By Ariana Gonzalez Contributor
“Aggretsuko” is an anime about the struggles of being a young woman working in a corporate job and enduring the microaggressions of life, all while being a die-hard death metal fan.
Retsuko, a 25-year-old Scorpio with blood Type A, has a secret love for death metal karaoke because it’s a way she can express her rage. She represents every young female student that has graduated and moved on to work in the corporate world. Some everyday battles she faces are sexism in the workplace, “shitty bosses” and fantasizing about marrying rich so she will never have to work again.
The show starts after Retsuko has been working in the accountant department for five years, using simple practices to get herself motivated to get out of bed and go to her boring job. There we meet the usual characters in every office: the office gossip, the office flatterer, the sexist boss, the lazy superior and the company icons. Retsuko happens to find her support not only from her late night karaoke trips, but also from two of her fellow co-workers, who do not know her secret but respect her hustle for the company. Both slowly become her close friends. They start to worry about how she’s treated in the office, curious of what’s actually going on in her head.
Overall, this is a show you absolutely have to see because of its relatable moments in the corporate world, its humor and the charm that Retsuko brings to your screen.
When she starts to make changes in her life, Retsuko also finds support and wisdom from the two company icons, who portray themselves as strong, unbreakable women in the office and allow that mask to fall in friendlier settings. They both discover Retsuko’s secret love for death metal karaoke, and instead of judging Retsuko and expressing disdain, they celebrate her skills. Retsuko is then able to develop a healthy friendship in her workplace with women that inspire her to be better with every challenge she meets.
Overall, this is a show you absolutely have to see because of its relatable moments in the corporate world, its humor and the charm that Retsuko brings to your screen. The only complaint that I could possibly have is that there are only nine episodes so far and the second season will not come until April 2019.
