We see hikikomori and otaku phenomena, that I suppose hasn't been acknowledged this vast in the year "NHK" was made (2006), as a medium to convey a wider message. We follow the story of Tatsuhiro Sato, a socially inept guy encountering misfortunes and soap opera-ish events that make him step out of his cozy idle life. Even though it brings topic about social phenomena of otaku so many times, "NHK" actually doesn't only try to tell poor life of Sato the hikikomori. Honestly, almost all of the characters have their own problem, and the conclusion is what we actually watch, not like how idly "Watamote" was trying to shove us the ideas through the misfortune jokes all the time. "NHK" is more than that. It's about life, despair, enjoyment, passion, anything, not just how to not being a otaku and such. They paint larger than the canvas they have been prepared.
As I have finished this series, nothing is pretty much concluded in "Welcome to NHK". The cycle of problem will always go on and on, but some of characters' aspect taken a small step each day, and that's part of moving on.
Despite the stiff arc transitions that makes it looks so, I don't know, soap opera-ish (sorry for the horrible diction) and wacky animation at some moments (Episode 19 is the worst production-wise), "NHK" tells a solid story that feels related to all of us. It is definitely one of the best animes to those who want a good character diversities.
