NHK ni Youkoso!

The word “otaku” used to be extremely derogatory, but in recent years, the word has become a lot less negative with many people (the users of Myanimelist for example) coming to identify themselves as otaku. However, this is still a major problem in Japan. We have the idea that it’s pretty normal for someone in Japan to obsess about anime and manga. However over there, “otaku” is used to describe someone that’s weird, unskilled, lacks the competence to be in a healthy relationship and/or can’t secure a stable job. This is what Welcome to the NHK is about, the story of such an otaku’s life in Japan. This is my review. Contains Minor Spoilers Story The story Welcome to the NHK is about 22 year-old, Satou Tatsuhiro, an otaku/NEET/hikimori. He’s unemployed, sleeps for 16 hours a day and goes grocery shopping at night with money his parents send him. He has the idea that that everyone and everything is against him and it’s supposedly all part of some convoluted conspiracy theory. He reluctantly joins a program which will help him get over his paranoia and in the process, better his way of living. Welcome to the NHK is part drama, part romance, part black comedy, part psychological thriller, part satire and part slice of life. It shows us the life of an otaku in a realistic way, but it’s able to combine drama and comedy with everyday life. For instance, it explored unemployment in a way where it could make us laugh and think at the same time. Unemployment is a very serious issue all over the world, but I just couldn’t help but laugh at how it was shown in Welcome to the NHK. However it also shows the consequences of unemployment and how it can affect the individual. If it’s from psychological thriller to drama to comedy and back to drama again, the executions of the tonal shifts is smooth and doesn’t come off as awkward because even though Welcome to the NHK falls under so many genres, it manages to have a certain direction of knowing where it wants to go. If it’s serious, it’s serious and if it’s funny, it’s funny. This works because Welcome to the NHK is never all over the place tonally. Art Welcome to the NHK has a distinct look. The characters aren’t that refined. Sometimes their noses disappear and their designs aren’t greatly detailed. There’s not really a lot to say, other than that’s it really simplistic and plain. The background characters sometimes appear as faceless. It sounds awful but you get used to it by the first episode. It has a certain charm, because it isn’t the type of animation you’d often see and the show manages to make it work. Sound You can’t go wrong with the English dub. I haven’t seen the subbed version but the English voice actors all did a wonderful job. Chris Patton and Greg Ayres are extremely talented voice actors who seem to embody the roles of Satou and Yamazaki, respectively. Both of them seem to have chemistry with their respective characters when interacting with one another and just really fit their animated counter parts. While Stephanie Wittels isn’t as well known as the former two, she did a wonderful job as Misaki, coming off as sweet, confident and manages to be cute without putting on a grating voice. Welcome to the NHK has a wonderful opening. Puzzle is just so catchy and upbeat. The remix used as the second opening gets rid of the trumpet which is kind of disappointing because something that small drastically changes ones opinion of the song, which makes you wonder why the show didn’t just use the first opening all the way through. The first ED sounds like a high energy nonsensical rant that’s just not that enjoyable to listen to. The second ED, was actually really nice. Slow and soft, it was just a wonderful track that closed an episode off nicely. Characters Satou is otaku personified. He’s obsessive, unsocial, unemployed etc. What makes him such a great character is that he has more flaws than perfections. He makes a lot of mistakes. He is someone that thinks isolation is capable of physically strengthening an individual and so decides to break a beer bottle with his hand because of his ridiculous reasoning. He connects dots that’s not there and comes up with conspiracy theories that are laughable. But he tries to better himself. He knows that he can change his lifestyle. He takes control to fix his mistakes and that’s why you love him so much. He’s funny, really weird and goofy, but he doesn’t want to be an otaku. Misaki and Yamazaki are two of the three leads and they were fun to watch. Their interactions with Satou were hysterical. Misaki’s meetings with Satou and the antics of Satou and Yamazaki was just really enjoyable. These were characters that grow on you over time because you feel like they’re just young ordinary people living their lives who also had their own personal problems and hassles to worry about. Like the story, they were down to earth. Everyone else in the story had a part to play. No one ever just showed up to fill up space. They were part of a story, and everyone seemed to have a direct or indirect influence of Satou’s life. Enjoyment Welcome to the NHK is very perculiar. Watching it, I noticed, I have never ever seen something like this before. Because of this it took a few episodes for me to fully enjoy it. It was funny, but laughing at the expense of Satou made me feel bad, because it gave me a glimpse of what an otaku’s life is like. It showed me the the daily lives of these individuals, how their psyche works, how they think and how they struggle. You can actually see yourself in Satou because of his flawed nature. All the characters weren’t just moving cardboards and the story was weirdly entertaining. Welcome to the NHK is smart and definitely something that you can watch more than once. 9/10

For starters, the relatively low rating I gave is mainly due to my high expectations. It wasn't what I expected. "NHK ni Youkoso !" is definitely not a traditional anime. The premise of the story is set somewhat high, and I, as of reading the synopsis, was more that interested to see what a Hikikomori's life is like, especially with the "Conspiracy theory" seasoning. The anime kicks of really well, and I immediately adjusted to the fact that this it won't be a deep, psychological analysis of the state of being an introvert. The rhythm was much more light and comical. And then realized it's nothing like what I expected it to be. The story is promising and different, but not satisfying. THEY COULD HAVE DONE MUCH BETTER THAN THIS. Half of the 24 episodes were pretty much dull and passable, the anime could have squeezed a better scoring if it was shorter. The over-diversification of the themes is sometimes welcomed, but most of the times not. The anime was conceived to be rich and smart, but it failed to be both. It was set to be real, but the story was definitely not convincing (more on the characters section). I would have cited some ridiculously unpleasant change of pace/theme/world, but I should keep this review spoiler-free. The art department is mostly safe, although the quality of drawings swing throughout the episodes (For instance, the Game art was very dull. Some of the scenery was very unspectacular. Overdone fan-service ..), but it safely lands on a 8/10. Some drolly-drawn scenes actually saved some dull episodes. The character design is another highlight, although not surprisingly so (Satou's grey eyes basically, I liked the weird alien things, then the over-kawaii Misaki-chan that is though generic, well made). The sound is another fine part of the anime, but definitely not a remarkable achievement. The guitar melodies in the touching scenes, the jazz always alarms of a coming "private" scene, the ringtone of Satou's phone will not get out of my mind any soon. The seiyus were definitely a good pick, hence the 8/10 in the sound category. Misaki-chan's voice is so cute :3 Now to my least favorite thing about the anime : The characters. I couldn't enjoy "NHK ni Youkoso!" even if I tried. The characters where darn annoying and universally stupid. The protagonist is very shallow and utterly oblivious. Yamazaki, the only good character there is, was used minimally and unstably, and some times very abusively (by making him do things that don't follow his starting profile). Misaki-chan was super cute and super paper-thin, and a hard slap to feminism's face (as of any other female character in this anime). The rest wasn't noticeable. I should go back to the stupidity thing. Am I the only one to be surprised of how unbelievably stupid the characters were ? I mean come on ! I bet a seven years old can make the characters less predictable and more conscious. I suffered while watching them missing the points over and over and over again. Depressingly lame. So, as a matter of fact, I hardly enjoyed "NHK ni Youkoso!" because I expected better and I abhorred the fact they made all the characters 0-brain creatures with limited back-story (They tried to give them some of that, but they failed) and unjustifiable urges to do more stupid things. The story could have be a "let's think" one, but it was more "I don't think I can watch the rest of this" one. The last two episodes could have redeemed the overall mediocrity of the anime, but the ending was so bad I was I stopped at the before-last episode's credit (with him running and the song playing an all). A sorrowful 6/10.

