Shibou Yuugi de Meshi wo Kuu. • Shiboyugi: Playing Death Games to Put Food on the Table - Episode 1 discussion

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You can really tell it is the same director as *Days with My Stepsister* with how cinema-y it is. Feels more like an arthouse film than your typical anime.

I didn't really know much if anything about this going in, but I literally [couldn't stop watching](https://i.imgur.com/T0Tg7e0.png), it was all eye candy.

I'm in this weird spot where my curiosity wants me to continue with future episodes, but this could have just been an OVA and it would have been good too. *The part I'm the most interested in is that preservation treatment, which is funny because it seems like just a macguffin.* Actually the whole game could fit under that too.

Finally the anime, light novel art were one of most beautiful I have seen

Alright, 47 minute episode!

Hot dang, this opening music is giving me an eargasm

That was. A very meditative death game. I think I liked it? It's so...

Strange. But beautiful.

I'm crying after the episode ended and I don't understand why.

This is also on Netflix. I'll give it a watch later to see if I'll add it to my rotation.

Saw but the art style is gorgeous. I didn't expect the other girls to make it out alive but offing Kokutou randomly a few minutes after introduction was brutal.

They really went full Saw on the shower room. Everyone could have been saved but the others took too long to pass the keys, then Momono and Beniya looked like they were hesitating. Poor Aoi's screams will haunt me. That was a brutal way to die. They made the blood look more like foam like they're dolls that got broken.

Uh okay so they cut off their legs because they can regenerate it later with the preservation treatment and so Kinko doesn't need to sacrifice herself? Then Yuki was asking her what she'd do once they got out, give her hopes, only for Yuki to straight up stab Kinko in the head while Que Sera Sera plays. That's evil.

I didn't expect Momono and Beniya to still be alive, well they didn't need to be killed to get out and Yuki didn't gain anything from killing them so guess they get to live another day and probably join again if they weren't already traumatized.

She's played these games 27 times before. Yet she's dirt poor. She doesn't look like she has any family to support and she's probably not in debt so the big mystery is, what the hell does she spend all that prize money on? Or she's just a psycho who likes playing Saw if she wants to clear it 99 times.

Anyone figure out what the count up to 23 signifies?

If every girl except Yuki is gonna kick the bucket after every game, that's a high turnover for the cast and that's a lot of girls to animate.

This anime really gave me the chills and the gorgeous art style and calm music only reinforces that unnerving feeling. Definitely one to watch out for.

Oh shit! I was expecting something unique since Souta Ueno (Days with My Stepsister) is directing it, but seriously, [this first episode was on a whole other level](https://imgchest.com/p/o24a6rg63yl)!

The art style and the music were so good! The combination of [those shots, where the characters were drawn like silhouettes](https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/fd02872851be.png), with [those super detailed shots](https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/cf1e56170a79.png) ([the eyes were especially beautiful](https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/1d180650bcde.png)) and the music gave [the whole episode](https://imgchest.com/p/o24a6rg63yl) such [a unique atmosphere](https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/eaed8dce04bf.png)!

And it all started with [the OP, which was just a highway with cars driving on it](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VugBZB4gNGk). How does that connect to what happens in the show? I'd love to know where the idea for the OP came from xD

It looks like [Yuki](https://imgchest.com/p/ne7b6mplny5) will be in every episode, but I wonder if we'll see [Momono](https://imgchest.com/p/agyvnk6aj48) and [Beniya](https://imgchest.com/p/9ryd2wzol4k) again, since they were the only survivors of today's game.

Here my screenshot albums from the episode:

* [Yuki](https://imgchest.com/p/ne7b6mplny5)
* [Group scenes](https://imgchest.com/p/o24a6rg63yl)
* [Kinko](https://imgchest.com/p/5xy2o9ex94l)
* [Beniya](https://imgchest.com/p/9ryd2wzol4k)
* [Kokuto](https://imgchest.com/p/lqyelevoq4d)
* [Aoi](https://imgchest.com/p/9p4nz92mm4n)
* [Momono](https://imgchest.com/p/agyvnk6aj48)

*EDIT. I added my screenshot albums.*

Is it one of them "watch cute girls suffer with a pseudo-philosophical narrative that justifies it as something holy"? Or is it just "cute girls suffer with a philosophical narrative that justifies it as something holy"?

I've skimmed through this episode in about 2 minutes. Then, I went ahead and read up on the director, WHO DID A WHOLE EPISODE OF BORUTO!1!

So, I will be back to watch at least the next episode. I wouldn't sit through 48 minutes of this now, but next week if it's 24 I will try to approach it genuinely and, hopefully, won't write 5 paragraphs of tiring criticism afterwards.

Why did Kinko have a missing arm after the water room?

