Akame ga Kill!

{{Short description|Japanese manga series by Takahiro and Tetsuya Tashiro}}

{{Infobox animanga/Header

| image = Akame ga Kill volume 1 cover.jpg

| caption = First {{Transliteration|ja|tankōbon}} volume cover featuring Akame

| ja_kanji = アカメが斬る!

| ja_romaji = Akame ga Kiru!

| genre = Action, dark fantasy

}}

{{Infobox animanga/Print

| type = manga

| author = Takahiro

| illustrator = Tetsuya Tashiro

| publisher = Square Enix

| publisher_en = {{English manga publisher|NA=Yen Press}}

| demographic = {{Transliteration|ja|Shōnen}}

| imprint = GC Joker

| magazine = Monthly Gangan Joker

| first = March 20, 2010

| last = December 22, 2016

| volumes = 15

| volume_list = List of Akame ga Kill! chapters

}}

{{Infobox animanga/Print

| type = manga

| title = Akame ga Kill! Zero

| author = Takahiro

| illustrator = Kei Toru

| publisher = Square Enix

| publisher_en = {{English manga publisher|NA =Yen Press}}

| demographic = {{Transliteration|ja|Seinen}}

| imprint =

| magazine = Monthly Big Gangan

| first = October 25, 2013

| last = January 25, 2019

| volumes = 10

| volume_list = List of Akame ga Kill! chapters#Akame ga Kill! Zero

}}

{{Infobox animanga/Video

| type = TV series

| director = Tomoki Kobayashi

| producer = Square Enix

| writer = Makoto Uezu

| music = Taku Iwasaki

| studio = {{ubl|White Fox|C-Station (AkaKill! Theater)}}

| licensee = {{English anime licensee

|AUS = Hanabee

|NA = Sentai Filmworks

|UK = Anime Limited

|SA/SEA|Medialink

}}

| network = Tokyo MX, MBS, BS11, AT-X

| network_en = {{English anime network|NA= Anime Network|US= Adult Swim (Toonami)}}

| first = July 7, 2014

| last = December 15, 2014

| episodes = 24

| episode_list = List of Akame ga Kill! episodes

}}

{{Infobox animanga/Print

| type = manga

| title = Hinowa ga Crush!

| author = Takahiro

| illustrator = Strelka

| publisher = Square Enix

| publisher_en = {{English manga publisher|NA =Yen Press}}

| demographic = {{Transliteration|ja|Seinen}}

| imprint =

| magazine = Monthly Big Gangan

| first = June 24, 2017

| last = June 24, 2022

| volumes = 8

| volume_list = List of Akame ga Kill! chapters#Hinowa ga Crush!

}}

{{nihongo|Akame ga Kill!|アカメが斬る!|Akame ga Kiru!|lead=yes}}{{efn|In Japanese, {{nihongo|kiru|斬る}} is a verb that means "to kill (a human) using a sword". Therefore, the title of the manga can be translated as "Akame Kills (by Slashing)!"}} is a Japanese manga series written by Takahiro and illustrated by Tetsuya Tashiro. It was serialized in Square Enix's Monthly Gangan Joker from March 2010 to December 2016, with its chapters collected in 15 {{Transliteration|ja|tankōbon}} volumes. The story focuses on Tatsumi, a young villager who travels to the Capital to raise money for his home only to discover strong corruption in the area. The assassin group known as Night Raid recruits the young man to help them in their fight against the corrupt Empire.

A 24-episode anime television series adaptation, animated by White Fox, was broadcast from July to December 2014. A prequel manga series, titled Akame ga Kill! Zero, illustrated by Kei Toru, was serialized in Square Enix's Monthly Big Gangan from October 2013 to January 2019, with its chapters collected in ten {{Transliteration|ja|tankōbon}} volumes. A spin-off manga series, titled Hinowa ga Crush!, illustrated by Strelka, was serialized in Monthly Big Gangan from June 2017 to June 2022, with its chapters collected in eight {{Transliteration|ja|tankōbon}} volumes. In North America, the three manga series were licensed by Yen Press. The anime series was licensed by Sentai Filmworks.

By September 2020, the overall manga series had over 4.1 million copies in circulation.

Plot

{{see also|List of Akame ga Kill! characters{{!}}List of Akame ga Kill! characters}}

Tatsumi is a fighter who accompanied by his childhood friends, Iyeyasu and Sayo, sets off for the Capital in hopes to earn money to assist his poverty stricken village. After being separated from his friends in a bandit attack, Tatsumi unsuccessfully attempts to enlist in the army and is swindled out of his money in the Capital. He is taken in by a noble family, but when an assassin group called Night Raid attacks, he learns that his noble hosts actually intended to torture and kill him as they had done to his friends.

As a result, he joins Night Raid, which consists of the swordswoman Akame, the beastly fighter Leone, the self-proclaimed sniper genius Mine, the scissor-wielding Sheele, the string manipulator Lubbock, the armored warrior Bulat and their leader Najenda, a former general of the imperial army. Night Raid is also part of the revolutionary forces assembled to overthrow the Prime Minister Honest who is manipulating the young emperor for his personal gain despite the rest of the nation falling to poverty and strife.