Spoiler free review! ✧ Introduction/the story: What is it like to be a hikikomori? Or an otaku? Are they lazy or weird just because, or is there a deeper reason behind their behaviour? Do they have some mental disorder? Then what are the situations a person with mental illnesses have to go through? If you ever wondered about one of these questions, Welcome to the NHK is the perfect answer. ✧ The characters: The main cast is amazingly handled and very well fleshed out. Despite representing a group of people, they are far from being bland or just stereotypes, they are charismatic, multi-faceted and you get to know them more and more with every episode. They have their virtues, their defects, their goals and what they think about other people and what they want to do with their lives. Their attitudes, actions and personalities are justified and explored. The story emphasizes on why they are like that and why they act like that. They all have serious problems and it's very possible you could identify with them; we even get to know the most horrible and messed up side of them. This is what makes them human and the series really makes you care about them. Satou, the main character, is easily the best written of them all. We basically see the life through the view of a paranoid, anxious person; we get to know his past and his relationships with other characters in-depth and with proper pacing. His character is so well developed and constructed that at some point he gets to becomes totally unpredictable to the viewer. ✧ The script: First of all, this story deals with realistic situations and it shows you how being a hikikomori or an otaku genuinely is. Because of this the story gets more and more depressing and psychological as it advances, bit by bit you get to know that the main cast of characters have mental illnesses, existential emptiness, how they try to fill it and how reality hits them hard constantly without recurring to victimization or shock value. Rather, trying to show valuable lessons through them, implementing the use of smart and thought provoking visual metaphors and outstanding dialogue, especially when the MC is talking to himself. NHK is a dark comedy that presents a very good transition between the funny moments and the darker side of it. Sometimes they even complement each other, enriching the plot, but this doesn't mean that you'll get misplaced wacky comedy when the story is handling its more serious facet. It amazingly deals with stuff such as self-hatred, having no will to live and trying to find one, feeling alone and useless, recurring to escapism, being stigmatized, emotional dependence, cursing others because of your own misery, obsession, using others for your own enjoyment and being easily fooled by the smallest sign of affection. This show has some fan service, but most of the time it's there to make a point about the characters and their psyches, especially exploring the MC's mind and sometimes even in a way that might make you feel a bit uncomfortable, because it's there to show you a reality. Not only to make you grope for it. ✧ Production values: The animation is far from perfect, but the setting is well constructed and it's perfect for the tone of the story, like a mix between the funny stuff and the serious themes the story has. Don't forget that this is a dramedy, so a setting with an ambiguous feeling is just right. The expressive seiyuus fit the characters perfectly, the soundtrack isn't amazing but still very memorable, the contrast between the first opening and ending is basically telling you how the show is going to be. Be careful with Pururin's opening song, it's too catchy! ✧ Conclusion: Welcome to the NHK is excellent. It deals with complex themes and mental illnesses with mature, realistic situations and greatly fleshed out characters with real problem. The animation and art style are not amazing but I really recommend you give it a try, especially if you have or had depression, paranoia, anxiety or wanted to commit suicide sometime in your life. Although you don't necessarily need to be a hikikomori or an otaku to feel identified with the characters.

While I applaud this show for being situated well within the bounds of the real world (aside from the last 2-3 episodes), that just isn't enough to excuse its myriad failures. The two primary male characters, Yamazaki and Sato, are so thoroughly self-hating and unpleasant that it's hard to care when they endlessly fail at anything they attempt. The two primary female characters are utterly undeveloped, although their stories seem vastly more interesting. Misaki finally gets some notice in the last two episodes, but it's all voiceover narration -- too little, too late. Kashiwa Hitomi, easily the most interesting character in the entire show, remains a cipher. And, in the end I didn't even care about her. This show had a lot of potential and it ended up being pretty awful. Even worse, it was dull, like a bad lecture. Ugh.

Even the strongest man when confronted with the meaning to life will become sorrow stricken, while simultaneously becoming consumed with the idea of there is no meaning. What is one to do when your thought pattern has become one similar to a wind chime, only being forced to move by something or someone else. We begin to settle in our own sorrow slowly becoming what we know to be flesh moving puppets of our society. We then search for someone or something to hold accountable, putting our minds at ease..... Surely this cannot be the fault of my own despair..... This reason cannot be because I have not learned to take responsibility.... Instead it is the fault of the society I was brought into. The television that is in my house, the books that are on my shelves, the clothes that are at every department store, the music on every radio station. But for everything that is holy please don't make this my fault. Welcome to the N.H.K. is that story highly detail with mind racing borderline crazy thoughts while also being roped in by those in which you believe understand you, and those who claim not to understand but are just like you. Things may go good for a while, but it all is a trick of society. Once opened with that small bit of happiness we are shut into a room. Your life is on display for the world to see through a glass window layered with a thick foam of your deepest thoughts. You will be tricked, you will be loved, you will be hated, misunderstood,and understood. But most of all you will learn..... Satou Tatsuhiro is the man confronted with live's meaning, he has also been roped in by what he believes to be societies tricks,yet it is truly his own stupidity that seems to lead him to the very foundation in which he lives in. Afraid of being confronted with life as well as society he remains inside only coming out for a moment. If I just push myself one more time? If I just buy one more things? If I just do this again? Maybe my life will be that in which I desire. Welcome to the N.H.K. is Satou's story of him pushing, buying, and doing that thing. While learning who is truly to blame for his life's troubles. A dance with his own mental state leaves him to hear it's cries of injustice and fuckery he has encounter over the years. Quick money and trickery are what lead to his misunderstanding and lack of self-respect. His hate for others, but more so his self are what drive his very motivation of living in such as state. And yet is society not Satou's image? Is it not the push? Is it not that wanting to be understood? I am not sure. But my dear Welcome to the N.H.K........

