Tanaka-kun wa Itsumo Kedaruge

"Some stories are not meant for everybody"
Tanaka-kun wa Itsumo Kedaruge is a comedic masterpiece in its own way.The timing, the flow are gracefully adjusted to the story.

As I said it's not everyone's cup of tea, those of you who are looking for regular mainstream, this is not for you.

Story-8/10
It does not follow any particular story line, it's somewhat of a freestyle-type anime, like random interactions of characters.

Music-9/10
Music is very lazingly soothing, very much reflecting the true nature of the anime, the OP song is especially good.
...
Characters-10/10
Slice of life anime are majorly character-based hence it's an integral part which with characters like tanaka-kun(lazingly awesome), oota-kun(unexpectedly reliable)and miyano(drastically cute) the anime has perfectly displayed.

Art/character design-9/10
Art is in coherence with the atmosphere the anime gives, character are designed beautifully too.

All in all, it is worthy to be watched once.
I recommend that when you are slightly up for some lighthearted comedy with some epic dose of laziness ....Please try Tanaka-kun wa Itsumo Kedaruge. ~(-_-~)

I'll simply write, 'it's fabulous'! Tanaka kun wa itsumo kedaruge is the first slice of life anime that I watched, and I can say that this anime tuned my interest to the slice of life genre. Ah, what a theme, what a animation, beautifully molded characters, it's just awesome. This anime is and will always be my favorite (Please there be second season to this magnum opus.).
After only Tanaka kun, I turned towards school life anime. Introverts characters are always my idols (Tanaka being the king, followed by Oreki Houtarou). His laziness, dealing with various daily life situations, despite his laziness he's someone's crush (I'm ... so envious of him), ah the Shiraishi san (My first anime crush), brother sister relationship, these all small things makes the show very enjoyable. I salute to the author for giving this anime to us. Maybe I am exaggerating, but I loved the anime from bottom of my soul. I re-watched it 2 to 3 times and still it's charisma and charm is unchanged for me. I highly recommend this anime to the people who are introverts simultaneously wants to be with some friends. This anime tells us that without any superpower one can be a superhero (with listlessness obviously!).
Apart from main story, the Opening and ending are truly Soul Soothing musics. There's one music clip in first episode, I don't know what it is (the words are like Langhesan Lange-san), oh my god what a beautiful symphony! Awesomeness is overloaded here. (love you CooRie!)
I hardly write any review for anime, but I couldn't stop myself writing this review. No words to describe this anime. Love you Tanaka kun wa itsumo kedaruge!

Tanaka Kun is by far, the best anime I've ever seen, for the following reasons.

Favorite bias aside, the MAIN reason I like this anime, is because of how much fun it is to observe the chemistry between Tanaka and Ohta.

Despite Tanaka basically living off of Ohta, it never ends up feeling like a one sided friendship because of how beautifully this anime manages to balance the amount of support Ohta offers to Tanaka as a friend. It also helps that most characters in this entire anime don't have even an iota of ill intent or selfishness.

Tanaka as a character is very interesting because we get ... to observe unique reactions from him for every new situation. Despite his laziness, the dude knows how to tackle a situation in more than one way. This allows me to be much more engaged to see what he'll do next.

Secondly, this anime is legitimately FUNNY. Maybe it's just my sense of humour, but I laughed my ass off on almost every episode, whether it's because of Tanaka's innovative thinking or hilarious character moments between him and the rest of the gang. It's not a serious anime of course, but it definitely delivers on some key emotional moments as well, which makes it all the more fun to watch.

Another reason is because of how fun the supporting characters are to watch, both Echizen and Miyano have very fun to watch interactions with Tanaka and even are fun to watch by themselves. They maintain that fun chemistry that Ohta and Tanaka share as well.

Moreover, they all eventually evolve to be better versions of themselves at the end of the series. This is something I never expected from this anime. While not by too much, it is still very refreshing to see this type of evolution which is often not seen for supporting characters.

I also really love the intro and outro songs. I've watched them all through without skipping for every episode, which while overkill, it is something I almost NEVER do.

Finally, the art style. I think this is one of the best looking anime personally speaking. The faded and light colour palette really captures the essence of the characters and the atmosphere. Character designs are also really beautiful with the exception of Tanaka, who seems to almost blend in with the background characters almost, which actually kinda makes sense considering how he is.

If I had to nitpick anything, I'd say Rino, Tanaka's sister is probably the most non interesting character overall. Her comedic value never really caught on in the first place, and scenes with her weren't particularly fun to watch. She seems to be the only character who doesn't develop at all over the course of the series.

Other than that, this anime has almost everything I want from an anime, it's got great slice of life moments, hilarious comedy, interesting characters, and a very relaxing vibe.

I have re watched this anime countless times and still find it interesting everytime. I would absolutely LOVE to see a season 2 of it.

100% would recommend watching it. It's not everyone's cup of tea of course, but if you're looking for chill vibes and laughs, I'd highly recommend checking this out.

