Yojouhan Shinwa Taikei

We all carry regrets throughout our lives and experiences we feel have been a detriment to us. They can range from the seemingly smallest things to those events which we feel turn our world upside down for the worst. But what if we spend more time thinking about how those experiences shape us and help us benefit in the future? The Tatami Galaxy sets out to explore this and it manages to do so through marvellous storytelling, vivid art, expressive dialogue and meaningful characters. It is, in short, a truly memorable experience. The Tatami Galaxy is a story about life and how we choose to live it. We often set expectations for how we want things to unfold but we either don't have the courage to make these things take place. To help carry such an important message it's vital that your main character be a well written one. Thankfully that's the case here. Our protagonist Watashi is your average student dealing with these problems of trying to construct a positive future. When he sets out to achieve his dream 'rosy' campus life he soon finds there are many hurdles to overcome. Our protagonist is easy enough to relate to in some form. Whether it may be his ambitious, caring, evil, envious or loving side it's always very believable and quite real. His experiences from episode to episode make you care for what conclusion may come his way. His character evolution is brilliantly handled. It's difficult to dive into the story much further than what has already been stated in the synopsis and not ruin the experience. The main plot device used between the episodes is certainly nothing new but thankfully the mixture of colourful characters and superb dialogue, in particular from leading pair Watashi and Ozu, help carry the show through that. The talking comes quick, not a second is wasted when watching. It can range from philosophical without being overbearing through to being humorous without overdoing it. It's arguably the biggest strength of the show. One of the biggest themes the show rolls with is seeing things from new perspectives, and just when the show has you seeing characters in a particular light it starts to shape them into something different. The supporting cast are all interesting both in their backgrounds and their design. For a show very much centred around one person it's great to see the cast around him were still very nicely fleshed out. The art may turn some people off but to me it screams creativity. It's a blend of the abstract, exaggerated and expressive. The show jumps between prominent colours frequently but also does so with meaning, using it as a means to set a tone or express the development of our main character. The backgrounds are also gorgeous. The Tatami Galaxy explores a sizeable portion of themes - love, sex, ambition, depression, greed - but they are all balanced out well. This balance is on display no better than in the final two, perfectly packaged final episodes. Again, it's very difficult to tell people much about the show without spoiling anything. Just experience it. Take a plunge. You're bound to take something positive away from it.

An insight into University life the parents knew to be true but is afraid to admit it is how their children might end up. The Tatami Galaxy introduces these horrors directly to their well-groomed kids in the form of an educational, animated series. It is informative, illuminative and it is to be laughed at. Released two years after Kaiba, directed by the same man; no anime had my eyes roll faster in reading subtitles. Even Shaft productions required assistance in the form of wall scribbles. The Tatami Galaxy is an unusual storytelling of an unnamed, 20 year-old student, participating in club activities to find true love. We saw the most important and life defining moments over his two years at University from different propositions. Each time, I laughed at his miserable attempts to see rainbows and roses only to ultimately steer into the same hole, drenched, forever alone. We know him only as “Watashi”, a pessimist, with the power to turn back time and re-run his life. Throughout the 11 episodes, the MC continues to do so until he reaches a point of satisfaction. For a series based around a student and campus life, the protagonist was hardly seen attending lectures and there were little University specific relations. Like watching the life of a true college dropout, which to be fair, he was. A stereotypical good-for-nothing, unexpectedly, meets up for the “very first time”, but on multiple occasions, with Ozu, his compatriot, who is very sly and is a great talker. He is also an ogre. Instead of being the MC’s right-hand man to help him hit on girls he so desperately desires, Ozu only brings “Watashi” bad luck and misery. Each time our protagonist presses the reset button, Ozu always, somehow, tracks him down as if they were connected by a “black thread of fate”. The life of “Watashi” is so depressing it makes most viewers feel lucky. Betrayed by friends and had his brand new bike stolen in front of his eyes, he wasn’t able to enjoy the simple things many of us take for granted. The only roads for a character such as him to head to are pretty obvious, even for a 13-year old. While this might explain why the series is rated PG-13, “Watashi’s” and Ozu’s characters should not be mistaken as plain or transparent. For these two characters reveal different sides of their personalities more towards the ends of the series and might surprise some. The supporting characters pop up whenever necessary for repeated performances or otherwise, but were mainly there to provide us with humour and create new playgrounds for the director to plant foreshadow and clever linkages. Their relationships with the main character were never allowed to build upon because the restart button was applied episodically. Having said that, the director had to allow some elements from the previous dealings to seep through in order for him to produce a complete conclusion; the result is our characters act as if they have some sort of partial amnesia. Akashi might not be a tsundere but she certainly is one of the coldest girls out there. She is not the best looking but then again, the art style is not the right instrument to make her so. The only other living creature with her face shown was Ryouko Hanuki, who has really long eye lashes and a decent fashion sense. She is older than Akashi and is more mature. Her face matches proudly to her figure and is without a doubt, the hottest character in the series. As a PG-13, The Tatami Galaxy has some arousing scenes and mature scripting that are probably not appropriate. Simple and jagged drawings standing in front of real-life imageries could be considered abstract art to some, keeping in tune with Yuasa Masaaki's other works, it is an acquired taste. If it was committing to the same art style as the original creator, then fair enough. But The Tatami Galaxy is based on a novel so the art gets no sympathy from me. It was nowhere near as fluid as Kaiba. Many scenes are in black & white; especially when the protagonist is alone. Other scenes are sepia or unusually coloured like different roses as if everything on screen is dyed into the same colour. Sound-wise is very average, the sound director didn't need to work very hard as all he needed to do was play the lone voice of “Watashi” half the time. The opening and ending theme songs are played behind tatami multiplying like bacteria and Yakushimaru's cute voice for the ending theme song was always looked forward to. The Tatami Galaxy has some great scripting, often genius and amusing. But such long winded conversations and monologues require obligatory scenes to fit the screen time. The fast monologue in a different language is annoying. I like Japanese rap songs but this, without some beats, is mere noise. By around seven's episode it started to hurt my ears. If it was fast dialogue between two or more people, it might have been acceptable. There should be an Art/Cultural genre defining series such as these which often teaches its viewers meanings of life and remind us of what is out there in life. There are two ways of looking at this series; call it intelligently written for episodes are connected with reused scenes and situations, or label it as making-up new acts to reach the same rundown. The second one looks more reasonable for many episodes have too many plot holes in their attempts to link and filling gaps are never smooth. But realistically, it's a combination of both. The final episode has many questions answered but the Time Lord element was there for viewers to accept without challenge. A surprise end to the series which changed my preferences of certain characters and my attachments to some, felt like a run-and-hit and even a little done by. But thinking back, I realised it was a sagacious piece of work that deserved some praise. A very monologue and dialogue heavy series that doesn’t have enough action to play out, protagonist talks to its viewers on-air and asks questions we ask ourselves. What felt like a taunting task to watch was quite rewarding at curtain call. Not a bad anime for a small cast with cheap production, but it made me work hard with few immediate rewards in between. If you liked this, Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei is a good bet. (Thanks to Vis4Vanity for recommending this series)

The Tatami Galaxy is a new anime released by Madhouse animation studios, and a adaptation of a Morimi Tomihiko novel. There's two things of very noteable worth in this series. One; is the story. Two; is the animation. The story in The Tatami Galaxy is constructed over a episodic nature. As each episode recollectes the main character's last two years of college, but within different social circles or clubs. So every episode plays around the main character going through almost the same events, and meeting the same characters, in each episode. This sounds like it'll become very tedious.. BUT! Unlike Haruhi's Endless Eight, which forces you to watch the same episode 8 times, The Tatami Galaxy plays afew key scenes the same, but the actual journey through each episode is always different. Because of this, each episode feels fresh, and the novelty doesn't slowly wear off and become dull. Also, the amount of detail that went into this series is staggering. I can almost akkin it to the Watchmen graphic novel, in the sense that the series is scattered with all these little small details and foreshadowing. It's impressive when a episode later in the series will make a callback to a very small scene that happened in the second episode. Though, something I became seriously impressed with is the ending. Considering the story works in a episodic nature, I had a hard time believing that everything would lead to a beliveable conclusion... I don't want to spoil anything, but it's very satisfying. The animation in this series is very simplistic, yet beautiful to look at. It provides a sense of charm and atmosphere for the series. Though, the animation has two things working for it, it uses a intergration of real life stills or videos, and placing animation on in, and, it has a sense of 'exaggeration' that is common placed in most animes, but instead of playing it up for laughs like other animes do, it provides this sense of fantasy or imagination within this universe. The animation is very 'arthouse', if I had to define it to a single term. Which is no surprise, considering Madhouse has always been known for pumping out series with excellent animation behind it. As of far, The Tatami Galaxy is one of the most intellectually satisfying pieces of media that I've seen in quite sometime. Even though it's half-way into the new year, I'm going to go ahead and say that this is quite possibly, the best anime I've seen this year. I can't suggest this highly enough.

