Although it’s commonly known thatSanrio’s franchise has ventured multiple times into animation, its best adaptation so far is an underrated Netflix series that caters to a mature audience. Most Sanrio fans might remember the 1999 adaptationHello Kitty’sParadise, which ran for more than a decade and became the longest-running weekly children’s program on TV Tokyo at the time, but Netflix’s seriesAggretsukohas taken one of its newest Sanrio characters andturned her into one of the most relatable anime protagonistsof all time for adult fans.
Aggretsukois a parody anime based on the Sanrio character, Retsuko, and follows a working young adult red panda who escapes from her tedious everyday life by singing death metal in karaoke. Unfortunately, despite the recent rise of anime on Netflix with global hits likeDevil May CryorMy Happy Marriage,upon its release,Aggretsukoflew under the radar of many viewers who mistakenly believed that it was targeting a younger demographic when it is actuallyone of the funniest and most endearing anime for adults.
Aggretsuko is a Sanrio-Inspired Anime That Appeals to Adult Fans
Mature Audiences Can Equally Enjoy Aggretsuko’s Deep Themes and Wholesome Characters
Unlike most Sanrio-inspired anime, likeOnegai My Melody,Jewlepet,Mewkledreamy, orSanrio Boys, whose demographic is set towards children, teenagers, or young women and features cute characters with simpler stories that often won’t appeal to a wider public,Aggretsukohas managed to integrate the Sanrio aesthetic with a great narrative for mature audiences,gaining critical acclaim as the series currently sits on a rank of 96% on Rotten Tomatoes and 8.0 on IMDb. This is a remarkable feat that even another imaginative Sanrio anime,Show By Rock!!, couldn’t achieve, receiving a 6.7 rating on IMDb.
Aggretsukoshowcases a compelling perspective and criticism of modern society,presenting realistic characters and the struggles that some people experience in their working adult life, like authoritative bosses, job dissatisfaction, and how to handle stressful situations. Yet,Aggretsukois still a lighthearted series, using comedy as a medium to move the story and many wholesome situations that make viewers forget about their problems, to instead just laugh about Retsuko’s sorrows and singing. Additionally,Aggretsukohas managed to captivateeven the male audiences that have given the series a chance, thanks to its dark parody and solid story that is easy to binge-watch.
Aggretsuko Still Doesn’t Have the Recognition it Deserves
Aggretsuko Isn’t as Well-Known as Other Sanrio Characters
Aggretsukohas been overlooked mainly due to its minimalist animation and for showcasinganthropomorphic characters, as this type of anime is often unappealing to adults. However, just like other criminally underrated anime with anthropomorphic characters likeBeastarsorOdd Taxi,Aggretsukohas a lot of expressiveness and personal conflicts, and existentialism is the focus of the story. This way, every viewer can relate somehow toRetsuko’s problems or even her love life, and the amusing look into adult life makes it a great series to watch and disconnect from reality.
The series was completedon Netflix in 2023, but sadly,Aggretsukoremains one of the most underrated comedy anime,having fewer members on anime ranking platforms than other similar titles likeDetroit Metal City.Even in the Sanrio universe, due to being a recent character created in 2016, Retsuko is still fairly unknown to the public, only making it to thetop 5 in the Brazil Poll Initial ResultsforSanrio Character Ranking 2025. Nevertheless,Aggretsukois a must-watch anime not only for Sanrio fans but also for those who enjoyslow-paced storieswith tridimensional and wholesome characters.
Aggretsuko
Cast
Aggretsuko is an animated series created by Sanrio, focusing on Retsuko, an anthropomorphic red panda navigating her stressful office job in Tokyo. The show explores themes of corporate burnout and societal expectations, with Retsuko expressing her frustrations through cathartic death metal karaoke sessions. Featuring a mix of humor and relatable scenarios, Aggretsuko provides a unique commentary on modern work culture.