This was pretty interesting for a death game type. I like the animation style and overall vibe of this so far.

Literally coulda saved Aoi if they just put the keys in the middle and went one at a time. I know it’s a death game, but like she coulda survived this round. Hell of a way to go.

Having “que sera sera” play at the end after Yuki just up and killed Kinko like that was pretty diabolical. This is a deranged world after all.

That was a chilling experience, I need more of that

This is incredibly beautiful and traumatizing at the same time. especially during the scene with aoi getting hacked and kinko repeating the conversations.

looking forward to what's coming next.

I had a feeling it would be like this, but it really was a death game.

When life and death are at stake, the most fundamental aspects of human nature come to the surface, and that’s what makes it so compelling. The direction was outstanding.

Wasn't ready to watch an hour premiere but I can't wait to see what this is about

Souta Ueno going from Gimai Seikatsu to a completly different genre was unexpceted but holy did he deliver an outstanding premiere.

That preservation treatment certainly did its job of lowering the brutalness of things. Still such a concept only piques my curiosity on what Yuki's might have gone through in her 28 death game survival streak.

I can't wait for the next episode!

First off, amazing character design and music, and I like the frequent switches to a more abstract visual style (where it looks like a collage of colored paper, if that makes sense, where their eyes and mouths are not drawn). There was even some live action but with a filter applied to give a hazy vibe.

Rest in peace, Kokuto, got caught in a trap right when told important items usually have a trap. Rest in peace, Aoi, grinded by the saw because the panic over the key cost them time.

Kinko was crying heavily while apologizing for what happened. She wanted to sacrifice herself so the rest can get past the elevator's weight limit.

Kinko is dead too and good thing the final door opened. But Yuki didn't mourn the girls who fell... She also wants to beat 99 games...

is this a new trend? 47m episode. We already had a 1 hour one :D

Oh and this was a good 1st eps. Love the art style.

Not often I enjoy series like this

The thing that really stood out to me this episode was the phenomonal sound design. The sounds of their footsteps changing based on the surface they were on, the slight echo of their voice because of the emptiness of the rooms, even the slight ruffling sound of their maid outfits when they would move around during the quiet moments. I really enjoyed Sentenced To Be A Hero's first episode, but this might be my personal favorite first episode of a new show this season.

Less than a minute in and I can already tell that this will probably be one of the highlights of the season. Nice to see something good mixed into the sea of tropey/generic garbage that we keep getting.

*What if we made Squid Game / Saw but with maid waifus?*

This turned out to be more artsy and interesting than I thought. 2 of the deaths were so sudden that I almost needed to pause just to process what just happened. I didn't read much on the synopsis but persumably we're going to see more and more characters introduced as she tries to reach 99 games?

I also wonder what the "23" counter is. I thought it was the hours in the game (i.e., the game takes place within 23 hours, or counting to 24 hours) but then some of the scenes had me thinking "no they can't be spending that much time doing that" so maybe not.

This is around ***50 minutes?*** All right, lights off for this movie.

Her eyes are beautiful. I should’ve put this on my TV.

The names are sending me, oh girl 😭

>This is the kind of game where if a player dies, they die for real.

The irony of my other brother is watching SAO right now (GGO) 😭

Seeing macaroons and having war flashes to all the baking subs about these damn things.

Ooooh is this “hours”? So at the 24th hour, the game starts?

Beniya and Momono ship being built.

Aoi and Yuki ship being built.

Wait

**Wat**

Wait why did we go to 10, what does that mean, why we skip 9

This looks like that tower of terror room.

Okay, no no it is not like that at fucking all

Huh. Who is the other person speaking with her? It’s her, but she sounds so…removed.

Oh dear lord and she saw all of that.

Well. I no longer care for Beniya and Momono.

I’m grateful for the stuffing. That looks horrifying.

Kinko’s right. The second you talk about the future, you are doomed.

**Oh**.

*Excuse me?* Wat. What just. Wat.

***

**Welp**.

*Booooo* Crunchyroll for not uploading overlays for the EN dub. I am watching the sub, but I got curious when we got to the first これは (and saw the Suzie Yeung (EN Lena from 86) is voicing Yuki). No overlay. But at least it was that the only overlay.

I see why this was recommended to me if I wanted more <Surviving Romance>. This was horrifying and thrilling. Now I understand what that counter was. And Yuki wanting to beat this game 99 times plus that mysterious woman and the title—what does she need for the reward for beating the game 99 times?

I will refrain from engaging with novels because I want to experience the full WTF mystery of all this raw. But what on earth.

Worst anime of the year contender already.

Opening sequence just felt like a rip off of Call of the Night.

The low FPS jerky animation didn't stop with the OP.

