When thinking of adult cartoons the first series that come to mind are likely shows such as Family Guy, Rick and Morty, or South Park. The last thing you would expect to think of is a Japanese cartoon filled with adorable, anthropomorphized animals.
And yet, the new Netflix series Aggretsuko fits the bill.
The series is made up of 10 episodes following the daily life of an overworked, underpaid, red panda named Retsuko. By day, Retsuko's a 25-year-old accountant who's underappreciated by her coworkers and subjected to misogynistic torment from her boss—a “chauvinist pig” named Ton. By night, Retsuko takes pleasure in letting off steam at a local karaoke bar by singing death metal about how much she hates her job.
The series was created by Sanrio, best known for the creation of the Hello Kitty franchise—a cartoon cat that is meant to appeal to young girls. Aggretsuko goes against the child-friendly tone that the studio has become renowned for, instead, appealing to older audiences, particularly those in their 20s. What might seem like a show meant for children on the surface definitely isn’t.
Aggretsuko uses cuddly animals to show how living in the adult world isn’t all it's chalked up to be.
One of the themes covered within Aggretsuko is how hopeful ideals when first entering the workforce can quickly become shattered by reality. It’s easy to look at adult life through rose-colored glasses, seeing yourself being a successful, contributing member of society.
When Retsuko first begins her accounting job, she has high hopes for herself and her future. This is represented by the bright colors and cute style the show presents, portraying the deceiving nature of the real world.
But everything comes crashing down once you realize the workload expected of you isn't being met equally by your salary. And the negative atmosphere created by those you work with can ultimately contribute to your lackluster mental health.
Throughout the course of Aggretsuko, the audience sees Retsuko suffer at the hands of her coworkers and boss time and time again, unable to catch a break. She realizes that the working world was not as it originally seemed, and now desperately desires to find a way out.
Aggretsuko shows the struggles many young adults face when adjusting to this new lifestyle.
Aggretsuko shows that it’s not easy to be a young adult in the world of business. The steam that Retsuko lets out during her death metal sessions come off as being relatable to anyone who is struggling to find their place in the world—especially as a woman. It can be hard to keep face around those you’re supposed to be professional with, and there comes a point where everyone wants to scream at the top of their lungs.
Aside from its commentary on being disrespected in the workplace, Aggretsuko touches upon other struggles that many in their 20s find themselves facing. One of the reoccurring themes is Retsuko’s desire to find a boyfriend whom she can marry to live out her life as a housewife.
Aggretsuko shows that finding love in a world that is hard to get by in isn’t easy, and as a result, people often end up settling for less. Because everyone's expected to find love and settle down at some point or another, there’s this rush in your 20s to find “the one”, even if they’re a subpar space-cadet you have nothing in common with. Finding love is just as frustrating of a process for Retsuko as it is for so many of us.
While on the surface Aggretsuko looks like another Hello Kitty character, it’s really anything but. The show is adorable, relatable, charming, and filled to the brim with dark humor. Anyone in their 20s with a Netflix account and a desire to see a show they can connect with should definitely be checking this one out.
