It actually took me a while to get around to watching this show. The art was too Muppet-ish for my tastes, and I didn't see anything appealing about a gag anime where the main characters all looked the same. I'd never heard of Osomatsu-kun either, so there was really nothing drawing me in. The only reason I started watching was because I heard that the first episode was filled with anime parodies and you could only watch it illegally because the creators didn't want to get sued. It took me a good few months, but by the end of that first episode, I was hooked.
Story: 9
The best part of the Osomatsu-san story is that there kind of isn't a story. There are no story arcs, no rising or falling action. They just kind of throw some ridiculous short plot at your face for a few minutes and then move on to something else. This can be a really tricky kind of show to pull off, but the staff managed it so that viewers can be pissing in laughter one minute and ready to cry about a cat wearing glasses the next. (Writing goals.)
The comedy is a wildly out there kind of toilet humor where you don't really understand what's going on but you're laughing out loud regardless. It's the kind of comedy that western shows like Family Guy and South Park strive for, but can't pull off as well or as consistently as Osomatsu-san. This show's like adultswim's wet dream, seriously.
Art: 8
As I mentioned earlier, Osomatsu-san has a weird Muppet-esque type of art. They look like Garfield and Kermit the frog had a litter of cartoon babies. However, this perfectly suits the show's overall tone, and when it doesn't, they aren't afraid to change it up. They'll throw in some clean Studio Pierrot animation (with character designs that clearly reference UtaPri), stylistic facial references, and even replace everything with just words. It's odd, but it really works somehow.
Sound: 7
The background music didn't really stand out to me. I'd notice it on occasion, and when I did it would fit the scene, but I never thought, "wow that's some real good jammin' in the background."
The openings and endings, on the other hand, were great. Both openings had a quirky sort of denpa-meets-folk vibe, while the endings seemed to have disco-pop influences. They're all incredibly catchy, and stupidly hard to get out of your head (which can be a great thing and a wildly annoying thing).
Characters: 10
Ah, the shining beacon of light that made this show the work of art it is. The brothers, who at first glance look like the same person in different shirts, are soon apparent to be clearly cut individuals. After watching a few episodes, you get to the point where you can easily tell them apart at first glance, just by their postures, expressions, and the occasional oh-so-subtle differences in hair.
Characters who seem to just be an embodiment of comedy are delved into and developed to the point where the viewer becomes so emotionally attached that they go to bed thinking, "I hope Ichimatsu gets enough sleep; he always seems so tired..." You think that background character is just gonna be comedic relief? Sorry buddy, you're about to get wrecked over a bald boy with Naruto whiskers.
No character is simply what they seem to be in this show; everyone has 3d personalities, everyone has different sides to themselves. The character that you thought was a lazy freeloader turns out to have deeply rooted psychological issues, and the one who you thought was just the classic Minnie Mouse style sweetheart will beat you with a fish while insulting your genitals. They're realistic characters in an incredibly non-realistic world, which is a weird but wonderful contrast that really gets you thinking.
Osomatsu-san will ruin you in the best way possible. You'll fall in love with a Muppet and question your life, but you will enjoy it. Feel the pain. Love the pain. Laugh over the pain. And someone please give these boys some hugs and counseling dear mother of christ.
Overall: 9/10, would recommend.