Okay they are saving budget by not animating faces and speech. Animation budget went to eyes and lashes.

The vibe of the house looks like something out of Resident Evil.

My guess is the 0/23 was countdown clock for final circle battle Royale.

Don't leave any mystery, just quickly get through all the characters reasoning.

No gore because reasons...

They warn the audience about nudity and give us a completely stacked character, but don't deliver.

When FMC stopped on the stairs, she was letting the other two feel out traps ahead.

No signs of drug addiction from the apartment, but that was my guess for motivation.

Pacing was awful. Halfway thru I paused to check timestamps and realized I was still in for almost 30 minutes of disappointment.

3/10 - will not continue series

Yuki: "I won't leave Kinko behind"

\*5 minutes later\*

Yuki: "Sorry, I changed my mind."

Que Sera, Sera

It felt like an anime made by Studio Shaft. I love it!

Getting rid of Kinko was brutal and diabolical, after what everyone had sacrificed. Not talking about Yuuki being wrong, but rather about the game's organiser. Looked like no matter what, only 3 people would be allowed to leave at most. In a disturbing way, it's more fortunate to not have as many people reach the end. Imagine if all 6 survived. Culling half would be an absolute nightmare.

That Que Sera, Sera song at the end is pure dark comedy. Also impressed with the choice of music (and sometimes the complete silence). It really put the audience on edge.

Steeling myself to see more beautiful looking characters get killed off in the upcoming episodes.

I was looking forward to this one and it did not disappoint.

No way i'm not fully naked and bald before I start cutting off something.

even tho it's the first episode I kinda feel empty already, but honestly it has beautiful art style and background, This genuinely felt like 47 mins long standalone movie. So are we gonna have one game per 2 episodes?

Also song choice and time placement... I'm in love with this show now.

Can't wait to see cute potential waifus dying in most emotional or horrifying way possible

Okay, I really like the overall style of the show and the vibe it's going for. I didn't get what the whole point of the 23 numbers were to be honest, but I found it kind of interesting to use the "preservation" mechanic as some kind of meta explanation for why the show is going to be bloodless so it's easier to watch without it getting gory. I guess you can even make the point that it directly adresses the viewers as the spectators in that instance.

Where I am not sure yet is with the death games themselves. I get that this is the introductory episode, but I didn't really like the conclusion and some of the hints. For example, in the dining room there was the collapsed chair that was so obviously out of place and it never became a thing. Not sure if that was supposed to be a warning that there is a trap but that brings me to my second point which is the fact that three people had to die in order to clear the game.

I get that this is supposed to show us that the games won't always have happy endings. They can just be unfair. They could have made it through with all 6 and would have had to kill three. Though, I give the game credit for hinting at the fact that while it was possible to get through with everyone, the game heavily incentivised killing people of. For example, the saw trap had a time limit and if all had survived until this point, it would have been even harder for all to have the time to unlock their chains. Similarly, if all 6 had made it to the elevator, it would have been nearly impossible for them all to ride it even if they cut off their limbs. Because everyone would had to have a weight of 25kg only. Which is pretty hard to reach.

That being said, I am just not a fan of games where the easiest solution is also the right one. Especially with those where you can sacrifice someone to get to the next game, it appears to be boring if that is truly the correct choice to make. I don't want to make the big comparison, but there was a Saw trap in one of the movies that did the opposite. Where it seemed you had to sacrifice one person every game and in the end, it was revealed that everyone could have survived if they had just shared the burden. Kind of like the elevator game. Sure, it was a twist that this didn't work here but I am not sure I think that was a good twist.

It will obviously depend a bit on the future games and how the MC develops. So I am not writing of the show for that. It was the introduction after all. But I hope the future games will have a bit more depth. Or at least have more depth in the character interactions. For example, you would assume the Beniya betrayal would have a consequence later on but it doesn't really.

I think it needs to be said that this show has a Revue Starlight level of meta. The "audience" mentioned [here](https://imgur.com/a/meta-FOfciKF) and [here](https://imgur.com/a/meta-OYgyCvM) refers to ourselves, the viewers.

Studio Deen and Souta Ueno created a cinematic masterpiece. The animation, direction, atmosphere, sound effects, and music were incredible. The love and care put into this production and adaptation are evident. The story also captivated me completely. Let's hope it maintains this pace until the end and surprises us with an unexpected twist. This could possibly be the best anime of 2026.

It was horrifying, I felt like Yuki, know should've closed the show immediately but couldn't help but watch, with my mind blank. As if nothing mattered anymore, life became so simple, can take everything the world has to offer, death of people who were once dear, because the only objective is survival of self. Guilt goes away if your actions are dictated by rules. You are a machine, unable to feel anything, only purpose is to complete the task upon hand.