The members of Night Raid carry {{Nihongo|Teigu|帝具||anime: Imperial Arms}}, unique weaponry created 900 years ago out of extremely rare materials as well as legendary animals called {{Nihongo|Danger Beasts|危険種|kikenshu}}. The power of the Teigu is so overwhelming that it is said that when two Teigu users fight each other, at least one of them is bound to die.

Although Night Raid successfully assassinate some of Honest's cohorts, they lose Sheele during a fight against capital garrison member Seryu and then Bulat when Honest recruits the Empire's sadist general Esdeath and her Three Beasts. Tatsumi receives Bulat's Teigu, Incursio, as a result while Esdeath replaced her slain subordinates with a group of Teigu-using warriors called the Jaegers. Night Raid, along with new recruits Susanoo (a humanoid Teigu owned by Najenda) and Chelsea, fight the Jaegers with Seryu, Wave, and Akame's younger sister Kurome among its ranks. Over time, the two factions gradually lose some of their members.

When the revolution gained momentum, Honest formed a new secret police force, the Wild Hunt, led by his own son, Syura, but Wild Hunt heavily abuses its authority by killing innocent civilians for their own plans, antagonizing both the Jaegers and Night Raid. Mine was almost killed by Seryu's suicide bomb attack, but she was saved by Tatsumi. After a battle between Wild Hunt and the Jaegers, with casualties from both sides, Esdeath blackmails Honest into dissolving the rest of Wild Hunt. Syura is killed by Lubbock after he captures both him and Tatsumi. Lubbock is killed while attempting to escape and Tatsumi is sentenced to death after refusing Esdeath's attempts to persuade him to join her. The remaining Night Raid members attack the execution site to rescue Tatsumi while being pursued by the imperial general Budo, who Mine manages to kill at the cost of her Teigu and falling into a coma.

Due to the stress he experienced while escaping the execution site, Tatsumi caused Incursio to transform. It would be revealed that Tatsumi caused the Danger Beast which Incursio was created from, Tyrant, to awaken with the doctor predicting that Tatsumi can use his Teigu a few more times left before it fully fuses onto his body and consumes him. As this occurs, Night Raid confronts the last members of Wild Hunt and finish them off, with Akame taking out big generals on the Empire's side. Akame leaves a message to Wave that she and Kurome intend to settle things as they promised each other. After his attempt to convince Kurome not to get through with it, fighting his way through Tatsumi, Wave manages to stop the sisters' duel and destroys Kurome's Teigu. With this, Wave and Kurome fake their deaths as they run off to start a new life together.

After hearing the news of the remaining Jaegers' deaths, Esdeath resumes her duties as general to hold off the Revolutionary Army when they begin a siege on the capital to remove Honest from power. As a last resort, Honest convinces the emperor himself to join the fight with his family's Teigu. After the remaining Night Raid members assassinated those in the government who have been pulling the strings behind the stage, only Honest and Esdeath are their remaining targets. However, Honest rigged the emperor's Teigu to go berserk.

To confront the emperor's Teigu, Tatsumi uses his last transformation to defeat it with Wave's help while changing into Tyrant. Before being fully consumed, Tatsumi asks Akame to kill him before he loses control and kills everyone. She does so during her battle with Esdeath, later revealed to have only killed the Danger Beast's soul so Tatsumi can live, managing to defeat the general at the cost of her own sword. Esdeath acknowledges her loss and uses her power to commit suicide while regretting that she never got Tatsumi to return her feelings. As the final battle unfolded, Honest attempted to flee before being mortally wounded by Leone after he fatally wounded her and she fused with the remains of her Teigu to give her enough time to capture him so the Revolutionary War can fully end. Afterwards, Leone dies peacefully.

As Honest is later brutally executed with slow dismemberment for his crimes against the people, the Emperor accepts his own public execution while taking responsibility for his inaction as Najenda begins to rebuild their nation into a better one. Tatsumi, still trapped in his dragon form, moved to an isolated island with Mine after she recovered and gave birth to their child, who was conceived prior to Mine's coma. Kurome and Wave end up together as well, with the former still scarred by her past while the latter lost one of his internal organs as a price for using two Teigu at once. Akame, still working as an assassin to defend the recovering nation from those looking to take advantage of the turmoil, sets sail eastward to find a cure for the pain in her body inflicted by Murasame's trump card. As she leaves on her voyage she reflects on the caring friends and happy memories she made along her journey, hoping one day they will be able to fulfil their dream of seeing the world beyond the nation together.

Conception

In 2007, Takahiro was asked to do a manga for Square Enix magazine. He originally came up with the idea of an "all-female band of assassins, and the protagonist is a boy who is captured by them and has to work for them". After his editor approved the idea, he waited on serialization until his visual novel studio, {{ill|Minato Soft|ja|みなとそふと}}, had stabilized and released two other titles; during which he developed the characters, story and world. In August 2009, following the release of Majikoi ~ Oh! Samurai Girls, Takahiro looked for an artist for the serialization, and recruited Tetsuya Tashiro to do the illustrations. He liked Tashiro's ability to draw fast paced action scenes and that he can draw cute girls.{{Ref|Chapter|Vol. 1 postscript}} In developing a chapter, Takahiro would write the script first and then have Tashiro determine the panel layout. Takahiro would occasionally get feedback on plot ideas from Tashiro and his editor.{{Ref|Chapter|Vol. 2 postscript}}