Tanaka-kun wa Itsumo Kedaruge starts with a lazy protagonist and his reliable friend. The anime is set on the school theme with nothing new or interesting

The plot is pretty average and basic as many other high school anime and even the story is pretty bland there are occasional comedic scenes that will at least make you chuckle but the undertone of the anime remains boring up until the end. The characters were all stereotypical with no intention of trying anything new and the development was minimal. The anime tried to be a comedy-focused one but utterly failed to do so because of forced comedic scenes ... and stereotypical characters. The art was good but inconsistent with eyes and the animation was pretty ok

The school theme is considered one of the most used themes and it has its checkmarks of events; this anime does it all and in the worst way possible. The anime has a pool scene instead of the beach, the firework scene, and the cultural event scene the three pioneers of the theme but the problem is this anime has all three one after another without a break in between that in many ways look like a hasty attempt at completing the checkmarks. The biggest problem in the anime arises at the near end where there is some tone of incest present that in particular is not seriously shown but can be felt at times. The anime had little to no potential from the beginning but the execution of the story was the one thing that made it look even worse than it was and not to forget about the boring undertone of the plot.

I will not recommend it unless you are really into high school animes and in the edgy lazy protagonist

(This review has been adapted from my blog/reddit thread. Spoilers ahead!)

I’ve been sick lately.

A too private and too embarrassing medical issue has kept me down. Headache. Sore all over. Low energy. I’ll most likely talk about it in-depth in the future, but, for now, I will simply say that I am not at 100%.

Know what has helped? Sleeping. The other day I slept for fifteen hours. I did have a bizarre dream where any action I took compelled me to take a similar yet opposite action. (It was weird.) Other than that, though, my knockout was bliss. For my body and my mind.

Tanaka-kun wa Itsumo ... Kedaruge is like a really nice sleep session: wholly satisfying.

STORY

Some people are concerned about after-school activities, and others are worried about life’s obstacles. Tanaka of Tanaka-kun does not fret over such matters. Instead, he does his best to live without concerns and without worries. Unfortunately for this listless wonder, his friends and everyday events have a different mindset entirely.

Tanaka-kun uses a cool technique throughout the season that gets at what the anime is all about.

Sometimes, when a joke is cracked or the scene switches to a new setting, the anime lingers ever-so-slightly longer than normal. It’s most noticeable when Tanaka or one of the other characters has a reaction. His or her look of disbelief or wonder stays on-screen a smidgen more than usual.

A great example is in episode three. Myaano and Echizen just had a fight. Tanaka walks by while Echizen is still posed, reaching her hand out. Tanaka stops and looks at Echizen, but he doesn’t just do so quickly. Instead, he stares for about five seconds before continuing on (and consequently getting reeled in by Echizen).

It adds to the comedy, but, more than this, it highlights the show’s awareness of its main listless theme. In other words, the show’s content, like Tanaka himself, is slightly lethargic in delivering its material.

What does that content contain? Well, more listlessness. A surprising amount at that. Here’s just a few examples.

In episode five, Tanaka is so listless that he cannot take home anything that is heavy or perishable because he may not make it back in time.

In episode eight, Tanaka’s name is spelled wrong on the title card (Nakata), but he doesn’t really mind, saying it’s fine either way.

In episode eleven, Tanaka does not want to exert energy for the haunted-house project, so, in order to mask his presence, he turns invisible.

Of course, the show does have other types of jokes, too.

Moments like Tanaka holding onto the Earth after a discussion about English’s widespread appeal allow for imaginative scenes.

The other characters have their own brand of comedy: Myaano acts silly when she thinks the world has been overtaken by android mascots, Rino gets beyond envious that Ohta is “stealing” her beloved brother, and so on.

Even the in-between scenes. From Ohta dressed up as mom to do some supplies shopping to Myaano shooting around the screen as a bullet, these quicker jokes are silly while still retaining the charm of the anime.

Besides the listlessness and the comedy, Tanaka-kun also loves its cuteness. Shirashi champions this notion. Her moments, like when she is incredibly happy when Tanaka praises her in her yukata or when she is giddy to be using the same umbrella as him, are simple. But it’s their simplicity that makes them so cute.

Echizen and Myaano are cute too. Echizen misunderstanding Tanaka’s surname suggestion and Myaano radiating confidence and happiness during her introduction are a couple of the ways in which the girls get cute right.

Tanaka-kun does not strive for any grander ideals. Nothing on the effects of listlessness or what being active provides. In other words, it’s (expectedly) not a serious show.

And, in a way, that continues to fit with the anime’s motif. It has no desire to do anything else besides what it is already doing – something that Tanaka would agree with wholeheartedly.

However, it does try. The final episode in particular pushes the idea that putting off effort does not mean one has failed, for life is long and filled with many chances at success. But because the message comes so late and without any other backing, and the show even goes so far as to make Shiraishi’s efforts seem futile, it’s a weak sentiment at best.

Even so, as a slice-of-life story, Tanaka-kun nails its theme, its comedy, and its cuteness. So, while its narrative does not have that much weight, its other parts more than make up for it.

ANIMATION

To maximize its listless motif, Tanaka-kun includes a lot of nuances in its visuals.

Take its artistry.

Rather than using loud colors, it uses calm colors to relax the audience. Lots of light yellows, tinted greens, and soft pinks create a relaxing atmosphere that suit the show well.

Smaller details, such as sunset lighting and background-snail-like objects, also continue with the relaxation in their own, sometimes avant-garde manner.

Yet the best is something that’s technically not there at all.

Many of the locales are vacant, free of obstructions. The best example is the school. It looks quite fancy with its wooden floors and high windows. But its most distinguishing feature is its large, open main hallway where the students often walk in and the camera regularly shows.

By reducing the claustrophobia, Tanaka-kun further adds to its relaxed feeling. And this detail can be found in many other areas: the school’s rooftop, the city streets they walk on, and so on.