If you're searching for a great slice of life, then you're in the right place. Welcome to the NHK is a big delicious ice cream when it comes to showing everyday tasks of an adult being sociophobic. The main character, Sato is a 22 year old young man who wasn't prepared for growing up and becoming self independent. The series shows him struggling with himself and how he is brought up back by Misaki, a girl who signs a contract with Sato to help him overcome sociophobia. The Story is life sucking. I marathoned this series in 3 days, just because i was so interested to see what Sato is gonna face up next. Its about things we encounter a lot these days, like suicide. But without spoiling, i'll say that its very relatable for some. The Art is not so pleasing however. Some might hate it, but i was so interested in the story, that the art played a very tiny role for me. The Sound on the other hand is just perfectly placed. It was fitting in every moment when Sato was feeling lost or alone. The Character of Yamazaki, Sato's neighbor, was very funny, i believe he is the one that could cause this anime be considered in a way a comedy, but in fact its far from that. Misaki is Sato's dream girl, but they never actually get to be together unfortunately. Overall this is slice of life in its best way possible. I enjoyed the hell out of Sato's life and this is an important anime to me because i have made some important life lessons since then.

If you are researching how schizophrenia is portrayed in media, this anime falls short of providing an accurate representation. If you were hoping for comedic content that goes beyond shallow sexual references, this anime will not meet your expectations. If you value your well-being and want to invest your time wisely, I strongly advise against engaging with this disappointing piece of work. Here are a few reasons why: The anime is riddled with an overwhelming number of negative post-hypnotic suggestions, which can be mentally draining and unsettling. Rather than providing insight into schizophrenia, it may actually make you feel more confused or misinformed about the condition. It initially entices viewers with the promise of a romantic storyline, only to ultimately disappoint them in the end. Regrettably, the anime seems to promote a nihilistic perspective, potentially influencing viewers to adopt a pessimistic and unproductive mindset. In summary, this show is a disappointing mess that fails to deliver on its promises. It offers no genuine romance, only a lingering sense of melancholy. Thank you for taking the time to read my review. I encourage you to invest your valuable time in something more worthwhile and productive.

This anime....... This anime changed my life for the better l was basically a neet when l watched this show it broke me out of that state Story 9/10 You have already read the synopsis saito is a 20 something year old neet one day a friendly young girl named misaki wants to help him break free of his hikemori lifestyle. Personally loved the story sure it can be funny and have light hearted moments but then dives into serious shit like suicide and depression so yes the story is amazing. Art I think the art of the show suits it very well every character is very distinct and clear to their facial expressions to the designs themselves of course if you are picky about your fucking animation you may not like the characters designs art 8/10 Sound 8/10 Alright the sound in this show is amazing the first opening is one of my favorite songs of all time and the Japanese voice actors did an amazing job did not like the English dub as they didn't take the show as seriously as they could have 8/10 Characters 9/10 Here we get to the meat of the show the characters lets talk about saito shall we? saito is not a perfect character he has a lot of things wrong with him he has a flawed personality wants nothing to do with his life but thats what makes him so great. HE is meant to be like that the whole show revolves around him. As he gets better as a person or worse as a person at certain parts of the show also my 3rd favourite anime character Misaki: Misaki is int resting any normal person would have given up on saito by now except she doesn't the reason why is very spolilerish so l will not ruin it for you sure she can be a bitch and manipulate saito and everything but every character has flaws another amazing character and my Favorite female character. Yamazaki Saitos neighbor and an otaku now l dislike yamazaki the most out of the 3 main characters not cause l hate him he is a great character also him and saito have the most hilaerous moments especially with the porn and mmo he is also a serious character as well him having to go back to his hometown to be a farmer. Sorry for spoilers Enjoyment 10/10 The show is just flat outstanding it broke me free of my neet life style the message is never to give up hope in life as something may good come around you may not enjoy the show as much as me but eh please watch it overall 10/10 The show is an masterpiece and highly overlook definitely worth buying on amazon.

Based on a novel, Welcome to the NHK delves deeply into the life of Tatsuhiro Satou, a troubled hikikomori and NEET obsessed with thoughts of conspiracy and distrust. In telling the story of a hikikomori, this series brings to light in anime aspects of Japanese society that are both real and prevalent. We come to see the world through Satou’s eyes, as he meets the mysterious Misaki Nakahara, a young girl claiming to be able to cure him of his antisocial ways. It is from here that his journey begins. The series tactfully incorporates a certain dark humor with deeply emotional and psychologically driven characters with whom viewers quickly empathize. Satou’s path beyond his life as a hikikomori is a colorful one certain to entertain, and offer viewers a distinct insight into Japanese subcultures and trends. Tatsuhiro Satou is an understandably complex character, who’s struggles are depicted along various levels. However, the series does well to integrate into the story the difficulties and psychological stresses of those individuals that Satou interacts with, as he attempts the transition from social withdrawal, and how they fit into the jigsaw that has become his life. Apart from Misaki, other principle characters include figures from Satou’s past, Kaoru Yamazaki, his former high school junior, and an otaku of the highest order, and Hitomi Kashiwa, his high school senpai. We find very quickly that both come to add much diversity and transformation to Satou’s life in their own unique ways. The character design of the series is particularly well-formed, neither parody nor overly realistic. Characters maintain real-world features, drawn at thin lined with angular features. Certain attention is paid to background art and the characters’ world, at times incorporating different animation styles in different episodes to emphasize the characters’ situations and experiences. The series’ soundtrack closely blends with the scene actions, and appropriately lays accent to the characters’ interactions and emotions. In an episode, we may come across points of soft background music to faster and louder rock beats, and even silence when appropriate. The opening and ending sequences are just as dichotomous, their variances in tone matching the protagonist’s unbalanced, but intriguing attitude and views. Welcome to the NHK follows a series of story arcs, some of which are certainly more entertaining than others. It is obviously met with its lulled points, but these are largely surpassed by its high points. And regardless, it seems each turn aids in some way in developing the characters’ throughout the story. One finds oneself connecting with the characters on varied levels as the series progresses, and ultimately, find satisfaction and enjoyment in its viewing.