Normally when discussing animation the first name that comes to mind is that of the studio, but in this particular case the director's signature is far more prominent. Masaaki Yuasa is known for forsaking many of the elements traditionally associated with quality animation--detail, consistency, realism--in favor of more minimalistic, free-form style you'd normally only see in an independent film or web animation. The designs are minimalist but still expressive and distinctive. The color choices are bright and diverse but ignore the conventions of shading or lighting, mixed with several unmoving cloth and wallpaper patterns reminiscent of Gankutsuou and a few instances of monochromatic live action scenery. Now I get to talk about the studio: it may come as a surprise to some that this was animated by Madhouse. This certainly isn't their best work by normal technical standards--frame rates and fluidity are pretty modest--but the studio truly lives up to its name with this creation, managing to make these simple designs pop off the screen with passion and finesse. There are some occasional animation loops and the like here and there, but overall this can stand on par with SHAFT's best artistic efforts. Of course, when an anime's visual style is so prominent, it becomes absolutely crucial that its artistry fit the story it's telling. I'll address that question in a bit. Musically, the show's track is primarily comprised of light orchestral pieces that manage to support its comedic and dramatic moments equally well. The music itself is nothing you haven't heard before, probably even in other anime, but it generally fits. The show has a habit of reusing some of its tonal motifs regularly whenever a certain situation pops up, but considering the story is built around a Groundhog Day loop I can write that off as part of the joke. It's never abused to the point of becoming a distraction, so overall I can say that this show is perfectly competent in its use of sound. Voice acting is always important, but here especially it's absolutely crucial. Though there's no dub, I must tip my hat to the Japanese voice actors for carrying the difficult script so well. Of particular note are Shintaro Asanuma as our protagonist and Keiji Fujiwari as Higuchi, both of whom have lines that require them to speak a mile a minute and manage to deliver them without a hitch. I'm not sure if they had some sound editing to help them along, but good editing only does so much for lackluster performances and even when speaking at a normal pace they still sound quite good. The voice acting as a whole leans a bit toward the cartoonish side but it's never flat or dull. I think this show would benefit from a dub simply because of the amount of subtitles you'll have to read to get through it if you don't know Japanese, even though you'd probably much rather be taking in the show's quirky visuals. In my personal experience, I had to pause the video a few times just to keep up with all the subtitles. Still, that's not to disparage an excellent Japanese voice track. I just hope that if someone (Funimation?) does eventually dub it they'll do the series justice. So for all the college students out there in both Japan and abroad who watch and enjoy anime, it's kind of sad and a little surprising how few anime there are that make the effort to address life at this juncture. In recent memory, the only other such series that spring to mind are Moyashimon (which is also unlicensed) and Honey and Clover. As a college student myself, I'll take representation where I can find it. I should probably clarify that The Tatami Galaxy is more about college as a life experience than as an educational institution. That the show chooses this angle, particularly in Japan where the culture leans so heavily on academic achievement (I'm basing this on hearsay, don't quote me on it), is actually quite refreshing, and it certainly becomes more of a boon than a burden, to say otherwise would be missing the point. It could be argued that this show is an achievement simply for its choice of subject matter and for the fresh ground it chooses to tread. But the show also stands out for its style of storytelling. What really holds The Tatami Galaxy together more than anything is the consistency with which it delivers its central metaphor. First of all, unlike the infamous Endless Eight, the Groundhog Day loop here actually varies its timeline. Most of the recursions, particularly early on, feature similar chains of events aside from the club our protagonist chooses to join, and on the surface it might seem like pointless repetition, but there is an underlying arc that creeps up on the audience over the course of these loops. Each episode gives a different angle on the same events, and small, seemingly pointless details from one cycle can become pivotal plot points in another. To say that every detail in this story has a purpose isn't entirely accurate, at least not from a plot standpoint. Thematically, though, it gets its message across loud and clear as we're shown all the different opportunities that can be found just by slightly shifting our perspective. However, the way to happiness isn't through the missed opportunities of another lifetime; as an old fortuneteller reminds our protagonist every episode, the opportunity to find happiness is always dangling right in front of him. It's a simple message, but the execution is unforgettable, bordering on downright groundbreaking. In many ways, this show seems to deserve a full 10/10, but for all there is to praise here, The Tatami Galaxy has some fairly serious problems. Getting back to the setting I mentioned earlier, one of the main draws of The Tatami Galaxy is the fact that it addresses college life. Naturally, it's going to ring particularly true to people who have gone to college or are going to college. As an audience, we're expected to sympathize with the characters for the juncture they're at in life, and it works for some people. Still, even though their backdrop makes this easier to overlook, it has to be said: these characters do not act like real people.That's not to say that they're flat, static or archetypal, they are none of these things... and now I need to clarify. Many of the key characters of The Tatami Galaxy have traits common among ordinary college students you may have met, but they tend to come across more as the sum of their traits than as actual, believable people. Hanuki and maybe Higuchi are the most human characters of the cast, but aside from them the motivations we're shown are either simplistic or alien, if not both. Some of them still get their share of development, but when the characters feel like they sprung into existence as college students with no prior life experience you know you're in trouble. I could have forgiven all that. After all, we're seeing the world through our protagonist's warped perspective, of course he'd fixate on the superficial, but now I get to address the elephant in the room. The astute readers among you may have noticed that I have yet to refer to the protagonist by name. Well, that's because he doesn't have one. Throughout the series he's never once referred to by name (not even a nickname a la Kyon) and he's simply credited as Watashi (Japanese for "I" or "me"). The intent behind this is obvious: he's supposed to be the everyman we can all relate to. Unfortunately, the writing only half-succeeds at getting this across, and the end result is basically an assemblage of human desires and flaws, and feels more like a symbol of college students in general than any actual college student I've ever met. I'm not saying Watashi isn't likable; he can still be fun to watch, and from time to time you'll probably feel something for him, but sympathizing with a character based on his situation only goes so far. I mentioned earlier that Watashi's perspective is warped, and boy did I mean it. The Tatami Galaxy is at its ve…

Whether it be now or earlier in one’s life, there is a moment where we all must look at ourselves and ask the simple, yet difficult to answer, question which is, “What do I want to do with my life?” This is a painstaking question that cuts deep down into our psyche and into the very meat of what makes us human. Sure, a question such as this may seem ugly and off-putting to the majority of us, there is no denying that. However, we must still confront this question at some point in our lives with full force, no matter how repetitive the trials of that question may be. Thus describes the anime known as The Tatami Galaxy, a show based around this simple yet difficult question. What makes The Tatami Galaxy shine with brilliance is its embrace of the embarrassing and irritating repetitions that life throws at us until we finally figure out what we want out of living. Atmosphere shines greatly in this anime, causing its story to be a knockout. Much like the show’s nameless main character, The Tatami Galaxy presents to you a story that is set in a surreal, weird, yet incredibly honest, depiction of the world as seen through the eyes of a young college student. We follow this nameless, college-bound protagonist of ours through certain days in his life involving his own misadventures of achieving a “rosy-campus life,” filled with no worries and endless fun. What he doesn’t realize, however, is the fact that he is wasting his days away in a seemingly endless time loop. Within each new day within this loop, we experience the many life lessons and intricate people that the protagonist meets along the way. These intricate people within the show are just as incredibly well written as the hilariously tragic protagonist. Ozu, the protagonist’s best friend of sorts, is a standout character who perfectly symbolizes the yang to the main character’s yin. Ozu is sly, treacherous and mischievous to the viewer, however, he comes off as incredibly funny and charming towards the many other characters that we meet throughout the show. Because of how he is presented, he manages to trick us and the protagonist into going with many of his wacky and mind-boggling journeys through college life. This makes Ozu a great antithesis towards the protagonist’s views on life and his actions throughout the show. He is an obstacle that the main character must overcome somehow, and it’s great watching how he continuously tries to this during his endless days in college. Not only will you find Ozu to be a great character within this show, but the many other members of the cast are just as entertaining and memorable. We as an audience view these many different characters’ complexities and quirks as each and every one of them interact with the main character in certain fashions and events that collide with the main character. As you continue to follow the different lives of the supporting cast, you begin to notice how similar their own lives are compared to the protagonist’s life, in the same since that each of them deal with existential-types of crisis’ in the same vein as the protagonist. This sort of inner relation with the supporting cast along with the protagonist, in my opinion, is what makes The Tatami Galaxy a very memorable show that can help relate to anyone in society. What I also find as something that stands out is the obvious breathtakingly surreal art style as well as the directing. You really have to give a round of applause to the artwork in the show, especially because of the fact that it captures the colorfulness as well as the awkward and flabbergasting environment that is known as college. The director of the show, Masaaki Yuasa, also does a beautiful job of capturing amazing, and sometimes hilarious, facial expressions of the many characters as well as impactful scenes that manage to resonate with the audience and prove to be memorable and even tragic. Not only is the directing incredible, but the soundtrack is also full of catchy and quirky songs that present a bit of an irony towards the overall feeling or tone of the show. The opening song of the show is also one of the best opening you could ever find in an anime. At the end of the day, the message is what truly matters when it comes to The Tatami Galaxy, which is to “Seize the opportunity that is dangling in front of you”. The show is an ode to all of us young people in society, telling us to never give up on our hopes and dreams and to realize that those hopes and dreams are within our reach, we just need to extend our hand out a little more in order to grasp on to it. This is a message that deeply impacts me and I’m pretty sure that it also impacts yourself as well as the people around us. What you will ultimately get out of this anime is a terrific cast of characters, a memorable art style and atmosphere, an upbeat soundtrack and, most of all, a hint towards the answer that we all seek in our lives, which is what we want out of living. I highly recommend this anime to lovers of surrealism and those who are going through a bit of a personal crisis and find themselves to be stuck within the ever-changing and ever-scary place that is society.