The character designs, while not as involved as the artistry, are not without their own strengths.

They wear reserved colors: more pinks and yellows with a helping of white. Their designs are also playful: Ohta is tall, Myaano is short, Tanaka and his sister Rino are twins, Echizen is a tomboy with catlike eyes, and Shiraishi has both the beautiful and the uncaring looks down pat.

As for actual animation, it remains high in quality. A lot of the animated segments rely on more comical art, like reaction faces and exaggerated responses, so movement becomes easier to see. Of course, it has its downtime with the usual eye and hair movements that never look out of place. Interestingly, even when animation isn’t going on, it fits the show. After all, listlessness is the name of the game.

Overall, the visuals are a sweet snack that never overstuff and always relax the audience.

CHARACTERS

Tanaka, as one would expect, is not the most interesting of characters. That’s not bad – because it’s by design.

His call to fame is listlessness. So, he is, by nature, just sort of there. He’s the one that (directly or indirectly) causes the various situations, sure, but he is very rarely an active participant. Indeed, he’d rather sleep the day away than tend to any labor of any kind.

Not to say he is not fun. Tanaka losing his listlessness because he was making too many funny faces is no doubt funny. But, most of the time, Tanaka just-so-happens to be in the area. As a result, the anime emphasizes the rest of its cast. Namely, Ohta, Myaano, Echizen, Shiraishi, and Rino.

Ohta is as cool a friend as any guy could have. A bro among bros. He can often be found carrying Tanaka at hip level with one arm. Caring for him when he needs help, looking out for him when he needs direction. He listens to Tanaka and takes time understanding him, too. Ohta is simply a really good guy – despite his ruffian persona.

Myaano is the cute little ball of energy. She pines for maturity, wishing to fight back against her size to become a woman that others could see as dignified and refined. She’s loud and hyper, making her utter contrast with Tanaka a riot to watch.

Echizen is tough. She gets in others’ faces, and she does not like to be looked down on. But beneath her rough exterior lays a girl who cares about cute things, longs for romance, and likes to help out her friends.

Shirashi is known as the school beauty. Yet, before her high-school days, she was more of a recluse, sitting at home and keeping to herself. Come the new year came a new Shiraishi. Which in turn brought her more troubles than she could have anticipated.

Individually, they are all interesting. But when one considers their relationships with Tanaka, they become that much more fun.

Tanaka not-quite-jokingly sees Ohta as someone he could spend the rest of his life with. In his words, they’re “steady like an old couple.” In other words, they are so close and so compatible that it’s as if they are together.

Myaano treats Tanaka as her leader, as the person that will catapult her into maturity. As such, she’s constantly asking for advice and doing whatever she can to emulate her “Master.”

Echizen misreads Tanaka constantly. First, she thinks he’s some tough dude, then she thinks he’s seeking her hand in marriage. And, given that Myaano looks up to him, she can usually be found, too, making sure that Tanaka is treating her small and cute friend well.

Shiraishi obviously is in love with Tanaka. After he was the only one that still recognized her while she wore her unkempt look, she fell for the listless boy. So, she can often be found trying to get closer to him or at least thinking about him in a romantic, heartfelt manner.

Rino technically has the closest connection, for she is Tanaka’s younger sister. But she wants more; she has a thing for her brother. Crafting personal chocolates for him and enjoying the fact that she got to go on a “date” with him at a fast-food restaurant are just a couple of her infatuated examples.

And the show also connects its cast between the others. Echizen dotes on Myaano. Rino despises Ohta. Myaano knows Shiraishi’s romantic feelings.

Tanaka-kun’s most clever character setup, however, is one that’s not around for very long, but it’s oh so hysterical.

Everybody knows that Ohta looks after Tanaka. But, as it turns out, Tanaka’s sister looks after Ohta’s sister, Saya. Saya is extremely shy and has a hard time speaking loudly in front of others, so Rino repeats Saya’s words for her. There’s also how Tanaka and Rino look nearly identical, but Ohta and Saya do not. And, of course, Rino hates Ohta, but Saya sees Tanaka in a favorable light.

The parallels between the characters are not as clever as this set here, but, given how each of their personalities survive on their own, and they are further amplified by Tanaka’s “boring” personality, the cast comes out on top as a more than fun and equally sweet cast.

SOUND

Oddly enough, the best part of Tanaka-kun’s sound is a sound-effect.

In many instances, like when Myaano is confident or when Tanaka seems sure of himself, a small glinting noise, accompanied by a tiny star, will play. It’s a small, silly sound, but it’s strangely fun to hear. A smile-inducing twinkle.

Next would have to be the soundtrack. Its woodwind arrangements, classical pieces, and general slowness, per usual, contribute well to the listlessness and calmness that defines the show. The pieces themselves are light and fun – suitable as well for the slice-of-life style.

The voice-acting performances are strong, too. Yoshimasa Hosoya as Ohta used a leveled way of speaking that demonstrated calm and understanding. Kotori Koiwai as Shiraishi spoke in a soft yet mature manner. And Natsumi Takamori as Myaano fit the energetic, high-spirited girl well.

(A small shout-out goes to Nao Touyama as Saya. Her introduction, where she whispers and the anime puts her speaking voice down several decibels, made for a cute and fun joke.)

