Welcome to the NHK - The Complete Series

I admit I'm a few years late to this particular party, but I definitely feel the need to post a review to give a nod of recognition to this excellent series. Welcome to the NHK is part comedy/part drama. Like all the best comedy it is meaningful, and like the best drama it doesn't take itself too seriously. Sato is a hikikomori: (I hope I spelled that right) basically an unemployed hermit who fears the pressures of the outside world. How Sato reacts to the outside world is a source of most of the humor.First, I'd like to rave a little about the characters. ALL the noteworthy characters in this show have problems of some sort. Sato's problem is the focus of the show and being a rather self-absorbed person his perspective doesn't allow him to learn that much about the people around him. As a viewer we can empathize with Misaki and Yamazaki (God, I hope I'm getting these name's right) his two closest friends. To avoid spoiling too much let's just say that Misaki is a young girl who apparently wants to help Sato overcome his problems for no reason other than kindness and Yamazaki is an Otaku with rage issues.The animation is excellent with a few exceptions. A couple shows look terrible and it makes me wonder if they intentionally designed them that way because it is sooo different than the rest of the show. The music is amazing and really sets the mood of the series. (I especially like "Dancing Baby Human" the ending song for the first disk or so)The high point of the show, however, is not so much the things that happen to the characters, (although some rather extreme situations do crop up) but how the characters react to their situations. Sato's first reaction to any situation tends to be addiction and escapism and it's easy to see why. The introspective sessions which follow these boughts of hedonist revelry tend to be brutal and tainted with what can only be called psychosis. Misaki is a puzzle at first, but the seeds of her character are planted from the start. The neighbor and best friend Yamazaki is much more complex than he appears. His abrasive behavior and misogynistic rants are a product of real pain, and the writers do a great job of making his character sympathetic despite his many faults.If you're interested in character studies and psychology (the "dream analysis" scene is the funniest thing I have seen in ages) than buy this series immeadiately. Some people will be put off by the numerous reverances to "deviant" Japanese culture, but it wouldn't be a very honest show if factors like internet pornography and hentai games didn't enter into it at some point.

To rate this anime (imo) would be degrading. This anime really can't be rated, either you can identify with it or not. This anime is based of a novel which became a manga which became an anime ha. If you can, I would suggest also buying the novel. To be honest, I don't know where to start to explain this story. This anime is actually one of the most down to earth anime's I've ever had the pleasure to watch. Don't let the boxart fool you or the fact that it is even an anime fool you, most of the "characters" are based upon people in general with the many problems and difficulties we face in life. I wouldn't recommend this to a younger viewer of anime as in this is mature rated, most of the scenes a younger viewer will most likely not identify with it. This anime does not have any supernatural elements to it, like many anime do. The only supernatural thing I can think of, I guess would be that the main character hallucinates throughout the series, which is all explained. Actually a difference between the novel and anime would be that the anime left out the fact that the main character Sato during times would be taking drugs and it would cause his hallucinations. Being that there is so much to explain, I recommend this to anyone of certain age. Even if you don't like anime, I guarantee this will touch you in a way. This anime will make you feel all kinds of emotions, if you can't identify with neither character then I would wonder if you were human. It starts off looking into the average life of 21 yr old Sato who basically is a N.E.E.T and Hikkimori which is a Japanese term which a lot of people aren't familiar with because it's common amongst many people in general but Japan basically has a term for it. You could look up these term for more info. Immediately you get introduced to the main character within this first episode. His character and personality is so easy to identify and very likeable. In all honesty, I guarantee if you give this a chance you will watch it more than once and in cases it might help you out in the long run, of your life. Very realistic, very different, very enjoyable, there's just so much to like about this anime. I'm sure other reviewers can give more details on the series, but I can't find words to say. In just 26 episodes, this anime fledges out a life story. Worth a try and especially for the price of the S.a.v.e edition by Funimation which has nothing to do with quality it's just a whole lot easier on the wallet. Btw the voice acting in either dub is outstanding!