“That hasn’t been done before”: Real Reason Kei Urana Was Terrified of Gachiakuta’s Radical Artstyle

In an interview with Anime Corner at Anime Expo 2025, Kei Urana, the creator of Gachiakuta, expressed her initial concerns about combining graffiti with her own manga art. Since the two styles are strikingly different, she felt the odds could be against her.

She wanted to create something unique that hadn’t been done before, but wasn’t sure if it would work well for the series. However, by partnering with graffiti artist Andou-san, she embraced the challenge, bringing forth a Shonen manga with a fresh style and vigor.

I kind of enjoy the fact that we’re working on something unknown, and that hasn’t been done before, so I ended up kind of having fun going into the uncertainty.

Of course, turning this vision into reality wasn’t easy. Urana-sensei and Andou-san had many discussions about how to bring this dream project to life. In the end, though, they ended up having fun while venturing into the uncertainty. And now, the final product speaks for itself.

How Gachiakuta’s Graffiti Artwork Came to Life in the Manga and Anime

During the same interview, Urana-sensei explained how the manga gradually came to be. She mentioned that she initially began Gachiakuta as a solo project. But things changed once she started talking online with Andou-san during the early stages of development.

Dude, wouldn’t it be awesome if your art was behind these characters in the background?

What started as casual work conversations slowly turned into creative brainstorming. They tossed around the idea of mixing his graffiti art with her character art. Like, what if the graffiti could be put on the background walls?

They tested it out and soon realized it looked incredible. That spark of excitement eventually grew into the unique style that defines Gachiakuta today. And it’s apparent both in the manga and the anime now.

The Bold Character Designs in Gachiakuta Work So Well in Modern Shonen

Apart from the bold graffiti backgrounds, Kei Urana’s own character art style is nothing short of dazzling. It feels unique compared to most Shonen series out there, giving Gachiakuta a visual identity that instantly stands out.

The characters themselves are highly detailed, both in the manga and the anime. This level of consistency was only possible because Bones Films clearly poured their passion into the project. You can really feel the care in every frame.

Here’s some basic information about the Gachiakuta anime:

It’s also been a long time since a Shonen anime has used its power system in such a compelling way. In fact, the way Gachiakuta handles its abilities has become one of its strongest aspects, adding layers of depth to every battle.

When you put it all together: the graffiti backdrops, the heavy metal soundtrack, the sharp character designs, and the gripping Shonen narrative, you really get the complete package. So, are you enjoying the anime as much as we are?

The Gachikakuta anime is currently available to watch on Crunchyroll.