I am scared of this self of mine, this anime triggered something primal inside me, feel detached from everything in this world.

Comment from the Muse Asia translator

>Hello, I am the translator for Muse Asia's release of Shiboyugi.

>At [00:35:51](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwFg-yLkOy4&t=2151s), in the line "You’re so nice, - - - -.", although she's audibly saying a name, the original script intentionally leaves it blank. This appears to be designed to encourage curious viewers to listen closely and replay the audio to catch it. To preserve this effect and replicate the original Japanese viewing experience, the name has been left blank in the translation as well.

>Also, please rest assured that I read the source material before translating this. If you have any feedback, feel free to reply to this post.

Crunchyroll's translation doesn't omit the name though. Not sure what to make of it but its something interesting to make note of.

edit: formatting

My first reaction when I saw the title of this show was thinking it was some crappy light novel isekai slop that would make fun of death games and not take itself seriously and I only decided to check out the first video after seeing the trailer and deciding it to give it a chance due to the insane artstyle.

I am so glad I did because this was something special and my assumptions were so wrong. This is such a pretty anime, the visuals and the art direction are insane.

Regarding what happens in the games at first I felt that it started a bit too slow and was getting bored but now I feel it was necessary for setup. Black hair and red hair were the 2 I was thinking would die first, black hair because of how confident and distrusting while red hair I felt she would be betrayed by pink or die protecting her/due to pink’s incompetence so I was technically right about black hair but it is so well done and surprising that I just sat there shocked asking is she really dead due to the lack of blood. But the shock and the conversation of how you may not be able to grieve made it great.

The next trap when red showed favoritism to pink I knew it was blue next because of the scene when the trap began but that was still hard to watch and I still hate red and pink because of that. Thought they would be killed for both going crazy in the elevator task.

The ending when they start promising what they will do after it was one of those moments when you know something will go wrong but I was expecting a trap to kill one of them, one of red and pink not what happened at the end which hurt to see but you understand that is how she sees the games and why she doesn’t show any animosity towards red and pink for favoring each other.

I’m interested in how it will continue. I am imagining one death game per episode but there will almost definetly be one that goes so wrong or is so much of a mess that it will last multiple episodes. Personally what I want to know the most is why does she need to play 99 death games and it better be a good reason.

I really love the use of "show don't tell" in this, there were a lot of scenes that would've took a while to explain using words replaced by seemingly random but meaningful shots and actions

My favourite was Kinko repeating the same lines over and over again, both after the saw trap and after she cut herself on the neck, it shows her characters without the anime having to outright tell you

Okay, first of all, this entire episode [was goddamn beautiful.](https://i.imgur.com/gWsNOWR.jpeg) I did not expect something so artsy to come from Studio Deen.

Second, I already knew this was a death game going in, but it was still rough seeing how the girls died one by one. The loud thud as [Kokuto went down like a sack of potatoes](https://i.imgur.com/Smrx1Qg.jpeg) was bad enough, [hearing Aoi's screams as she got ripped apart by buzzsaws](https://i.imgur.com/Qj9C4kk.jpeg) was goddan horrifying.

At least they're kind enough to eliminate the gore for the audience [with the preservation treatment as an in-world explanation.](https://i.imgur.com/ojp5AdW.jpeg) How thematically appropriate too, since the preservation treatment [makes them look like they're dolls being torn apart](https://i.imgur.com/S35ZHwg.jpeg), since they're playthings of the people who created these games.

Seeing how the girls managed to beat the elevator puzzle by getting rid of their large puffy skirts and [actually sacrificing their legs and hair](https://i.imgur.com/cOYRxSm.jpeg) to meet the weight limit felt good, but I knew that was too easy on them.

[Watching Yuki finish off Kinko with a single thrust into her head](https://i.imgur.com/ENaSfad.jpeg) genuinely made my stomach drop. Like, holy fuck! I know I should've expected someone to die there so they can escape, I just didn't think she'd do it to Kinko after the two of them gotten close.

I am absolutely feeling mixed about this. First of all, I love the production quality of the show as well as the entire melancholic vibe it has. I just don't think I can watch weekly suffering like this. It looks like this isn't gonna stop [until Yuuki beats 99 games.](https://i.imgur.com/49eTWUi.jpeg) You know what? Fuck it. I'll stick with this one. It's not fun in the most usual sense, but I am intrigued enough to see how this ends.

Man I knew it was gonna happen but I still didn't want it 😭. What is that number?! I thought it may have been the number of rooms they went into but that doesn't add up I think

It feels like I'm watching a Zero Escape-style video game with its own unique style.

I was expecting something fun and dumb. I was not expecting that, that was absolute tonal whiplash for me and I loved it. Probably gonna be one of my favourites of this season.