Anime has often been used as a means of exploring new worlds, immersing yourself for just a moment to watch a story unfold somewhere wildly different from reality. There’s no harm with that at all and it can be a blast. I’ve often found however that I get most enjoyment from shows that tackle meaningful topics in a more realistic setting. Welcome to the N.H.K delivers on this in spades. The show’s themes of depression, anxiety and social withdrawal are treated with respect and attention to detail. It had me interested from episode one through to its superb conclusion. It’s a show that I wouldn’t hesitate a moment to award a ‘must watch’ tag to. Story Welcome to the N.H.K. sees us following the story of Tatsuhiro Satou. He’s a ‘hikikomori’ (socially withdrawn individual), a term for one who is often shunned by Japanese society for their lack of desire to contribute to the workforce and behave in a socially acceptable manner. In strolls Misaki Nakahara to his life to offer help in getting his life back on track and so the journey begins. In the time we’re exposed to Satou we see him learn about seemingly easy methods to get out of his poor state of being, failing to put Misaki’s more thought-out efforts to use. He instead believes the evil ‘N.H.K’ organisation have made him part of a plan to make other citizens feel better about themselves – by not being him. Part of the appeal of the show is seeing Satou’s view of society clash with the real world as he becomes exposed to more of it. The story gives off one strong message: Not everything you undertake brings rewards and sometimes the fruits of your labour come off with a sour taste compared to the sweet one you expected. Watching Satou bounce between not caring what happens and suddenly gaining motivation is intentionally frustrating and well done story telling. The writers know that this isn’t an issue that has a blanket solution. The show takes time to establish Satou’s situation, making us see every detail of what he does and what he believes in. Because of that we appreciate even the tiniest of steps he takes on an attempted road to recovery. The story structure is one of just a few gripes of mine. I liked the build-up over the initial seven to eight episodes but then the show starts to jump between different scenarios quite frequently. One particularly dramatic arc seems to come from nowhere but it is does still serve a purpose. It provides one of the most critical moments for Satou to reflect on how good he might actually be off compared to others. In a way you could see storytelling change up as a form of Satou’s increasing desperation to seek an escape from his hikikomori lifestyle. The pace at least picks up in a way that mirrors that, though it took me a moment to get used to. Characters Satou is one of the most realistic and strongest characters I’ve seen in this medium, and that’s not a piece of praise I hand out every day. Just when Satou looks like he’s making progress you can see his frightened mental state pull him back. When he makes a significant achievement it feels huge because his weaknesses are laid out in all their harsh truth for the viewer to see. It’s easy to both despite Satou yet want to cheer him on. He cheats, lies and avoids situations because he feels so bad about his place in the world. It’s not like he doesn’t learn from experiences though, and on occasions you won’t even notice the small steps he takes in his attempt to better himself. He’s cleverly written, feels terrifyingly real and everyone can relate to him in some way or another. I’ve often heard that those who get the most out of the show are those who are living a life like Satou’s. I can see how that may be but even so I took plenty away from its ideas despite sharing little in common. There’s ideas of diverging paths and disconnection with friends over time that really struck a chord with me. This isn’t a show just made to inspire those in the same situation. Welcome to the N.H.K. uses Satou to express universal ideas of solitude, deceit and addiction. Everyone has experienced that in some form. Misaki is one of the more mysterious characters whose purpose and background are deliberately handed over to the viewer at only a snail’s pace. I loved the way the show was self-aware about Misaki’s own place in the narrative (a girl with no ill feeling towards the main character who comes to ‘save’ him) and had Satou challenge that concept. This naturally creates friction between the pair and only as Satou feels more confident in himself does this ease somewhat. Despite her simple appearance, conversational tone and easy-going nature, you are always left to wonder what’s driving Misaki forward. Because of that, Misaki’s moments in the final run of episodes are incredible. Seeing that mystery behind her character unravelled is such a rewarding experience. The supporting cast is strong with Kaoru Yamazaki a big stand out. He’s the one who first drags Satou on a different path and his otaku lifestyle starts to rub off on Satou, for better and worse. He acts like a picture of sensibility to Satou yet at the same time is far from a perfect man himself. In fact, in this show, no-one is. Everyone has a gigantic flaw or a big hole they’ve dug themselves, and most of them don’t want to admit it. This a show based on people putting on a different face to cover for their insecurities, but slowly coming to terms with their psychological problems and shedding that façade. It isn’t torn down through melodrama or unrealistic circumstances either. You feel that every shot and every character has an important purpose to being there. Sound & Art One thing I didn’t expect this show to deliver so strongly on was the soundtrack. I was blown away by the lovely melancholic guitar melodies and the softly sung vocals. Despite its simple chord structure “Youkoso Hitori Bocchi” has become one of my most memorable anime tracks thanks to its well delivered vocals, a song that has the amazing ability to sound both depressing and uplifting at the same time. There’s a lazy, mellow vibe that comes from this soundtrack that perfectly encapsulates the sense of wanting to drift along with minimal effort – quite appropriate. It’s remarkable to see how underutilised Satou’s voice actor Yutaka Koizumi has been in the industry because his performance in Welcome to the N.H.K. is nothing short of fantastic. Whether it be the screams of anger, his strangely menacing cackle or just his everyday musings, everything is spot on. The snarky tones of Yamazaki’s voice actor Daisuke Sakaguchi (Satoshi Fukube of Hyouka and Shinpachi Shimura of Gintama) are another standout and make for both excellent banter and chemistry between the two characters. The animation in this show is certainly nothing amazing but rarely detracts from the experience. Characters are very crudely drawn at moments plus there’s some hilariously overdone shading at times. Thankfully the show is exactly reliant on scenes that require a whole load of movement so the simplistic art style and the matching level of animation don’t feel so bad. Overall This show is designed to frustrate you, make you laugh, make you cry. It succeeds on every level. It may a little slow for some but I encourage you to take the time out to watch a show that actually explores some very serious ideas without sugar coating them or diluting them down with some irrelevant sub plot. Every shot and every scene has an important purpose. This show has stayed on my mind for some time after finishing it and I guarantee it will do the same for you.

Alright. I loved watching it. It is a one-of-a-kind anime which maybe comes closest qua atmosphere to Steins;Gate Story: A cute girl want to help a shut-in to get rid of his agoraphobia. Meanwhile, he tries to complete a game with his neighbour. The shut in slowly progresses with both, sometimes having huge draw-backs. Still, there is something fishy about that girl. I figured out what the rest of the story would be at the end of the island arc and I knew exactly every step Misaki (I love that name) would take after that. I didn't expect it to be that predictable. Not only that: her behavior is not part of the climax, it IS the climax. Also, the level marketing arc was predictable, unnecissary, and the characters seemed so incredibly dumb compaired to their behavior in the rest of the series. But still: a 7/10 is nothing to be ashamed about Art: Yes. This is bad. Misaki is cute and stuff, but it is pretty boring. Not only that, there are also some extremely badly animated parts, especially at the end of the marketing arc and when they shop in Tokyo. How could this ever pass on tv and how didn't this ever get fixed for dvd? This is something they SHOULD be ashamed of. Still, the good scenes were generally not bad, but it is not good enough: 4 Sound: I love their voices! Misaki sounds so cute! Yamazaki = shinpachi, and Satou also has an amazing voice. The intro was very addictive, the first one, at least. The second one was the guitar version, but I liked that one a little less because it just 'wasn't right' after the first one. Also, I loved the first ending. Kenji Ohtsuki (known from most sayonara zetsubou sensei openings) made one of the best endings ever. His rare raw voice is one of the best things to come out of my speakers, ever! 9/10 Character: Like I said, the plot is completely about character development, which is done almost perfectly. Only the character development of one of the side characters was a little iffy, but if you take it as a whole... wow! It is almost done too good because I figured out the plot in no time because of this. Enjoyment: Great jokes, fun until the end, good timing, great sounds. This all added up to a great enjoyment. Only the art was sometimes so bad that it really annoyed me until it became better. 8/10 Overall: I usually don't give a crap about the art, but it was especially bad this time. Still, I accuse the story of being too lacking at the end. This is why I don't give it a 9, but a 8/10 Just watch it. It is a legendary anime and a milestone in psychological anime. It is the last anime to breathe the 'paranoia agent', 'lain' and 'boogiepop' atmosphere and it is the bridge between the older psychological anime and the newer ones.

