In between the crazy moments of Sato’s imagination, Welcome to the NHK lives in the sober moments of reality, when the soundtrack of lazy drums nudges the guitar along behind Sato’s wallowing, the unwarm sunlight through the window of the half desolate Tokyo train, a full ashtray, and a computer monitor as the light of the world in a dark room in the middle of the night. It can be a mopey show, but it’s quite funny and messed up at points too, just like life. And while it is just a cartoon, it speaks to me.
What I find appealing in the second half is the severing ties with youth and letting go of failing to live up to yourself. When you’re in school, everyone is going to be this or that, some great thing. The reality is most of us grow up to be bottom feeders, scrounging and whoring for meals, taking the easy way out, etc. We never had a chance. As much as it’s true, it’s also bullshit.
One of the messages is pretty clear. You only have yourself to blame for being such a loser and until you realize you made yourself into a loser you’ll stay a loser. But, it’s not so bleak. Ganbatte! or something like that.
Welcome to the NHK Dub Notes
As much as I feel Chris Patton nailed it as Sato, Greg Ayres got Yamazaki, and Luci Christian totally hit it out of the park with her Hitomi, the weak link in the cast is Stephanie Wittels as Misaki. For most of it, Wittels sounds right to me for what Misaki is, but comes up a little short in the intense scene at the climax of the offline party. She does better at the climax at the end. The dub is superb when Hitomi (Christian) and Sato (Patton) speak with each other, particularly on the bridge during new years.
Parting Shot
While Christmas is long gone, this image is never out of season, just to lighten the mood a little:
Welcome to the NHK is one of my favorite series ive seen so far.It can be really silly/stupid at time but overall its a great story about Life outside the fairy tail universe we usually get served.I think that everyone of us finds himself in one of the characters shoes atleast a little bit.
I jumped at the Manga after finsihing the series and i enjoyed it a tad more.More ecchi is always good and the problems of the Characters are more deep rooted and serious than the Anime.The Ending of the Manga was pretty bad tough
I havent found the time to order the Novel yet but hope to do so soon
While I haven’t seen the Anime or read the novel, I noticed it’s also got a Manga; which is good because I’d like to read another Manga series. The only other ones I’ve read were TGWLTT & Eureka Seven. I might have to watch a bit on YouTube first though. – Christmass all year-round baby!
Super rats, left a message on your Yoko Mousepad post also, thanks…. : )
I’ve heard the novel is where it’s at with NHK, but I don’t read. I have a BA in English, which totally killed the joy in reading for me.
This isn’t anything memorable to me, and wont be on my top list, but heck, it sure is unique.
the anime was good but the manga is better
I’ve read both the manga and the novel. Both are disturbing, but the novel had victoriously threw my high spirits out of the window straight away.
As for watching anime, I’d prefer to stay with the original language and english sub. I just don’t want to lose those precious expressions.
Ah, yes, not too long ago I was in Borders reading up on the Light Novel of “Welcome to the NHK” which I’ve seen many advertisements for the Anime, but never bothered to watch it.
so instead, I took a liking to the Novel and hope to watch the Anime soon once I get some more time on my hands.
Your introduction was nice, I liked it.
I hope to see more interesting reviews soon.
I had just finished the anime Welcome to the NHK~ IT definitely is a masterpiece for a story depicting life for as I watch it, I found myself as like one of the characters~ I hate that it ended easily and it made me want for more~ But things had been wrapped up cleanly on the last episode. I definitely will post it on my top anime list proudly ^__^
I feel like crying a bit~ and honestly, I want more of it