- A psychological comedy/drama
The first time i watched this show, i have to admit i didn't know what to expect.
Having being used to see the positive aspects of being an otaku in anime and not exactly all the negative, this show took me by surprise, showing a completely different side of how otaku and hikikomori life really is like.
For people that don't know, the hikikomori trend is becoming quite problematic in japan, with people that live years closed in their rooms.
And being somewhat of a nerd myself, it was hard not to relate to this story and see parts of myself in some characters.
STORY: 9
- As you may already know, this story is centered around a 22 year old, hikikomori, by the name of Tatsuhiro Sato that suffers from a severe case of agoraphobia, and social anxiety, therefore he can't leave his house, unless he really needs too.
As the story progresses, Sato will meet all kinds of people that in one way or another will shape is character, and try desperately to help him to stop being a hikikomori.
From learning the hard way , the good and the bad of being an otaku, to having to deal with suicidal tendencies. Sato's journey makes for a harsh and interesting story, that strongly accentuates on compulsive behavior and the importance of human relations.
Leaving the viewer always wondering if Sato will be able leave is hikikomori ways and reclaim is normal life, is one of the shows best premises, and one that kept me glued to the story.
Characters: 9
-One of the good things about the characters is that, each and everyone of them is damaged, with their own set of flaws and obsessions, that contrast greatly with Sato. From extreme otaku's, to stalkers or people obsessed with conspiracy theory's. This show really explores all kinds of different personalities, and people that for some reason feel alienated from society.
Although sometimes they can be annoying, most of the characters feel unique and are all well designed
Sound: 8
On the sound department, every VA does a good job, and as always some voices may be hard to tolerate depending on your taste, i personally had no problem with the VA's on this anime.
On the soundtrack side of things, while not being memorable , the music in this show does complement the scenes in a good way, portraying the unique feeling of the show.
Art: 6
Art is by far the weakest aspect of this anime, while in most of the scenes the art and animation are good, using simple but effective drawings on the characters and detailed backgrounds. In some episodes the quality of the art and animation simply plummets into ridiculous levels , leaving you wondering if they ran out money in the middle of production or had a ridiculous tight schedule.
With that said, its a shame because it can be immersion breaking and its its the only major flaw, in what is a great anime.
Enjoyment: 8
I had a great time with this show, at first i was surprised simply because i was expecting something more similar to Genshiken which I'm a fan, and got a completely different take on otaku and in this case hikikomori life. The story, the characters all felt unique and different from everything else i have experienced in anime, which along with the art and the music made for a good experience. Too bad the art and animation inconsistency in some episodes somewhat crippled my experience as a whole, but overall i still had a great time
Overall: 8