And not to be forgotten are the opening and ending tracks. The opening track goes for that listless feel. The soft singing, the acoustic guitar, and the meandering pace could not fit Tanaka-kun any better. The ED, by comparison to both the OP and the anime, goes the contrasting route. It’s a faster, more poppy piece. The “bon bon” lyrics, the myriad of sounds, and the ending background singers make the song fun to do a little jig to. (At least, when nobody is looking.)

ENJOYMENT

A lot of people were telling me to pick this one up after I initially didn’t. I pushed back because I did not want even more anime to review, thereby putting me farther behind schedule. (I can’t be too much further behind already but still.)

After finishing the season, I’m glad that they persuaded me.

What sold it for me is the characters. Tanaka threatening the gods if he does not have an uneventful day. Ohta being such a cool bro, dealing with Tanaka’s laziness. Myaano making everything that much more cheerful. Echizen adding in a bit of roughness here and there. Shiraishi acting so gosh darn cute. Rino refusing to accept Ohta.

I found myself laughing throughout each episode, having a blast at the creative takes on listlessness and the duo calmness and silliness. I had a ton of fun – which is something that I cannot say about many of the shows from Spring 2016.

Unfortunately, I do have a gripe with the anime.

The show’s romance is adorable thanks to Shiraishi. Her joy and happiness at being with or around Tanaka made me joyful and happy in return.

What didn’t was Tanaka’s perspective. When walking under the umbrella, he’s more concerned about his shoulder getting wet. Or when he thinks about what having a girlfriend caused, he says, out loud, that it’s probably better for him to never have one.

It’s not just that the romance did not happen. That would have been okay since the possibility would still exist. It’s when the show goes so far as to tell me straight out that it may not ever happen that makes me sad to hear.

Yea, Tanaka’s (maybe) joking around. And, yea, it fits his listless personality to a tee. But, as a romance buff through and through, I cannot lie and say I approved of the anime’s decision.

(Similar musings can be had for Ohta and Echizen’s “romance”; there were one too many almost-romance happenings for my liking. No matter how funny they were.)

Still, it’s only one grip among a thoroughly entertaining experience. One that I hope gets a continuation sometime down the line.

Tanaka-kun wa Itsumo Kedaruge takes listlessness to heart and delivers a strong slice-of-life outing. Its content is filled with comedy and cuteness. Its art is often clever and beautiful. And its soft music supports its fun characters. Altogether, a cure for any sick day.

SUMMARY

Story: Good, takes advantage of its listlessness, using comedy, cuteness, and a simplistic narrative to deliver a feel-good time

Animation: Great, smart artistic direction, nice backgrounds, good character designs, and nice actual animation

Characters: Good, Tanaka’s listlessness emphasizes the rest of the cast, allowing them and him to shine

Sound: Good, okay OP, good ED, okay OST, good VA performances, and an awesome little twinkling sound-effect

Enjoyment: Good, while the “romance” was disappointing, the sheer amount of laughs had is undeniable

Final Score: 8/10

Tanaka-kun is the “sleeper” hit of the season… eh that’s all I got. I’m not a big fan of slice of life, but Tanaka-kun was able to pull me in by finally giving me a protagonist that’s more listless than myself. Makes me feel better as a person. It’s a easygoing show that will have you glued to your screen watching a high school boy just staring and breathing and sleeping (Sleeping with Hinako, anybody?). Or on the other side of the spectrum, gladly put you to sleep. Just how listless is the show? Let’s find out.

What It Does Right:

+Lovable Characters That Give the Show ... the Energy It Needs
Tanaka-Kun’s strongest suit is undoubtedly it’s characters. Each of them has a well defined personality that makes them a joy to watch. Some of them break tropes of typical high school comedies making for a fresh wave of wacky shenanigans. I was surprised at how many archetypes I would normally scoff at, I ended up loving (except for a certain character with a sibling complex, ugh why?!). I can’t really pick a favorite character as many had their own special set of charm that I had fun watching. The interactions between these characters have a nice and natural chemistry. The show is never too forceful or melodramatic with it’s romance or character dynamics making for a well balanced show.

+Simple, Tranquil Feeling That Emits Coziness
Keep your expectations at a minimum, because Tanaka-kun is really just here to chill. Something about the show will just have your mind at peace, that is if you are in the right mindset. The nice backgrounds allow for a cozy experience and that paired with the colorful energy from the cast had me invested. While the show is basically a collection of events in the usual school setting, the show’s presentation allows for a unique take on the typical cliches. The events can range from a simple half-episode’s worth of slow-paced gags to a quick 4 panel-ish skit of… listlessness. Either way, if your body is ready to experience the laid-back world of Tanaka-kun, then by all means jump right in and relax.

+Soothing Soundtrack to Carry the Mood
The soundtrack of Tanaka-kun is the star to lead the pacing of the show. Tanaka-kun does seem quite reliant on it’s fine blend of various piano tracks to guide the mood and without it, Tanaka-kun would probably one of the most awkward shows in existence. The opening theme is always placed with precision to break the ice whenever the show decides to just pause. Both that and the ending are fitting of the show’s personality and is a good way to get in the mood the show wants you to be in. The voice acting are nothing to complain about as each VA does there job whether it’s the raw hyperactive personality of Miyano, the intimidating vibe of delinquent Ecchan, or the conflicted awkward sides of Shiraishi.