NHK Ni Youkoso is the most fascinating story I ever saw. The way it symbolizes everyday life problems x100 is really well done. The fact that it is such a realistic and hard story with no taboos for any perverted thoughts makes it difficult for a lot of people to watch. Cause most of them don’t expect such things in an animated serie, at least if they don’t know anime and the culture behind it that well. It basicly shocks a lot of people. Just know that before you watch it and if it isn’t your genre to begin with I think you have no right to judge it. It is just the same as I don’t like shoujo, what doesn’t mean I am going to watch it and give it a 1 or something. But lets finally start with the story. The basic is that a boy of 24 (Satou) never comes out his apartment anymore .He has become a hikikomori or a NEET (not in education, employment or training). First you simply see his life as hikikomori. Which can be very weird, but just keep in mind that he hasn't really came out of his apartment for more than 3 years and that it comes from a novel where he is addicted to drugs. If you have been introduced to that you will see the girl of the story Misaki that wants to help him with his problem And makes him her project to bring him back to society. But the way back isn't as simple as you would think it is. The order in what happens is really unpredictable. I mean that when you think he is almost "cured" it can become worse than it ever was before. What makes it very interesting and never boring to watch. The story is very good especially the end where every piece of the puzzle comes together. It really makes the wonderful characters, it was just the best end I ever saw. I can guarantee you when you’ve watched this you will understand socially awkward people much better and you also will have changed the way you look at them. For the rest it was a very depressive story filled with humor. As you probably already know this series don’t has any taboos. The art wasn’t anything special but it fits the story perfectly and the way they express emotions especially with the eyes is very well done. The music wasn’t that special however the start and endings songs fits again perfect with the story. The enjoyment was superb as I already said I was never bored however the episodes between 17 and 19 are less good in my opinion it feels as a filler of the story to me. If you are still reading I guess it sounded interesting enough to watch it or you already did. If it was that first option I would say make sure to check it out as quick as possible :).

“No human beings, regardless of who they might be, want to look directly at their own shortcomings.” -Satou Tatsuhiro I came in Welcome to the NHK rather skeptical, thinking that it would be nothing super special, yet I walked out as a completely different person. Before I watched Welcome to the NHK, I was suffering from depression and lack of motivation. I was also on the verge of dropping out of college and dealing with substance abuse. I felt as if life had no meaning and was closeting myself increasingly and not leaving the room. I was in the slow process of becoming a hikikomori, something I had no idea of what it meant before I watched this anime. In the beginning, I was not so impressed mainly because of its rather subpar animation, but then again Welcome to the NHK was made in 2006 and didn't have a high budget. However, despite the low quality animation, the art had this old classic feeling toward it and I quickly became accustomed to it and overlooked its flaws due to all the other aspects of the show being simply outstanding. The characters of this anime are amazingly realistic as well. Throughout this anime, we get to see them develop. Satou is basically a hikikomori or in other words a shut in who chain-smokes cigarettes and gets drunk often. Because of his reluctance to see the sunlight, this in result caused hallucinations as well, something clearly realistically depicted in the anime. Despite all this, Satou tried to be a good person to the people he late become close to. He meets this girl named Misaki, who is extremely mysterious but very vulnerable deep down inside but wants to aid Satou by forcing him to sign a contract to meet every night. Satou also met his apartment neighbor Yamazaki, who is at school learning video game developing and is a huge hardcore otaku, and together they focused on making a erotic game. There is also Satou's childhood friend Hitomi who is Satou's long time crush. All of the characters including the side characters in Welcome to the NHK are very useful in the development of the story and none of them are unneeded as we see these characters develop and change attitudes throughout the story. The relationships in Welcome to the NHK are also very realistic, none of them are idealized as every character has their own range of problems. Finally, every episode in the anime serves a purpose and none of them were just specifically fillers. Combined with amazing voice acting especially on Satou's part and a purposeful and well fitting soundtrack, every episode became very enjoyable to watch. As the story of Welome to the NHK transgresses, we get to understand how Satou overcomes his fear of society. Each and every of his sessions with meeting sessions with Misaki was purposeful and filled with deep questions. Each and every incident and obstacle Satou comes across are not usually huge, but successfully depicts the hikikomori problem. As I watched Welcome to the NHK, I saw Satou as the future me if I have continued down the path I was taking.Through seeing myself in the main character's shoes, I took in innumerable lessons and ideas that made me understand my own problem. One crucial lesson I took is how we should see our own shortcomings instead of blaming everything on others. We should understand that we need to fix ourselves before blaming society as always blaming others is not salvation. We don't have a obligation to help society but at least we should understand that we are not perfect and stop being a drag to society. Throughout the end, we get to see many of the characters not taking the most ideal paths they thought but a path that nevertheless made them happy also showing that there are many paths of life throughout life and not achieving your ideal dream is not the end of the world. This also changed my attitude toward life as I realized that dreams are not the end goal. One can always adjust them, and one could always find happiness no matter where life leads as long as one changes his/her attitudes. Thanks to watching Welcome to the NHK, I made a life changing decision to pull myself together instead of falling to complete ruins. The impact of Welcome to the NHK on my life cannot be underestimated and I am forever grateful that I suddenly decided to pick up the anime so if you are depressed or just want something to keep you back on track, Welcome to the NHK is the anime to watch.

Well there are some outstanding reviews of welcome to nhk in MAL... Yet am writing this review because of my love , respect and compassion towards this anime and its writer "the Tatsuhiko Takimoto".. It is not just an anime... It is the story of numerous NEETs..their dilemma , everything..It brought light to an otherwise unknown disease called "hikikomori" to many. The story revolves around a NEET and a hikkomori. The anime deeply goes into his thought process and by doing that, we are able to realise the mental instability, insecurities and obsessiveness of a hikikomori.. After seeing the anime, I was greatly touched by it and made me realise the value of life and felt equally sympathetic to hikikomoris.. After reading this review so far, the first impression that you might be having of this anime is that of a serious and depressing plot.. Well the anime is more than that.. Thats why i have no problem to term it as a gem.. The story amazingly strikes a balance between the former and humour,romance .. Seeing each episode is like going through a complete emotional cycle... There is always something to cheer up and get depressed at most of the instances.. And I have rarely come across such a deadly combination... And what makes this anime stand out? the answer is the background score.. The music is legendary in a way that it will make u feel be taken over by your emotions. Not just the music , the lyrics especially that of Hitori Bocchi gives u sort of an emotional trance. Everything chord of tight nerves to your brain will feel weakened and the feeling that I experienced cant be put in words.. Well there is nothing as perfect,and in this anime,it is the art which is ordinary. But you will get the hang of it after first few episodes itself. For a anime fan, this will not be an excuse to drop this anime.. SPOILER-- Dont think that it is just an another slice of life anime. It has lots of twists.. And the 24 episodes will finish like just a flash of light.. Finally, in my opinion there are certain things one has to do before they die.. And seeing this anime should be in that list...

