrument called Umbreaker, which takes the form of an umbrella.
Zanka Nijiku (ザンカ・ニジク)
A warrior Cleaner and master combatant, of whom Enjin proclaims as the youngest member of the organization. His vital instrument is a staff-like weapon named the Lovely Assistaff.
Riyo Reaper (リヨ・リーパー, Riyo Rīpā)
A carefree, energetic, and outgoing member of the Cleaners whose vital instrument comes in the form of a pair of scissors called The Ripper.
Semiu (セミュ, Semyu)
The receptionist at the Cleaners' headquarters. Using her vital instrument, Eyes, which takes the form of a pair of glasses, she can examine the overall capacities of a giver, which gives them the efficiency needed to join the organization. However, this ability does not work in combat.

Production

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Urana credits experiences in her childhood as the main inspiration for Gachiakuta. The story's premise, where actions and feelings are imbued into personal belongings as "Anima," developed after Urana broke a belonging of her own as a child: "I had a pen that I really loved, and I broke it in two. Along with the sense of loss, I had a feeling like the pen was pleading with me."[2] Urana's experience is reflected in Gachiakuta as the story focuses on many characters who explore strong, personal connections to Anima-imbued objects called "Vital Instruments," and in Rudo's case, even trash thrown away by others. The idea for these Vital Instruments also originated in Urana's youth from observing the hangers that came with her grandmother's dry cleaning, a testament to Gachiakuta's themes about seeing value and potential in seemingly mundane and discarded things.[2]

Gachiakuta's art-style is due to illustrations by Urana, complimented by graffiti designs from Ando Hideyoshi. Graffiti and street art provide not only avenues for expression, distinction, and safety for the story's characters, but also narrative significance for readers due to its use in storytelling. As for character design, Urana states that her process involved unexpected changes for Gachiakuta's characters: "I create them to be decent people, but then I actually draw them and for some reason, they turn out to be freaky weirdos. I've given up, realizing that this is who they truly are."[2]

Media

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Manga

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Written and illustrated by Kei Urana with graffiti designs by Ando Hideyoshi, the series began serialization in Kodansha's Weekly Shōnen Magazine on February 16, 2022.[3][4] As of December 2024, the series' individual chapters have been collected in 13 tankōbon volumes.[5]

In August 2022, Urana stated an "overseas version" was in production.[6] In March 2023, Kodansha USA announced that they licensed the series for English publication.[7]

