Kaiji! The most exciting show in a long time!

Gyakkyou Burai Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor, or in short, Kaiji!



Well, in case you missed this one, I have one hell of a treat for you. And that is the anime series Kaiji! It started airing this fall and stands currently at five episodes subbed by Triad. It was just a mere coincidence that I found this great anime, and I don't regret it!

Anyways, the anime revolves around this guy named Kaiji, and well he is one miserable bastard, on a regular basis he goes around slashing car tires and stealing car emblems of expensive cars because he can't afford them himself, he is poor and his life is really miserable. But this regular routine changes in one day, when he is visited by a man in a trench-coat. Apparently, this man is a debt-collector, and it seems he's in a debt for 3'850'000 yen for a loan he co-signed for a work mate a year or two earlier. The loan had started out at only 300'000 yen, but since his work-mate hadn't paid off anything the seemingly illegally high rates had made his debt sky-rocket.

As he has no money or a way to work it off quickly the man tells him about another option, what he had really come to him to talk about. And it's a way to clear it off in just one big chunk and even come back as a rich man! What he has to do is get on a boat with many other people in the same position as him, and gamble with loaned money to get rid off his debts. But it's not just any ordinary gambles... which Kaiji soon will realise. On the boat, Kaiji has to rely on more than just pure luck, and he is put into the most dire situations you can think of. Put into a corner, under the cruise, Kaiji awakens some skills he never knew he had...

Well all in all, just go watch this anime! It's very very very exciting, and it is portrays a lot on how we humans act in dire situations and how predictable we really are! This is definitely my favorite show this fall.

Most amazing jew boots

Excellent. Someone else is watching this besides me. Recommended for Akagi fans.

I've seen 5 episodes so far and I can say that they were definitely enjoyable to watch. The tension that takes place during the battles is really awesome and the same can be said for all of the smack-talking that goes on between the opponents. Furthermore, the drama here is most excellent and lends itself to being able to move at a slow clip while keeping things interesting. Definitely the best shounen show out right now.

THAT SAID... do not watch this show if you're a fan of logic or game theory. A lot of the moves are made based on guessing and conjectures that have a very flimsy foundation. Some of the strategies they use are completely suboptimal and it looks as though the only way our protagonist can win is because the scriptwriter said so. If you watch it really carefully, you should be able to spot all of the problems in their logic and reasoning. Hell Kaiji even admits as much during some of the matches. There's so much of it that if I paid more attention to it than I am right now, I could see the logical blunders detracting from the series.

For what it's worth, this series has really good drama and character development. While Akagi was someone that you pretty much had to respect, Kaiji is much more down to earth, and more human as a result.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by zzeroparticle

THAT SAID... do not watch this show if you're a fan of logic or game theory.

Well, I wouldn't say that. It's still a very very good show for it's "shortcomings" in that department. It's not that bad is it? And really, I haven't read the manga so I don't know what'll happen, but since Kaiji is just awakening his abilities he might just get a lot better after a while. Have you read the manga so you can tell this is not the case? And well, I guess it wouldn't be as exciting if he'd pinpoint everything all the time. What makes the show so interesting is his recklessness, believing in himself no matter what. Truly doing everything only considering life or death. So I think he's one great character.

I think everyone should give this anime a try, because it just is so good. The animation may seem a bit different at first; Now I just can't get enough of it. It fits very well with the show.

Go watch it, now!

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

What kind of gambling are we talking about here? You didn't mention what game he's actually playing.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Well, if I'd mention it I would be spoiling it. All I can tell is that you can't find this type of gamble in a casino. But you've most likely done it yourself before. It's just a bit different from normal though

I was speaking idiomatically.

Originally Posted by nanaman

Well, I wouldn't say that. It's still a very very good show for it's "shortcomings" in that department. It's not that bad is it? And really, I haven't read the manga so I don't know what'll happen, but since Kaiji is just awakening his abilities he might just get a lot better after a while.

While the series as a whole is good, the faulty reasoning/ logic holes do irritate me just a bit. Mind you, not irritating enough to detract from the overall enjoyability of the show, but it's there. No, it's not as bad as I suggested, but it was meant more as a disclaimer for those who are hardcore game theorists and/or logicians.