I've read reviews regarding how good this series was so I figured that I would give it a try. Welcome to NHK is sort of a mixed bag. It has it's ups and downs. If you go into it expecting comedy, meaning straight in your face comedy, you might be dissappointed. Thats not to say that NHK isn't funny...it's just not funny all the time. Story: NHK deals with the main subject of: Hikikomori [A social dissorder where a person shuts themselves away from society and remains in seclusion, mostly common in Japan] The series focuses on Satou Tatsuhiro, the main character, and his hikikomori lifestyle and a girl, Misaki, who tries to help him out of that lifestyle. Like I said before this series has its ups and downs and the same applies to the story. The ending could have been better. I felt that there wasn't enough closure. Art: NHK is produced by Gonzo. And just like with every other anime gonzo produces the art greatly varies. The first episode features great animation, its clean and crisp. Later down the road the animation dips to the level of generic anime. Gonzo always makes an amizing looking first episode to draw viewers in and then they start to half-ass their animation. Sound: I liked the intro song...confused about the 1st ending. Its just wierd. The sound is mixed. sometimes they play the right song at the right time and sometimes they dont. Most of the time youll probably hear a harmonica. [Theres this catchy yet annoying song at the very first few episodes, I found myself singing the chorus every now and then.] One thing that stands out about the sound is Koizumi Yutaka's voice acting as Satou. Character: The characters are interesting. A few of them develop early on, but some characters you dont even meet until the second half of the series. And some show up for one episode and dont return until five episodes. I found myself wondering..."what happened to that one girl/guy?" All in all the series' main focus is Satou's relationship with Misaki and Yamazaki. I did wish that there was more development in Satou's and Misaki's relationship. That kind of made the series for me. Enjoyment: This series was enjoying but theres one thing that bothers me. Some episodes stood out as episodes that really drew me in only to find out that the next episode isnt as good. And some episodes where just plain stupid. I kind of wish that the creators where more consistent with their delivery. Overall: 9/10 Its a great series. This is my first review. So if you didnt find any reason to watch after you've read my review here are somepointers: 1. If youre an otaku, die hard or not, you should watch this. 2. If youre interested about social problems in Japan, watch this. 3. If you want to see a peek at real life in Japan, watch it. Its not about anime and happy girls loving for no reason 4. If youve experienced social seclusion yourself watch this...may or may not help you. 5. If youre into drama watch it. 6. If your like me and bored, watch it. 7. If your into Psychological stuff and viewing the world in general in a different way, watch it.

What the crap. I'm not a review writing person, but this was review worthy. First of all, you get introduced to a character with a crippling social disorder. However, while the main goal of the supporting character is to cure him of this sickness, it never really seems to affect him all that much. The idea is that this guy, Sato, can't even go outside because he is a recluse. One day in his past, people started laughing in general and he was like "omg they're laughing at me, time to never go outside again.' And that's all you get. There was no reason for him to act this way, totally unprompted. Secondly, half the show is spent working toward a goal that is dropped a few episodes before the end. "Oh it didn't work...oh, well." It seems like the 20 episodes in the middle were used to introduce a few "deep" quotes by some of the main characters so that we could hear them again at the end when Sato is thinking back on his life. And they were the most cringe-worthy quotes I have ever heard. I felt completely unsatisfied and it is really beyond me how this show has more than a 4.

Welcome to the N.H.K is a comedy-drama anime based on a novel written by Takimoto Tatsuhiko. The anime adaptation came out in 2006, four years after the manga, and was developed by Gonzo. You may remember them from Basilisk, Gantz & Bakuretsu Tenshi. This will be the first time I've reviewed a comedic work from Gonzo. So, how do they handle a dramatic comedy? Story: Satou Tatsuhiro is a NEET, or a person not employed, not in education and not training. He lives as a, Hikikomori, shut up in his room without interacting with anyone else unless he absolutely has to. That all changes one day when he carelessly opens his door for a religious solicitor and her niece. The two are handing out pamphlets about Hikikomori. Rather than shut the door in their faces or openly mock them, which is what a sensible person does when strangers come to their door with religious pamphlets, Satou panics and, in his overmuch protestations to the contrary, outs himself as a Hikikomori. In the hopes of undoing the damage, Satou decides to look at life outside of his apartment and goes job hunting. When he encounters the woman's niece by chance he once again panics and retreats. Later, he finds a letter from the young lady, Misaki, shoved through his mail slot, claiming that she can save him from his Hikikomori ways and asking him to meet her. That's when everything starts to change for Satou. When it comes right down to it, this anime puts the focus on outcasts of various kinds. Hikikomori, Otaku, the Depressed, Conspiracy Theorists and several other sub-cultures that are generally viewed as strange or worse by polite society. There isn't a single major character that isn't othered in some way. So, let's look at what they do wrong with the concept and then look at what they do well. There's only one big problem with the series in terms of the story, but it is a really substantial one. The tone is all over the place. There will be episodes that are largely light-hearted and contain a lot of zany moments and then it'll shift to incredibly serious episodes dealing with suicide. There's even one episode that has really serious moments about suicide with bizarre comedic moments inappropriately mixed into it. The series tries to be dramatic and funny simultaneously, or shortly after each other, which ultimately undermines both aspects. Let's move onto the positives. While the series definitely has issues with tonal shifts, when it can successfully settle on a tone it does do some interesting things. It is also good about showing its outcasts in a light that's comedic, but also encourages understanding. You laugh at the characters for making idiotic blunders, but you can also sympathise with them and understand why they messed up. The series also does well when it comes to keeping things realistic. About the most outlandish it gets are scenes where Satou is daydreaming or imagining things and inanimate objects talk to him. And, to be fair, that is the kind of daydream someone without much actual social interaction might have. Characters: The cast is made up of social misfits. They're largely portrayed as either pitiable or subjects of schadenfreude, depending on whether the tone is more serious or light-hearted at the moment. I will give the series credit for making them largely realistic in their behaviours and their reasons for those behaviours. That being said, there are times when you'll get a group of characters all being ridiculously gullible at the same exact time and it strains believability. This is most readily apparent in the Multi-level marketing episodes. It can also get annoying when Satou repeats the same mistakes over and over and over again without actually learning anything because learning from experiences is for other people. Art: The art is pretty good. The characters are very expressive and there is a lot of work put into the various background details. The daydreaming scenes are appropriately surreal and fan-service, when it does come up, is appropriate for the situation. For example, it comes up in Satou's fantasies and with Galges. Both of which are contexts where it makes sense to have that kind of imagery and it's not particularly sexualised when it comes up. It's largely used to show how pathetic Satou and Yamazaki are and how absurd their concept of women is. I do respect the series for taking that route as opposed to devolving into straight up sexualisation. There are a few issues with the art though. The first is that the character movements can be really awkward and stilted at times. Almost like they cut down on frames for time and ended up skipping a few hoping that no one would notice. The character designs themselves are also pretty bland. Sound: The acting in this is mostly good. Sakaguchi Daisuke, Koizumi Yutaka & Makino Yui all give good performances. The one issue with the acting is that the series likes to exaggerate for comedic effect and they can go overboard with it at times. The music is really well thought out. They put a lot of effort into making, say, the “purin” theme sound like something that would come from an anime like that. They also do a good job of making the ambient music suit the mood. Except in those cases where the mood itself has a tonal clash. Ho-yay: The closest the series comes to ho-yay is Satou thinking about having Yamazaki cross dress because he told his mom that he had a girlfriend but it's abundantly clear that that scene is a joke and that both Satou and Yamazaki like girls. So, 1.5/10. Final Thoughts: Welcome to the NHK has some good dramatic scenes and some good comedic scenes. It also features good acting, art and it has a good level of realism. Where it runs into trouble is when the comedic and dramatic moments meet or there's a major shift from one to the other. It also has some hiccups with both the art and acting. Furthermore, the characters can be somewhat grating. Still, it is a good series particularly if you have been an outcast in one or more of the ways experienced by the characters. As such, my final rating is a 7/10. Next week I'll continue down the review request list with Mawaru Penguindrum.

