Welcome to the NHK is a lot more interesting than I thought it would be. The main character, Sato, is a 22-year old unemployed college drop-out and a hikikimori, a shut-in. From there it looked as if this might be something like Genshiken, an otaku comedy with a loving backhand. It does kind of start off that way, but after seeing the first twelve episodes, Welcome to the NHK definitely is not that. There is some attention shown for things otaku, but no glory.
Here’s the OP:
I love that OP, by the way. Not just the song, but the visuals too, even though those visuals are un-anime, the cuts flow well and I like how they used bold flat Illustrator-like colors on the random girls passing through the screen.
Back to the show, the basic setup is one day Sato hears a knock on his door and actually answers it. He meets Misaki and her aunt, the chance encounter that changes things, but as the show progresses that encounter looks like it wasn’t so much chance. Misaki wants to rescue Sato from his sorry state, but Sato just wants to get rid of her. He tells some lie about being a game designer. It just so happens his next door neighbor was someone from his past who happens to be going to game design school. Eventually, they decide to partner up and make a galge. Why exactly she reaches out to Sato to get this whole thing going is part of what makes it interesting. There’s definitely something going on.
That all seems pretty otaku comedy so far, but the taking refuge in the sub-culture is shown as somewhat morbid rather than celebratory. This is where it departs from an “about us” comedy like Genshiken or Comic Party. Something went wrong with these characters, somewhere in their lives, and they withdrew from the norm. Anyway, I don’t want to speculate too much on what the show is trying to say. I’ll wait for it to tell me.
I watched all twelve episodes in this collection in one sitting and wished I bought the second part as well. I would have watched the entire series in one go. The look Welcome takes at the damage people hold onto made it easy to relate to. It’s not that I like Sato, he’s not that likable what with his complaining and his freaking out all the time. I’m not on his side like I would be on a show with clear sides, but I get it, the hikikimori thing. I understand the need for withdrawal. I can relate. At least, I feel I get Sato even if I don’t like him or know the whole story. Maybe it hits a little close to home, which I’m sure it is intended to do, since feelings of alienation are quite common in modern life. I expect it to get a bit darker in the second half.
Notes on Funimation’s Release
Welcome to the NHK is one of the titles Funimation got from the whole ADV mess last year, so most of the production work was done by ADV. The dub is good. Chris Patton as Sato is good casting, as is Greg Ayres as Yamazaki fits too, which must suck for him always having to play that kind of character. I really like Stephanie Wittels as Misaki, a definite sense of life in the performance, striking that balance of nice without sounding like a pushover or dumb.
The set is two discs in two thinpak cases wrapped in a thin cardboard box. It’s basically three dvds worth of content for slightly less than the price of two dvds, so not a bad deal for a good show. Funimation has the first two episodes for you to check out.
I really like the OP too
Very catchy.
Glad that you’re liking NHK.
I remember having doubts when I first started this series, but after catching up with the remaining episodes, it grew on me. Love the show; now I understood why it was voted second best anime behind Haruhi in 2006!
Was it really that popular? Guess Haruhi just overshadowed everything that year. I don’t follow fansubs so I miss out on what is and isn’t a hit sometimes. But, this one keeps getting better as it gets deeper. Plus it’s good Gonzo, the kind of thing that makes me check them out even if they have a pretty high miss percentage. They’re capable of good stuff.
Awesome, I’m off to go watch the dubbed episodes. This is one of my favorite anime series out there, I might just have to buy this.
I know how you feel about regretting on not having the second half of the anime to watch. I bought the first half, watched it in one night, and immediately the next day went and got the second half.
I liked it a lot, and there were very emotional parts of it. I think I’m a fan of Misaki.
I really had to watch this series in one go aswell.Its really one of my favorites.You might want to check out the recently finished Manga by Tokyopop afterwards with its 7 Volumes.The story parts halfway through from the Anime and its a tad better than the Anime (and ecchier ^^).
I cant tell anything about the Novel both is based on.Might be worth to check out aswell
Ah, NHK. One of the better shows from Gonzo. I really liked the otaku-related comedy and how it lampoons so many stereotypes. I… sort of felt bad about how I resemble him some times though >_>
NHK is one of my original favorites and to me a veritable classic. THe second half is (arguably) not as good as the first, but it’s still damn great. I highly advise you read the original novel afterword, as it is much better and very interesting.
Persocom so far it looks like something worth having in a dvd library.
Sonso1 Misaki is quite alluring to me as well, even though she has an ordinary look about her. It’s the mystery of who she is, plus I guess the whole girl who wants to save a loser thing too.
Blowfish I used to read manga a lot. I’ve still got piles of it, but once I moved and stopped taking the train to work I pretty much stopped.
Zeroblade you and me both.
Digitalboy I can see why this ranks as a favorite for those who have seen it. Shame it didn’t seem to be doing that well here in the US. Anyway, thanks for the recommendation of the novel. I still read books, so if I can find it I’ll probably pick it up.
I found NHK hilarious mainly on it’s satirical humour lol.
Welcome to the NHK is one of my favorites and the opening is pretty good, the tune was stuck in my head for weeks. I have yet to finish getting the manga, which is just as good!
Nhk=BEAST
i wish there was a second season but there was a girl named Haruhi..she came along and….yea she needs another season too…srry im ranting
How big was the age difference between the two of them…sato and that girl??
Welcome to the NHK has to be one of my most favorite anime I have seen. You should read the manga because the manga is like a whole different story and it is a lot better than the anime.
I have read the manga. For the love of God… the manga did not let the character to breath in grace for even one chapter, always giving him new problem to handle and made him in deep-deep stress every chapter XD
The ending in manga, to be honest, I don’t like it, but it still acceptable. I was expecting Sato and Kaoru did manage to finish the eroge and sell it at comiket.
The thing that surprise me is, the maid which are the one who look like Rei Ayanami actualy is a…man, hahahahahaha… so so funny.