Story:
The show is about a 22-year old named Satou. He is a hikikomori, or shut-in, living in a tiny apartment in Tokyo. He has no job, and has frequent delusions of an organization called the NHK trying to mess with him. The whole series is about him coping with his social anxiety, as well as his interactions with the people close to him. The show is a comedy at times, but a drama at other times. When the show's funny, it's very funny, and when it's serious, you will be gripped. 9/10
Art:
The quality of the artwork is variable. At times, the animation is pretty good, particularly in Satou's daydream sequences. At other times, (especially in the beginning of episode 19) it's amateurish. It's not one of the better looking anime series I've seen, but it's good enough for a tv series. 7/10
Sound:
The background music is pretty good. It always fits the scene that's playing very well. Also, the opening song is really great. I have no complaints about the music.
I only saw the English dub, but it too was satisfactory. Curiously enough, it was done by ADV, and I don't normally like their dubs. This, however, was actually well done. The only problem is some of the voice actors mispronounce the Japanese terminology, but it's not that big of a deal, since you should know what they're referring to. 8/10
Characterization:
Satou is a neurotic individual with a lot of problems, yet is still a likable and believable protagonist. The other characters, particularly Satou's neighbor Yamazaki, are memorable in their own right. Everyone undergoes significant growth throughout the series, and by the end, you'll feel genuinely attached to them. 9/10
Enjoyment:
The more humorous episodes contain some of the funniest scenes I've ever seen in Japanese animation. The more serious episodes contain moments that are both soul-crushing and uplifting. There's not a single episode that may me think, "Wow! That episode really sucked!" The ending was well done, too. 9/10
Overall:
Welcome to the NHK is a dark examination of the hikikomori phenomenon. It's more realistic than your typical anime series. That said, it's very well put together, and warrants at least one viewing. You can watch the entire series on Funimation.com, provided you don't mind watching it in English. Either way, watch it if you can. Come for the humor, stay for the pathos. 9/10