First episode was interesting.  Kinda like squid game but still watched it

That was really weird!

Cant say I’ve seen anything like that from memory in Anime? Reminded me somewhat of SAW.

From reading it seems it’s the same director as Days with my Stepsister? Interesting.

Will definitely be watching this to see how it unfolds.

Came for cute maids, stayed for cute maids.

[](#yuishrug)

I had no idea this show would be so dark. I'm glad they committed to it, because I'm sure it would lose a lot of appeal if they half-assed it. I'm going to overlook the cotton blood thing, since it's some sort of a game, but I hope they won't do any other censorship.

Two things about the plot in this particular episode, I feel like Yuuki should've been more explicit about traps near important items before the first maid got skewered (I even thought she deliberately led to this situation). The second is that I'm shocked Yuuki decided to off Kinko instead of any of the other two girls, while knowing they were selfish.

I dig series like this and it's been a long time since I've seen something like it. I recommend Alice in Borderlands and Aiyou de Mishi, both are relatively new and less known than Kaiji or Squid Game.

The way they become faceless and almost low-poly from a distance reminds me a lot of Ghost Trick.

Kinko barely reacting to Yuki's decision at the end was haunting. Didn't help that she took her sweet time too.

Pure cinema. Looking forward for more.

What the hell..


lowkey it gave me danganronpa vibes 

Direction was outstanding here. Really adding to the suspense of everything that is happening. Interestingly enough, at the end of the episode we get Yuki's goal of winning 99 games.

This game was clearly designed for each girl to die in each of the 3 spots. Even if there was a chance of Aoi & Kokutou surviving in their encounters, it wouldn't make a difference, as in the end only 3 people were getting out alive. It is frankly quite cruel.

A little disappointed the blood and gore are sanitized. I kinda want to see it lol. But at least it has solid in-universe reasoning so it's okay.

And, wow. What an amazing show. Very stylistic. And it feels weirdly contemplative and, uh I don't know how to put it, deep? Not the experience you'd expect from a death game show. Very unique.

That was heart breaking seeing how aoi and kinko went. They were my fav. Guess we shouldn't get attached to anyone

This show is horrifyingly beautiful.

It has been a long time since an anime made me feel so empty.

This is one of those anime that really make you feel uncomfortable, even though in the best way. It will take resolve and morbid curiosity to continue the next episodes.

This might be one of the absolute highlights this season.

I didnt expect it to be that DARK but ok

I'm curious just how much money is paid to survivors, because if at least some instances of the game guarantee deaths as this one clearly guaranteed minimum 1 (depending on if the elevator and the final room were adjusted as people died or not), people would be less willing to risk it cutting back on waifus.

I'm absolutely stunned. What a cinema

Great first episode, but the original LN seems to be disliked by many so I'll keep my expectations in line.

Goddamn this thing is beautiful! I wish there was more gore in it. We didn't see the girl get mutilated by the saws, or the girls chopping their limps off. If you're gonna be a thriller, you gotta have those scenes!

Other than that, I loved it!

That preservation treatment is a new kind of censoring, I guess. The first ep sets this death game trope apart, and that is no characters are constantly whining.

Anybody got a height chart? How short was Aoi that Kinko could reach the keys but she couldn’t?

Doesn't spend enough time on the characters to have any kind of tension. Going through a game so quickly feels shallow.

Okay it's it just me or did the blonde already cut her hand off, then take the key anyway? I'm confused...

Love the MC though. I am however wondering how much a game is actually worth. I mean, I would have thought she'd have millions of dollars (translated to yen) after 28 fricking games! Yet she's living in an apartment. You risk your life and get what? A month of rent? Get a job, people! Then again, maybe she just donates it because she doesn't do it for the money or something like that. No idea.

The fluff instead of gore to mask the brutality of the situation gives Madoka vibes. They're just toys being played with for the sake of the game masters and viewers.

\#UENOCINEMA

That was really haunting, I really wish Kinko lived :(
I honestly half expected pink hair to kill red hair and drop the act at the end there. She seemed way too calculating to me by doing everything in her power to make red hair pity and feel like she needed to protect her. Despite Yuki’s insistence and reasoning at the end it’s pretty clear whether she realizes it or not killing kinko shook her up. Really excited to see how the other games play out and what crumbs of the overarching plot we’ll be led to nibble on as time passes.

Been reading the Light Novel since it was translated into English back in 2024. Anxiously waiting for the 5th LV to drop next month. Excited for the manga to be translated even more excited to watch this when I get home.

If it had gore , owww man this would have been so heavy duty

[*You had me at "hello"* (literally)!](https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/ae956c93f5ed.png)

I had high expectations for this show (as I usually do for any high stakes game show), AND IT EXCEEDED THEM!