"There are many, many, many worlds branching out at each moment you become aware of your environment and then make a choice." -Anonymous The parallel universe concept is one that has existed for decades, but its freedom in entertainment space makes it just as refreshing each time I come across it. Whether there are multiple, unique universes with the same recurring character like in Black Rock Shooter or a scientist delving back into time trying to alter the present in Steins;Gate, this concept has proven to have unlimited applicability. In The Tatami Galaxy, infamous director Masaki Yuasa (Kaiba, Ping Pong- The Animation) took the idea and combined it with elements of "Groundhog's Day" to create a visual masterpiece that transcends its own narrative. If you could go back in time, what would you change? The question is very subjective. Most people would expect an obligatory honorable answer like "I would stop conflict in the Middle East" or "I would end world hunger", but if answered quite honestly our answers would most likely evolve into something trivial or selfish. Our nameless main character isn't seeking to change the world, but instead lets our contemplative minds live vicariously through his parallel universe hopping. He's someone you want to root for, to do what none of us have the ability to. I've made a lot of decisions I regretted in my life, and and I've always wondered how differently things wouldve turned out if I'd have altered just a few things about my past. In The Tatami Galaxy, the question of "what if?" is continually revisited in order to achieve the best possible outcome. It does so while also keeping the viewer on alert to spot the difference in details from one episode to the next. I came into the show with virtually no prior knowledge of its premise, so initially I was struggling to figure out its over-arcing theme or where the plot was trying to go. Then I realized the true beauty of The Tatami Galaxy. There is no clear plot or story but more so a collection of alternate anecdotes that mold their own story. It's an anime that builds off our own experiences and empathy for the main character's college life, a life perhaps similar to our own. Through his circuitous monologues, Mr. Protagonist states what we're thinking and is just as pathetic as we seemed to be in that point of our lives. Judging from my past experiences during that time, the similarities hit me hard. As if suffering from a premature "midlife crisis", he ponders about what could've been, and desires above all else to experience a "rose-colored campus life" he always dreamed of. It sounds a bit cliché but we all wanted the ideal life right? Through watching and reviewing anime over the years I've come to realize that comedy is relatively subjective to the viewer. What I find hilarious, you might chalk up as mindless drivel. However, Yuasa's works have taught me that pure, observational comedy can be much more impactful than a well timed joke. As much as you want to feel for our protagonist, his seemingly useless involvement in situations tend to make us chuckle. This combination of humor allots more space for content, vital for a series with only 11 episodes. Most viewers who can't relate to the scenarios faced can at least laugh a bit at his misfortune. And those monologues, man they are something else. The amount of text shelled out in the first episode is daunting to say the least, but if you stay on your toes it's not too difficult to keep track of. It's yet another testament to our protagonist's personality. As the series went on, I enjoyed this aspect much more. Imagine that friend that always seems to get you into trouble, but always has your back at the end of the day. Or perhaps that girl you admired from afar, seemingly way out of your league. The characters in The Tatami Galaxy are incredibly relatable, and no matter what universe our MC is in they seem to fit their trope quite well. That's not to say they aren't complex, in fact I had a difficult time pinpointing what sort of nefarious activity Ozu would get our MC into next, or exactly how Akashi was feeling towards him at any given point. They just seem to hold a certain piece of the puzzle in his life that only they can fill. They're very relatable and likable characters, and one (Ozu) you love to hate. Yuasa even went as far as to personify the MC's "Johnny" (who's origin you can leave to your own imagination), which created some rather hilarious situations of angel vs. devil. Undoubtedly Mr. Protagonist gets the most development, but he often appears very "unnecessary" to the world he lives in. He stumbles and perseveres through the most ridiculous events, only to rewind and do it all over again. This makes the revelation and self-realization in the ending episode all the more fulfilling from a viewing standpoint (seriously, what was in that castella that kept him nourished?). Just like every other Yuasa installment, the art is in a league of its own. It's difficult to describe exactly how good or how bad it is because it incorporates elements of so many different styles. If one thing is clear it's that the scenery is pretty to look at. Combining actual still frame images with vivid environments and backgrounds, the artists capture a psychedelic or dreamlike feel, strengthening the parallel universe element. An art style dynamic enough to rival that of the Monogatari in sheer originality. The character models are among some of the best I've seen from Yuasa and aids in illustrating the character's personalities quite well. They even went as far as to showcase the protagonist's perception of Ozu by drawing him a demon-like face. It wasn't sloppy, nor refined. It was just, "it". I didn't really notice the music much throughout the series, but the OP was well animated and fit the theme of the show well. Sometimes anime can get tripped up from this dissimilar OP vs show concept but Tatami nails it. The ED was really interesting, unlike any ending I've heard in awhile. Voice acting was phenomenal on behalf of Mr. Protagonist. His onslaught of verbiage was impressive and cumbersome at the same time. Like I noted previously, it's something you get used to as the series progresses. If this ever gets dubbed, the English voice actor will have some pretty big shoes to fill. I loved the "Engrish" speaking sections of some of the episodes, something that always sounds funny no matter how many times I hear it. Understand that while I have high praise for the series, it is not perfect. The setting of a college university will make it much harder to appreciate for younger viewers or those having never gone to college. The dialogue heavy episodes can also be frustrating if you're not paying attention 100% of the time. If you're someone who tends to do other things while watching anime, this might not be the show for you. Based on my opinion, I give The Tatami Galaxy highest honors when it comes to originality and overall enjoyment. I had an absolute blast watching the series, end it earns my highest recommendation. If you're a fan of Yuasa's other works or you're just looking for a refreshingly unique anime, give it a try. I doubt you'll regret it.