Media

=Manga=

{{main|List of Akame ga Kill! chapters{{!}}List of Akame ga Kill! chapters}}

Written by Takahiro and illustrated by Tetsuya Tashiro, Akame ga Kill! was serialized in Square Enix's Shōnen manga magazine Gangan Joker from March 20, 2010{{cite web|script-title=ja:ガンガンJOKER 2010年4月号|url=https://www.neowing.co.jp/product/NEOBK-1187847|website=Neowing|access-date=May 18, 2022|language=ja|archive-date=January 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230115182829/https://www.neowing.co.jp/product/NEOBK-1187847|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.jp.square-enix.com/magazine/joker/special/comment/201003.html|script-title=ja:JOKER執筆陣コメント - スペシャル - ガンガンJOKER -SQUARE ENIX|website=Square Enix|language=ja|access-date=February 28, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160502084824/http://www.jp.square-enix.com/magazine/joker/special/comment/201003.html|archive-date=May 2, 2016|url-status=dead }} to December 22, 2016.{{cite web|last=Sherman|first=Jennifer|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/daily-briefs/2016-10-29/akame-ga-kill-manga-ends-on-december-22/.108051|title=Akame ga Kill Manga Ends on December 22|date=October 29, 2016|website=Anime News Network|access-date=October 29, 2016|archive-date=October 29, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161029161203/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/daily-briefs/2016-10-29/akame-ga-kill-manga-ends-on-december-22/.108051|url-status=live}} Its chapters were collected in fifteen {{Transliteration|ja|tankōbon}} volumes, released from August 21, 2010{{cite web|url=http://www.jp.square-enix.com/magazine/top/introduction/detail/9784757529809.html|script-title=ja:アカメが斬る! 1巻|publisher=Square Enix|language=ja|access-date=February 2, 2014|archive-date=July 23, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150723051347/http://www.jp.square-enix.com/magazine/top/introduction/detail/9784757529809.html|url-status=live}} to February 22, 2017.{{cite web|last=Pineda|first=Rafael Antonio|title=Akame ga Kill! Manga Ends in 15th Volume|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2016-08-22/akame-ga-kill-manga-ends-in-15th-volume/.105628|website=Anime News Network|access-date=February 24, 2020|date=August 22, 2016|archive-date=May 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190520074244/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2016-08-22/akame-ga-kill-manga-ends-in-15th-volume/.105628|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.jp.square-enix.com/magazine/top/introduction/detail/9784757552494.html|script-title=ja:アカメが斬る！ 15巻（完）|publisher=Square Enix|access-date=February 22, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170223043616/http://www.jp.square-enix.com/magazine/top/introduction/detail/9784757552494.html|archive-date=February 23, 2017|language=ja}} On August 25, 2017, it was announced that volume 1.5 of the manga, previously included with anime's home video release, would be published as a standalone volume.{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2017-08-28/akame-ga-kill-manga-volume-1.5-gets-separate-release-on-december-25/.120651|title=Akame ga Kill Manga's Volume 1.5 Gets Separate Release on December 25|last=Ressler|first=Karen|date=August 28, 2017|website=Anime News Network|access-date=July 16, 2018|archive-date=July 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180716194724/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2017-08-28/akame-ga-kill-manga-volume-1.5-gets-separate-release-on-december-25/.120651|url-status=live}} The manga was licensed by Yen Press in June 2014 and the volumes were released from January 20, 2015 to July 24, 2018.{{cite web|author=Steph|url=http://www.yenpress.com/2014/06/new-license-announcements-2/|title=New License Announcements|publisher=Yen Press|date=June 13, 2014|access-date=June 13, 2014|archive-date=September 25, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925074158/http://www.yenpress.com/2014/06/new-license-announcements-2/|url-status=live}}{{cite book|title=Akame ga Kill!, Vol. 1|isbn=978-0-316-25946-0|author=Takahiro|date=January 20, 2015|publisher=Yen Press }}