What It Does Wrong:

-Tanaka-kun Should Have Been a Secondary Character
I know the show is called Tanaka-Kun is Always Listless, but a gag of a dude sleeping and feeling lazy as heck can only entertain so many times. It eventually got to a point where it was becoming repetitive and onenote which eventually led to Tanaka dragging the show down. The show may try to spice things up every once in awhile, but I would much prefer if the rest of the cast got their time to shine (except for the one with the brother complex) to complement the constant “lol i’m tired” jokes which would lead to an arguably better paced show. There are so many other characters with much more interesting quirks and stronger comedy potential.

-Animation Can Get as Lazy as Tanaka-kun Himself
Along with Tanaka is equally lazy animation that drags the show back from reaching better heights. The designs are one-of-a-kind, but the animation to support this is rather still and sort of just does nothing. It’s competent when it wants to be, but then decides to cut corners and take it’s sweet time. While this may be part of the pacing, there were points where characters would just awkwardly stare and stare even more, which was too excessive to my liking. The screen transitions and 4 panel skits were also just characters doing nothing leading up to nothing. The show just lost me at these moments due to the sheer anticlimactic nature akin to an overly long loading screen on a game.

-Not Much of a Purpose Rather Than a Collection of Events
Tanaka-kun isn’t really trying to give any messages, themes, or any narrative at all. There’s no coming of age or notable developments to speak of. The show just does what it wants and it chooses to give us an honest anthology of mundane high school activities lit up by the expressive characters. In the process, the show may come off as pointless and eventually forgettable. If you saw a few episodes of Tanaka-kun, you pretty got a good basis of what the show is. Don’t expect to get much out of the show because for better or for worse, this is a harmless comedy and nothing more and nothing less.

My Pointless Enjoyment:
Tanaka-kun pretty serves as my weekly fix to relax, chill, and embrace my inner nothingness. Like every comedy, Tanaka-kun isn’t consistent with its laughs. Some jokes had me cracking up by the sheer absurdity of the misunderstandings (which by the way, this show is fanservice free, yay) while others had me staring and silently nodding my head. But for the most part, I had enough enjoyable moments to salvage and that’s all I really ask for in a comedy. While Tanaka, the animation, and obligatory “oni-chan” spouting little sister bored me, the rest of the cast provided enough energy to hold that off.

Overall:
Should you watch Tanaka-kun? If you have no idea what the word listless means and aren’t burnt out by high school comedies, go for it, this show has quite a bit to offer. It stands out among the other slice of life this season with it’s above average characterization and honest intent to provide a relaxing time. Before I rewatch Sleeping with Hinako and fall asleep from utter listlessness, I award Tanaka-Kun is Always Listless with a 5.5/10.

PS: Feel free to comment on my review. I'm always up for advice so I can improve my reviewing skills. Thanks for reading!

Going into the Spring 2016 season, strangely enough, this funny little SOL anime called Tanaka-kun is Always Listless caught my eye. I always have time for a good slice of life comedy, but it is rare that I actually look forward to one. Tanaka-kun, with its odd little description, hooked me and reeled me in before it even started, and I have to say, it lived up pretty well to my expectations.

Well, I suppose I'll get to the review now.

Story: 7

Not much to say here. The series is episodic in format, with little to no overlying story. It follows much the same formula as many ... other slice of lifes, but it's lack of a strong plot is not a draw back. I would say that it is more of a fact that has little impact over the anime itself. I'm giving it a 7 on story because there's very little new here, but that isn't really a bad thing.

Art: 9

Bright yet soothing and calm visuals, good and not over the top character designs, and beautiful back drops. The art isn't ground breaking, but it is definitely a solid 9 on my scale.

Sound: 8

The OST fits the laid back mood of this anime to a T. The voice acting is great, I really think that the cast made the characters come alive (or go to sleep in some cases). The OP and ED are suiting, if forgettable.

Character: 9

While each character can loosely be put into the shapes of the different tropes, each has a unique personality that at least puts some twists and turns into their shape. The character interactions are great, and they even manage to add some character development for a few of the main cast members while maintaining quite a large number of regulars. Very well done.

Enjoyment: 9

Not every anime can make me laugh out loud at my computer screen, and the ones that can usually get a high rating in this category from me. Tanaka-kun is no exception. This was one of the only anime of the season that I actually knew the hour that it aired, and I looked forward to it every week.

Overall: 8

One of the best none-romance focused slice of life animes that I have ever seen. I would describe it as a slow paced, laid back comedy with a loose plot. Its definitely worth a try for those looking for a laugh.

Story - 7
Art - 10
Sound - 10
Character - 10
Enjoyment - 10
Overall - 10

As a high school senior whose high school life is coming to an end ever more imminently, I particularly relished this show because it celebrates what normal life is and how enjoyable life can end up being if you have close friends to spend time with.

Friendship is definitely a major driving factor in the series. Everyone seems to deeply care about their friends, with one friend's concern becoming everyone's concern, and the way people bond doesn't seem overly contrived, although admittedly, perhaps one particular character does seem to have that kind of aspect. ... Overall, though, any issues that are present aren't bothersome, and thus, the anime does deliver a mostly genuine feeling.

The art was absofuckinglutely gorgeous. I haven't seen backgrounds this good in a while. There are definitely good backgrounds, yeah, but this particular anime seemed to blow me away every time, which has extremely rarely happened (only other time art blew me away was Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso).

The OP is excellent and meshes well with the overall vibe of the anime. ED is OK. I've seen better, but it somehow does work.

Like I said, for me, the anime feels 70% relatable which jacked up my enjoyment a lot since I felt so emotionally connected to it. Daily life and hanging out with friends is definitely something to be cherished, and this anime celebrates that, which I love.