No matter how twisted the life of a human being is, no matter how cruelly providence tosses him around, in the end it all comes down to a simple desire: everyone wants to be accepted, loved. “Yojôhan Shinwa Taikei” (“The 4.5 Tatami Galaxy”) tells a story of one young man who tries to find a place for himself in a vibrant but chaotic world, meets numerous charismatic companions on the way and finally obtains what he had been searching for since the start. STORY (9) Enter Watashi (“I”), a young and hopeful freshman at a university who is faced with the choice that will determine his further life at the said campus: he has to choose a club to belong to. So he decides, inspired by the colorful dreams of pleasant and carefree existence as a student, yet the reality is nowhere near as bright as his imagination. When all starts going downhill and Watashi cannot cope with the demands of the world around him, the clock spins backwards, stop, reset, he goes back. …wait. He actually goes back in time. Although the story is based on the same scheme as the overly hyped “Higurashi” series, it is done in a slightly different manner. The catch is that every counterpart of a person he meets retains their personality, but is actually met in different circumstances. The people around him do change their places, yet he feels he does not – at least not until a certain point in his life, but that is something that has to be seen for oneself. From the good introduction and right until the perfectly developed ending, the story is a strong – if not the strongest - focus of this series. ART (7) Although very impressionistic and fluid, the art doesn’t shock. Remembering the very promising promo artworks that came out ages ago and thinking to myself “hey, this is going to be one interesting series, better watch it”, I feel slight bitterness when I feel it is rushed at times, but what pains me the most is that it’s nothing that hasn’t been seen before. Sure, simplicity at its best – sophisticated graphic design does not necessary make a good series, but improving it wouldn’t hurt at all, would it? Fortunately, it is not anything that would subtract from the brilliance of “Yojôhan Shinwa Taikei”. SOUND (8) What strikes in this case, are the perfect opening and ending sequences. A little gift to fellow Asian Kung-Fu Generation fans, the show features a song that goes perfectly with the general mood prevalent throughout, making the opening animation truly an integral part of it. The ending, on the other hand, ties perfectly into the finishing scenes of each episode. The voice-acting here, ah. It’s professional, suits the show and shows the many sides of the characters effectively. Shintaro Asanuma who played the part of Watashi reigns here. Indeed, his lines are something that needs some accustoming to (“man, slow down, this is killing me” was what I thought at the very beginning), but later on they become a masterpiece, giving this show a certain feeling that can’t be found in its equivalents. It is just as if the main character had too much to say and too little time. I got the feeling it was natural. CHARACTER (8) Another strong issue. There is no single unlikable character in this colourful show. Whether it’s one of the leads, or the big cast of supporting figures, they all feel as if they belong there, no matter what their role would be. Out of the trio Watashi-Akashi-Ozu, the protagonist may seem the dullest, but the journey he goes is far from boring. Akashi, his ideal raven-haired maiden, is an outspoken young lady with a particularly nasty fear of moths; it is, however, Ozu that drives the craziness, accelerating it by his mischievous doings, successfully making Watashi’s life even more difficult than it already is. “Yojôhan Shinwa Taikei” has also a well-developed cast of supporting characters, as mentioned before, whose stories intertwine with Watashi’s existence, often in troublesome ways. The most interesting part is always finding out what happens to whom in each part – situations change, but personalities remain strong. ENJOYMENT (8) Watashi’s monologues killed me at first. I started watching and was reluctant to continue; it wasn’t long, though, until I resumed the show and was taken by surprise. And it was a very positive surprise. Seeing a show like this is rare nowadays, one that may not be most innovative in its category, but it certainly is captivating and inspirational. Before I noticed, the series was over and I could only sigh. Spring 2010 was a good time for anime and “Yojôhan Shinwa Taikei” contributed to it remarkably. OVERALL (8) Watch it. Be prepared, but watch it nevertheless. The show is like a breath of fresh air – it’s a revitalising, pleasant experience. Follow Watashi’s road to finding himself, follow the journey of a human who dreamt of a satisfying life. A solid reality in an abstract wrapping. But that is just how life goes, isn’t it?

A common misconception is that being experimental makes your work inaccessible. Too many experimental works got this reputation, and too many people now think difficulty is praiseworthy. It’s as if jumping through 50 hoops somehow increases the value of 20 dollars. It may increase perceived value, but that’s not the same. It just means your mind distorted the real value so you won’t feel bad about wasting time. Difficulty can’t be the main aim of any piece of art. Art is a way to communicate ideas. The reason we seek these experimental/non-traditional/avant-garde methods is not because of their difficulty. These new approaches are meant to enhance a story, to shed new light on the same ideas. Experimentation shouldn’t draw you away from an anime, it should make you curious and involved in it. Tatami Galaxy is a perfect example of an anime that’s both experimental and, at the same accessible. It follows a non-linear narrative, whose structure has significant meaning. The characters all look weird, but that’s only makes them more lively. The characters themselves are weird, but people are weird. All their quirks aren’t there just to make them different from one another, but related directly to their personalities. Jougaski’s love for a doll is directly related to how he’s an idol for women. Akashi is cold and intelligent, but it doesn’t help her when moths are around. Ozu is a scumbag, but even scumbags like him can love. The way they are drawn is also important to their personality. Anyone who thinks character design isn’t important has no business watching anime, with Tatami Galaxy a strong argument for the importance of character design. The designs are expressive for their personalities – Jougaski looks perfect, Akashi is pretty in a low-key way, Higuchi looks both absent-minded and too wise to care. Look at the shut eyes and the small smile. It’s right between a wise master and an oblivious buffoon. The designs are both cartoonish and realistic at the same, and that’s whole approach of the show. It manages to be realistic by being cartoonish. Too many times we see attempts at realism by being ‘low-key’, like in Mushishi or Texhnolyze. In order to be ‘realistic’ you first have to ask yourself what is the reality your story is about. Then you seek methods, techniques, and cues that make us believe in your reality. Life is weird, but college life is especially weird. It’s not a matter of life and death, but it’s a constant chase after an ideal. Even outside college, the dream of a life of constant partying, joy and excitement is common. In the age of social media, this theme of ‘rose-colored life’ is more common. People often post only the good stuff and inflate them. We follow celebrities more closely than ever. Sometimes celebrities rise out of that social media. As a satire of that desire, Tatami Galaxy is dead-on. It’s not so much about choices, because whatever Watashi chooses the results remain fairly similar. It’s also not about some big philosophy about Destiny and Fate, because every time Watashi fails it’s in different ways. The reason he fails so much is because of his desire. This dream of the rose-colored life is his undoing. Whether it exists or not, the anime doesn’t answer. It shouldn’t, since easy answers have no place in a great story like this. What it asks us to do look beyond our huge ambitions. The vivid, wacky art style is meant to portray a reality that’s varied, full of weirdness and ups and downs. Notice how the colors constantly change. Life can’t be ‘rose-colored’. It has too many colors. The message is, thankfully, not just ‘enjoy your life and be thankful for it’. As I said, there’s no room for easy answers in stories that ask questions. Failure is a running theme and the anime is aware you can’t avoid failure and how painful it is. Characters who should lead ‘rose-colored life’ don’t lead them. Jougaski has plenty of things that make him ‘not a real man’. Hanuki may be a sexy, fun woman but she still falls into bad relationship. Ozu may be cunning, but he can also fall apart when loves takes over. All the colors, weirdness, and personification of a sex drive only lead to one conclusion. Life is a mess. You can enjoy it not by stop aspiring. You don’t even need some sort of ‘mythical balance’. The world is full of things, of Ozu’s who will knock us down and Higuchi’s who will babble nonsense. It’s about trying to enjoy it despite all these things, to sort out the mess and find what fits you. You can be life-affirming without being shallow Some have pointed out that the monologues can be too fast. At first it’s annoying, but it quickly dies down. Watashi still talks pretty fast, but the monologues become less dominant and slightly slower. It was easy getting over. The Tatami Galaxy is worth all the hype surrounding it. It manages to be so many things at the same time, and never losing control. It’s realistic without being dry. The narrative is experimental, but in a meaningful way rather than an obscure one. The character design is weird, but it’s for expressive purposes. For all the reputation it gained as an ‘intellectual anime’, it’s so accessible I’d recommend it to anyone, even people who aren’t into anime. 5 tatami rooms out 5

If any anime is blatant about telling you to stop whining about how much your life sucks, this would be the winner of them all. I won't spoil anything for those of you who haven't seen it yet, but the grand culmination is one that brings with it the potential to drown you in your own happy tears. Now, a notable thing about this anime is its incredible pace, which is both a blessing, since you get twice as much material per episode, and a curse, if you don't have a background in Japanese. Either way, watching this anime requires your utmost focus to details, and the artwork is "simplistically beautiful." Beyond anything, the message of this anime is the best reason to watch it, as it teaches you to recognize that all you ever wanted is right before your eyes, and trying to pursue a "rose-colored campus life" won't always bring what you expect. After all, life is full of twists and turns, and trying to follow the trodden path will ultimately limit your infinite options. Yojouhan Shinwa Taikei brings to light the value of being an individual through beautiful social constructs, dynamic artwork, and a lesson that truly permeates the essence of living life to the fullest.

