A huge number of anime are set in schools, but not all of them have a Student Council as overpowering and aggressive as the one in Kill la Kill. Established by Satsuki Kiryuin under the pretense of managing Honnouji Academy's administration, the Council is led by her favorite minions, the Elite Four — Nonon Jakuzure, Ira Gamagori, Uzu Sanageyama and Inumuta Houka.
Each of them is no doubt devoted to their Satsuki-sama, often putting themselves in the path of peril in order to protect her. They may not be powerful enough to defeat protagonist/antagonist-level opponents, but that doesn't mean that they are weaklings. Besides their abilities, which are well-known, what are some of the interesting things about the Elite Four that weren't obvious at first glance?
10 Known As The Four Devas
This little group is also referred to as the Four Devas, or Shitennou, a reference to Buddhism's Four Heavenly Kings. Originally derived from the Vedic concept of lokapalas, or "world protectors"; the Japanese versions are Zoujou-ten, Tamon-ten, Jikoku-ten, and Koumoku-ten.
Each of these devas (deities) guard one of the four cardinal directions, implying that Satsuki has an impregnable (and symbolic) armor, protected from all sides, against all enemies.
9 Nonon Jakuzure Is The First To Meet Satsuki
Although the remaining three also came across their future leader when they were much younger, Nonon has known Satsuki from the time they were toddlers.
In a preschool flashback, it is revealed that she instantly takes her new best friend "under her wing," asking her to always remain by her side. In response, Satsuki trusts Nonon more than anyone else (or maybe it's respect– nobody knows, really.) She hasn't really changed all that much since childhood, except for her missing little hat monkey.
8 Ira Gamagori's Multi-Tiered Technique
Gamagori has one of the most elaborate power level transformations in the anime, allowing his Regalia to take various forms depending on the fight. In the first level, Shackle Regalia, he becomes an Egyptian mummy/gimp, and all attacks against his outfit only serve to increase his own strength.
The Scourge Regalia is manifested when he has been sufficiently "punished", generating more BDSM-related weaponry from his body. In the final form, "Shackle Regalia Persona Unleashed", Gamagori becomes ridiculously strong — some of his feats include resistance to Satsuki's katana, Bakuzan, literally flaming punches, as well as the hilarious "Unrestrained Ego Blast", which releases highly dangerous energy attacks in the shape of his face.
7 Uzu Sanageyama's Painful Past
Uzu used to be a tyrant of sorts in his own right, leading the "Northern Kanto Gang Alliance" against Satsuki when she demands his absolute submission. His massive army is taken down with bare minimum effort, but he refuses to admit defeat, continuing to attack her with everything in his arsenal.
Unfortunately for him, she proves to be far superior in every possible way (strength, skill, willpower), and proves that he would never be able to reach her level. As he has matured, Sanageyama accepts his place under his new "boss", to the point of sacrificing his life for her if necessary.
6 Houka Inumuta Was Once A Freelance Hacker
Inumuta had a lonely childhood, growing up in a single-parent household. With his mom working all the time, his interests slowly gravitated towards computers and programming (initially using his skills to erase any hints of his own criminal activities.)
Nevertheless, he is discovered when he rashly attacks the cyber defenses of the Kiryuin conglomerate, REVOCS Corp., which he succeeds in getting through. Houka is caught almost instantly, though, but instead of being thrown in prison, Satsuki asks him to come onboard her team.
5 Nonon Jakuzure And Punk Rock
Although Nonon pulls off her marching band leader aesthetic with enormous grace (and some violence), the creators originally considered making her a guitar-wielding punk rocker.
She was meant to employ rock music riffs in her abilities, rather than the baroque and classical varieties depicted in the show. It makes sense, though, because marching bands are an actual part of school life. Another curious aspect relates her name to her passion — in 蛇崩 乃音, "音" refers to "notes" or "sound."
4 Ira Gamagori Is A Size-Shifting Toad
Is it really surprising to learn that Gamagori's platinum blond hair is actually a result of regular and thorough bleaching? Then again, the man is near impossible to define. One of his curious features includes random size changes, especially when he's trying to come off as dominating (an example being in the first episode right before he kills (?) poor Suzuki for daring to steal a One-Star Goku.)
This is attributed within his own name, with "蟇" or "Gama" alluding to the English word "t0ad", the obvious implication being his "puffing up" ability (which may or may not be metaphorical.)
3 Uzu Sanageyama Actually Cares About Others
As much as he boasts about his own strength, whether in front of Ryuko or Satsuki, Uzu is regularly defeated in the most humiliating ways (à la Nui Harime.) This bravado is shown to be a veneer of toughness, as he kind of still believes that "men" are meant to show off their strength and not hold back in combat.
Regardless, he is probably one of the kindest characters in the show, as he takes the extra trouble to save Honnouji pupils (and their parents) from Ragyo's COVERS — those strange suit-cocoons that hang in the sky.
2 Houka Inumuta Gets Special Treatment
Although he willingly agrees to work for Satsuki, obeying her without question in most instances, he is the one Elite who she cannot fully place her trust in. In spite of this, he receives an upgrade to his Three-Star uniform even without having his older one being ripped apart by Ryuko (as happens with the others.)
Does this mean that Satsuki-sama has a soft spot for her little computer nerd? Unlikely; she probably allows this because the Probe Regalia Mk. II gathers data on his fight with Ryuko, which Satsuki can later use for her own purposes.
1 The Elite Four Basically Run Honnouji Academy
Satsuki Kiryuin is not always present at Honnouji Academy, considering that her projects are far more expansive than simply running a school. While she's away, or busy concocting her mother's inevitable destruction, the Elite Four take charge of the daily organization and scheduling required to run any kind of institution.
Gamagori manages the rules and regulations, Inumuta works on planning and tactics, Sanageyama oversees everything to do with sporting events, while Nonon grudgingly looks after the problems that face the various extra-curricular school societies.