 | | ▪ | RELEASED BY: | | ADV FILMS | | | ▪ | ASPECT RATIO: | | 16:9 ANAMORPHIC WIDESCREEN | | | ▪ | AUDIO: | | ENGLISH DD 5.1 AND JAPANESE DD 2.0 | | | ▪ | RUNNING TIME: | | 100 MIN | | | ▪ | RATING: | | TV PG | | | ▪ | RELEASE DATE: | | 12/03/2007 | | | ▪ | REVIEW DATE: | | 12/04/2007 | | | ▪ | REVIEWED BY: | | SCOTT CAMPBELL |
Welcome to the NHK is a welcome addition to the small, but increasing number of anime series that directly deal with anime fandom itself. One of the best recent examples would be Genshiken, a very enjoyable anime all about a University anime club and the adventures that the members have throughout the school year and beyond. Welcome to the NHK is a slightly darker look at a different angle of fandom, and perhaps even how to turn that dark side around and make it into something amazing! If you liked Genshiken, Welcome to the NHK is the next level! It’s certainly very funny, but often in a more mature way than other anime of similar subject matter.
Continuing on where volume one left off, volume two brings us to a better understanding of some of Sato’s (our hero in this story) past relationships and experiences and how the have come to affect who he is and what he is today. He gets in touch with some of his past friends and high school crushes. It’s interesting to see him talk about how his life could and would have been different if he had been more sociable when he was younger and learnt more about people and how to talk to them. He really seems to be learning a lot of useful information -–he just needs to put it to work and make something of the time that people have been willing to spend on him and his issues lately. So perhaps he’s got a good idea now of what relationships mean to him – and what relationship(s) he would like to have. Those relationships might mean more to him than any anime or game he thinks he needs so badly. He doesn’t want to be a shut in guy anymore – he seems to really want to be able to connect to people in a normal, healthy way. Sato and Yamazaki continue to work on their “gal game” (a hentai dating simulation of sorts), but not always with great success. Yamazaki is so “far gone” that he’s hard to get organized – but he is also hilarious, so the audience wins in that situation! As for sato, the poor guy just isn’t level headed yet – he doesn’t really know what he wants. At one point, it seems like he wants to drop the game production altogether and concentrate on getting better and maybe having a relationship with a girl he once knew. But then he has the realization that he can continue to have fun with what he likes (anime/games) if he works hard at it and can make a living off it. He’s not a loser, as long as he has a goal in life and is striving to make it happen for himself. Meanwhile, Yamazaki is having some problems with his parents – this guy doesn’t have too many healthy relationships either to be honest. Sato starts to seriously go to the little sessions relating to his condition – he’s realized he actually could use some help. With that help, he may very well be able to get over his difficulties. He then starts to get more motivated in his life – he wants to pour his heart into something. So he makes a visit to the school of design that Yamazaki is attending, thinking he could maybe learn a thing or two, plus find out whether or not Yamazaki actually has a human girlfriend! Unfortunately, he has a complete breakdown while sitting in with a class in progress, bolting out of the room screaming about the conspiracy of everyone around him – all delusions of course. It’s a laugh out loud moment, but sad at the same time because this bad experience really puts him back a few steps. He locks himself in his apartment, tells Yamazaki he is sick, and stays there for days, if not weeks. This show is such a rollar coaster ride – you really start to feel for this poor guy and hope he can feel better. What gets him out again is a visit from his mother. She’s coming to Tokyo and he’s got to get himself cleaned up and his apartment back in order. Again he is motivated, though through straight up fear this time – he gets things more or less together and tries to impress his mom. The antics that arise out of the whole situation are so entertaining – they’re some of the best episodes yet. His mom ends up figuring everything out – the truth – but she still loves him and supports him and hopefully that acceptance will only help him. On the technical side of things, this show still continues to impress. The music and animation for this series is pretty high end – and it’s not letting up for an instant. It’s more or less expected these days that the animation be up to par with current standards, and NHK doesn’t disappoint. The opening theme is fun and on the slightly artsy side – a nice trend that’s bring us lots of very decent opening and ending themes these days. This opening sequence rates up there with some of the most stylish and visually intriguing OP’s I’ve ever seen, hands down. The music is just awesome – I would certainly consider buying a soundtrack for this series because the music tracks used are so memorable and enjoyable – even some of the background music is memorable. That’s a great feat in my books! The end product of this series is a truly mature story and style to the point of being an art form – but it still has a wonderful sense of humour that makes it all the more enjoyable. A very intriguing anime experience – I’ll be seeing this one to the end, no question.
EXTRAS:
Clean Closing, Clean Opening, DVD Credits, ADV Previews.
IN SUMMARY:
A must see for anyone who considers themselves a “lifer” in the anime scene. If you’ve been at it for a few years, and don’t see an end in sight, see this anime because you may very well love it to pieces. It’s as crazy as it is stylish – a beautiful piece of comedy and a magnifying glass over the lives of people who’ve had their lives affected by fandom.
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