[10/10] _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Whatever choice you make, whatever path you take, live it to the fullest. The message is simple, the idea isn’t. Tatami Galaxy weaves a complicated string of narrative threads through a canvas that tells a humble story. How would you relive a moment in your life which you believe has gone down the wrong path? What if it wasn’t one moment, but a combination of moments. A cacophony of looping situations with slight differences that all lead to a split second in which you realize that you haven’t achieved your goal. That miserable moment where you realize the last two years was wasted. What do you blame it on? Do you blame it on a person? An event? A choice? Our nameless protagonist, Watashi, which translates to “I” in Japanese meets a man at a midnight ramen stand. This man explains that he is the “god of matrimony” and he’s trying to match up two people. This brings Watashi to reflect upon his last two years which he believes have been wasted. And so, a clever twist on a groundhog loop begins. We relive the past two years of Watashi’s life every episode, and we see the different choices he could’ve taken to achieve what he calls a “rose-colored campus life”. Multiple common threads and situations tie every episode together. Similar pieces of dialogue in different contexts illuminate a whole picture for the viewer as we begin to figure out the story as our protagonist does. Every choice he makes is one that is in line with his character arc and the end the final choice that leads him to true success. This exquisitely crafted story expertly portrays a common idea. However, if you boil down any story ever told, it can be whittled down to certain, previously used elements observed in various other, older works. There are only so many stories you can tell. So the way you want to tell them is in a way which expresses your own unique ideologies. If the story is about a finding yourself, what kind of approach do you take? Expressing yourself through your drawings, your directing, your characters. A great director can express himself through the narrative and visuals. I feel like I understand Yuasa just a little bit more after Tatami Galaxy wrapped up. The amount of effort Tatami Galaxy put into conveying its theme is what ended up selling the story so much more. The grounded, yet surrealistic approach to the narrative as well as the visuals lined up perfectly with what you could view this dreamlike experience. Yet unlike so many anime which I’ve seen, this fantastical and surreal story is rooted in some of the most human emotion I’ve ever watched. I want to treat this review more as just a dump of my feelings, rather than some in-depth analysis or overly-structured points. This is because I don’t think a show like this favors that. The story it tells is to be experienced and analyzing it, while mandatory, is something that you yourself, as a viewer, should do. It is that kind of narrative. One which you can siphon your own thoughts from based on your own experiences. However, it’s three-prong narrative, which explains the foreground, background, and meta nature that is accessible to every viewer. The story succeeds on three levels, which is three times more than most. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ [Style is Substance] A common complaint I hear is that something can be too focused on a style and neglect to add this pesky thing called “substance”. Much like the various other buzzwords I’ve deconstructed over the course of my reviews, substance is yet another word which bothers me beyond belief. Not because it is wholly and unarguably subjective what substance in entertainment can be, but because it is often used as a criticism by people who can’t explain their point. If they disliked something it “lacked substance”, and if they loved it “had bountiful substance”. Yet what they never explain is what that substance means to them. Substance, as I’ve gathered in a colloquial sense, means story, character, narrative, structure, and visuals. It means it all. More importantly, though, it means a balance of it all. If the focus is uniformly on creating an effects reel of beautifully composed shots that lack intriguing characters, then that project “lacks substance”. Personally, I believe substance is everything that is decided by the viewer. It is what you value. If that’s poorly constructed romance with overly corny dialogue and cloying emotional resonance? Then so be it. That is your substance. That is the metaphoric matter that makes up the piece of entertainment which you enjoy. The idea that substance in any way is separate from style is preposterous. It is what makes up the project and if the director intends it to be wholly stylistic then so be it. However, when you can blend incredible style and an impressive narrative then you are creating a project that is successful on two fronts. It isn’t stylistic and full of substance; it is simply a stylistic story. Something that makes your jaw drop both visually and narratively. Tatami utilizes a unique kind of pervasive animation where it not only blends photo-imagery with animated characters but also filters real-life video so it fits the animation. It’s an incredible blend of self-indulgent stylization and surrealistic substance. It fits the kind of illusory narrative being unraveled. There are also various smaller animated ideas utilized throughout. A few rotoscoped scenes looked particularly captivating. The biggest boon that this astonishing visual flair adds is that it gives Yuasa the opportunity to craft scenes that speak through their visuals. Metaphoric representations of common concepts are rife in this series, specifically within the sexuality of this series. The symbolism that is shown isn’t subtle, but it doesn’t have to be. The visual style supplements the lack of subtle symbolism because the style itself is wholly abrasive. It only makes sense for the rest of the show to be that way. That isn’t to say there aren’t subtle themes and motifs, there are. Particularly in how various objects or creatures are incorporated to portray a certain character’s entire being. Whether they be love dolls, moths, or the devil himself. Tatami Galaxy is masterfully constructed by Masaaki Yuasa, who has always been a director and creator I admired due to his unique eye for visual storytelling. How certain stylistic choices can set an atmosphere that tells a more compelling narrative than the exposited narrative. My first encounter with Yuasa was in an episode of Adventure Time which he storyboarded and directed. For those who don’t know, Adventure Time is a wonderful cartoon that airs in the west. Later on in its run it began to incorporated various guest animators in the same vein that Space Dandy did. This guest animator would come in and completely take over an episode, crafting a story with previously established characters in a completely new visual assembly. Yuasa fashioned this eleven-minute episode of Adventure Time so memorably that it is one of my favorite episodes of the entire series to this day. His art style, but specifically the way he draws was so captivating that I honestly blame him as one of the many reasons I’m so into the animated medium. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ [Characters Living in a Room with a Meta-Narrative] The Tatami Galaxy maintains a static list of characters throughout its run time. Each one has established traits that get elaborated on as the series progresses. Your preconceived notions of these characters are challenged as every episode rounds to a close because each episode portrays them similarly, but with new background information that helps color your perception of the story. This is the kind of fractured…

"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean That's what Tatami is all about, for real. It gets such a high score on MAL, widely being praised everywhere, because The Tatami Galaxy also speaks to the audience about this, and some people is just really a perfectionist in the first place which makes the unnamed protagonist (Watashi) relatable for them. Having a message to convey to the audiences doesn't equate to a good story, and having surreal and "distinctive" artstyle doesn't mean the artstyle is good. But still needless to say, they exists here, and it adds up some merit for it. And in the end, fun things are fun. So here it is guys, my updated review of Tatami Galaxy, and of course, it's still a 6/10. Keep in mind that spoilers will be inevitable for this review due to Tatami Galaxy's story structure, which is some perfectionist guy keep resetting time to redo his 2 years to seek for the perfect life he refer as "Rose colored campus life", and episode 1-10 shows how he began his new life in a different club after his attempt to reset time. My first problem for Tatami is well, it doesn't really have a genre in which it excel itself upon. I've seen better mysteries (Haruhi, Shinsekai Yori, etc), I've seen WAY more better romances (Honey & Clover, Spice & Wolf, Kimi ga Nozomu Eien, Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso, even Kimi ni Todoke which is a really simple romance, etc), and also I've seen many better comedies (Inferno Cop, Kill la Kill, etc). The characterization of this anime was viewed from Watashi's perspective, each time he resets time, you'll find more characters and learn more about the already introduced character about their life, and of course this protagonist develops from his stubbornness in the very end, which resonates well with the story theme, adding the quality merits of the show remarkably. But aside on Watashi's character development and one life lessons it constantly emphasized upon on how there is no perfections in life, I don't see anything special about this anime. Perhaps I have never experienced things like Watashi did, but for sure, a lot of people do. If you found the protagonist really relatable with you, then good for you, since according to the fans, it's the charm of this series. Unfortunately, I failed to perceive it so. Going deeper through this series, I'd like to say that I got pretty disappointed knowing that the time travel cause has never been explored (well some people complaint upon ERASED on being so but then hey why didn't anyone who complaint about it got bothered with Tatami), and I found that none of the characters have any backstory to justify why they acted like that, which the most important thing for me goes to the protagonist himself, since he was so stickler to his "Rose colored campus life". One doesn't simply become so idealistic to their life like him out of nowhere, IMO. Side characters here can barely attach to me because the story being too protagonist-centric. The side characters is nothing abysmal, they have their quirks quite well, but nothing really fleshed out, but it's totally understandable since the narrations is Watashi-centric, which sadly, crash with one of its themes presentation, which leads to my biggest issue with The Tatami Galaxy. The biggest complaint for The Tatami Galaxy of mine, is the romances, which this part is that I should say it's below average. Sure the show trying to imply to us that you can't do the impossible (this is why I wonder on why people who likes Tatami likes TTGL) and just chase the best opportunity that this world has offered you, but is his final choice really the best opportunity for Watashi that he can do after the 2 years? No, not for me. Regarding this opportunity, I wouldn't deny that it's heavily revolve with the romance, since one of Watashi's prior goals is to "find a long raven haired girl". And here's where I think, the buildup to make said "opportunity" interesting is poorly executed. Why? Let's see into the character persona now. Which one is more talkactive? Watashi or Ozu? It's Ozu right? Extroverted guy should get along with introverted girl, because it gives a nice romance dynamics, as one would be the talker and the other would be more of a hearer. This was spoken by me as an introverted guy myself. I like assertive girl more than the silent one, and that's should be the opposite for those guys who talks much IRL. Pairing an introvert with an introvert would be bad as hell, as noone would take the initiative to do something. There is one girl which is really assertive (shown on episode 6-8), which is for me, the better couple for Watashi. You might say that Watashi has been given an opportunity (the mochiguman) to get with his goal, and I have to admit that this empowered said opportunity value by a bit, but is that mean that he doesn't have one with others? I don't think so, if he just didn't run on the episode 6-8, he will be hers. The winning girl character seems to have attached to most of the viewers as how I see that she got much favorites too here on MAL, about 65% compared to the protagonist Watashi, but she just don't stick well with me. Throwing one or two scene where she talked with him can't make me attached to a character (like I said before, other characters are barely affectionate), besides the fact that I never liked ice-cold personality in the first place, there's always exceptions. One of my favorite characters is a tsundere which is well, a trope that I used to generally dislikes even more, but the story can make me emotionally attached to her thanks to how it gives her a lot of perspectiveness, which Tatami lacks of besides having explore other characters activities on each loop. Love is a double-sided relationship, and failing to achieve this means that makes a bad love story. Another part I dislike is that he went to a sex doll which isn't even his belongings first (episode 7) before seeking through his penfriend (episode 8). A sane person will do the contrary for me. It might be not that important for some people but that scene is what infuriates me the most to this anime that I give a heavy facepalm. Aside for my "rant", I actually enjoyed some moments of this anime, notably the end of episode 1 when he got his first misfortune, and how Ozu appears out of nowhere. So that means it's not that it gives me cringe from the beginning of the story until the end but rather, has a mixed feelings on it in terms of enjoyment. People often complaint on how fast the protagonist narrates the story and that's not necessarily a problem to me, but yeah here goes my reminder for it. As for the OST, I can't say much, the OP is pretty refreshing, people usually liked the ED more, but it was just not for me. Some people also tend overanalyze on how on the last episode when the protagonist realized what he have done all the time and gained resolve to fix it, it's intentionally reversed to create the image that his way of thinking already been changed from being a dreamer to an opportunity seeker, but for me it's just how like most anime is, many other anime has their last episode OP played when the story ends too. And to be frank, the OP of episode 1-10 hints on the twists happens on episode 10, but can still keep it subtle that it won't spoils you like many other OP/EDs. People generally attracted to its wacky and surreal artstyle because its "distinctive" but surrealism=/=instantly good for me, and moreover has a two off-model scenes which I used to rant a lot about it (The weird elbow shape on episode 10 and the bag disappearance) but I don't really care that much as for now, but more of because it's being surreal just for the sake of being surreal. My favorite series of all time is heavily surreal and it has a very good reasons of it because it was told from the perspective of a character who has a severe delusions. I also don't mind with supernatural anime or any anime where the character…

