Kill la Kill

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Kill la Kill (キルラキル, Kiru Ra Kiru) is an anime television series that premiered in Japan between October 3, 2013 to March 27, 2014 and ran for 24 episodes, with a 25th OVA episode that was released in September 3, 2014. The series is Studio Trigger's first original television anime project, directed by Hiroyuki Imaishi and written by Kazuki Nakashima, both of whom had previously worked together on Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, and with character designs by Sushio. A manga adaptation by Ryō Akizuki began serialization in Kadokawa Shoten's Young Ace magazine from October 4, 2013.

Kill la Kill is set at Honnōji Academy (本能字学園, Honnōji Gakuen), a fictional high school in Tokyo Bay set in post-apocalyptic Japan that is dominated by its fearsome student council, led by Satsuki Kiryūin. The council members wear special uniforms called Goku Uniforms (極制服 gokuseifuku, lit. high quality uniform, from gokusei + seifuku) that grant them superhuman abilities, which they use to oppress the rest of the school's students and staff. Ryūko Matoi, a student wielding half a scissor-shaped longsword, transfers to Honnōji Academy in search of the owner of the other half of the scissor blade, the person who killed her father. Defeated by the council after interrogating Satsuki over the killer's identity and whereabouts, Ryūko comes across a sentient sailor uniform she names Senketsu, who puts himself on Ryūko. Using Senketsu's special abilities, Ryūko stands up against Satsuki and her henchmen, the Elite Four (四天王 shitennō), to liberate Honnōji Academy from their iron grip and find out the truth behind her father's murder.

Tropes used in Kill la Kill include:

• Absurdly Powerful Student Council
• Acquired Situational Narcissism: In Episode 7, Ryuko develops a scheme to raise Mako's family into the upper echelons of society. Literally the second they move into a mansion, the family gets caught up in the life of luxury, and they all grow distant from each other. Satsuki, of course, is counting on this very trope, which is why she let Ryuko go through with her scheme in the first place. And unlike most examples of this trope, which fail to justify the need to remove riches before human decency returns, here, it's outright stated that living in luxury is a form of slavery, removing people's will to fight against classism and injustice. Siddhartha Gautama would be proud (well, provided he could look past the fact that this lesson is being taught in such a Fanservice-y anime).
• Action Girl: Ryuko, Satsuki, and Nonon, to name a few.
• Aesop Amnesia: Averted in Episode 8. Satsuki effectively strips the whole Academy of their ranks, and initiates a free-for-all where the last people standing become the new top dogs. Mako's family doesn't even bother to join in on the fighting; they outright state that after their recent Acquired Situational Narcissism incident, it'd be rather stupid to get caught up in rising through the ranks again.
• A Nazi By Any Other Name
• All Men Are Perverts: Especially the ones in Mako's family.
• Applied Phlebotinum: Subverted. Life Fibers seem like this at first, but are later revealed to have a very in-depth backstory that pushes them firmly out of this trope. If you're not concerned about spoilers, then you can read about them here.
• Asskicking Equals Authority / Authority Equals Asskicking: Works both ways. In the Academy, your rank is directly proportional to your fighting prowess. The quality of your uniform, which enhances your fighting skills accordingly, is determined by your rank. It's like the principles of real-world capitalism, translated into fighting anime rules; the strong become stronger, and the weak become weaker.
• Back-Alley Doctor: Dr. Barazo, Mako's father. Don't worry, he's killed more people than he's saved.
• Beam-O-War / Loud of War: How Ryuko ultimately defeats Jakuzure.
• Bilingual Bonus: "La" is a Spanish article that must be used to refer to a female subject. Knowing this gives out that the killer Ryuko seeks is female.
• Blood Knight: Ryuko, quite literally. Her superpowered clothing is even powered by blood!
• Chivalrous Pervert: Senketsu, Ryuko's clothing. Even though it's uncomfortably intimate with Ryuko, and withholds its full power unless she fights half-naked, it's also fiercely protective, and would rather sacrifice itself than let her come to harm. It's actually quite heartwarming, in a weird way.
• Combat Sadomasochist: Gamagoori.
• Comically Missing the Point: This is basically Mako Mankanshoku's schtick, after her genkiness.
• Deceased Dad: Isshin Matoi, Ryuko's father. The plot kicks off with her wanting to avenge his death.
• The Ditz: Mako.
• The Fake Cutie: Nui Harime, from the moment she first graces the screen. She almost never stops being cute and cheerful, even when killing in cold blood. The only time she isn't smiling is when she gets stabbed in the eye.
• Five-Bad Band: The Student Council.
  • The Big Bad: Satsuki Kiryūin
  • The Dragon: Uzu Sanageyama
  • The Evil Genius: Hōka Inumuta
  • The Brute: Ira Gamagōri
  • The Dark Chick: Nonon Jakuzure
• The Fool: Mako. She may be dim, but she is luck personified. She may not know what she's doing most of the time, but you can rest assured that whenever she gets involved in any situation, her friends' and family's fortunes are going to change for the better.
• Genki Girl: Mako.
• Dumb Is Good: Mako.
• Green Thumbs: The entirety of the Gardening club.
• Heroes Prefer Giant Scissor Blades
• Hot-Blooded: Everyone in the series, one way or another.
• Impossibly Cool Clothes: Senketsu.
• Improbable Weapon User: Ryuko fights with one-half of a pair of giant scissors.
• Tongue Suicide: In episode 25, this was mention as one of the course of action.
• Magnificent Bastard: Satsuki.
• Mad Scientists: The entirety of the Biology club.
• Mega Corp: REVOCS
• Ms. Fanservice: Ryuko. Even though Satsuki shows an equal amount of skin when she transforms, Ryuko still gets considerably more Gainaxing and Panty Shots.
• Musical Assassin: Jakuzure, the Non-Athletic Club Regulator, who also doubles as leader of the school marching band. All of her attacks are musical in nature: speakers that fire heavy bass shockwaves, razor-sharp musical notes, etc.
• Nuclear Family: The Mankanshoku family.
• Panty Fighter: A send-up of the genre.
• Psycho for Hire: Nui Harime.
• Sensible Heroes, Skimpy Villains: Zig-zagged. At first, Ryuko's outfit is much more risque than what the villains wear (though no more ridiculous). Then Satsuki dons her own superpowered outfit, which is even skimpier than Ryuko's.
• Slapstick Knows No Gender
• Stepford Smiler: Nui Harime.
• Stripperiffic: Kamuis; they give Witchblades a run for their money.
• Walking Shirtless Scene: Ryuko's homeroom teacher, Aikurō Mikisugi, when he's not in disguise.
• Widget Series
• World of Badass
• Would Hit a Girl: All male characters will beat up women just as much as they'll beat up men. (In a World of Badass, showing chivalry to females is tantamount to suicide.)
  • The first character to demonstrate this trope is Fukuroda, from the first episode. He gives Ryuko a No-Holds-Barred Beatdown, and attempts to publicly execute Mako.