TV: Aggretsuko

I'm as in love with Sanrio as, well, anyone who loves cute stuff, pretty much, but Aggretsuko is something special from them. The show follows a red panda named Retsuko who often listens to death metal to calm down from her stressful office job. Retsuko herself is a great character, usually mild mannered and sweet, but hiding deep frustration at her circumstances and unreasonable coworkers.

There are also a bunch of great secondary characters. I really like the hippo character. She's one of the first we meet and the animation in her first scene has her sort of gliding over to the door. It expresses her overbearing excitement perfectly. The design elements, voices, and animation styles of the more prominent characters seem to have been considered carefully to communicate a solid and unique feel for each of them.

The characters and situations that play out are genuinely charming, and each episode has a satisfying and compelling narrative. Retsuko's private outbursts are relatable and heartwarming, and I love her. I really like the way this show portrays some of the frustrations of office work. It may be a cutesy series, but it does get at some real issues such as abuse in the workplace and the prevalence of money worries and overworking (an epidemic in Japan especially, but to an extent also pretty globally relevant). It's good to see a Sanrio property with more bite, personality, and genuine social commentary than you might usually expect.

I recommend this show with my whole heart, and I think this is a show that could be enjoyed by almost anyone. It's not overly cutesy despite its cute look, it's not too morbid despite its tackling of some harsh realities, and it's both light and engrossing. A real gem. Check it out and tell me who your favourite character is.