A prequel titled {{nihongo|Akame ga Kill! Zero|アカメが斬る！零|Akame ga Kiru! Rei}}, written by Takahiro and illustrated by Kei Toru, was serialized in Monthly Big Gangan from October 25, 2013{{cite web|last=Sherman|first=Jennifer|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-07-21/akame-ga-kill-manga-to-get-prequel-in-october|title=Akame ga Kill! Manga to Get Prequel in October|website=Anime News Network|date=July 21, 2013|access-date=January 20, 2014|archive-date=January 16, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116225713/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-07-21/akame-ga-kill-manga-to-get-prequel-in-october|url-status=live}} to January 25, 2019.{{cite web|script-title=ja:オノ・ナツメ新連載「BADON」舞台は首都、ワケあり男4人が踏み出す再起の道|url=https://natalie.mu/comic/news/317331|website=Natalie|publisher=Natasha, Inc.|access-date=May 18, 2022|language=ja|date=January 25, 2019|archive-date=May 9, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220509084357/https://natalie.mu/comic/news/317331|url-status=live}} The story focuses on Akame's past during the days she worked as an assassin for the Empire. Its chapters were collected in ten {{Transliteration|ja|tankōbon}} volumes, released from June 21, 2014{{cite web|script-title=ja:アカメが斬る！零 1|url=https://magazine.jp.square-enix.com/top/comics/detail/9784757543393/|publisher=Square Enix|access-date=October 10, 2022|language=ja|archive-date=October 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221010094324/https://magazine.jp.square-enix.com/top/comics/detail/9784757543393/|url-status=live}} to April 25, 2019.{{cite web|script-title=ja:アカメが斬る！零 10（完）|url=https://magazine.jp.square-enix.com/top/comics/detail/9784757561045/|publisher=Square Enix|access-date=October 10, 2022|language=ja|archive-date=October 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221010094322/https://magazine.jp.square-enix.com/top/comics/detail/9784757561045/|url-status=live}} It was licensed by Yen Press in September 2015{{cite web|last=Ressler|first=Karen|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2015-09-10/yen-press-licenses-akame-ga-kill-zero-manga/.92775|title=Yen Press Licenses Akame Ga Kill! Zero Manga|date=September 10, 2015|website=Anime News Network|access-date=September 11, 2015|archive-date=September 12, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150912003128/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2015-09-10/yen-press-licenses-akame-ga-kill-zero-manga/.92775|url-status=live}} and the volumes were released from March 22, 2016 to October 29, 2019.

Takahiro released a spin-off manga, titled {{Nihongo|Hinowa ga Crush!|ヒノワが征く！|Hinowa ga Yuku!}}, with art by Strelka in Monthly Big Gangan from June 24, 2017{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2017-02-22/akame-ga-kill-s-takahiro-launches-new-hinowa-ga-yuku-manga-on-june-24/.112582|title=Akame ga KILL!'s Takahiro Launches New Hinowa ga Yuku! Manga on June 24|last=Pineda|first=Rafael Antonio|date=February 22, 2017|website=Anime News Network|access-date=July 16, 2018|archive-date=August 8, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220808085323/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2017-02-22/akame-ga-kill-s-takahiro-launches-new-hinowa-ga-yuku-manga-on-june-24/.112582|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2017-05-24/akame-ga-kill-takahiro-teases-new-hinowa-ga-yuku-manga-story/.116527|title=Akame ga KILL's Takahiro Teases New Hinowa ga Yuku! Manga's Story|last=Sherman|first=Jennifer|date=May 24, 2017|website=Anime News Network|access-date=July 16, 2018|archive-date=August 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220803202422/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2017-05-24/akame-ga-kill-takahiro-teases-new-hinowa-ga-yuku-manga-story/.116527|url-status=live}} to June 24, 2022.{{cite web|last=Hodgkins|first=Crystalyn|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2022-06-25/hinowa-ga-crush-manga-ends-serialization-takahiro-launches-new-work-with-kei-toru/.187049|title=Hinowa ga CRUSH! Manga Ends Serialization, Takahiro Launches New Work With Kei Toru|date=June 25, 2022|website=Anime News Network|access-date=June 25, 2022|archive-date=June 26, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220626011549/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2022-06-25/hinowa-ga-crush-manga-ends-serialization-takahiro-launches-new-work-with-kei-toru/.187049|url-status=live}} The story and characters are completely unrelated to Akame ga Kill!, with the only shared element being the inclusion of Akame as a side character. Its chapters were collected in eight {{Transliteration|ja|tankōbon}} volumes, released from December 25, 2017{{cite web|script-title=ja:ヒノワが征く！ 1|url=https://magazine.jp.square-enix.com/top/comics/detail/9784757555655/|publisher=Square Enix|access-date=October 10, 2022|language=ja|archive-date=October 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221010094320/https://magazine.jp.square-enix.com/top/comics/detail/9784757555655/|url-status=live}} to August 25, 2022.{{cite web|script-title=ja:ヒノワが征く！ 8（完）|url=https://magazine.jp.square-enix.com/top/comics/detail/9784757580930/|publisher=Square Enix|access-date=October 10, 2022|language=ja|archive-date=October 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221010094336/https://magazine.jp.square-enix.com/top/comics/detail/9784757580930/|url-status=live}} Yen Press has licensed the manga and released the chapters simultaneously as they were released in Japan.{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2017-06-23/yen-press-licenses-akame-ga-kill-author-hinowa-ga-crush-manga/.117902|title=Yen Press Licenses Akame ga KILL Author's Hinowa ga CRUSH! Manga|last=Sherman|first=Jennifer|date=June 23, 2017|website=Anime News Network|access-date=July 16, 2018|archive-date=June 26, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220626012212/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2017-06-23/yen-press-licenses-akame-ga-kill-author-hinowa-ga-crush-manga/.117902|url-status=live}}