I'm feeling a bit listless just like Tanaka-kun, so I guess I'll end my review here.

Did I mention the art is outstanding though? Like seriously. It's insane.

tl;dr vibe and art are godly, friendship/daily life are prevalent themes, sound is excellent

for me its a big fat 10 just because its so refreshingly different, the characters are entertaining and they contrast each other perfectly (the main character is still the star of the show). The story is so simplistic yet it works flawlessly, the soundtrack compliments the laid back vibe of the show and the animation is great.

you go into each episode knowing youre gonna get pretty much the same thing (tanaka's lazy shenanigans) and yet each episode is as satisfying as the last. its also great because anyone can watch this, there is literally no one i know who i wouldn't recommend this to whether ... they are a slice of life fan or not

With a colorful cast of characters, great comedy, all while having a calm atmosphere, Tanaka-kun is Always Listless is the sleeper hit of the Spring 2016 season (pun definitely intended).

The story is as slice-of-life as it can get: set in a high school with nothing too extreme about it. Because of the nature of the series, it has a real laid back feel to it, like you can be at ease when watching. Plus, the timing of the comedy in it is on point and I find myself laughing quite a few times each episode. These types of shows I've always enjoyed. It's a breather ... from all the action and shounen out there.

The characters are the ones that make this show the way it is. Each of them has their own unique personalities that mix well with everyone else. Might I say that not only are they funny, but they are absolutely adorable. I pretty much love all of them. The only major complaint is that there were some that didn't get enough time to shine, which kind of sucks.

The animation is what you would expect with a slice-of-life series like this: very simplistic. However, it's not to the point where it's generic, because it has a distinct look to it, specifically the design of the characters. I'd say there were a few flaws here and there, but being too engrossed with the story and characters didn't make it bothersome.

This is exactly the kind of slice-of-life series that I love the most. What normally makes these kind of shows is the characters, which this does well with. Honestly, while I had this on my list, before it premiered I wasn't sure what the show was going to be like. Having finished it, I'm glad I decided to stick with it all the way through.

There is a very easy cut when it comes to wether you'll like Tanaka-kun or not. Are you lazy or you feel you desire to be more lazy in life? Then you'll like it. There is no attempt to humiliate Tanaka for being useless or any mean spirited stuff, that would go against the spirit of the show. And that's why connecting with it is so important: the lazyness and relaxation saturate every aspect of this show.

At first it's easy to consider it one of those "healing" animus, the light colors and slow delivery of jokes that don't close with a tsukkomi punching and screaming ... tend to be common in those comedies. But in Tanaka is a 4koma comedy. There is little development, there aren't particularly emotive moments and there is nothing to get from it.

The most evident moment when this saturation becomes evident is in the cut to the opening and eyecatches. After the joke the screen slowly fades to white, taking three or four seconds to eventually disappear. There is no loud noise or strong cut, just moving with ease to the next place. Or usually the same one moments later without any change.

The color pallete doesn't have full saturation, the music is something the MC from Detroit Metal City would love, and even the angry tsukkomi characters are quitely revengful instead of reactive. There is no opposition, in the plot or in the looks. It's impressive how a vague concept as being lazy is turned into visual and auditive metaphors all the time.

This anime feels like an incredible excercise in expressing feelings through animation. But obviously if the comedy doesn't work for you there is no point in caring too much. I'd say you're not supposed to care too much about anything to enjoy this anime.

To open this very clearly, I do not believe this is a bad anime. I actually enjoyed it a lot, especially when I felt I knew where it was going. The characters, as introduced, are really fairly interesting. In the first few episodes one can see how they start to evolve. But then, disappointingly, it feels like all the characters get somewhat pretty quickly after they're introduced. So many things are introduced and then abandoned. Arcs are basically repeated. It feels like, relative to the length of the anime, so there could have been a lot less revisited and a lot more innovation.

The most ... disappointing thing is how much potential it feels like the characters and show had. The artwork was inventive and stunning at times, the characters seemed to be presented as to imply they would evolve from the tropes they started in. It represents enough tropes that I found it a useful point of reference in solidifying my interpretation of a few other shows. By the midway point I honestly really looked forward to seeing where everything that was set up would go, and so more than anything the show felt disappointing.

This was not a bad anime, and it could have been a very good one. It was heartwarming and adorable, but if one sees the initial ambition and direction, it's difficult not to be a bit let down. However, I don't regret watching it and think it's a worthwhile short anime that can act as a reference point.

There's a particular type of anime apart from the usual hustle and bustle of RomComs that I like. And that's slice of life. A genre I got introduced to when I first started watching anime. While watching Tanaka-kun wa Itsume Kedaruge, those nostalgic feelings came back, and I enjoyed this anime in a way I hadn't before with any other animes. In one word, I'd call Tanaka-kun wa Itsumo Kedaruge 'sweet'.

Story: 9/10

Even while being a slice of life, the anime sweetly introduces it's plot in a very slow and easy going way, although it was done so to introduce our lazy MC, it also denoted ... how beautifully and sweetly the pace flows in slice of life anime. It opens slowly, flows slowly and ends gracefully. Such a calm demeanor of a plot could deserve a 10 easily, if only the plot was a bit more tightened. Otherwise, Tanaka kun had a wonderful and unique story that most slice of life watchers would get a sugar rush out of due to it's sweet nature.

