The new Crunchyroll hit Gachiakuta is more than dominating its ratings charts, thanks to the introduction of its fascinating protagonist, Rudo Surebrec. The character’s deeply wounded psyche went through many trials before even being abandoned in the earthly world, and the star of the anime’s English dub explains how this affects his portrayal.
Speaking in an interview with Screen Rant at Anime Pasadena 2025, Bryson Baugus detailed his experiences playing Rudo, right down to the moment the character is lost in his rage. Surprisingly, the Gachiakuta The character resonates powerfully in the way he expresses his discontent with the dire circumstances of the world. In fact, Baugus finds playing Rudo downright therapeutic.
Gachiakuta’s Rudo Shows the Power of Freeing Your Emotions
While the first episodes of Gachiakuta Certainly could have indicated a darker path of revenge for Rudo, angered by his continued position as an outsider in society, later episodes showed nuances in his position. Rudo wants to change the world and simply sees a broken system in front of him that makes him angry. As Gachiakuta progresses, as do Rudo’s coping mechanisms.
Speaking about his experiences so far playing Rudo, Bryson Baugus spoke to Screen Rant and how it reflects a different part of himself that he doesn’t normally get to show.
“I feel like it taps into a side of me that I don’t really let out very often. I’m generally a very cordial person. I try to be very kind. If I feel any kind of resentment, I’m more likely to hide it within myself.
And I feel like Rudo has been a really good therapeutic outlet for things that I can feel deep inside about certain things and certain people that may have hurt me in the past or just different things like that.”
-Bryson Baugus
Baugus talks about the real difficulty one can have in maintaining social decorum in the face of injustice, whether on a personal or societal level. Rudo hardly presents a suitable solution, but his portrayal is certainly a powerful outlet. However, as Rudo can rely more on his newfound family, the Cleaners, he soon finds a way to channel his anger in a positive way.
Rudo is, due to a history of abuse, leaving him with heavy scars on his hands, as he was ultimately abandoned by his parents. He had difficulty communicating with others and cultivating a positive outward image of himself, even struggling to smile. Subsequently being accused of Regto’s murder in the series premiere, before being kicked out of his home, is obviously traumatic.
Rudo would not readjust instantly once he landed on the ground, nor would he be immediately won over by the power of friendship for some time. His rage, incapable of being expressed in words, led him to lash out at Amo Empool in Gachiakuta episode #12, and it was a very bad decision. But thanks to communication, Rudo finds his way.
Solo Leveling could never let go of such a poignant anime quote
The charm of Gachiakuta is how new it feels while still channeling classic 2000s anime vibes, especially from Naruto’s shades of lovable inadequacy. Solo Upgrade isn’t made to communicate such emotions, and many of the best anime of the era tackle different themes. But Gachiakuta just summed up Rudo’s strangely adorable blend of rebellion.
Separated from the Cleaners in the Trash Storm arc, Rudo recounts how he dealt with recent events. Just before being dropped outside the Sphere, he swore bloody revenge on those who had wronged him; however, it came from a nihilistic place as he was completely abandoned by society. In this one Gachiakuta monologue, it is clear that his point of view has changed.
“Trash, humans…none of that is ‘trash’. Meeting you isn’t trash either. It made me realize what I have that you don’t have, Zodyl – a team that reached out to me. I was nobody to them – a trash kid with nothing but anger in his name and they gave me a home. Even though, as a Sphereite, I brought danger to their doorstep, they didn’t treat me like a nuisance either. They treated me like me! The only people besides Regto, on the Sphere or on the Ground, who ever saw me as me… it was them! My revenge, my anger… I will never forget either of them But… that’s not enough for me anymore if you want to know where I’m going with this… I want to live with them, have fun with them, and! Fortunately take my revenge! You piece of shit!”
-Rudo Surebrec, Gachiakuta Episode #20
This is where Rudo cannot achieve the same extremes he felt through his rage. It is unlikely that upon reaching the Sphere he would be inclined to commit a massacre, as this would alienate him from his Cleaner teammates. His revenge more likely lies in how he will break society’s barriers and how it treats different classes of people.
Rudo admires the acceptance he was offered. Rudo gradually gains Zanka as an ally. Riyo saw Rudo’s scars and what he must do to maintain them. Enjin acts like an older brother to him. There are now a lot more people who accept him as he is, gluttonous and obsessed with sweets, than before.
This acceptance, and the way Rudo accepts it, feeling a sense of purpose, makes for a powerful and important quote in the current anime season. Gachiakuta is still too young to over-evaluate, but moments like these create a strong impression for a broken, layered protagonist putting himself back together, just like the trash he so carefully repairs.
- Release date
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July 6, 2025
- Network
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TBS, MBS, CBC, Tulip Television, BSN, tys, NBC, HBC, RKK, i-Television, SBS, IBC, BSS, MRO, OBS, TUF, RSK, TUY, TBC, RKB, SBC, KUTV, RBC, UTY, RCC, MRT, atv, MBC
- Directors
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Satoshi Nakagawa
- Writers
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Ikuro Sato
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Aoi Ichikawa
love (voice)
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Katsuyuki Konishi
Engine (voice)
