Himouto! Umaru-chan is cute anime, even if it not an especially interesting one.
Notably, it says some interesting things about Japanese work culture. Could Umaru's indoor personality be explained by her brother's continued absence and work priorities?
Like many anime, Himouto! tells us just as much by what is unsaid. There's a part in episode 8(the Christmas one) where Umaru notes that all her friends are most likely with their friends and families. A few seconds of silence pass and then the episode sort of moves on.
Yes, it is meant to have us reflect on her brother but there is also a lingering, understated question: where are their parents? All we know is that they are rich and associated with some large company. Is Taihei destined to become emotionally and physically absent like them? Will he ever pursue his nascent dream of being a chef?
Thus, this is an anime about emotional exile via work and, in Umaru's case, entertainment. It only in the finale that they are breifly emancipated from their respective addictions. This represents the contradictory nature of Japan- a land of escapism and eternal labor.
Or maybe it's just another moe blob anime idfk.
