A great anime confronts the problems and struggles of the real world and shows that not a single person on this planet of seven billion can escape from the emotions of being human. This is exactly what Yojouhan Shinwa Taikei or The Tatami Galaxy does best.
Story: Contrary to the popular high-school setting that dominates the current anime landscape, Yojouhan chooses to explore the next stage in life—college. No longer in the transitory stage between child and adult, college marks the beginning of adulthood and as such, is filled with many ambitions and aspirations, but at the same time, anxiety and concern for what the future may hold. This anime explores a myriad of ideas stemming from the new-found freedom and self-expectation of becoming an adult, including feelings of inadequacy, the depth of friendship, and the importance of living life in the moment rather than in the "what could have been". The story follows Watashi, the main character, as he pursues various club activities at school in search of the "rose-colored college life" that he has always dreamed of.
Art: The art style is a little quirky, but nevertheless very well done. The colors are bright and vibrant and capture the atmosphere of the story perfectly. The features of the characters are not over-embellished but instead kept rather simple, allowing the viewer to focus on the character interactions and self-realizations.
Sound: Just like the art style, the music used throughout the anime and for the OP and ED fit the overall vibe perfectly. At times, it heightens the tension between characters and at others adds the cherry on top to the joy. At no point does the sound feel out of place, but instead, acts as an integral part that complements the story.
Characters: I believe that Madhouse did an excellent job with the character design and the unique personalities assigned to each individual. The main character, Watashi, is portrayed in a simple manner that is very relatable to. The lack of a real name for this main character and the use of Watashi, which means "I", adds to the ability of the viewer to imagine him or herself in the same position. The other two main characters, Akashi and Ozu, are both designed in a very unique way that does not fall victim to the classic character tropes. Rather than take the spotlight off of Watashi, the two other main characters complement him perfectly.
Enjoyment: I had an absolute blast just sitting down and watching this anime in one go. The show uses an episodic and slightly repetitive framework to introduce an idea and nurture the development of the main character. This sets the groundwork for one of the best endings I have seen in anime. The last two episodes tie up the story perfectly and give a very unique portrayal of the journey within the self-conscious to find what the soul truly desires. The anime is littered with psychological ideas and symbolism that may slip by the viewer the first time watching, but offer levels of depth to the show that illustrate how much time Yuasa Masaaki and his team put into creating something brilliant.
Overall: 10/10
