WELCOME
TO THE NHK: Those NHK bastards set me up!
Welcome to the NHK follows the lives
of several young adults who are experiencing intense feelings of depression and
loneliness. The story focuses on the concepts of being a hikikomori (a person
in the state of social withdrawal), a NEET, an anime otaku, and others that are
deemed awkward by society.
The premise is, in itself, already a
good marketing tool for this anime. It immediately explains that the anime will
be tackling issues that are very relatable for the anime enthusiast. And
indeed, Welcome to the NHK doesn’t disappoint.
What really makes it successful is
the characterization. The characters are well-moulded. Their flaws are very
realistic and relatable. Even though these flaws could make them hateable, they
have the opposite effect. They actually make the viewers like them.
Take note that these flaws are
supported by the characters’ backgrounds and back-stories, meaning that there
are actually legitimate reasons why the characters have them. Giving characters
backgrounds and back-stories are often used to give the illusion of character
depth, but in Welcome to the NHK, the depth is no illusion. It is pulled off
really well. And this is thanks to the writing.
Speaking of the writing, this anime
knows what it’s doing. Every episode is full of plot and character development.
Nothing is delayed. Nothing is stretched-out. Every minute is worthy to be
there. As if that’s not impressive enough, the anime also has a smooth way in
moving from one story arc to the other.
The story arcs are somehow connected
with each other through certain plot elements and plot points, so moving from
one to the other doesn’t give the impression that a story has just ended and
another is about to start.
But don’t get the wrong idea.
Welcome to the NHK has an overall story all right. It’s not just story arcs to
the next. The main story is about Tatsuhiro Sato and his struggles as a
hikikomori. But from there, the story diverts to different directions, to
different story arcs, while still making progress to this story.
Another thing I like about the story
is its ability to conceal and reveal plot points and twists. It is the kind of
story that doesn’t reveal all of its secrets at once.
However, this anime is not perfect.
The biggest flaw I’ve seen is the inconsistency in the animation and art style.
Some episodes seem to be very detailed and smooth, while some are so dull that
even the viewers who don’t particularly look at the art will immediately spot
the difference.
Other than this, I don’t see any
flaw that is worthy to be mentioned. The one I said isn’t even an inherent
flaw. It appears to be a mere issue in the budget.
I don’t normally include opening and
closing themes in my reviews, but I just like the themes of Welcome to the NHK.
It’s more of a personal matter. I just love the musical style, especially that
of the opening theme and the first closing theme.
Overall, I think Welcome to the NHK
is a very well-written anime. The story doesn’t waste time on unnecessary
details, and it flows smoothly. The best part of the story is the amount of
realism in it, which could be happy and depressing at the same time, because of
the truths it shows. Add in compelling characters and dramatic character
interactions, and you have a rollercoaster ride of emotions -- easily recommendable anime.
Welcome to the NHK has been on my watch list for a while now since there are a lot of fans of the series online, and I think this is a series that I will definitely get around to watching at some point, but I am not sure when I will watch it.
ReplyDelete-James
Yes, Welcome to the NHK has a lot of fans because the stories and characters are really relatable. It is also very emotional, almost surprisingly emotional actually. It's a very well-written anime. You should see it!
DeleteI loved Welcome to the NHK. I grew up as a hikikomori ever since I was very young, and I'm not underestimating the phenomenon. I was so afraid to leave my room since I was a child that I neglected to eat or use the bathroom. In fact, I've only started to become "normal" in the past couple of years, which I'm very thankful for, although I still struggle with a somewhat severe condition of social anxiety disorder.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, I related to Welcome to the NHK intensely. They did an amazing job of portraying the struggles of a hikikomori life, and sometimes I just cried because it was so true. I sometimes rewatched the first episode as a reminder to myself that things needed to change. I guess I have a lot of emotional connection to this show, after all that. ^^; I heard that the light novels were much better too, but I haven't gotten around to reading them yet.
The issues this show tackles are serious indeed. I, too, have the tendency to seclude myself, but not to an extreme extent. So in a way, I also feel connected to the characters of Welcome to the NHK. This show really is emotional. Whether you're hikikomori or not, the scenes and characters are well-made in themselves that they could trigger emotional responses.
DeleteI'm glad that this show somehow helped you to be 'normal', and you're doing steps in order to be 'normal' and not just settling in it. That's a good sign that you're making progress! I'm honestly hoping for your full recovery.
I finally watched and review the series and I have to agree with you on all points. Except for the inconsistent animation, there is just about nothing bad I can say about Welcome to the NHK. It almost makes me want to read the manga to have more time with the characters or even read the novel.
ReplyDelete-James
Glad you like it! True, there is just about nothing bad you can say about it. It's really good in all departments, and just a little off in the animation because of inconsistency. Sorry for the late reply! The real world is keeping me busy these days. I'll check your review!
DeleteAgh! I've read almost everything you've written on your blog, but somehow I missed this review. Really glad you (and James) enjoyed the series. It really is one of the best anime out there
DeleteI figured you'd think that, since your layout has some elements of NHK and your post about your top anime. I'm glad that we share the same opinion.
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