Aggretsuko: We Wish You a Metal Christmas

Retsuko, a red panda worked to the bone, finds solace in her passion for death metal, letting its rhythms and lyrics express all her pent-up emotions. Lately, though, she has developed a new obsession: getting as many likes as possible on her Instagram posts. This new hobby has become not only a way to escape the gray routine but also a source of joy. It is even said that social media attention can release endorphins. As Christmas approaches, the city fills with bright lights and festive spirit, and Retsuko feels an ever sharper craving for recognition and approval from her followers.

Just as the holiday spirit fills the air, her desire for popularity keeps growing stronger. She starts looking for new, creative ways to embellish and sugarcoat her otherwise drab everyday life so that it will catch the attention of people online, experimenting with all sorts of content. Every new photo or video becomes not just a post but a chance to show off how unique and creative she is. Before long she notices that likes and comments have become a kind of drug for her: the more attention she gets, the more she craves – and the gap between the life she shows the internet and the one she actually lives keeps widening.