I realize that a lot of other reviewers have felt led to write about this gem of an anime - and for good reason. Therefore so will I. Welcome to the N.H.K. is based off a Japanese novel by Tatsuhiko Takimoto, which has also been released as a manga in 2004 and ended in 2007. (strangely enough the anime came out in 2006 inbetween that time) Perhaps because it was based on a novel - the story doesn't contain any real plot holes or fillers - it flows beautifully. (hmmm just like another gem Baccano! was based off a novel too... very interesting...) In fact, it is one of the most smooth and genuine animes that I have yet seen. Normally with realistic animes (such as Monster) I find it very hard to stay interested... not so with N.H.K. In episode one we are introduced to a hikikomori named Satou Tatsuhiro, a twenty-two year old college drop-out who has major panic attacks whenever he is around groups of people. He has gotten the idea that everything is a conspiracy, and that the N.H.K. (Nikon Hikikomori Kyokai - a Japanese television broadcasting company) are behind pretty much everything evil in the world including him being a NEET... (Not in Employment, Education or Training) ...aaaaand that's where I stop about the conspiracy business (God knows they explain it enough in the actual show ha ha) and move on to the characters. The plot wouldn't be anything without the in-dept characters; and the fact that we are allowed to glimpse into their lives and experience what they feel and go through with almost brutal honesty... is amazing. Every character has a story to tell, and ALL their stories are, not only very well thought out and told, but touching, sad, and realistic too. (Except you have to hang in there til the end for Misaki's background story. I swear... I had almost given her up as a Lenalee ...ewww) They make you sit up as you recognize yourself or a friend or family member in them. They will not tell you happy stories no... but the realism takes your breath away. That's essentially what this anime is - a breath of fresh air. Of course... it has bad points. The sloppy character animation frustrated me sometimes - but since it was mainly slice of life and human faces often contort during emotional times - I cut them some slack. (some) The contortion worked best in the humor moments. However, besides that small detail - the rest of the animation was good. I like how the backgrounds were so crisp and clear; so that it gave the impression that people were added in almost as an afterthought. (which was in line with the show's whole message basically of "what is the meaning of life" etc) I give kudos to whoever did set/background designs - Satou's and Yamazaki's apartments were amazing... I wish more sets were that original in set-up - it felt like you could just walk through the computer screen into them. Actually all the sets had that feel. (I know I keep using the adjective *realistic* to describe NHK - but that's what it is.) Now onto the sound... which I gave a 9 for good reason. The original pieces were amazing and I want to get the whole soundtrack for the first time. (normally I just pick and choose the good tracks) All the pieces were distinctive and definitely memorable and hyped up the emotion in each scene. They also incorporated Japanese rock and some pop - which in my opinion worked very, very well. The OP is unusual, creepy, strange etc... (more animation-wise than the actual song) but it completely fits the show's mood. The first ending song was amazing - the first time I'm really seen such a sadist, comic song used. (but once again, it totally fit and worked) Half-way through the show, they changed endings to suit the definite sober change in mood, seeing as the first ED wouldn't have suited it at all. VA wise... they weren't outstanding - yet everyone's voices fit their character (my favorite performance would probably be Daisuke Sakaguchi as Yamazaki) so definitely no complaints there. If you're like me - and enjoy an anime that doesn't back down in the face of realism - that freely consults, assaults, and questions enigmas like: "Why we should matter anyway?" Then this is the anime for you. However, be warned that the dreaded monsters called "hentai" and even one called "Purin" rear their naked heads in this show... beware episode 3 *shudder* (ALRIGHT >.>" I admit it was pretty funny though...) RANDOM SIDE NOTE: The most hilarious arc was the online gaming arc. (I mean wth what else could you do but laugh?!) But but but! if you're a happy, smiley type of person who can't bear to think that people would be miserable enough to consider disposing of themselves - then stay clear. This show isn't about happy, pink sparkles - it's about real life issues that people really face every single stinking day. All-in-all I think this just might be going on my top 5 anime list. 24 episodes is just enough to tell the story - and the ending is one of the best anime endings. It's not cheesy or unnecessary - it just seems RIGHT - and I'm sure if you watch it you'll agree. It makes you think... it doesn't hand you the answer on a silver platter like some animes do.

