The street-punk trash-themed Gachiakuta was a highly anticipated anime in 2025. The series concluded its first season last month, and the English cast couldn’t wait to discuss what it took to produce this anime during SacAnime Winter 2026 this weekend.
Bryson Baugus (Rudo), Corey Wilder (Zanka) and Zeno Robinson (Jabber) joined SacAnime on a Gachiakuta panel to discuss what makes this trash anime a true treasure.
The voice actors collectively said that the art style is what separates Gachiakuta from other anime. Robinson said it’s the world-building, art style and graffiti, Wilder said the power system, and Baugus said the well-executed storyline is what really pulls readers/watchers in.
“It’s one of those big worlds that feels like the writer/creator (Kei) Urana from the jump,” Baugus said. “It’s not ‘we’re figuring this out as we go along,’ it seems like they have a plan for it from the start.”
Playing the Characters
In a world of vital instruments, or objects that are powered by a user’s “anima” (power source on The Ground), the actors reflected on what their vital instruments would be. Baugus chose his first Mega Man game cartridge, while Robinson said his Alan Albright action figure from Ben 10 Alien Force was his first voiceover job. Wilder said that his would be a beloved torn-up jacket he had in his sophomore year of high school.
“What I imagine it would be is that since I would always stuff things into my jacket pocket, it would work like a Bag of Holding from (Dungeons and Dragons),” he said. “I would put stuff in there and then whatever I need, I can just pull it out and have it with me.”
The cast gushed about what they love most about their characters. Baugus loves how Rudo has a soft side despite being pushed to the side his whole life. Wilder loves how Zanka is just an average Joe, which prompted Robinson to jokingly call him “Fraudka.”
Robinson describes playing Jabber as “complex simplicity.”
“I think my favorite part about (playing Jabber) is that there’s a sort of complex simplicity to the type of character who doesn’t have a lot of overarching roles other than violence. Like, he just wants to do hood rat stuff,” Robinson said. “His personality allows me to have a ton of fun.”
The panel concluded by discussing one of Gachiakuta’s most viral moments, which was Jabber’s rap during his fight with Zanka. Robinson’s background knowledge and dedication to writing the rap contributed much to the success of this scene. You can read more in depth of Robinson’s explanation of the Jabber rap here.
About Gachiakuta
In a floating city known as “The Sphere,” the rich discard anything they deem to be waste, including people, into “The Pit.” A boy named Rudo is wrongfully framed for his stepdad’s murder and thrown into The Pit, where he discovers trash beasts and a whole civilization living there. After awakening his powers as a “Giver,” Rudo joins “The Cleaners,” an organization that uses their powers to fight trash beasts. Rudo agrees on the condition that they will help him return to The Sphere and seek revenge on those who dumped him.
Season one of Gachiakuta is available to stream on Crunchyroll.
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