All those fans who watched episode 12 and hated on Amo are now profusely apologizing to her. Gachiakuta episode 13 revealed the horrors that Amo had faced since childhood. She was sold off by her own mother as a child.
Even worse, the person who bought her turned out to be a pedophile who abused her in unimaginable ways. However, the girl wasn’t able to realize what was happening due to the trafficker’s Vital Instrument and its powers. Episode 13 showed Amo’s tragic backstory with the care that it needed.
Gachiakuta Episode 13 Shows Amo’s Fragility Without Diminishing Her Resilience
Gachiakuta episode 13 was a rougher watch than anyone could have expected. Right from the onset, the episode dove into how Amo was trafficked at a young age by her own mother. Afterwards, she grew up with the trafficker who took advantage of her innocence. No wonder the girl seeks love everywhere. She has never been loved by anyone, not even her mother.
The episode aptly depicted how Amo’s entire life has only been about pain and suffering. Even her feelings of pain were misdirected as love by her abuser. Because of the boots, Amo never realized what the man was doing to her, that is, until he was dead and she took possession of the boots.
Unfortunately, even when she thought she was free, she wasn’t. Lifelong trauma doesn’t let go so easily, and she was left all alone on a tower without anyone to rely on. She had only known twisted love for her whole life and thus has no idea what being cared for actually feels like. While the episode didn’t justify her wrongdoings, at least it gave a perspective into her shattered mental state.
Bones Film’s Animation Peaked in This Episode Despite Minimum Action Scenes
Bones Film has always delivered beautiful and fluid action sequences, but Gachiakuta episode 13 was something else altogether. The episode showed Amo’s perspective on everything that happened to her. The animation style resembled crayon scrawlings of a kid, which is appropriate given how Amo was never given a chance to mature before she was given up to a pedophile.
Amo was trying to rationalize everything as if her life were a fairy tale, when it was the exact opposite. The animation showed how she thought she was loved, but also wasn’t afraid of showing what her abuser did to her. It was visual storytelling at its finest: revealing just enough to make the watchers horrified but not repelled.
The episode did not glorify abuse or make it the entire identity of the series, but instead, showed it in a way that would leave an emotional impact without taking any sadistic pleasure in it. The way that even childish crayon drawings can elevate emotions is praiseworthy.
All in all, the episode reminded fans of how the anime might have fantasy elements but is still grounded in reality. So what did you think of Gachiakuta episode 13? Did you like it? What did you find the most impactful scene? Let us know in the comments below.
Gachiakuta anime is currently available to stream on Crunchyroll.