Volumes

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No. Original release date Original ISBN English release date English ISBN
1 May 17, 2022[8]978-4-06-527922-9January 16, 2024[9]979-8-88-877020-7
  • 1. "The Sphere" (天界, Tenkai)
  • 2. "Quasi Living Things" (生物もどき, Seibutsu Modoki)
  • 3. "Imbued" (宿り物, Yadori-mono)
  • 4. "The Ground" (下界, Gekai)
2 July 15, 2022[10]978-4-06-528430-8April 30, 2024[11]979-8-88-877094-8
  • 5. "Interpersonal Relations" (対人, Taijin)
  • 6. "Dookie-ing It Out" (“大”勝負, "Dai" Shōbu)
  • 7. "Cleaner HQ" (掃除屋本部, Sōjiya Honbu)
  • 8. "Observation Field Trip" (お仕事見学, Oshigoto Kengaku)
  • 9. "Not at Home" (アウェイ, Awei)
  • 10. "Drawing Near" (迫り来る, Semari Kuru)
  • 11. "Getting Closer" (接近, Sekkin)
  • 12. "Shadows on the Ground" (下界の影, Gekai no Kage)
  • 13. "Raiders" (荒らし屋, Arashi-ya)
3 September 16, 2022[12]978-4-06-529138-2July 23, 2024[13]979-8-88-877095-5
  • 14. "Arrival" (到達, Tōtatsu)
  • 15. "Deep Down" (根本, Konpon)
  • 16. "It's a Hit!!" (ちゃんとした一撃ィ!!, Chanto Shita Ichigekii!!)
  • 17. "Stabby Stabby Claws" (攻め攻め爪, Seme Seme Tsume)
  • 18. "Hysterical" (わや, Waya)
  • 19. "An Uncommon Front" (歪共闘, Ibitsu Kyōtō)
  • 20. "Ended" (決着, Ketchaku)
  • 21. "Resentment and Appreciation" (遺恨とねぎらい, Ikon to Negirai)
  • 22. "Moving Forward" (前進, Zenshin)
4 November 17, 2022[14]978-4-06-529777-3October 29, 2024[15]979-8-88-877096-2
  • 23. "Favorite Treat" (好物, Kōbutsu)
  • 24. "Rudo's Vital Instrument: P.S. He Went on a Diet" (ルド人器 P.S.ダイエットしました, Rudo Jinki: P.S. Daietto Shimashita)
  • 25. "Before We Go" (行く前, Iku Mae)
  • 26. "The City of Graffiti" (ラクガキの町, Rakugaki no Machi)
  • 27. "Worthy Successor" (引き継ぐに値するモノ, Hikitsugu ni Ataisuru Mono)
  • 28. "Picture-Drawing and Trash-Picking" (描きと拾い, Egaki to Hiroi)
  • 29. "Penta: The Desert No Man's Land" (砂漠の禁域『ペンタ』, Sabaku no Kin'iki "Penta")
  • 30. "Penta: VWHRRR KA-SNIFF" (ドルルガスン, Doruru Gasun)
  • 31. "Visitors" (来客, Raikyaku)
5 February 17, 2023[16]978-4-06-530527-0January 21, 2025[17]979-8-88-877097-9
  • 32. "Amo's Hospitality" (アモのもてなし, Amo no Motenashi)
  • 33. "Illusion" (幻影, Gen'ei)
  • 34. "A Familiar Fragrance" (なつかしい かほり, Natsukashii Kahori)
  • 35. "Happy Times" (幸せ時間, Shiawase Jikan)
  • 36. "Tamsy Winds Up" (タムジー巻き, Tamujī Maki)
  • 37. "Forgot" (ワスレテタ。, Wasureteta.)
  • 38. "Something Like a Curse." (呪いのようなものかしら, Noroi no Yō na Mono Kashira)
  • 39. "What Is Right?" (正しさとは, Tadashi Sato wa)
  • 40. "Rising Abyss" (昇る深淵, Noboru Shin'en)
6 April 17, 2023[18]978-4-06-531344-2April 22, 2025[19]979-8-88-877152-5
  • 41. "Alighting Fragments" (虚の瞳, Kara no Hitomi)
  • 42. "Alighting Fragments 2" (降り立つ断片, Oritatsu Danpen)
  • 43. "Gains" (収穫, Shūkaku)
  • 44. "Be Extra Wary on the Journey Home" (帰路こそ気を抜くなし, Kiro koso Ki o Nuku Nashi)
  • 45. "Pest Control" (害虫駆除, Gaichū Kujo)
  • 46. "The Storm Before the Storm" (嵐の前の嵐, Arashi no Mae no Arashi)
  • 47. "Boss" (ドン, Don)
  • 48. "Clash!" (ぶつかれ, Butsukare)
  • 49. "Ready, Set..." (いざ, Iza)
7 July 14, 2023[20]978-4-06-532179-9July 22, 2025[21]979-8-88-877157-0
  • 50. "Glubroachie" (ゴボゴッキー, Gobogokkī)
  • 51. "Hey, For Real." (なぁマジ, Naa Maji)