=Anime=

{{main|List of Akame ga Kill! episodes{{!}}List of Akame ga Kill! episodes}}

An anime television series adaptation of the manga was announced in January 2014.{{cite web|last=Loveridge|first=Lynzee|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-01-20/akame-ga-kill-dark-action-fantasy-manga-gets-tv-anime|title=Akame ga Kill! Dark Action Fantasy Manga Gets TV Anime|website=Anime News Network|date=January 20, 2014|access-date=January 20, 2014|archive-date=January 21, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140121211132/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-01-20/akame-ga-kill-dark-action-fantasy-manga-gets-tv-anime|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Beveridge|first=Chris|url=http://www.fandompost.com/2014/01/20/akame-ga-kill-manga-getting-anime-adaptation/|title='Akame ga KILL!' Manga Getting Anime Adaptation|website=The Fandom Post|date=January 20, 2014|access-date=January 20, 2020|archive-date=January 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125124035/https://www.fandompost.com/2014/01/20/akame-ga-kill-manga-getting-anime-adaptation/|url-status=live}} The teaser site of the series was opened on January 21, 2014.{{cite web|last=Beveridge|first=Chris|url=http://www.fandompost.com/2014/01/21/akame-ga-kill-anime-teaser-site-opens/|title='Akame ga KILL!' Anime Teaser Site Opens|website=The Fandom Post|date=January 21, 2014|access-date=January 21, 2020|archive-date=June 29, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629101410/https://www.fandompost.com/2014/01/21/akame-ga-kill-anime-teaser-site-opens/|url-status=live}} The series was directed by Tomoki Kobayashi and written by Makoto Uezu.{{cite web|last=Green|first=Scott|url=http://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2014/01/20/akame-ga-kill-anime-confirmed|title="Akame ga KILL!" Anime Confirmed|publisher=Crunchyroll|date=January 20, 2014|access-date=January 20, 2020|archive-date=November 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111012513/https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2014/01/20/akame-ga-kill-anime-confirmed|url-status=dead}} Takahiro also supervised the scenario. Taku Iwasaki composed the series' music. The series was broadcast on Tokyo MX, MBS and BS11 from July 7 to December 15, 2014.{{cite web|script-title=ja:アカメが斬る!|url=http://mediaarts-db.jp/an/anime_series/18431|publisher=Agency for Cultural Affairs|access-date=March 23, 2016|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011005603/http://mediaarts-db.jp/an/anime_series/18431|archive-date=October 11, 2016|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|last=Loveridge|first=Lynzee|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-05-20/akame-ga-kill-tv-anime-supporting-cast-staff-unveiled|title=Akame ga Kill! TV Anime's Supporting Cast, Staff Unveiled|website=Anime News Network|date=May 20, 2014|access-date=May 21, 2014|archive-date=April 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200403101118/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-05-20/akame-ga-kill-tv-anime-supporting-cast-staff-unveiled|url-status=live}} The opening theme song for episodes 1–14 is "Skyreach" performed by Sora Amamiya, while the ending theme is {{nihongo|"Konna Sekai, Shiritakunakatta."|こんな世界、知りたくなかった。}} by Miku Sawai; for the proceeding episodes, the opening theme is "Liar Mask" by Rika Mayama and the ending theme is "Tsuki Akari" by Amamiya.{{cite web|last=Green|first=Scott|url=http://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2014/09/28-1/video-akame-ga-kill-second-season-commercial|title=VIDEO: "Akame ga Kill!" Second Season Commercial|publisher=Crunchyroll|date=September 29, 2014|access-date=November 17, 2014|archive-date=September 23, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923230903/http://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2014/09/28-1/video-akame-ga-kill-second-season-commercial|url-status=dead}} A series of one minute short episodes, titled {{Nihongo|AkaKill! Theater|アカ斬る! 劇場|AkaKill! Gekijō}}, animated by C-Station, were also released online in 2014.{{cite web|last=Cardine|first=Kyle|title=Akame ga Kill! TV Anime's 2nd Flash Animation Short Streamed|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-09-08/akame-ga-kill-tv-anime-2nd-flash-animation-short-streamed/.78522|website=Anime News Network|access-date=October 22, 2023|date=September 8, 2014|archive-date=October 13, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221013053033/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-09-08/akame-ga-kill-tv-anime-2nd-flash-animation-short-streamed/.78522|url-status=live}}

