FROM GAMBLING THE GENRE OF UNCERTAINTY AND RISK A MASTERPIECE OF UNDOUBTED VALUE IS BORN NO SPOILER KAIJIAGAINST ALL RULES REVIEWhttps://anilist.co/review/14101 The Gambling genre in TV series and anime is a genre that has always teased me with regard to the potential it has to offer especially from the point of view of psychological games between players. It is precisely my interest in this type of plot that led me to see Kakegurui anime that I found quite valid with regard to these mental games obviously avoiding talking about other peculiarities of that not so familyfriendly anime. Beyond this just a few days ago during my search for the next anime to watch I found myself on the page of this series which however I had already heard positively about its quality without ever strangely finding out that it was a Gambling series. The genre and the good reviews I heard convinced me enough to start it immediately and even go so far as to review it as much as I liked I had never reviewed a nonseasonal yet. 1000https://ur.com/RQhAOKn.png PLOT: In a nutshell the plot tells of a very difficult period of life for Itou Kaiji a boy buried in debt and who has found no purpose in life. But one day an unmissable opportunity knocks on his door inviting him to participate in a betting event aboard a ship that could end all his suffering and help him get a new life. The first season of the anime is therefore divided into 2 great narrative arcs: the Espoir ship arc and the subsequent and more emotional Starside Hotel arc. That said it seems that the underlying plot does not stand out particularly for its originality in comparison to other works anime and otherwise of the same genre. And indeed it is so however Kaiji reaches its maximum value during the bets. The psychological games between the protagonist and his opponents characterizes the anime most and elevates it to a series of the highest level. The strategies with which the players fight each other and the drama that follows from the victories and defeats immediately make the anime captivating during the first narrative arc and then reach their apex during the second narrative arc much more intense as offers risks and situations that seemed unthinkable to reach seeing the type of drama that the Espoir arc presented. 300https://ur.com/XT1Tovh.png 300https://ur.com/rRvvkeR.png CHARACTERS: Leaving the best for last I start by giving a general idea of the 2 main villains of the series: Tonegawa and the president. Both play this role during the 2nd arc since in the 1st arc the villains are none other than other players at the same level as Kaiji who play to cancel their debts like him. Both represent the classic manipulative sadistic character who enjoys the suffering of others and who has no qualms in trying to plunge his opponent into the abyss. Excluding them 2 the secondary characters of the series do not occupy a particularly prominent role at least for now then I dont know if we will see anyone again in the 2nd season and do not have a welldefined characterization. They simply have the function of accompanying the protagonist or hindering him in certain situations. 1000https://ur.com/ilrLoJz.png At this point we can talk about the main dish that is our protagonist Itou Kaiji. For his character I have only nice words to say: beautiful characterization that best represents the mentality of a normal guy in his situation. In fact Kaiji is a 100 complete character he is intelligent and awake enough to be able to think of some tactics even very efficient in situations that need an extra help to simple luck. At the same time however he immediately presents himself as a very naive person who easily gets caught up in emotions who trusts others more than he should and who while not repeating the exact same mistake twice never definitively condemns a person who has it deceived or defeated maintaining a kind of respect towards him. The 2nd arc is the one in which this ambivalent mentality of his is highlighted most when he is faced with situations in which one should always act in cold blood but in which he never manages to completely maintain this coldness by falling into the temptations offered by his same emotions. 1000https://ur.com/4cZgsWx.png ART / ANIMATIONS: I am aware of the fact that the artistic style of KaijiUltimate Survivor is one of the biggest reasons for drop or of little appreciation of the series but it is one of the elements that I personally found most fascinating. I was warned that they might not have liked me initially but despite this I appreciated them right away. I really admire anime with a particular style which differs from the series that are based on more classic drawings and animations. Absolute strength of the artwork are the facial expressions of the characters which are able to perfectly convey the emotions especially desperation of the characters and which make the viewer much more emotionally involved in the events. MADHOUSE has never been a 100 reliable studio it has had a fluctuating history regarding its anime but I think it did a great job here we always keep in mind that we are talking about a 2007 series. 300https://ur.com/ScInao5.png 300https://ur.com/5p6kuzZ.png 300https://ur.com/Ftsxm80.png 300https://ur.com/Sh4sI4A.png MUSIC: The soundtracks that characterize the work are absolutely perfect and in excellent harmony with the graphics they manage to make the work express to its fullest potential. I would also like to underline a peculiarity that I had never encountered yet namely the 45second TV size opening. This obviously has no weight in my evaluation I just wanted to point it out because it was something that surprised me the moment I noticed it. CONCLUSION: In conclusion I would like to recommend this anime to anyone especially lovers of the Gambling genre. Despite what I said in the ART / ANIMATIONS section I still want to support what I was told: the graphic style could leave you a bit confused at first but after a few episodes Im sure you will get used to it and that you can appreciate all the consequences that the adoption of this style leads to the work. I cant wait to start the 2nd season of this amazing anime and I ask anyone who has come to the bottom of this review to recommend me privately other anime of this genre. P.S. I am not a native English speaker so I apologize for any mistakes.