Gachiakuta delivered one of the most badass, diverse lineups of female characters among new anime in 2025. From Semiu Grier to Riyo Reaper, the women in the show are masters of their Vital Instruments. While I appreciate the way the series uplifts women in general, I was particularly moved by Amo’s backstory and the anime’s realistic portrayal of trauma.
TW: this article discusses SA, childhood abuse, and hyper-sexualization
Amo’s “fragrance manipulation” ability
Amo is initially sought out by the Cleaners who are told she has witnessed an “angel” traveling between the Sphere and the Ground. A distraught Amo weaponizes her Vital Instrument, the Watchmen Series Boots, in an attempt to kill the Cleaners. The boots use “fragrance manipulation” to conjure up scents unique to each Cleaner – propelling them into hallucinating false memories and scenarios that involve protecting loved ones in danger, who they believe is Amo.
The scents invoke emotions so strong in the Cleaners that they, quite literally, battle to the death. They are only alive thanks to Remlin, an appointed spellcaster who grants each Cleaner one spell of protection.
Since Amo was a young child when she first began to endure sexual abuse, it is a thoughtful choice to make fragrance fuel her Vital Instrument. Whether positive or negative associations, smell is arguably the most potent form of stimuli for memory. Simply put, scents travel directly to the areas in our brain that store memories and emotions. Whereas other senses are filtered through different areas of the brain first. This is especially true for children, as they do not possess the ability to understand or put words to sexual violence. With this in mind, Amo’s otherworldly ability to manipulate scent actually feels incredibly relatable.
Amo’s story told recounted through picture book illustrations
In Gachiakuta, we are first introduced to Amo as an antagonist. But we learn that her distrust is born out of being sold by her mother as a child to “Mister,” a human trafficker who keeps her locked away in the tower where the Cleaners meet her.
Dissociation is a coping mechanism that unconsciously serves as a form of survival for many children experiencing abuse. This is what makes the retelling of Amo’s backstory by way of childlike illustrations a realistic choice. The abuse scenes are wildly scribbled in crayon. Amo and the perpetrator are seen floating in the sky undressed and holding hands, complete with pink flowers blooming and bursting. In her retelling, she describes the moments of abuse as “love.” Which is the only way she can slightly grasp what she is experiencing.
Additionally, Gachiakuta manages to accurately depict the grooming cycle during this picturebook-esque episode. Amo is repeatedly showered with gifts — books, clothes, toys – before being assaulted. As she becomes older, the animation returns to the anime’s normal style, as if to represent her growing understanding of abuse. Ultimately, she acquires the Watchmen Series boots by taking them from her perpetrator. Who then falls from the tower window after forcefully trying to grab them from her.
Hypersexualization as a trauma response
It is explained that Amo “discovered her power” after escaping abuse. But she is far from understanding what a genuine human connection encompasses. Survivors can become averse to sex and relationships after assault, but it’s also a completely normal response to become hypersexual.
Amo’s overtly sexualized in both the way she’s dressed and in how she interacts flirtatiously with the Cleaners initially. As mentioned, Amo conflates affection with abuse. She is groomed into believing that sexualizing herself is the way to receive “love.” You can easily write off Amo’s revealing outfit and demeanor as fan service; however, it’s a realistic representation of nonfictional survivorhood.
Overall, Amo’s character in Gachiakuta challenges viewers by raising an important question: Can you expand your scope of what you believe a survivor looks like in both fictional stories and real life?
