Aggretsuko: Sanrio’s Hilarious Satire About Life in Japan

Since Sanrio initially established itself as a wonderland of super cute and comfy characters, it’s a little surprising that one of its newer characters has skyrocketed in popularity across the globe. Her name is Aggretsuko, the red panda, who is the resident hard-working office girl and death metal vocalist whose struggles have resonated with fans for nearly ten years.

Who is Aggretsuko?

Aggretsuko is a twenty-five-year-old red panda who lives in Tokyo. During the day, she works in a large corporate office, performing various clerical duties. At night, however, she unleashes her true self at the local karaoke bars by belting out some truly excellent death metal songs. Aggretsuko is the ultimate embodiment of the modern woman: hard-working and full of rage.

Where did she come from?

Aggrestusko debuted in April 2016 in a series of short videos created by Fanworks. The shorts, only a minute long, introduced her as a character and set the stage for her perfectly. The shorts showed brief moments between her and her co-workers, often in annoying or frustrating situations. She deals with senior employees who give her too much work, chatty co-workers who never stop talking, and strict bosses who mistreat her every day.

Each short ended with Aggretsuko reaching her breaking point and releasing her anger through a loud death metal performance. The shy office worker would transform into a fierce singer, complete with dramatic face paint. She would scream out lyrics about why someone was wrong, how awful they were, and the things most of us wish we could say at work. With her frustration vented, she gets back to work, dutifully and respectfully.

Aggretsuko’s Show Is An Absolute Must-Watch

In December 2017, Netflix released a full-length series dedicated entirely to Aggretsuko. Using her previous shorts as a foundation, the Netflix show made a great effort to formally introduce her as a character. Now, more than just random snippets of her life, the show chronicled her life at home, her work environment, and most importantly, her struggles finding a relationship. The show balanced the iconic metal-themed antics with a poignant and hard-hitting narrative about the perils of being a single working woman.

The series comprises five seasons, spanning from 2018 to 2023. As the show progresses, more and more characters are introduced. Many are new coworkers of hers, while others are brand-new to the series. What’s wonderful about the series is how many characters are explored in greater detail in later seasons.

Characters who are introduced as antagonistic foils to Aggretsuko become tempered, and in some cases, even friends with her. Characters who were once depicted as being extremely irritating or horrible have their own lives and personalities explored, which gives the show a very welcome sense of humanity. While stereotypes and tropes are used for comedic effect, the show takes the time to remind the viewer that sometimes people have their own issues to contend with themselves.

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What is the show about?

At the core of the show is Aggretsuko herself, navigating various relationships with the different men that she meets. What’s fantastic about the show is how accurately it portrays the dangers the world can pose to her. Even something as fun and fulfilling as starting her own musical group turns violent when an obsessed fan approaches her one night. Dating a successful tech genius becomes challenging when she must decide whether to prioritize her own needs or those of someone else. Sometimes, even trying to date casually becomes difficult when she meets reclusive weirdos who lack any social etiquette.

To complicate her personal life further, Aggretsuko also contends with her mother. Her mom, while caring, can be overbearing and insensitive to her own life. Rather than being a source of support, love, and help, her mother too often becomes much too critical of her personal life. By critiquing her decisions on work, dating, and self-care, her mother only adds to the numerous issues she faces daily.

While there are plenty of jokes in the series, the heart of the show is how she learns to cope with the world around her. People who were once enemies turn out to be valued friends. People in positions of power can suddenly find themselves worse off than she. The show presents a stark and unforgiving portrayal of what it’s like to live and work in modern Japan, particularly for a single woman.

Why should you care about Aggretsuko?

What started as a silly and amusing series of internet shorts quickly became one of Sanrio’s biggest and most popular characters in years. Aggretsuko appeals specifically to older viewers because she lives in a world very like our own. Sure, everyone is an animal of some sort, but society operates in the same way. It can seem nearly impossible to know where to go in life, how to get ahead, how to care for yourself, how to find love, and how to do all of these things well.

Even living in Tokyo, the world’s biggest city, can feel overwhelmingly lonely. Aggretsuko is a very relatable character who tells us, ‘No, you’re not alone with these struggles.’ Yes, the world can swallow you whole. But, hey, as long as you keep your friends close and your head up, you can do it. And belting out some excellent metal doesn’t hurt, either. Do you like Aggretsuko? Do you have a favorite character in the series? Please let us know in the comments below!