(which is quite a surprise given high stakes game anime are usually all terribly made/written).

If you saw me gushing about it on AQRADT you already know, but...

**Anime of the season**

**Best girl of the season**

Unless they completely drop the ball in ep2 or something, I just don't see what else could compete with this anime/this girl for me.

It was THAT good.

[](#awe)

[That line reminded me of a certain other show that was also my AOTS/Y!](https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/11e0ec85c090.png)

[Title]>!Oshi No Ko!<, the opening lines about the lies and all!

[Kinky(o)!](https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/c1b395618fb7.png)

(Me from the future: IT'S NOT FUNNY ANYMORE)

[Love the design, and I don't mean the boobs, I mean the maid uniforms (and the boobs)](https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/03dfe89e25b9.png)

[Yeah, once you've done a run of this, I imagine working months/years from the same money, must feel kinda bad!](https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/13b7db5f3c93.png)

[Well, it's the first episode so surely they're sa-OH LORD OH MY GOD WHAT IS HAPPENING](https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/169eb6b2007e.png)

[](#panic)

[Would love to hear more about that story!](https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/0743bd28aef7.png)

And also about Yuki's story...

She's done it 28 times, "to put food on the table"?

But a few of those girls were in to pay off debts. I imagine they wouldn't risk their life to pay off a small debt, so let's say... $100k a run.

Means Yuki would have $2.8m to her name Does she need more? Is she doing it for fun? She wants to make it to 99... Just as a challenge?

[Soon as they said that, I thought "so 1 or 2 girls should die, on average", but I didn't expect them to count and say the same hah.](https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/d5c2950e6455.png)

(I also didn't expect them to actually die so early... WHAT THE HELL!)

[That's also what an evil, selfish person would say!](https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/3074235e9157.png)

[Ha, altruistic for self-preservation! This is more believable, I suppose!](https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/3d6ee306888b.png)

["As long as it doesn't cost me anything"... That part of the line makes it scary!](https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/0bd3697eb4ae.png)

[When she said that I thought "Omg, what if she is!" Good cover up hah.](https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/de87ebb81e51.png)

[I don't know whether I would trust her blindly, or sleep with one eye open because I'd fear she'd murder me in my sleep.](https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/8c1bc1b3bc31.png)

[Kinko is quite smart, waiting for "the pro" to take a bite before stealing it from her!](https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/0c124552762f.png)

Edit: Was quite smart*

[](#akkotears)

[Hah, not much trust going around! Well, I kinda get it.](https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/4f9ac31f15fb.png)

[Nooooooooooo! She was one of my favorites!](https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/c70cfdc28653.png)

[A bit cold, but... Fair?](https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/975df656722d.png)

Seeing the corpse laying there might be a 'wake up call' for the others too, stop fucking around!

[Oh damn. Go get the corpse!](https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/c936a110ca56.png)

[What a scary prospect... ](https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/677f632ee3e2.png)

What if they're wrong and can't remove them?

[Well, time to see if she's evil!](https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/89471d403d50.png)

She did give them the key!

[Honestly, 'playing favorite' may not be bad, in the circumstances...](https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/5122f733b7b5.png)

They lost time fighting over the key the first time. Give it to one person directly, goes faster! (Sucks for those who get the key last, but it's still more efficient for the group)

[The realization...](https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/0810bf6c463c.png)

They'll fight for their life, but she knows they're not all surviving.

[Well that's encouraging!](https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/c77edafe5ce3.png)

[Not necessarily "someone"... Could be "body parts".](https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/9eef8fa7cc52.png)

Cutting tools if they go the "chopping off limbs" way, weapons if they go the "murder each other" way...

[](#spooked)

[God damn it, if they didn't eat so many macarons they might have saved a limb or two!](https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/019cdba2b6e0.png)

[](#urbansmile)

[Such an interesting question, considering the character and all..](https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/82cd818a4814.png)

Normally this question would be rethorical, like "Oh so you think we should kill someone instead of cutting off a few limbs?" (to make them realize the better option), but with her, it feels more like "Do you genuinely think that's what we should do, should we murder someone?"

Kinko wanted to stay behind, [but yeah, she's too smol!](https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/61fd333691fa.png)

She would save them a couple legs but that's it.

[When she said that, I 100% thought "This is foreshadowing for Kinko doing something selfish in the finale, perhaps getting Yuki killed or something"...](https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/45ba5dd64fc9.png)

[But it seems there won't be Kinko in the finale.](https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/6103846bceac.png)

[Good lord, the visuals...](https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/1a0933f9ffe8.png)

[She understood that quickly, and acted on it quickly as well...](https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/d79fb6d0c27e.png)

[I'm going out on a limb here, BUT I THINK YUKI MIGHT BE A BIT OF A SOCIOPATH](https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/a87965bf380a.png)

[](#bigthink)

[(Also I'm not the only one going out on a limb heh)](https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/bb139cd2a767.png)

(I'll be here all night!)