Art: 9/10

The art was amazing. It fit perfectly with the slice of life genre and accentuated the comedy too. The character design was another thing to mush over. If I was asked to describe it in one word, I'd call it cute!

Sound: 9/10

A slice of life should be soft, so the sound track too has to be soft. And frankly speaking, I've already run out of cute words to describe this anime. The adorable OP was very memorable and nostalgic at the same time, even though the ED wasn't memorable as much the OP more than made up for it. The VAs did a brilliant job of portraying the characters, they fit in perfectly, especially the three MCs, namely our title character, Ohta and Shiraishi.

Characters: 10/10

Character development and slice of life are always at odds. And so if you wanted or expected character development from this or any slice of life anime, you won't be satisfied as that's not the purpose of this anime. Tanaka-kun wa Itsumo Kedaruge's purpose is to introduce the daily life of the characters so character development will be minor or won't even exist. I rated the characters out of their personalities instead of development as this is a slice of life.

Tanaka: Our MC, Tanaka is an extremely lazy person, so lazy that he can go to extreme lengths just to relax later on. Even though he's quite lazy, that doesn't stop the fact that he's considerate of his friends and can even beat himself up for one too. Unlike most other MCs who're dense brats, Tanaka isn't. What sets him apart is that he isn't interested in such relationships just because it wastes his energy. He has quite a funny and sweet way of going about daily issues too, which further boosts his appeal to the viewer.

Ohta: Tanaka's close friend and 'wife' (watch to understand why he's called that), Ohta is the opposite of Tanaka in the sense that he's dependable, arguably active and takes care of Tanaka's *every* need. But fortunately his character isn't sacrificed, he has his own opinions and thoughts as well and instead of supporting the comedy, leads it at times. A feature seen in few 2nd MCs (as in the second character). Ohta is a sweet person too who like sweets and always tries to help Ohta. So the female community might be appealed by his kind and generous personality.

Shiraishi: Arguably the only non MC who gets the most screentime, Shiraishi develops a little too, she learns to stay true to herself and her embarrassed and shy nature (to some extent) is also a refreshing aspect to slice of life (which nowadays are bombarded with Tsunderes, though I'm not complaining). She finds it difficult to cope with her feelings due to her double persona (watch to understand what I mean) and her struggle is notably seen in the last few episodes.

Enjoyment: 10/10

Needless to say, I loved Tanaka-kun wa Itsumo Kedaruge. It's sweet nature triggers the sweet side inside of us and teaches us to enjoy life as it is. That's a lesson I enjoyed learning. The comedy also delivered extraordinarily. If you've read my previous reviews you'd notice how few anime actually make me laugh and I'll confidently tell you I was laughing at almost every comedy scene. Which shows that this show is actually really good at comedy as it is fresh and original while also using the characters in a unique way.

Overall: 9/10

I've already said the word sweet so many times so I'll try not to say it now. Overall, Tanaka-kun wa Itsumo Kedaruge was a sweet (dangit, I lost already) and cute anime that could be the slice of life of the year in my opinion. Anyone who wants something sweet (again...) can and will find satisfaction in watching this anime. Slice of Life lovers will most likely praise this as I did. One of the best slice of life anime out there!

P.S: Shiraishi is best girl <3

Mmm I may have wished to be falling asleep after watching this...

It is a good and relaxing one. Maybe it is because I am relating to the character. A good comedy. It is nice that the "romance" did not sprout, so to speak. A change in pace. The art is very calming colours, and the side bits transitional are funny. However, it needs more development on the side characters.

The tidbits of classical piano at the beginning of episodes is a warm welcome. Deducted points due to the character develop.

A side remark: I never heard the word "listless" to describe a lazy person, haha

Just to ... note, there is close to no plot. So if it does not attract or relate after Episode 1 or 2, simply drop it.

This show is a very quiet riot as the subtle humor fluctuates between heartwarmingly awkward to totally off-the-cuff. In surprisingly bold ways, this cast of teens navigate their way through high school, trying to become the best versions of themselves - especially Tanaka. His honest desire to become a sentient rock is lowkey impressive, but the interactions and bonds he makes in his pursuit are highkey hilarious. Tanaka is calm, unaffected, moisturized, and in his lane throughout the entire series, with the most soft points of growth keeping him from becoming stagnant. His orbit of friends also have rich undertones and nuances to the stereotypical ... roles they've been assigned. It's a refreshing take on so many common anime tropes: the energetic lead, the hardened muscle, and flawless beauty are all laughably twisted about 90 degrees from the norm, making for novel hijinks and bittersweet confrontations that felt unique and realistic.

And he CUTE too! The lines are gentle with a palette like watercolor and an almost gossamer filter to make the whole scene look dreamlike. The background music is as quirky and comfy as Tanaka; it avoids sounding hollow or cartoony with detailed pan flute samples and discernable drum beats, as opposed to the old MIDI ringtones that SoL anime typically uses. I'm especially in love with "Utatane Sunshine", the opening theme performed by Unlimited tone. It's cute and bouncy andalso matches the idyllic dreaminess of the art.

Tanaka-kun is the first comedy that I've ranked a 10. I had a hearty/shocked/incredulous laugh at least twice every episode. Watch the dub with an anime-wary friend, because the English voice actors do a great job keeping up the vibe.

