Every day, heaps of trash are stored in underground galleries, forming disgusting piles never to be seen or thought of again. Rudo, a boy of the slums, revels in them. He follows the trash, he knows it intimately, and he knows where to get the best loot. He then sells what can be mended in the great encampment behind the walls. Eternally punished for a forgotten hereditary crime, his kin, the “tribesfolk,” live near a great dark abyss where all of the trash of the city is ultimately thrown. So, too, for those who suffer capital punishment, thrown from a cliff into the ocean of filth. That was the fate of Rudo’s father, a notorious serial killer who left him nothing more than a bad reputation and some heinous scars. His hands, in particular, are so terribly damaged that he wears gloves at all times. In Rudo’s world, everyone, children included, wears elaborate white clothes, and trash and filth are considered the ultimate horror. Consequently, Rudo’s activities as a trash scavenger are causing disproportionate concern to the soldiers with high hats and immaculate Napoleonic uniforms who patrol the streets. His adoptive father tells him to stop taking such risks. At least one girl his age seems not intimidated by his reputation, however. But the past has a way of catching up…

I’ll be honest: At the beginning, I thought the dramatic monologues about trash and waste were quite overdramatic and downright silly. Nevertheless, the execution of this theme is so good that I soon found myself completely invested in Rudo’s story. The upper class disposing of things that could still be used and fiercely guarding their garbage is a poignant, indicting image. The worldbuilding is interesting, the colors are beautiful, and the music and art direction are on point. This world has a distinct tone: grimy, dirty, but still with a heart. The budding romance is believable, and the scars of Rudo’s past hit hard. You can feel how the rejection of his peers has made him into a vulnerable, hurting, angry mess. I watched in awe until the end. My only concern is the ending, which I won’t spoil. I’m afraid that it may take things in a direction that may make me lose my sympathy for our protagonist, and the show might end up being too unpleasant to watch. If things go differently, though, this could be a show to remember. I guess we’ll see.

Gachiakuta can be streamed at Crunchyroll.