Back Street Girls -GOKUDOLS-

Back Street Girls -GOKUDOLS- is a unique, daring, and utterly hilarious 2019 anime series available on Netflix that merges the gritty world of Yakuza crime syndicates with the vibrant culture of J-Pop idol bands. Premiered first in Japan and later distributed by Netflix, this show offers a thrilling and innovative concept that took the anime world by storm and is a dynamic blend of comedy, crime, and music. The show is adapted from the manga series of the same name written and illustrated by Jasmine Gyuh, and the adaptation breathes life into the engaging saga while retaining its black comedy essence.

The core plotline of Back Street Girls -GOKUDOLS- revolves around three Yakuza members from the infamous Honmida Gumi group who fail their boss in a mission. Following the stringent rules of the Yakuza world where failure is not tolerated, the trio decides to accept a bizarre punishment in lieu of a traditional punishment like Seppuku, a form of Japanese ritual suicide by disembowelment. Their boss, Inugane, who is as eccentric as it gets, is a massive fan of J-Pop culture and sees an opportunity to combine his two passions: the underworld and pop idols. Hence, he decides to punish the three members by making them undergo gender reassignment surgery and become a J-Pop idol group called 'The Gokudols'.

In a bid for redemption and survival, Kentaro Yamamoto, Ryo Tachibana, and Kazuhiko Sugihara embark on an improbable journey from being feared Yakuza members to becoming 'Airu Yamamoto', 'Mari Tachibana', and 'Chika Sugihara'. Despite their machismo, they revert to their Yakuza ways from time to time, causing plenty of comic relief. Much of the humor in this show comes from the absurdity of their predicament and their struggles to reconcile their Yakuza identities with their new lives as J-Pop idols.

The transformation from Yakuza gangsters into pop icon heartthrobs comes with a slew of challenges. The trio has to learn how to sing, dance, and behave like female idols while trying to keep their hardcore Yakuza past hidden from hordes of adoring fans and the vicious world of the entertainment industry. Back Street Girls -GOKUDOLS- chronicles their journey while punctuated by brilliantly orchestrated music, comic antics, heartwarming camaraderie, and unexpected plot turns.

The show is excellently paced and seamlessly divides its focus between the characters' past as murderers, thugs, and gamblers, and their present as international musical sensations. It is an amalgamation of two different worlds and through its dark humor, it uses caricature and irony to explore themes like identity, transformation, societal norms, masculinity, and subcultures within Japan.

Whether it's the charming and feminine Airu who used to be the intimidating and masculine Kentaro, or the sweet and innocent Mari who was once the cunning Ryo, the characters in the show are full of paradoxes and surprises. Their respective transformations, along with the catchy J-Pop music, outlandish humor, and starkly contrasting worlds of the Yakuza and the entertainment industry, make this anime a unique spectacle.

One of the distinctive aspects of Back Street Girls -GOKUDOLS- is its animation style. The black and white sequences which alternates with a full-color palette for present-day scenes borrow heavily from manga aesthetics, which keeps faithful to its original source. The series is infused with dynamic animations especially during the music numbers that reflects the colorful and lively Japanese idol industry.

The use of contrast between the grungy Yakuza scene and the glittery idol world is yet another noteworthy facet about the show. The Yakuza arcs are dark, grim, and intense, highlighting the violent life of crime syndicates, while the idol arcs are peppy, vibrant, and light-hearted, excellently capturing the glamour and allure of J-Pop.

A word of caution: Back Street Girls -GOKUDOLS- contains some content and humor that may not go down well with everyone. It pushes the envelope with its dark comedy, relishing in its politically incorrect humor. If you have a taste for the absurd and can appreciate anime that pushes boundaries, then Back Street Girls -GOKUDOLS- is well worth your time. It's a roller-coaster of laughs, color, and unexpected twists that takes viewers on a unique and memorable journey.