Ok so this is one of the most amusing anime to watch not many anime cath my eye till the end because once i watch an anime its always the same concept and there are some which make me watch tons of episodes for example dragon ball at the start the idea was new so i liked to watch it a lot but as i watched more episode i got to know the theme more and more and it got really boring and even if i want to search spoilers i cant because i want to see the thrill myself and i see spoilers to ... know when the exitement happens in an anime for this one i watched a few clips it seemed good so i watched it the first episode was good and the more i watch the more exiting and it was the best its been a really long tie since i had this feeling it was so new and thrilling even if it was a bit "Listless" it was still good it was just about tanaka sleeping in frnt f the tree at start i was confused and then i watchd more it was a bit interesting and so i kept atching more it was a really new thing to me so i enjoyed it a lot there seemed to be a harem but there is no ship that i use i just think that tanaka and his friends enjoy highscool after that .

the sound was good and the art was awesome everything ovrall was nice its a slice of life , school , comedy anime its very good you should watch it if you want a break from SUPER POWRS GO and blah blah blah tanaka kun is always listless is a very relaxing anime over all

A very nice laid back slice-of-life anime that is pleasant to watch.

Watching Tanaka-kun is somewhat healing in the same way cat cafes are. The story is very simple and the characters have fairly interesting yet very ordinary personalities, it's fun seeing them interact and react in different scenarios.

Reminds me somewhat of Shirokuma cafe just without all the animals and in a school setting. Very relatable if you have any kind of anxiety, it's nice to see a character like Tanaka be so true to his nature and I do find Ohta somewhat adorable too.

Take your time with this one, it's a great one to sit ... back with a nice hot cup of tea and relax. I enjoyed watching this while eating meals, although Ohta always makes me want to eat sweet things..

Story: 8 - There isn't really much of a plot to this anime, it is just the daily life of Tanaka-kun and his friends.

Art: 10 - I love it, personally.

Sound: 9- Sounded okay to me when I watched it.

Enjoyment:10- This anime was funny and what is more enjoyable than something that makes you laugh?

Overall: 9

... When I read the description of Tanaka-kun is always listless I expected a laid back anime. I was, to some degree, correct.

This anime is very laid back but it is also very funny. I found myself laughing at some point of each episod.It is somewhat like a compilation of shorts for some episodes. I tend to dislike this in anime but I found it highly enjoyable. Tanaka-kun does not have any cliche MC traits but he still an MC we come to love.

His friend, Ohto, is also a great support character, supporting and understanding Tanaka-kun throughout the series. So much so it gives off a bromance vibe as Tanaka basically relies on this guy.

Overall, this anime is not very serious but is very enjoyable and I would recommend it to anyone and if that hasn't convinced you this anime is made by Silver Link studios, the same as Kokoro connect and Baka to test!!

Hey folks, this will be a review for Tanaka-kun wa Itsumo Kedaruge. This show was a blast, and I would love to see more. Honestly I could probably watch four or five seasons of this slice of life show.

The story isn't really special. We follow our main character Tanaka as he lives his life being lazy and listless. Some events arise that bring more characters into the mix and we watch as these events disturb his normally peaceful days.

The art was great. The soundtrack also great. The intro song is slow and fits the anime perfectly and its also good enough to listen to outside ... of the show.

The characters make this show awesome. Tanaka is the main character and he goes to great lengths to preserve his lazy and peaceful days. He however is rather weak so his best friend Oota takes care of him. Oota is a large guy who carries Tanaka around and takes care of him like a wife. Miyano is an energetic girl who wants to learn the ways of maturity and laziness from Tanaka and proclaims herself his apprentice. Then you have Shiraishi who is the model student and plays the role of the odd love interest.

The characters are fantastic and there are more to list but its rather hard to write more without spoiling some early plot lines.

As I mentioned above I enjoyed this anime a lot. The comedy was excellent and had me smiling and laughing constantly. The interaction between the characters didn't seem forced or fake and even though it was a slice of life show it was still really interesting to see what happens next. Seriously you should give this one a watch. If you don't like the first episode you probably wont like the rest of the show, but I highly recommend trying it.

TLDR: Great, every aspect was awesome. Comedy, characters, art, and sound all amazing. Highly recommend giving it a shot.

Review en ESPAÑOL:
Si te gustan las historias calmadas, divertidas y livianas, este anime te va a encantar.
La historia parece no tener ningún atractivo ya que es básicamente la vida diaria de un estudiante normal muy perezoso... pero desde el primer capítulo nos damos cuenta que los personajes con personalidades unicas hacen de la monótona vida cotidiana estudiantil una divertida comedia que te sacará muchas risas.
Como es el día a día de un estudiante, los capítulos no siempre estan relacionados entre sí, sino que cada capítulo tiene su historia, las cuales no dejan de sorprender con las ocurrencias de los personajes, los cuales son muy ... divertidos y te podrás encariñar facilmente con ellos.
El ambiente y el sonido hacen que sea una serie tranquila y relajada, aunque hay espacios vacios, estos quedan muy bien y en ningún caso hacen perder la continuidad del relato, de hecho, es un recurso poco recurrente que le entrga a este anime un toque calmado y relajante que verás en pocas series.
Disfruté mucho viendo esta serie, ya había leido el manga por lo tanto se que le es muy fiel y no se pierde de nada, por eso, me encantó ver animado a Tanaka-kun y a Ota-kun. Así que si eres amante del Slice of Life y la vida de los chicos de preparatoria, Tanaka-kun Wa Itsumo Kedaruge es para ti, y si no te gustan, también puedes darle una opotunidad a este género, tal vez te haga cambiar de opinión.