How Kakegurui Anime Became a Sleeper Hit in 2020

Shaking Up The Status Quo

Netflix sure does know how to pick ‘em. Already a hit in Japan, Netflix knew it had found a gem in the anime series Kakegurui. Set at an elite Japanese high school, Hyakkaou Private Academy, the series follows the story of Yumeko Jabami, a compulsive gambler ready to shake up the status quo…

Kakegurui did not start as a television series, but rather as a traditional manga hit. Written by Homura Kawamoto and illustrated by Toru Naomura, it is published by Yen Press for English audiences. Serialized since 2014, volumes to the series have been added as recently as February 2021. Kakegurui has been such a stellar hit that it’s inspired spin-offs, as well as the Kakegurui Twin spin-off series.

The series was then adapted as an anime television program in 2017, initially released by MAPPA in Japan. With its popularity soaring, television suits ordered another season, which aired from January to March 2019. Expanding to a worldwide audience, Kakegurui’s licence was bought by Netflix and released to the UK and USA in May 2018.

The series took a little bit of time to get going in the West, but once popular stars like Megan Thee Stallion and Poppy cos played the main characters, and Elon Musk was seen wearing the Kakegurui t-shirt, things began to snowball. And when social media buzz starts, you can’t stop it; once fans were familiar with the series, the unique premise and story did the rest.

The Unique Social Hierarchy

The core of the story is the character of transfer student Yumeko Jabami, where she has transferred to the famous Hyakkaou Private Academy. The school’s hierarchy system is built on extreme levels of gambling, with the children of Japan’s richest families battling to climb to the top of the totem pole.

When students get into debt, they have a peculiar punishment system: they become pets to the other students, given the generic names of “Doggy” or “Kitty”. Pets is essentially a fluffy word for what amounts to a form of slavery system. And this debt goes beyond school; if the student isn’t able to pay off what they owe, the debt follows them beyond the playground.

This is perhaps part of Kakegurui’s unique selling point; we’ve all experienced cliques and popularity contests, and this unique take on it will pique the curiosity of anyone who has nervously set foot in the hallways of a new high school. Yumeko isn’t the viewer, but we can in some way relate to her new surroundings and struggles to adapt to the situation.

The story is essentially about Yumeko’s maneuvering in this new hierarchical system, driven by her inner desire for thrill at all costs. Unlike her peers, she’s not looking for cheap popularity, or the connections of Japan’s glitterati. Instead, she’s a compulsive gambler, with a crude craving for danger.

Our heroine’s arrival shakes up the existing system. Her skills, ability to win under pressure, and her unwavering resolve are prime qualities that are bound to shatter the status quo. And that makes the so-called ruling class of the school, the elite student council, just a tad nervous.

Compulsive Gambler

The anime’s title isn’t just Kakegurui, it’s appended by Compulsive Gambler. And this highlights the central theme of the series, where the sheer compulsion to put everything on the line is the driver for the main character.

And no matter how you slice it, we’re all gamblers to some degree. Risk vs reward, choice, opportunity cost, we make choices on a daily basis. Those who fuel their lives by that feeling of adrenaline, or others who avoid risk at all costs, but deep down wonder what it would feel like.

The betting that takes place at Hyakkaou Private Academy isn’t trivial. You’re not putting playground marbles on the line, but your life. It’s this ‘highest’ of the stakes setting that draws the crowds, with gambling being an activity enjoyed by humanity since before history was born.

No matter which continent you’re based on, you’ll find a thriving connection to risk and the seeking of reward. Of course, Kakegurui takes it up a notch from ‘regular’ gambling (you won’t find a game of Russian roulette at your local casino, or at least I hope not!). Real life tends to have a lighter touch; for example, in countries like South Africa players can gamble by trying to win instant cash without placing any deposit. So unlike in Kakegurui, you can gamble almost without any consequences because apart from registering to a casino, you’re not required to commit any of your own money. In place of the rush of betting with your own cash, Kakegurui will fill your imagination with high risk action without you needing to take part, and remaining an interested observer.

Binge-Worthy

The show is a hit for a myriad of reasons, for the story, for our innate relationship with risk, the metaphors for society’s gluttony and greed, for the unique lead character who lacks a genuine moral compass. Ultimately, it finds the right mix to deliver the best description for a Netflix series: binge-worthy.

Should you choose to hit play on Episode 1, I can guarantee that your social and working life will take a hit until you finish the season. While the show will probably never win an Emmy, it will definitely tick the ‘guilty pleasure’ box a thousand times.