Behind the Scenes: The Challenges of Creating Kill la Kill

On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of ‘Kill la Kill,’ director Hiroyuki Imaishi and screenwriter Kazuki Nakajima reunite to reflect on the making of this monumental anime. What significance does ‘Kill la Kill’ hold for them? And how have their viewpoints evolved over time? Let us discover their insights.

1. Imaishi’s Epiphany and How They Made Kill la Kill Interesting!

Even for the incredible team behind the success of ‘Gurren Lagann’, ‘Kill la Kill’ proved to be a challenging project. The bar had been set high after their previous hit, leaving them questioning what kind of show could surpass the popularity of Gurren.

Despite his initial inclination to make things more complex, the duo ultimately came to the realization that complicated elements do not always result in interesting narratives. In fact, they learned that simplicity can often be the key to keeping a story engaging.

After having this realization, Nakajima and Imaishi successfully produced a remarkable series such as ‘Kill la Kill.’ The skilled pair also acknowledged that collaborating on one project does not guarantee a seamless experience for future projects. There are always fresh opportunities to pursue and novel aspects to tackle.

Actually, Kill la Kill was quite difficult - Director Imaishi Revealed the Struggles Behind Creating the Anime — Nakajima and Imaishi | Source: Gigazine

The Moment it Clicked!

The screenwriter of Gunbusterd particularly loves episode 5, ‘Aim for the Top’, where the battle scene is accompanied by the iconic song ‘Aim for the Top!~Fly High’. This seems to be their favorite part of the episode.

Nakajima saw it as a catharsis, a moment where the dialogue, art, and music all came together in perfect harmony. It was in this moment that he realized his show had achieved its intended effect – to evoke overwhelming emotions in its audience. After tirelessly striving for this, he had finally succeeded.

This skilled screenwriter also disclosed that watching that episode always brings him a sense of joy.

Kill la Kill: Maybe the Most Unfiltered Work of the Creators

Out of all the shows, ‘Kill la Kill’ is the one that truly embodies the intentions of its creators. It may not immediately make sense, but it gradually draws you in, leading to a peak in your emotions.

“Were they successful if, by the end of the show, you still believe that ‘People are people, and clothes are clothes’?”