I've only been watching the series. Same as you. I have not touched the manga (nor is it likely that I will), but the similarities in the art styles between this show and Mahjong Legend Akagi are pretty obvious. The way in which tension is orchestrated is also very similar, which leads to a rather enjoyable watch. As I said earlier, this is the best shounen series out right now.

Originally Posted by JazzFlight

What kind of gambling are we talking about here? You didn't mention what game he's actually playing.

My guess is that they'll play through a variety of games as the anime proceeds. Currently

Spoiler:

they're playing a variation on Rock, Paper, Scissors. The way this game works is that each person gets 12 cards: 4 rocks, 4 papers, 4 scissors. Two players choose a card from their hand and putting it face down. After that, they'll simultaneously flip the card over to reveal whether they played rock, paper, or scissors. The winner is declared and then the players may decide to rinse and repeat if they want. The restriction is that they cannot return the card they've already played back into their hand.

What makes this even more interesting is the potential for bargaining and making transactions by buying other people's cards and or stars (which serve as a life counter of sorts).

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

I've seen all the released episodes so far (It's at 11 at the moment), and it is still delivering pwn. I can say now by seeing all the eps out right now that the presence of game logic is not as apparent nor decisive as it is in Akagi (which is an anime about 4 player Mahjong if you didn't know). In Kaiji it's more about the human mind (kind of) and nerve-wracking gambles.

Spoilers ep 11:

Spoiler:

How I waited to get to see what the new gamble was, and I was really surprised when it wasn't a real "gamble" for the contestants, but a human derby, with them being bet on. I thought at first that under the bars were soft cushions but it seems that wasn't the case when the first guy fell. I could almost feel his pain >_<

Then it came to the pushing. I couldn't stop biting my nails in fear that Kaiji would be pushed down. I don't know what I would have done if I were in that situation. I would probably push the guy in front of me and pay his hospital bills later when I got the money :P

FELIPE NO

After going through up to episode 16, I'd have to say that the amount of suspense and tension is just so thick that you'd need to use a chainsaw to cut through it. The scenes involving the Starside Hotel were just nerve-wracking as all hell and it was by far one of the most brilliant moments where the intensity level just shot through the roof, especially during the second half of episode 13.

Anyhow, I'm at the point where they're playing another card game that is reminescent of the gambles that were shown in the final Akagi episodes. Still trying to figure out the strategy behind this one, but I suppose it all comes down to the tells and who is better at hiding them.

How ya doing, buddy?

Just saw the 19th episode. It seems like Tonegawa is up for some whoopass in the next ep if we're lucky

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Has anyone found the OP music for this?

There's nowhere I can't reach.

It's indeed an exciting anime. Had me hooked through the first 10 or so episodes, interesting as hell.

Also cliffhanger endings

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Well, not only is it exciting, it can also be quite hilarious when paired with awesome effects. Video might be a bit spoilery though, so you've been warned.

YouTube Video

This video had me in stitches

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Lol yeah, that video is awesome, I shat bricks the first time I saw that video. I've found some more fun Kaiji videos too.

YouTube Video

YouTube Video

YouTube Video

YouTube Video

I was speaking idiomatically.

After going all the way up to episode 20, I have this to say:

Kaiji is GAR. So GARsome that he just flips out and redefines GAR to a whole new level. I honestly could not believe the lengths to which he went through to win, but my respect for him just grew immensely.

This show just manages to keep getting better and better with a lot of it fueled by Kaiji's development from a loser into someone who has to keep becoming more cunning in order to survive. His mental growth has been outstanding due to the stresses that he's forced to overcome, but all of that makes for a very pleasing viewing experience. I'm completely blown away by what he's capable of now.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

episode 21 is out now.
This series really puts out alot of suspence and I was awaiting a huge cliffhanger at the end of episode 21 but....

Spoiler:

It sorta feels like you can skip episode 21 completely and jump into 22 and completly catch up with what just happened during the recap and feels as tho you missed nothing at all. It was in tonegawa's (was that his name?) perspective this time and how much he struggled and tried to figure out what kaiji did with his blood but it felt more like "Oh remember what happened when he spilled his blood, that obvious thing he did, yeah thats something of a strategy"
It was cool to see him suffer and all but during the last 8 minutes or so during the drawing of the final card there were too many exagerated expression from tonegawa's face. I know kaiji is a shows that drags on by explaining strategies and probabilities but this was dragged on way longer than usual during each card.

Most amazing jew boots