  • 52. "Exchange" (交換, Gōkan)
  • 53. "Do You Even Have Eyes?" (見る目あんのか, Mirume An no Ka)
  • 54. "Gifted and Not" (天の凡, Ten no Bon)
  • 55. "The Difference" (, Sa)
  • 56. "The Reason I Fight" (戦う理由, Tatakau no Riyū)
  • 57. "Memories of an Average Joe" (凡の記憶, Bon no Kioku)
  • 58. "Inferiority of an Average Joe" (凡の劣等, Bon no Rettō)
8 October 17, 2023[22]978-4-06-532888-0
  • 59. "Determination of an Average Joe" (凡の決意, Bon no Ketsui)
  • 60. "Reality" (現実, Genjitsu)
  • 61. "Oh ZAP" (ヤバビリ, Yababiri)
  • 62. "Totes Legit" (バリガチ, Barigachi)
  • 63. "Hidden" (, Ura)
  • 64. "Past" (前職, Zenshoku)
  • 65. "As a Byproduct" (副産物の中, Fukusanbutsu no Naka)
  • 66. "The Watchman Series" (番人シリーズ, Bannin Shirīzu)
  • 67. "Are You Kidding Me?" (まぁぁぁあじ, Maaaaaji)
9 December 15, 2023[23]978-4-06-533899-5
  • 68. "Kids Are Tougher Than You Think!" (子供なめんじゃねぇ, Kodomo Namen ja nee)
  • 69. "Midair Road Trip" (空中ドライビン, Kūchū Doraibin)
  • 70. "Ensign" (, Shirushi)
  • 71. "Evolution" (進化, Shinka)
  • 72. "And Bullseye" (ドンピシャリ, Donpishari)
  • 73. "Race Against Time" (TIME ATTACK)
  • 74. "Power Up" (強化, Kyōka)
  • 75. "Loose Cannon" (無鉄砲, Muteppō)
  • 76. "Beast, Break Through" (突破して獣, Toppa Shite Kemono)
10 March 15, 2024[24]978-4-06-534863-5
  • 77. "Accumulation of Feelings" (思いの蓄積, Omoi no Chikuseki)
  • 78. "The Woman Left Behind" (留めた女, Todometa Onna)
  • 79. "Loss and Big Entrance" (喪失と出番, Sōshitsu to Deban)
  • 80. "The Power of Protection" (守護の力, Shugo no Chikara)
  • 81. "No Time For Rest" (矢継ぎ, Yatsugi)
  • 82. "Rest" (, Kyū)
  • 83. "The Man Who Will Be Stronger" (強くなる男, Tsuyoku Naru Otoko)
  • 84. "A Man Who Knows" (知る男, Shiru Otoko)
  • 85. "Field Trip" (遠足, Ensoku)
11 June 17, 2024[25]978-4-06-535779-8
  • 86. "Contact" (接触, Sesshoku)
  • 87. "Ancestry" (先祖, Senzo)
  • 88. "I Want to Eat Cake" (ケーキを食べたいの, Kēki o Tabetai no)
  • 89. "Finding Information" (情報探し, Jōhō Sagashi)
  • 90. "Completion and Arms" (完成と標的, Kansei to Hyōteki)
  • 91. "Multiple Purchases" (重なる品物, Kasanaru Shinamono)
  • 92. "Tamsy's Day Off" (タム休, Tamu Kyū)
  • 93. "Kuro the Information Broker" (情報屋“クロ”, Jōhō-ya "Kuro")
  • 94. "On Your Mark"
12 September 17, 2024[26]978-4-06-536774-2
  • 95. "Hi There!" (こんにちは~, Konnichiwā)
  • 96. "Three-Way Battle, Give or Take" (三つ巴+α, Mitsudomoe Purasu Arufa)
  • 97. "Two Hands" (2つの手, Futatsu no Te)
  • 98. "Scum's Struggle" (カスの足掻き, Kasu no Agaki)
  • 99. "That's How You're Gonna Play It?" (そう来たか, Sō Kita ka)
  • 100. "Tori: The Forest No Man's Land" (ジャングルの禁域『トリ』, Janguru no Kin'iki "Tori")
  • 101. "King" (, Omo)
  • 102. "I'm A Cleaner, Too" (オレだって, Oredatte)
  • 103. "The Box" (, Hako)
13 December 17, 2024[5]978-4-06-537775-8
  • 104. "The Box" (, Hako)
  • 105. "Behold What It Holds" (中身初見, Nakami Hatsumi)
  • 106. "Lurkers" (潜む者, Hisomu Mono)
  • 107. "Elder" (長老, Chōrō)
  • 108. "Stay Out of Our Way, Seriously" (邪魔すんなまじで, Jama Sun na Majide)
  • 109. "Amo's Whereabouts. And..." (アモの所在。そしてーー, Amo no Shozai. Soshite...)
  • 110. "An Act of ****" (〇〇の所業, Rei Rei no Tokoro-gyō)
  • 111. "False Face" (嘘の顔, Uso no Kao)
  • 112. "Unboxing" (開封, Kaifū)