Nice concept and great visuals make this an interesting show, it knows exactly where it wants to go and gets there with confidence and style. Many people will feel that the message hits home and that the visuals are stunning. However in the show's confident rush I felt the characters were viewed more like cogs in the machine than actual people, with just enough details to keep that from being too obvious. Tatami works as an efficiently delivered message and doesn't get boring, but it lacks heart.

The Tatami Galaxy (also known as Yojouhan Shinwa Taikei) is a series presented in an unorthodox way about the protagonist’s struggle to reach his idea of paradise: a rose-colored campus life overflowing with glory and rapture. As he enters college, he is optimistic for the perfect campus life and “raven-haired maiden.” Perhaps too optimistic. Each time he tries to reach his dream, he falls too short and rues the choices he made. But along the way, the young adult begins to mature as a person, as his journey of self-discovery leads him to respect and embrace the decisions he has made. He comes to discover what happiness and paradise truly are, and that they were in front of him the whole time. Story: 10/10 Tatami Galaxy is a story about our protagonist, simply known as “Watashi,” entering college hopeful for the promising “rose-colored campus life” that awaits him. The story is refreshing in that it’s very unique and gives the watcher a sensation very different from other anime, and deviates significantly from the typical anime. It is episodic in the sense that each episode tells a different path that the main character takes to reach his “rose-colored campus life.” Each decision he makes is met with disaster, and the main character regrets his decisions, wanting to redo what he has done with his life. At the end of the episode, time spins backwards and the next episode he chooses a different path. He repeats this process over and over again, never reaching his paradise. Each episode is unique in its own way. Watashi takes different paths by choosing different clubs ranging from the film circle “Misogi” ruled by its narcisstic leader to the secret society known publically as the “Lucky Cat Chinese Restaurant,” that is involved with underground activity such as robbing bikes. No episode failed to deliver a compelling and hilarious story. Viewers will laugh continuously as they ride the main character’s train of thought about the world around him, and they learn more about each character throughout the different episodes. Though each episode initially seems to not be intertwined with the others (leading to the show’s episodic feel), they are all brought together in the last few episodes when we piece together the different parts of the series to find its overall moral. Overall the story was singularly and elegantly presented, and the conclusion that weaves everything together, leaving the viewer in astonishment. Characters: 9/10 The characters are another part of what make Tatami Galaxy a new experience. Many character has a peculiar trait that makes him or her fun and unique, and some characters are complex and are more than just a personification of just their personality. We see the world’s view in Watashi’s perspective and hear many of his rapid introspective monologues, often of which are amusingly sarcastic. It should also be noted that Watashi is a very real character, someone who many viewers can relate to and understand, which is quite a rarity in anime. Ozu is an enigmatic same-year college student and a friend of Watashi’s. He is a ubiquitously mischievous person who takes joy in causing mischief to other people everywhere. He is tied to Watashi by the “black string of fate” and happens to cause trouble in all of Watashi’s lives. He is hilarious yet mysterious, as there are many secrets about him that are not initially known. Akashi is an intelligent girl from the engineering department who Watashi has the most interest in. She is witty and sometimes cold, somewhat similar to Hitagi from Bakemonogatari, though not nearly as extreme. Many side characters also had their quirks that made them funny, and no characters were particularly poorly done, but I’ll let you find out more about them yourself. Watashi’s development and his self-discovery through this series were outstanding, but unfortunately the others didn’t develop quite as much. Nevertheless, the characters were a strong point in the series, and part of what makes it so disparate. Art: 9/10 The art is another part of what sets the Tatami Galaxy apart from other anime. It is very different and yet so apposite of the story it’s telling. It adds a psychological and surreal effect in the overall feeling of the anime. It uses colors that are generally bright and ignore conventional shading/lighting, which gives off the atmosphere’s levity. It wasn’t incredible by any means, but nonetheless it is still good. Overall, it is nicely and amazingly apt. Sound: 9/10 The sound is top-notch and the OP/ED capture the mood of the show. The OP “Maigonu to Ame no Beat” is very catchy and nice to listen to. The mood and lyrics of the song captures the heart of the whole series and is very appropriate. The ED (which has stunning visuals) is more atmospheric and dark, nicely expressing the feeling the audience gets at the end of each episode. The OST’s, however, aren’t as great and don’t get much further than just being background music. The voice-acting is also well-done and the actors do well to convey the feelings of the characters. The incredible speed may be a little offsetting to starters, but it’s easy to get used to after a while. Enjoyment: 10/10 Needless to say, I enjoyed every minute of this series. The different and yet deft form of storytelling, the extraordinary characters that never fail to amuse, and the beautiful audiovisuals converge to create this fantastic series. The Tatami Galaxy is a perfect example of "a diamond in a coal mine," and I highly recommend it to anyone that wants to watch something masterfully different. This is not an opportunity you want to miss. “Opportunity is always dangling in front of you.” So, why not grab it?