Well, I haven't called this show AOTS in the past 5 minutes, so... AOTS!!!

This is the premiere that got me most hyped since... Talentless Nana, probably? So, more than 5 years.

Looking forward to more of this!

Was Kinko killed off because there were only 3 people allowed to leave? That last bit confused me a little.

Kinko’s eventual death was crazy enough, but holy shit the Doris Day needle drop was CRAZY WORK. Incredible moment.

I went in completely cold so I had no clue it would be this well directed or that it was the same director as Days With My Stepsister. An equally well directed show that did so much with so little through bonkers cinematography and audio work. Love that they’re bringing their talents to something like this. Beautiful first episode. So down for what’s next.

Didn't know what to expect from this, but God dam was this amazing. The animation and cinematography was beautiful in this show, this might become one of my favorite shows of the season.

I didn't know the light novel before, but the anime adaptation hooked me. I have so many questions, and I just couldn't believe it all.

Please spoil for me why the hell their bodies are made of wool or fabric???? And why were their limbs reattached at the end??

I couldn't believe what happened with Kinko 😭

What a perfect first episode.

I'm absolutely hooked on this anime! I went into this anime with the vague understanding that it was a death game that has a professional player as the MC, and that was it. The art and animation style took me by surprise at the start, but I decided to give it a fair chance, don't decide I don't like it just because of the unusual art style. But wow am I glad I stuck it through. The art style grew on me FAST once I got past the shock of it, and the animation was beautiful. They're all in maid outfits, yet don't feel sexualised for it, as many anime tend to have a habit of doing.

I do wonder, though - did anyone catch what the "secret conversation" Momono and Beniya at 15:45? Is it important? I imagine that Momono is sharing the conversation privately with Kokuto afterwards, when Beniya is in the hallway...But why would Beniya leave so she could have the conversation she was already privy to? Aoi shares a secret with Yuki too, but that's revealed during her death scene.

Also, I'm rewatching it and just noticed that, just before Kokuto goes to uncover the keys and get 404'd, she's leaning against the very cupboard that gets hit with the knife. I wasn't sure how it killed her, especially instantly, but on slowdown I was able to see it seems to go straight through her head at eye-level. The change in her expression that's instant is unsettling, and so is the moment it takes for her body to hit the floor.

Aoi's death had me shaken to the core, but I was already too hooked by that point. The in-universe censorship saved my queasy stomach, too (seriously, what was I expecting, going into a death-game anime...?) but it's only now on my second watch that I realise, the steam I had watched being thrown up by the saws when we see from Yuki's corner at 27:30...that isn't steam at all. That's her preservation-treated blood and guts. Brutal...I hadn't even noticed that Kinko had lost her hand, I noticed it later on but didn't notice it happening but it happened here, her hand's just lying on the floor. Her hand had already been detached when she's unlocking it with the key...alreaddy gone, but she still had to "save" it to save the rest of her. They didn't even show it being detached, just the aftermath. And Beniya (or is it Kinko?) apologising, because her actions, her pausing, contributed to them not having enough time to save Aoi, too...

It did disturb me, how quick Momono was to suggest they leave Kinko behind, even if Kinko was the one to suggest it first. Beniya went along with it, I guess - she seems to have built a bond with Momono throughout this, so I reckon it was to go along with that than to make a big decision. Everyone talks big about how they'd never leave someone behind, but when your life's on the line, those ideals won't always hold strong...

The scene where Kinko is repeating lines creeped me out quite a bit, and I'm surprised she isn't dead. She obviously drew blood, but I guess she chickened out before it became fatal? I'm also wondering what the importance could be, of that bunny girl outfit Yuki is holding in the end.

I had been wondering about the x/23 that popped up throughout the episode, but all I'll say on that is that it's explained in the Source Material Corner comment stickied at the top of this thread.

Overall, I REALLY enjoyed this, even the darker bits, and I'm excited to see where it goes in the future!

Knew this would be good the moment I saw it was 47 minutes. The moment it showed only three people could make it out, I had a big feeling the MC would just drop Kinko(dang not even let down gently). How utterly characteristic of her honestly. She did say from the beginning she would do her best to help them survive, but she never said she'd sacrifice herself. And the two people I didn't want to make it out just had to huh... I was expecting them to get karma in some way, but nope. I love it when my expectations aren't met. See everyone next week.