— PREMISE — At first glance, Welcome to the NHK may seem like a slice-of-life comedy or a romance with a thrilling mystery about revealing a conspiracy. However, it's important to note that if you approach it with these expectations, you're doing it wrong. The anime is, in fact, a social commentary dramedy that addresses real-life social issues through dialogue that relates to relevant themes. While it does not directly criticise the depicted issues, which is a good thing for those who dislike preachy anime, it offers a powerful critique of modern society's problems. The anime's focus is not solely on character development, particularly that of the protagonist, but rather on the broader societal issues that underlie his struggles. While it succeeds in its mission to educate and enlighten its audience, it falls short in other areas such as story plot, character development, and pacing. As a viewer who values the exploration of themes and social commentary, I found the slower pacing and character drama to be a hindrance to my overall enjoyment of the series. — STORY — While it's true that the overall plot of Welcome to the NHK is relatively simple and straightforward, the show's strength lies in its character-driven storytelling and social commentary. The show's use of subplots and thematic exploration allows for a more in-depth exploration of the issues it critiques, rather than simply relying on a complex plot. The mystery element, while not the main focus of the show, adds an extra layer of intrigue and keeps viewers engaged. It's worth noting that Welcome to the NHK doesn't just explore these themes superficially; it delves deep into the psyche of the characters and shows the effects of these issues on their mental health and overall well-being. The show doesn't shy away from portraying the harsh realities of life, but it also offers hope and a path towards healing and recovery. Moreover, the show's exploration of otaku culture and escapism is particularly noteworthy. It not only examines the negative consequences of obsessive behaviour but also critiques society's tendency to stigmatise and marginalise those who engage in such activities. There was a significant amount of character development that takes place primarily through dialogue. The dialogue directly relates to the established themes, allowing viewers to gain insight into each character's feelings about the struggles they face and how they react to their impact. — CHARACTER — Many viewers enjoyed this show because they relate to Satou; however, personally, I identified more with Yamazaki since I live alone, have no friends, pursued independence because I dislike relying on others, and play video games responsibly. While many viewers can relate to Satou's struggles and circumstances, personally, I found his gullible, selfish, and unappreciative behavior to be off-putting. For example, he complains about not receiving an allowance from his elderly parents despite being old enough to work and treats Misaki unfairly. It's worth considering whether viewers who relate to Satou's struggles also relate to his negative reactions and behaviour towards others. Accepting to live off of others for a year while complaining about receiving less money from his parents could be seen as unacceptable by some. Once again, it is important to note that a viewer's ability to relate to a character's situation does not determine the quality of the writing. What truly matters is how the character responds to the situation presented. On a personal level, it is possible to dislike a character's personality, but this is purely subjective. Disliking Satou and not finding his personality relatable does not necessarily equate to poor writing. Similarly, finding Satou's personality relatable does not necessarily mean he is well written. Misaki-chan was an underdeveloped character; her subplot did not seem relevant to the main theme of the show, and her struggles were a special case rather than a general struggle that most people face. The issue of child abuse is certainly an important one, but it didn't seem to fit with the other struggles that the characters faced as they transitioned into adult life. Rather than focusing on pointless mysteries about Misaki's background and identity, the show could have explored the effects of transitioning into adulthood as an individual who was abused as a child. There were a few hints of this throughout the show, such as the scene where Misaki was petrified and extremely terrified of being hit. These hints could have been expanded upon, and the show could have delved deeper into Misaki's mentality as an adult who has experienced trauma. The idea of the 'evil god' or the root of evil conspiracy that was presented in the show was poorly executed and lacked a resolution. In contrast, Misaki's struggle had the effect of loneliness, which is related to the main theme of the show. However, her struggle felt like a forced plot device, designed to give a character a sad background and merge them with the other cast. The show could have done better with the development of Misaki's character and her storyline. Ultimately, whether a character is well-written or not is subjective and depends on individual standards, preferences and opinions. While relatability can play a part in how viewers perceive a character, it is not the only factor to consider. The writing quality of a character also depends on their actions, motivations, and how they contribute to the overall story. — ANIMATION — The art was not very detailed, which results in less expressive facial features and can sometimes feel lacklustre. Some viewers have voiced complaints about noticeable drops in animation quality in certain episodes, or the use of slightly different animation styles, which can be jarring. While these inconsistencies didn't bother me, they can be a distraction for some, especially in a non-action anime where animation quality is expected to remain consistent. — SOUND — The music was okay, with a good variety of soundtracks that range from mellow to upbeat. However, I don't find most of them particularly memorable or exceptional. While they do complement the scenes and help set the mood, they don't stand out enough to become memorable tracks that I would add to my playlist. That being said, there are a few tracks that stand out, such as the opening theme "Puzzle" by Round Table featuring Nino, which has a catchy melody and uplifting lyrics that suit the show's themes. Additionally, the voice acting in the anime is well done, with each character's voice fitting their personality and bringing them to life. The voice actors also capture the emotional nuances of the dialogue effectively, especially during the more dramatic scenes. The Japanese voice cast does an excellent job of conveying the characters' personalities and feelings, adding depth to their interactions and making them more relatable to the audience. — PACING — The pacing, or rather stalling, was the main issue with Welcome to the NHK. As a character-driven anime, slow pacing can work well, but there's a difference between good and bad slow pacing. I didn't mind the extended dialogue, as it was relevant to the themes, and the long silent scenes helped convey the atmosphere and emotions. However, certain scenes were unnecessarily long or repetitive, particularly the hallucination scenes. While these scenes might explore Satou's psyche, the anime's point isn't to delve into the psychology of hikikomoris. Instead, it aims to examine the real-life social issues that often arise in adult life and their causes and effects. To believe that all hikikomoris daydream like Satou is absurd, so the long sequences were primarily intended to characterise Satou. While they did show how he's delusional and an escapist, the conspiracy theme seemed unrelated, and the perverted daydream sequences felt like a bad excuse for fanservice. Secondly, Misaki's 'big p…

What is there to say about this show? I had no prior knowledge of it (I seem to have a habit of getting into shows I know nothing about), and decided to watch it because the cover art looked interesting. Initially it starts off fair, you get the typical setup you might expect. It does well at introducing the main character, but initially I was under the impression that there was a large-scale calamity ahead of him, and what I found out is there actually is, it's just under a different pretense than you're lead to believe (This is a spoiler free review, don't worry). Welcome to the NHK broaches on NEETs (Not in education, employment, or training), or more importantly, a hikikomori. Hikikomori is a phenomena (not exclusive to Japan, but more focused to it) where someone completely shuts themselves out from the outside world. It's not uncommon for them to even stay in the same room for up to a few years. The main character is somewhat of a Hikikomori, but not completely. What follows this setup is an outstanding story of someone overcoming themselves with the help of a few good friends. Don't misunderstand this show for anything other than a slice of life anime, but even if that's not your cup of tea, it's absolutely worth it. What I felt this show captivated very well was having us really empathize with the main character. A lot of people really understand the urge to break away from the outside world and stay in a cocoon to yourself, because that's an area of safety. So while we're not all Hikikomori, it's something we can relate to regardless. As stated before, the show starts off fairly, you get a pretty common setup. But a while through the show, something a bit unexpected happens that forces our main character to really challenge himself, and does something a little odd as a result. The common setup kind of breaks out and becomes its own thing, and you're left wondering what's going to happen next. This happens just when I felt like I had the show figured out, and it was a pretty pleasant surprise. There's not a lot to say about it really, it's a slice of life anime, and it's something you have to experience to really appreciate what it broaches on. I felt a pretty good connection with the characters, and really enjoyed what it brought to the table. The art was a little strange sometimes, but wasn't by any means disruptive. The sound quality was good, but I unfortunately didn't make any noticeable impressions on the music. It's not action packed, it's not even a rollercoaster ride, but what they pulled off with it was absolutely amazing. I don't know what kept me coming back to it, but I finished it pretty quickly wanting to know what happens next, even if I couldn't even define what was happening at all. Above all, it closes in a pretty NEET package (hue, pun).