The idea of mixing the concepts of time travel and high school life is quite unique and interesting but in here, Yojouhan Shinwa Taikei, it fails at both. The first problem I had with the show is that the time travel paradox has no explanation. At the end of every episode, it just goes back in time with zero explanation. The show also has no development whatsoever or a goal to make me immersed. 3-Gatsu no Lion, an anime that is a Slice of Life, became one of my favorite anime because of its top-notch development and every character had a goal but in here it is just a bunch of random episodes without substance.How am I supposed to be attracted or interested to the characters if the show doesn't give them......character. The characters are actually interesting but the show stopped at that and they lost that status. The show also tries to be fun but it fails so hard. Ozu is the main example but instead of being fun it becomes painfully annoying and even cringey sometimes. This show is so lifeless for a Slice of Life anime. I didn't want to do it but it deserves it. A 1/10. Feel free to enlighten me on why the show is actually good. Just don't be toxic.

i'm not even going to pretend that i understand this anime watching the first episode i just realized there is a god who starts talking to the MC, he is a "relationship matcher" kind of a god, and there is this girl who seems to be "so-to-be-girlfriend" character and that's all i understood from watching this anime, the rest of the show is just absolutely random events and i couldn't connect the dots what is the plot? i have no idea, reading Phenomenology of Spirit was easier that this! i HATE the art style i hate how fast the mc is talking, i hate how he says too much but there are basically meaningless words i have no idea what the fuck did i just watch

I sweat bullets in anticipation as I prepare to write a review for Tatami Galaxy, also known as The Mythological Chronicles of the 4½ Tatami Room". It is by director Masaaki Yuasa, known for his art house works in anime such as Kaiba and Ping Pong the Animation. I am not nervous because the anime is bad, quite the opposite. It is because I feel unqualified to review it. All I seek is the rose colored critic life. Nevertheless I decided I was to embark headfirst into this feat. To review Tatami Galaxy, as the name was simplified for the United States out of fear of being too complicated (Though that certainly didn't help), I knew I had to explain what it was about, and I find that a difficult task. I should explain Tatami Galaxy is adapted from the novel of the same name. It is a genre bending existentialist comedic drama about an unnamed and unreliable narrator who tries to live the rose colored campus life and fails miserably. He wishes for the two years he wasted to be redone. Each episode is set in a parallel universe in which he chose a different school club, ultimately meeting the same people in varying circumstances. Meanwhile, it is implied that he is apart of a cosmic bet placed upon him, a mysterious girl named Akashi, and a mischievous devil-faced boy named Ozu by the Japanese God of matchmaking to see if the protagonist or Ozu will win the heart of Akashi. Oh, and it deals with the timeless themes of angst, apathy, and the general hopelessness that plagues many college-bound youth, although the demographic is very leaning towards Japanese. STORY: 10/10 Okay that wasn't so hard after all. Was it hard reading that chunk of a paragraph? That's the best way I can describe the anime is by trying to replicate its pace and content. It is no secret Tatami Galaxy is not very accessible. It is notorious for its extremely faced pace both in speech and direction and the massive amounts of dense exposition thrust onto the viewer at all angels. The anime is only eleven episodes long but at a slower pace it could easily fill 26 episodes. However, the fast pace is not an issue to me, and it reflects the hectic college lifestyle and holds firm to the idea that time flies when you're having fun. Every episode of Tatami Galaxy begins the same except from one significant choice. The choice made in each episode creates a nearly totally different outcome. It sounds very repetitive, but each scenario is fun and unique enough to stand on its own. This is no "Endless 8" level bullshit, although there is a period of the anime consisting of three episodes that are a tad too similar. This is not a problem to em since they were still damn funny episodes. The protagonist's quest to find the rose colored campus life is one of the most delightfully mad and subjective you'll ever experience and he plot is filled with enough literary techniques to make an AP English grader step back. Couple this original and hilarious set-up with a drastic turn of events come the final few episodes and one of the most surprising and satisfying endings I've ever seen and you've got a damn perfect story. It is short and complex enough to command constant re-watches without ever feeling like it's being dragged on. It is one of the most poignant and poetic stories I've ever seen. ART: 10/10 Let's face it. Yuasa anime artstyle is just not for everyone. Luckily, despite its bizarre setup, Tatami Galaxy has probably the most tame of Yuasa's art. Each frame of Tatami Galaxy is pure art. There's simply not much else to say about it. Unque, imaginative, like a fever dream masterwork of the greatest of surreal painters. SOUND : 10/10 I did not notice the soundtrack at all, which means it did its job perfectly. The OP and ED are also spot on perfect for the show, both dealing with the show's themes of apathy, paranoia, and angst in drastically different tones. The voice acting is also some of the best I've ever heard in anime. It is very commendable given how fast every character speaks, and the emotion put into it despite the rushed speech is strong and the clarity kept intact. CHARACTERS: 9/10 When one of the characters is a personification of the protagonist's penis as a cowboy named Johnny, is there any other reason not to talk praise? Laughing aside, the protagonist is one of the most developed and thought provoking figures to ever grace anime. Part of what makes this so is his reputation as an unreliable narrator. What is real? What is fantasy? You will never know. The narrator doesn't know at least. He is sassy and sex crazed but also deeply humble, proud, and innocent. He is someone anyone reading this review will relate to somehow. To counter him is the character of Ozu, who can easily be considered the villain or the series, or the closest thing to it. Ozu is the protagonist's crony, always getting him into trouble. Think of a more sinister version of Eddy from Ed, Edd, n Eddy. He absolutely steals the show in every scene he's in and his ending is also beyond satisfying. The girl Akashi is unique and serves her purpose as a plot device perfectly while also being compelling as an individual. Other characters, such as a jock filmmaker who hides a strange fetish, a troubled female dentist, and the Japanese God himself (OR IS HE?!) are just as colorful as the colors of their surroundings. My only complaint is the dentist mentioned before, who aside from one very very funny quirk is a rather generic archetype of "sad sexy young adult alcoholic" ENJOYMENT: 10/10 Tatami Galaxy is one of the most no holds barred insane thrill rides I've ever had with a series. It's insightful but never preachy. It's both a mindless juvenile comedy and a poignant work of art. It never feels pretentious or fake and is never "too deep" to have fun with. OVERALL: 10/10 To me it is a monstrosity very very few have heard of this anime, and even fewer have actually watched it. I consider it to be easily the greatest of the 2010'a thus far, which places it high on my list of greatest of all time. It is not for everyone without a doubt, but Tatami Galaxy is to me one of the greatest artistic achievements told through a visual medium. The great Demo D couldn't describe it better, "It's a love story, but not really. It's a simplistic coming of age and understanding of ones self but also a complex cerebral commentary wrapped up in fast comedy, colorful symbolism, brief Japanese mythology, and quirky characters and situations that you won't find anywhere else". It's a story we all can relate to but is just bizarre enough to completely alienate and isolate us. It's a story that makes you think and learn just as the protagonist does. Tatami Galaxy is one of the most fun experiences I've had with an anime. In just 11 episodes it packs a comedic and emotional punch and not only brings up interesting philosophy but goes above and beyond and actually explains why these philosophies are relevant and what they mean in the real world. You're a fool if you don't give Tatami Galaxy at least a chance.

"Your life has not yet begun. You are spending overtime inside of your mother’s belly." How good would it be if it was true! I mean, a belly is warm, a belly is comfortable, and in a belly you don't have to do anything in particular, just live and have fun with your umbilical cord. It's really a shame we can live in there for only 9 months, before coming out in the real world. So, what is The Tatami Galaxy, and what did it attempt to do? It's a show just about an average life, of an average guy, trying to get out of the shell, grasping opportunities, and maybe being happy. Have you ever felt that something was amiss in your life, that you actually never took any real choices? This anime is about that feel. And tried in some ways or another, to deal with it. The story is pretty simple: we're in the shoes of our MC without a name, Watashi for the friends, a college freshman, that thought that entering a club would finally make his real life begin. We don't need an introduction: every episode loops, showing us a different variation of Watashi's life, basing on his initial club choice, and we're to get acquainted bit by bit to the ambientation and the characters. The characters - Ozu is a special case - are more like a furniture to the setting, as we're to get to know the cast through the filter that is Watashi. They're great tho, the slice-of-life sequences source of fun, is them. I'd say that the plot is character-driven, but seen the nature of the anime, it's more Watashi-driven: his choice determine who he'll meet, and with whom he'll develop some sort of relationship. This adaptation is by Madhouse, 'nuff said. Art-wise, or better, visuals-wise, it's an atipical work, for sure. The character animation is simplicistic, nothing too fancy, but it's in combination with various tecniques, like the coloured filters, or the occasional character and photographed background contrast that made the style really neat. High-level direction, Madhouse skilled with adaptations, trust them. Even if sometimes things like Chaos;Head get out, they promised to not fail anymore. TL;DR it is definitively a good ride, the insights and the growth of Watashi are depicted with great realism and the comedy is gold. Watch it for the gum massage if you have this fetish.

As of writing this, I've watched this series a couple of times and I feel like I should share my opinions about the world, the characters, and the overall ideology behind Tatami Galaxy. Before I get into the review, I can't help but mention that I am currently consuming a Samyang Buldak Hot Spicy Chicken Ramen. It's the one that comes in pink. Now, I really enjoy the Samyang Spicy Chicken however, I can't really recommend the pink one. The inclusion of the cheese powder stuff really muddles with the spicy sauce and creates a really awkward taste. It's the same awkwardness I've experienced with the Habanero Lime flavor. I don't get why you would ever enjoy habanero and lime together, but whatever, I can honestly say it's my least favorite of them all. Now about the pink package noodles, you might recommend that I simply leave out the cheese packet. Yes, that is the logical solution, isn't it? However, there are a few things wrong with this. First, the hot sauce packet has been reduced in the pink packages, so you get a lot less flavor and heat. Also, by removing the cheese powder packet, you essentially create the regular spicy chicken that comes in black. I would highly recommend just buying the black packaged noodles instead of the inferior pink ones. If you're like me, you actually enjoy when the noodles bite back, so instead of buying the black spicy chicken, you will go for the 2x spicy chicken that comes in the red package. This version does indeed feel like it's "2x spicy" and I guarantee you will need milk to accompany it. However, there is a considerable drawback, as the regular spicy chicken is freely available in the store I frequent, yet the 2x spicy I can only buy from online retailers. It's certainly a bit more of an expense, but if I'm perfectly honest, I would say it is definitely worth it. Anyways, back to my review of Tatami Galaxy. It was pretty good! I highly recommend.