The girls are named consistent with their hair color (Yuki/snow with the white hair, Kokutou/black with the black hair with highlights, Aoi/blue with the blue hair, Momono/peach with the pink hair),

However, there is some extra flavor. The MC's name is Yuuki not Yuki. Per the credits, she spells it 幽鬼 meaning ghost/revenant, the kanji meaning 幽 (seclude/confine/calm), 鬼 (devil/demon/ghost). I like this - her name is a misdirect, almost.

Kinko also has a fun name with the kanji 金子 meaning gold (金) child (子) , a homophone of 禁固 (imprisonment) and 金庫 (safe, as in where you keep your valuables).

Ugh I'm split.
Like the art direction, the contrast between the cutesy girls and background against the grim reality of a death game.

Don't quite like the death game part- that hypocrisy I felt (on behalf of Yuki since she got over it) at the end certainly is depressing.

Am not familiar with the original material, but looking at how grounded Yuki is with the game, and how many times she has survived this, made it feel like it's just another depressing reality of her life- no heroic moments of "we will beat the system and drag out the scummy game masters!", no "we will survive against all odds and get out alive", but just another day, another game to get thru, with bits of hypocrisy and moments of life before people dies.

Open to comments from those who follow the original material- thinking of either dropping, or going thru the entire series in one go when it's done- feels too depressing to feed this on weekly basis.

Wow, what an incredible anime. Without a doubt, a 10/10. Honestly, I’m already convinced this will be my top pick for the season. Ever since I heard that Sota Ueno—the director of *Days with My Stepsister*, a series I absolutely loved—was helming this project, my expectations were sky-high. Seeing him team up with Studio Deen again after *Stepsister* was already exciting, but the production team completely blew past my expectations with the stunning animation, direction, storytelling, and voice acting. Director Ueno’s signature style of valuing "silence" and the "space between moments" was used to great effect here.

Starting with the story: the author is definitely twisted (in the best way possible!). I honestly thought Yuki and Kinko would survive together and keep crossing paths in future games, with Kinko acting as a sort of "secondary protagonist." But wow, I was completely played. Did Yuki intend to kill everyone from the very beginning just to survive? No, I don't think so. Towards the end, she expressed regret, saying she wanted to save as many players as she could. During the game, she showed genuine care by giving instructions and taking the lead to cut off her own leg and hair. There was definitely a sense of kindness and consideration in her.

I suppose you could say she’s just very good at compartmentalizing—for better or worse. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It’s exactly because she’s so decisive and capable of cutting ties without hesitation—even with those she’s grown close to—that she’s been able to survive 28 death games. Still, seeing it from the perspective of Kinko, who was so easily betrayed, leaves a bit of a bitter taste in my mouth. When the number of survivors is fixed, choices have to be made, but there’s no choice that makes everyone happy. It’s such a difficult dilemma. It does make me wonder why Yuki has participated in such soul-crushing games 28 times. You can earn money through normal jobs; I wonder if she has some unavoidable circumstances?

As for the setting, the idea of "stuffing" instead of blood is fresh and fascinating. While it lessens the visual gore, the psychological horror remains fully intact. The image of a doll filled with cotton being torn apart representing "death" is chilling. I wonder if it also carries the metaphorical meaning of being a puppet controlled by someone else.

The direction and storyboarding were top-notch—classic Director Ueno. He’s a master at conveying emotions indirectly, making the audience "feel" the atmosphere rather than just stating it. I already knew he was great at depicting everyday life from *Stepsister*, but I never imagined he’d be this skilled at crafting high-tension suspense.

The music is another highlight. I absolutely love it! The soundtrack is a treat for the ears, shifting from pleasant melodies to high-tension suspenseful tracks and unsettling tunes that fuel the sense of dread.

And the voice acting... Aoi’s scream gave me literal chills. It was so visceral and powerful that I found myself wondering if she actually had her arm cut off during the recording. It was heartbreaking and deeply moving. Yuki’s voice actress is also great. Yuki usually keeps her emotions in check, but it feels like her true feelings come through only in her voice. The scene where her voice trembles during her monologue was masterful.

The background art is also incredibly detailed. There are elements in the background that invite speculation, which makes watching it even more engaging. It captures the sheer amount of information in the death game perfectly.

It’s a shame about the girl who died this time, but I wonder if Yuki will meet the other two survivors again? Though, I can’t imagine why anyone would want to participate in this hellish death game a second time... Is there some kind of mechanism other than prize money that keeps people coming back? Yuki’s dream is truly grand: to participate 99 times and clear them all. To achieve that, the first priority is not dying, and the second is maintaining her sanity. Even if you’re used to the games, fulfilling those two conditions seems like an monumental task. It would also require cooperation with other participants. I’m really curious to see how that unfolds.

I ended up geeking out quite a bit—sorry for the long rant! This is definitely going to be the anime I’m most obsessed with this season. I’m going to savor every moment of it.