The anime was licensed by Sentai Filmworks in 2014.{{cite web|last=Ressler|first=Karen|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-07-04/sentai-filmworks-licenses-chaika-the-coffin-princess-7-summer-anime-titles/.76300|title=Sentai Filmworks Licenses Chaika The Coffin Princess, 7 Summer Anime Titles|website=Anime News Network|date=July 4, 2014|access-date=November 7, 2020|archive-date=October 15, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221015180707/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-07-04/sentai-filmworks-licenses-chaika-the-coffin-princess-7-summer-anime-titles/.76300|url-status=live}} Akame ga Kill! was broadcast in the United States on Adult Swim's Toonami programming block from August 9, 2015, to February 21, 2016.{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2015-05-30/adult-swim-toonami-to-run-akame-ga-kill-michiko-and-hatchin/.88740|last=Loo|first=Egan|title=Adult Swim's Toonami to Run Akame ga Kill, Michiko & Hatchin|website=Anime News Network|date=May 30, 2015|access-date=July 2, 2015|archive-date=June 26, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626104344/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2015-05-30/adult-swim-toonami-to-run-akame-ga-kill-michiko-and-hatchin/.88740|url-status=live}} The series' premiere was one of the most watched programs in the block's history, with over 1.8 million viewers.{{cite web|title=Akame Ga Kill! Becomes Most Watches Series Premiere in Toonami History|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2015-08-13/akame-ga-kill-becomes-most-watches-series-premiere-in-toonami-history/.91645|website=Anime News Network|access-date=31 January 2015|date=13 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150813232309/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2015-08-13/akame-ga-kill-becomes-most-watches-series-premiere-in-toonami-history/.91645|archive-date=2015-08-13|url-status=live}} The series was also streamed on Crunchyroll;{{cite web|last1=Loveridge|first1=Lynzee|title=Crunchyroll Adds Akame ga Kill, DRAMAtical Murder, Blue Spring Ride TV Anime|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-07-05/crunchyroll-adds-akame-ga-kill-dramatical-murder-blue-spring-ride-tv-anime/.76346|website=Anime News Network|access-date=August 3, 2023|date=July 5, 2014|archive-date=July 29, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190729105207/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-07-05/crunchyroll-adds-akame-ga-kill-dramatical-murder-blue-spring-ride-tv-anime/.76346|url-status=live}} after the acquisition of Crunchyroll by Sony Pictures Television, Akame ga Kill!, among several Sentai Filmworks titles, was dropped from the Crunchyroll streaming service on March 31, 2022.{{cite web|last=Cardine|first=Kyle|title=Food Wars, Is It Wrong to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? and More Are Leaving Crunchyroll|url=https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2022/03/24/food-wars-is-it-wrong-to-pick-up-girls-in-a-dungeon-and-more-are-leaving-crunchyroll|website=Crunchyroll|access-date=August 3, 2023|date=March 24, 2022|archive-date=March 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220325082132/https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2022/03/24/food-wars-is-it-wrong-to-pick-up-girls-in-a-dungeon-and-more-are-leaving-crunchyroll|url-status=live}} Medialink licensed the series in Asia-Pacific, streaming it on their Ani-One Asia YouTube channel.{{cite web|last=Hazra|first=Adriana|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2022-12-09/ani-one-streams-akame-ga-kill-anime-on-youtube/.192758|title=Ani-One Streams Akame ga Kill Anime on YouTube|website=Anime News Network|date=December 9, 2022|access-date=December 10, 2022|archive-date=December 9, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209214951/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2022-12-09/ani-one-streams-akame-ga-kill-anime-on-youtube/.192758|url-status=live}}

Reception

The seventh volume sold 24,181 copies within the first week of release.{{cite web|last=Hodgkins|first=Crystalyn|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-02-27/japanese-comic-ranking-february-18-24|title=Japanese Comic Ranking, February 18–24|website=Anime News Network|date=February 27, 2013|access-date=January 20, 2014|archive-date=March 27, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140327082801/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-02-27/japanese-comic-ranking-february-18-24|url-status=live}} The eighth volume likewise sold 37,833 copies in its debut week.{{cite web|url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/obc/w/2013-08-05/more/3/|script-title=ja:2013年07月22日～2013年07月28日のコミック|trans-title=Comics from July 22, 2013 ～ July 28, 2013|publisher=Oricon|date=August 5, 2013|access-date=January 20, 2014|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140121145245/http://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/obc/w/2013-08-05/more/3/|archive-date=January 21, 2014}} Up until volume 11, the series has sold over 2.1 million copies.{{cite news|script-title=ja:『アカメが斬る!』第18話登場のブドー大将軍と羅刹四鬼ビジュアル&声優公開|url= http://news.livedoor.com/article/detail/9423993/|date=November 1, 2014|access-date= November 15, 2014|work=Mynavi News|via=Livedoor News|language=ja|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160304050406/http://news.livedoor.com/article/detail/9423993/|archive-date= March 4, 2016|url-status= dead}}{{cite magazine|year=2014|title=月刊ビッグガンガン|magazine=Monthly Big Gangan|language=ja|publisher=Square Enix|volume=11|issue=197|page=958}} The English release debuted at nineteenth in Monthly BookScan during February 2015.{{cite web|last=Loveridge|first=Lynzee|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2015-03-06/akame-ga-kill-no.1-debuts-at-19th-on-u.s-monthly-bookscan-february-list/.85666|title=Akame ga Kill! #1 Debuts at 19th on U.S. Monthly BookScan February List|website=Anime News Network|date=March 6, 2015|access-date=March 6, 2015|archive-date=March 7, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150307003528/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2015-03-06/akame-ga-kill-no.1-debuts-at-19th-on-u.s-monthly-bookscan-february-list/.85666|url-status=live}}

All five volumes of the English translation have appeared on The New York Times Manga Best Sellers list:

Volume one stayed on the list for twelve nonconsecutive weeks; for three of those weeks it ranked first.* {{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2015-02-08/manga/list.html|title=Best Sellers - Manga|date=February 8, 2015|website=The New York Times|access-date=April 21, 2016|archive-date=May 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160505231405/http://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2015-02-08/manga/list.html|url-status=live }}
{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2015-02-15/manga/list.html|title=Best Sellers - Manga|date=February 15, 2015|website=The New York Times|access-date=April 21, 2016|archive-date=April 18, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160418045708/http://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2015-02-15/manga/list.html|url-status=live }}
{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2015-02-22/manga/list.html|title=Best Sellers - Manga|date=February 22, 2015|website=The New York Times|access-date=April 21, 2016|archive-date=April 16, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160416120036/http://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2015-02-22/manga/list.html|url-status=live }}
{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2015-03-01/manga/list.html|title=Best Sellers - Manga|date=March 1, 2015|website=The New York Times|access-date=April 21, 2016|archive-date=March 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307233908/http://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2015-03-01/manga/list.html|url-status=live }}
{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2015-03-08/manga/list.html|title=Best Sellers - Manga|date=March 8, 2015|website=The New York Times|access-date=April 21, 2016|archive-date=March 6, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306093154/http://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2015-03-08/manga/list.html|url-status=live }}
{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2015-03-15/manga/list.html|title=Best Sellers - Manga|date=March 15, 2015|website=The New York Times|access-date=April 21, 2016|archive-date=April 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160415133957/http://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2015-03-15/manga/list.html|url-status=live }}
{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2015-03-22/manga/list.html|title=Best Sellers - Manga|date=March 22, 2015|website=The New York Times|access-date=April 21, 2016|archive-date=March 10, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310084941/http://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2015-03-22/manga/list.html|url-status=live }}
{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2015-04-05/manga/list.html|title=Best Sellers - Manga|date=April 5, 2015|website=The New York Times|access-date=April 21, 2016|archive-date=April 4, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150404214139/http://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2015-04-05/manga/list.html|url-status=live }}
{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2015-05-03/manga/list.html|title=Best Sellers - Manga|date=May 3, 2015|website=The New York Times|access-date=April 21, 2016|archive-date=April 29, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160429030010/http://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2015-05-03/manga/list.html|url-status=live }}
{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2015-05-10/manga/list.html|title=Best Sellers - Manga|date=May 10, 2015|website=The New York Times|access-date=April 21, 2016|archive-date=April 19, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160419154608/http://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2015-05-10/manga/list.html|url-status=live }}
{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2015-05-17/manga/list.html|title=Best Sellers - Manga|date=May 17, 2015|website=The New York Times|access-date=April 21, 2016|archive-date=April 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160417151528/http://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2015-05-17/manga/list.html|url-status=live }}
{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2015-06-07/manga/list.html|title=Best Sellers - Manga|date=June 7, 2015|website=The New York Times|access-date=April 21, 2016|archive-date=May 19, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160519191328/http://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2015-06-07/manga/list.html|url-status=live }}
Volume two stayed on the list for four weeks; for one of those weeks it ranked first.* {{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2015-05-10/manga/list.html|title=Best Sellers - Manga|date=May 10, 2015|website=The New York Times|access-date=April 21, 2016|archive-date=April 19, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160419154608/http://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2015-05-10/manga/list.html|url-status=live }}
{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2015-05-17/manga/list.html|title=Best Sellers - Manga|date=May 17, 2015|website=The New York Times|access-date=April 21, 2016|archive-date=April 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160417151528/http://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2015-05-17/manga/list.html|url-status=live }}
{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2015-05-24/manga/list.html|title=Best Sellers - Manga|date=May 24, 2015|website=The New York Times|access-date=April 21, 2016|archive-date=May 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507094231/http://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2015-05-24/manga/list.html|url-status=live }}
{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2015-05-31/manga/list.html|title=Best Sellers - Manga|date=May 31, 2015|website=The New York Times|access-date=April 21, 2016|archive-date=April 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160420044954/http://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2015-05-31/manga/list.html|url-status=live }}
Volume three stayed on the list for four weeks; for one of those weeks it ranked second.* {{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2015-08-09/manga/list.html|title=Best Sellers - Manga|date=August 9, 2015|website=The New York Times|access-date=April 21, 2016|archive-date=April 18, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160418203219/http://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2015-08-09/manga/list.html|url-status=live }}
{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2015-08-16/manga/list.html|title=Best Sellers - Manga|date=August 16, 2015|website=The New York Times|access-date=April 21, 2016|archive-date=April 29, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160429020311/http://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2015-08-16/manga/list.html|url-status=live }}
{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2015-08-23/manga/list.html|title=Best Sellers - Manga|date=August 23, 2015|website=The New York Times|access-date=April 21, 2016|archive-date=April 18, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160418075154/http://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2015-08-23/manga/list.html|url-status=live }}
{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2015-08-30/manga/list.html|title=Best Sellers - Manga|date=August 30, 2015|website=The New York Times|access-date=April 21, 2016|archive-date=August 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150824194226/http://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2015-08-30/manga/list.html|url-status=live }}
Volume four stayed on the list for two weeks; for one of those weeks it ranked second.* {{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2015-11-15/manga/list.html|title=Best Sellers - Manga|date=November 15, 2015|website=The New York Times|access-date=April 21, 2016|archive-date=April 22, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160422043615/http://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2015-11-15/manga/list.html|url-status=live }}
{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2015-11-22/manga/list.html|title=Best Sellers - Manga|date=November 22, 2015|website=The New York Times|access-date=April 21, 2016|archive-date=May 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160505233958/http://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2015-11-22/manga/list.html|url-status=live }}
Volume five stayed on the list for two weeks; for one of those weeks it ranked first.* {{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2016-02-14/manga/list.html|title=Best Sellers - Manga|date=February 14, 2016|website=The New York Times|access-date=April 21, 2016|archive-date=May 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507080214/http://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2016-02-14/manga/list.html|url-status=live }}
{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2016-02-21/manga/list.html|title=Best Sellers - Manga|date=February 21, 2016|website=The New York Times|access-date=April 21, 2016|archive-date=March 16, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160316175332/http://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2016-02-21/manga/list.html|url-status=live }}
Volume six stayed on the list for one week, ranking at first place.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2016-05-15/manga/list.html|title=Best Sellers - Manga|date=May 15, 2016|website=The New York Times|access-date=May 6, 2016|archive-date=May 12, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160512084053/http://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2016-05-15/manga/list.html?|url-status=live }}
Volume seven stayed on the list for one week, ranking at fourth place.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/books/best-sellers/2016/08/14/manga/|title=Best Sellers - Manga|date=August 14, 2016|website=The New York Times|access-date=September 8, 2016|archive-date=August 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817145348/http://www.nytimes.com/books/best-sellers/2016/08/14/manga/|url-status=live }}

