Aggretsuko, also known by its original Japanese title Aggressive Retsuko, is a Japanese animemusicalcomedy franchise based on the eponymous character created by "Yeti" for the mascot company Sanrio. The character first appeared in a series of animated shorts by Fanworks which aired on TBS Television between April 2016 and March 2018. An original net animationanime series adaptation was launched worldwide on Netflix in April 2018. A second season premiered in June 2019. In August 2019, Netflix renewed the series for a third season, which will premiere in August 2020. Courtesy of Oni Press, a comic book series is currently in production by Daniel Barnes and D.J. Kirkland. The first issue was released on February 5, 2020.
Plot
Retsuko is a 25-year old and single anthropomorphicred panda, who works in the accounting department of a Japanese trading firm. Facing constant frustration every day from pushy superiors and annoying co-workers, Retsuko lets out her emotions by going to a karaoke bar every night and singing death metal. After five years of working the daily grind, Retsuko's unhappiness causes her to undergo a series of events that puts her job in jeopardy, forcing her to shift her relationships with her co-workers and ends up changing her life in unexpected ways. She then turns to marriage as a way to get out of work, though this too, brings about mixed and unexpected results.
A series of 100 one-minute anime shorts directed by Rarecho by Fanworks aired on TBS Television between April 2, 2016 and March 31, 2018 as part of the Ō-sama Brunch television program. Pony Canyon began releasing the shorts on DVD from January 18, 2017.
Netflix series
A Netflix original series was announced in December 2017, with Rarecho returning as director and writer at Fanworks. The first season, consisting of ten episodes, was released worldwide on April 20, 2018, with a second season which was released on June 14, 2019. A third season has been announced, and will premiere on August 27, 2020. A Christmas special was released on December 20, 2018.
Episode list
Reception
Aggretsuko was met with critical acclaim in America. The first season of the Netflix series currently holds a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes based on 24 reviews, with the sites critic consensus reading, "Uniquely bleak for a Sanrio property, Aggretsuko balances biting corporate satire with adorable characters and absurdist comedy to create a surprising, insightful addition to the world of animation." The series has been praised for its satirical portrayal of Japan's workplace culture, and of the pressures facing Millennialwomen in the workforce. IndieWire gave the series a B+, and noted the distinctly Japanese stylistic elements of the animation that made it stand out from American productions. The A.V. Club praised Aggretsuko for dealing with mature themes like misogyny and workplace anxiety, but criticized season 1's romantic subplot, calling the subplot "aggressively lousy". The second season also received generally positive reviews, and holds a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes based on 8 reviews.