I have to admit, I'm a critical snobbish bastard. When I dislike an anime I'm incapable to suppress the urge to tell everyone how bad it was, especially the people who liked the show. But now and then I come across an anime that ignites a little spark in my cold critical heart, Yojouhan Shinwa Taikei is one of these particular shows. This anime did not only entertain me, but it also made me think about my own life. Oh and it has stunning, somewhat weird animation that supported the atmosphere of the show. This anime is not perfect but it is oh so damn close. ~story~ 9/10 The main character of this anime has no name, let's just call him Watashi (what means I) like the anime does. At the start of the year, our main character has to decide which school club he's going to join, that decision can't be life changing... right guys? Right? In the first episode we see how Watashi ruins his life, he was striving for a "rose-colored campus life" and "raven-haired maidens" (how do you even come up with that?) but instead he has to face reality. And reality sucks, that's something we have all discovered on one or another occasion in our lives. Instead of being surrounded by his beautiful raven-haired girls, Watashi fails at tennis (the school club he decided to join) and he is neglected by everybody. Did I say everybody? No, not everybody, in every episode there are at least 2 persons who notice our failure of a main character: a guy who looks like a monster, Ozu and a pretty (though lacking raven-colored hair) girl, Akashi. Ozu ruins the life of our protagonist in the first episode and he keeps doing that, because every episode is a scenario where Watashi had decided to join a different school club. So back to my question, can the school club you join change your life? Yes, it can, just watch The Tatami Galaxy. Every episode is a different story of Watashi's life and every time he is chasing stupid things like his "rose-colored campus life" and he fails miserably every time. I seriously mean EVERY TIME. In most cases because of Ozu, or that is what our main character believes. But reality is different, something you discover in the last episode, one of the best anime endings ever made! The last episode shed a new light on the other 10 episodes and turned everything upside down, but of course I'm not going to spoil everything, this review is spoiler free. Something else that is remarkable in this anime are the dialogues and the monologues, they're so fast-paced, now and then you have to pause the episode to read the monologues. This is kind of annoying but I liked it most of the time. And this anime also has comedy, pretty dark comedy and it's really funny at times. But most important, this show is not just funny, it has a deeper meaning. After watching the last episode, you realize that the main character approached his life the wrong way, and did Ozu really ruin his life? Was his life actually ruined at all? Especially if you're a student yourself, you can't escape thinking: "Am I not doing the same things and making the same mistakes?" I did at least (even though I am not chasing "raven-haired maidens" and hopefully I never will). Still, even though there is a deeper layer and a meaning behind this story, it is never preachy or boring to watch. [CONCLUSION] Wow, the story is unique, has a deeper meaning, made me think about my own life and was just extremely enjoyable to watch. Also, the dialogue is awesome, it's funny and extremely fast. The story repeats itself 11 times but it's never really boring. That's an amazing achievement! Really, the story is great, the only problem is the dialogue, sometimes it's just too fast. It annoyed me that I had to stop the anime to read the subs. But this is just a small problem compared to the awesome story. ~art~ 10/10 One word: MadHouse. Of course the art is great and it's just as unique as the story (in a positive way). It's surreal, colorful and I've never seen this art style before. It adds to the weird atmosphere of this show. In the last episode they mixed the animation with life action a few times, the result was crazy and to be honest really refreshing and cool. The animation is art but it's (thank the god of anime) not pretentious or plain stupid, this happens way too often when animators try to make something original. [CONCLUSION] Awesome, just awesome, I really have nothing else to say. ~music~ 9/10 The opening "Maigo Inu to Ame no Beat" (I'm NOT going to repeat that) is great and it fits the show, the ending is less upbeat than the opening and pretty good. For the OST's (you will not hear them that much, thanks to Watashi's monologuing) they are not really special but they match with the scenes they are played in. And the voice acting is great, this is really important because if the amount of monologues and dialogues. [CONCLUSION] Really good, the opening and ending are fitting and the OST's are more then decent (if you get the opportunity to hear them in between the monologues) ~characters~ 10/10 Watashi is an immature lazy brad and refuses to take responsibility for his own failures. He just blames Ozu all the time, while in some situations Ozu indeed destroyed Wathashi's life (that already wasn't that great) but in most cases it wasn't Ozu but his own behavior that ruined his "rose-colored campus life". Ozu himself is pretty much described as the devil himself, but he is our main characters only friend. Akashi is Watashi's love interest, she is a cold girl who just does not care if people like or dislike her. And there is Jougasaki, at first a random one dimensional creep with an obsession with boobs and his doll, but every episode he turns a little bit more likable and I ended up liking him and his relationship with his doll (At least it's still a better love story than Twilight, but pretty much everything is). We also have Hanuki, whose engrish is hilarious and kind of cringeworthy and master Hinuki who wants to travel the world. And last but certainly not least..... Johnny, the weirdest character I've seen in a long time, though character? I'm not sure if can call him a character, but he's is hilarious. The best thing about the characters is that they seem so one dimensional in the first episodes but when the story progresses this really changes. Every character has different flaws, qualities and their own quirks. They are memorable and really unique, just like the anime itself. [CONCLUSION] Great characterization, every character turns from a one dimensional archetype into something way more interesting. They are all imperfect in their own unique ways, just like every human has his/her own imperfections that make him/her so special. They're are well-written and relatable. And of course there is the old fortune teller and Johnny, how can anyone in this world dislike Johnny? ~enjoyment~ 8/10 The enjoyment is the weakest part of this anime, and it's still very enjoyable. This anime is funny but it's not only pure fun, the story has an important message: "Stop chasing rose-colored campus lives, raiven-haired girls and other stupid things you will never achieve, but live and appreciate your friends even though they aren't perfect, your friends, you and your life is imperfect, but still great. Enjoy life!" And I believe this is an important message, oh and the story is just awesome. There are two small things that lower the enjoyment score: the speed of the dialogue and the fact that the story can be a bit repetitive. [CONCLUSION] Just watch this show, it's fun, art and a masterpiece. It has some small flaws but aside from these things everything is really great, so stop doing whatever you're doing and watch this anime! It is definitely worth your time. Peace.

Tatami Galaxy is, all at once, genuinely funny, nihilistically depressing, mind numbing, thought provoking, and beautiful. It follows a protagonist who is only ever referred to as "me" and "senpai" through his first 2 years of college, repeated over and over again. The formula for each episode is quite simple: the path of the story is dictated by what co-curricular circle he chooses on his first day, the (mis)adventures he partakes in said circle is then chronicled with very obvious ties to the other alternate realities peppered here and there, and it ends with him feeling dissatisfied with his campus life, deciding that if he had done so-and-so instead, he would not have wasted it. Then the clock rewinds. A lot of anime which follow a set routine like this often have trouble making every single episode worth sitting through (yes, Jigoku Shoujo S1, I'm looking at you). However, Tatami Galaxy makes every story unique enough, with just enough connections and surface-level symbolism to make it enjoyable, and perhaps more importantly, interesting. Watching an episode, or even a repeated segment, never feels like a chore, and the captivating minimalistic but vibrant art style has a lot to do with it as well. The visuals do an amazing job capturing the essence of what needed to be delivered while keeping it simple enough not to distract from the narrative story going on. Even if you find any of it boring, to whatever extent for whatever reason, the finale makes everything worth it. When the message the series hammers at for 9 episodes builds itself up to suspenseful levels and finally expels itself in an flurry (of moths), there is an unmatched feeling of satisfaction. Now, some wonder if the central motif was all they were trying to deliver or there is some deeper message, but I think that's the best thing about this series – it doesn't matter. Because this is one of the very rare anime that you can analyse into the bloody ground, or just enjoy for what it is and still have a great time anyway. Personally, I feel its main point was to send the central message but it can branch out into many smaller motifs represented to visual symbols here and there. Either way it is a fantastic and entertaining watch, there is little reason not to. After all if there's anything to take away from the series, it's that you regret what you don't do more than what you do.