Chapters not yet in tankōbon format

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  • 113. "A Vague Identity" (曖昧な正体, Aimaina Shōtai)
  • 114. "Flailin'" (わちゃわちゃ, Wacha Wacha)
  • 115. "The Cleaners" (掃除屋, Sōjiya)
  • 116. "Rudo Surebrec The Cleaner" (掃除屋ルド・シュアブレック, Sōjiya Rudo Shuaburekku)
  • 117. "The Hero of the Story" (主人公, Shujinkō)
  • 118. "Oozing" (滲み, Nijimi)
  • 119. "First Job!" (初依頼!, Hatsu Irai!)
  • 120. "The Sun Sets" (日が沈む, Hi ga Shizumu)

Anime

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An anime television series produced by Bones and directed by Fumihiko Suganuma is set to premiere in 2025. The series will also feature scripts and writing by Hiroshi Seko and Satoshi Ishino as chief animator and head of character design.[27] Medialink licensed the series.[28]

Reception

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The columnist for Real Sound [ja] liked the world building, action, and dark fantasy elements of the story, as well as the main protagonist.[1] Masaki Endo from Tsutaya News liked the artwork and the main protagonist of the series.[29] Atsushi Ohkubo recommended the series.[30]

In the 2022 Next Manga Award, the series ranked 13th in the print manga category. It was also the most popular choice among English voters, even though the series had not been released in English at the time.[31] The series ranked 14th in the Nationwide Bookstore Employees' Recommended Comics of 2023.[32] It was nominated for the 47th Kodansha Manga Award in the shōnen category in 2023;[33] it was also nominated for the 48th edition in the same category in 2024.[34]

Notes

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References

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  1. ^ a b c 漫画×グラフィティの鮮烈な作風で話題! 『ガチアクタ』が切り拓く、新たな表現と戦い方. Real Sound [ja] (in Japanese). March 16, 2022. Archived from the original on August 16, 2022. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c Urana, Kei (January 16, 2024). Gachiakuta 1. Kodansha International. p. 190. ISBN 9798888770207.
  3. ^ マガジン新連載『ガチアクタ』開始 新人が描くバトルアクション (in Japanese). Oricon. February 16, 2022. Archived from the original on August 16, 2022. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  4. ^ 孤児の少年を描く下克上バトルアクション「ガチアクタ」マガジンで連載開始. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. February 16, 2022. Archived from the original on September 1, 2022. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  5. ^ a b ガチアクタ(13) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
  6. ^ Mateo, Alex (August 31, 2022). "Gachiakuta Manga Creator Kei Urana Reveals Overseas Version in Production". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on September 1, 2022. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  7. ^ Mateo, Alex (March 30, 2023). "Kodansha USA Licenses Gachiakuta, Pass the Monster Meat, Milady!, Love, That's an Understatement Manga". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on March 30, 2023. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  8. ^ ガチアクタ(1) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on October 7, 2022. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  9. ^ "Gachiakuta 1". Penguin Random House. Archived from the original on June 12, 2023. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  10. ^ ガチアクタ(2) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on October 7, 2022. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  11. ^ "Gachiakuta 2". Penguin Random House. Archived from the original on April 8, 2024. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
  12. ^ ガチアクタ(3) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on August 19, 2022. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  13. ^ "Gachiakuta 3". Penguin Random House. Archived from the original on April 8, 2024. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
  14. ^ ガチアクタ(4) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on November 11, 2022. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  15. ^ "Gachiakuta 4". Penguin Random House. Archived from the original on April 8, 2024. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
  16. ^ ガチアクタ(5) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on December 28, 2022. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  17. ^ "Gachiakuta 5". Penguin Random House. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  18. ^ ガチアクタ(6) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on March 1, 2023. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
  19. ^ "Gachiakuta 6". Penguin Random House. Retrieved October 1, 2024.
  20. ^ ガチアクタ(7) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on June 12, 2023. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  21. ^ "Gachiakuta 7". Penguin Random House. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  22. ^ ガチアクタ(8) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on October 21, 2023. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  23. ^ ガチアクタ(9) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on January 17, 2024. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  24. ^ ガチアクタ(10) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on August 26, 2024. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
  25. ^ ガチアクタ(11) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on August 26, 2024. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
  26. ^ ガチアクタ(12) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on July 29, 2024. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
  27. ^ Pineda, Rafael (June 12, 2024). "Kei Urana's Gachiakuta Manga Gets 2025 TV Anime by Bones". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on June 13, 2024. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  28. ^ "【 #Medialink 2025 New Anime Line-Up】《GACHIAKUTA》✨The highly anticipated anime adaptation of the popular manga✨ \\ Set for Release in 2025 //". Ani-One Asia. December 20, 2024. Retrieved December 20, 2024 – via YouTube.
  29. ^ Endo, Masaki (June 30, 2022). マンガ表現の新たな可能性に挑むダークファンタジーは鮮烈にして強烈――『ガチアクタ』. Tsutaya News (in Japanese). Archived from the original on September 1, 2022. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  30. ^ ガチアクタ:「炎炎ノ消防隊」大久保篤が主人公描く 「一目瞭然! これはガチ!」. Mantan Web (in Japanese). May 17, 2022. Archived from the original on September 1, 2022. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  31. ^ Loveridge, Lynzee (August 31, 2022). "Medalist, WITCH WATCH, Akane-banashi Win Next Manga Awards 2022 Results". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on August 31, 2022. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  32. ^ Harding, Daryl (February 2, 2023). "RuriDragon is Japanese Bookstores No. 1 Manga Recommendation of 2023". Crunchyroll. Archived from the original on February 2, 2023. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  33. ^ 第47回講談社漫画賞、最終候補作15作品を発表. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. April 10, 2023. Archived from the original on April 10, 2023. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  34. ^ Cayanan, Joanna (April 8, 2024). "48th Annual Kodansha Manga Awards' Nominees Announced". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on April 8, 2024. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
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