The first volume of Akame ga Kill! Zero also appeared on the list for three weeks, ranking at sixth place for one week.* {{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2016-04-10/manga/list.html|title=Best Sellers - Manga|date=April 10, 2016|website=The New York Times|access-date=April 21, 2016|archive-date=April 10, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160410155124/http://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2016-04-10/manga/list.html|url-status=live }}

{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2016-04-17/manga/list.html|title=Best Sellers - Manga|date=April 17, 2016|website=The New York Times|access-date=April 21, 2016|archive-date=April 12, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160412141154/http://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2016-04-17/manga/list.html|url-status=live }}
{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2016-04-24/manga/list.html|title=Best Sellers - Manga|date=April 24, 2016|website=The New York Times|access-date=April 21, 2016|archive-date=April 19, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160419173903/http://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2016-04-24/manga/list.html|url-status=live }}

Both the main and prequel manga combined had 3.3 million copies in circulation by August 2016. By September 2020, the overall manga series had over 4.1 million copies in circulation.{{cite web|script-title=ja:パチスロ新機種『アカメが斬る！』発売のお知らせ|url=https://www.nanashow.co.jp/_pdf/Release_20200914.pdf|publisher=Nanashow Corporation|access-date=October 22, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221104033058/https://www.nanashow.co.jp/_pdf/Release_20200914.pdf|archive-date=November 4, 2022|language=ja|date=September 14, 2020|url-status=live}}

Kestrel Swift from The Fandom Post praised the anime's first episode for "harsh, brutal commentary on corruption and how likely it is that the more perfect someone seems, the darker the secret lurking within" as well as the production values from White Fox.{{cite web|last=Swift|first=Kestrel|url=http://www.fandompost.com/2014/07/07/akame-ga-kill-episode-01-anime-review/|title=Akame ga Kill! Episode #01 Anime Review|website=The Fandom Post|date=July 7, 2014|access-date=July 8, 2014|archive-date=January 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126210315/https://www.fandompost.com/2014/07/07/akame-ga-kill-episode-01-anime-review/|url-status=live}} While reviewing the series' first eight episodes, Matt Packard from Anime News Network said that "it's stupid and childish" as "[t]here's nothing mature about the idea that evil always takes the form of a psychopath or a power-hungry glutton, or that people become soul-dead assassins because something traumatic happened to them once, or that the physically weak are destined to become slaves and die weeping".{{cite web|last=Packard|first=Matt|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/akame-ga-kill/episodes-1-8/.78041|title=Akame ga Kill! Episodes 1–8|website=Anime News Network|date=September 1, 2014|access-date=September 2, 2014|archive-date=September 4, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140904032449/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/akame-ga-kill/episodes-1-8/.78041|url-status=live}} In the Goo ranking website, Akame ga Kill! ranked 36th with 9 votes in the list of Anime's Most Miserable Endings.{{cite web|last=Sherman|first=Jennifer|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2016-12-02/grave-of-the-fireflies-tops-poll-of-anime-most-miserable-endings/.109432|title=Grave of the Fireflies Tops Poll of Anime's Most Miserable Endings|website=Anime News Network|date=December 2, 2016|access-date=November 7, 2020|archive-date=April 22, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230422130521/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2016-12-02/grave-of-the-fireflies-tops-poll-of-anime-most-miserable-endings/.109432|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://ranking.goo.ne.jp/column/3877/ranking/49776/?page=4|script-title=ja:アニメ史上最も「悲惨なバッドエンド」を迎えた作品ランキング 30位から39位|website=Goo Ranking|language=ja|date=December 2, 2016|access-date=November 7, 2020|archive-date=June 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200621163831/https://ranking.goo.ne.jp/column/3877/ranking/49776/?page=4|url-status=live}}

Notes

References

External links

{{official website|http://www.square-enix.com/jp/magazine/joker/series/akame/index.html|Akame ga Kill!}} at Square Enix {{in lang|ja}}
{{official website|http://www.jp.square-enix.com/magazine/biggangan/introduction/akame/|Akame ga Kill! Zero}} at Square Enix {{in lang|ja}}
{{official website|http://akame.tv/|Official anime website}} {{in lang|ja}}
{{official website|http://www.jp.square-enix.com/magazine/biggangan/introduction/hinowa/|Hinowa ga Crush!}} at Square Enix {{in lang|ja}}
{{Anime News Network|manga|11663}}