The Tatami Galaxy is a complex masterpiece which centers around one fundamental problem of life- the myth of arrival. Nietzsche mentions this, and essentially defines it as the postponing of one's life and rejection of vital essence in the present in exchange for the pursuit of some idealized other, be that some other version of yourself or some other place. The great enemy in this respect is the idea that you cannot be truly happy until you are that person, or until you have reached that place. The Tatami Galaxy, with wit and charm, totally eviscerates this concept, and lays bare what the myth of
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arrival can rob you of in your daily life, even in situations and scenarios you think might be a waste of time. Furthermore, this anime holds a special place in my heart as my 300th anime, and as such I will review it here with the care and detail that such a position entails. Our story follows the neurotic and idealistic Watashi, whose name literally means "I" or "myself". He goes to college in order to find what he calls the "rose-colored campus life", where he will have nothing but good times and be carried off in flights of fancy with "raven-haired maidens", hoping to find the perfect one. When his plans fall apart, and he doesn't achieve that rose-colored dream, he despairs, but, by way of a chance encounter with a man who may or may not be a god, is given chance after chance to redo his fate, and try to find a happier end, not remembering each go-around on this groundhog day type situation. The story and its complexities in each timeline are constructed in a subtle and intelligent fashion, drawing you in with ease and artfulness. My favorite aspect here, however, is how these timelines overlap and interact, and especially how everything comes together towards the final episode. All along the way, Watashi's neuroticism and idealism and self-sabotoge are put on full display, and we learn with him that each timeline that he considers a waste of time because it isn't "perfect" is actually a full college life filled with lifelong memories all the same, and if he could just manage to draw himself into the present and see the life that's right in front of him, he just might be finally happy, rose-colored campus life or not. Just as the fortune teller keeps telling him, to reach out and grab the "opportunity that's dangling right in front of you", and take the mysterious, potentially divine master's advice that "You are the person you are, and you cannot become anyone else other than that person". This message is so immensely important as a life lesson, and I feel that a great many people could benefit from hearing and understanding it, and that's why I believe that The Tatami Galaxy is more than just a great anime- it is an important anime. The story is easily the strongest aspect of this anime, and is one of the all-time greats for how much it says in 11 episodes that some anime can't manage in hundreds.
The art, however, is a close second. From start to finish it looks incredible, boasting this wholly unique art style that makes use of multimedia, complex patterned textiles, and simple yet emotional linework that gets right to the heart of a scene's essence. What it wants to say, what it needs to say to the viewer, it gets across visually just as much as it does with its story. There is an otherworldly use of color and style, that shifts between grounded realism and transcendent form, shifting as it must in order to best convey the atmosphere of a scene, Watashi's inner and outer states. The Tatami Galaxy stands on its own not in terms of hyperrealism or a particularly difficult style, but in terms of a style that cuts through perception and gets as close as possible to conveying emotion itself.
The sound goes a long way towards emboldening the atmosphere of the whole anime, with a soaring, orchestral, and creative soundtrack, characteristic and compelling voice work, and sounds of life that make the whole thing feel three-dimensional and lived-in. The one major flaw here, however, is that the dialogue in episode 1 is extraordinarily fast, and for a show without an English dub, that meant a lot of pausing and skipping backward to catch what was said. It gets a lot better from Episode 2 onwards, and never returns to quite the same speed as Watashi's lines in the first episode, even if it does keep going at a fairly snappy pace.
The characters are all wonderful, and they feel extremely independent and characteristic, like they're the ones driving the story forward in each and every instance. Of them, my favorites are Watashi, that neurotic yet witty protagonist who you can't help but root for, and Akashi, that eccentric girl who's right in front of him the whole time, a delightful and fascinating presence in her own right in each timeline. Overall, The Tatami Galaxy is an amazing anime, and I absolutely recommend it, not only for those who can benefit from its message, but also for a complete anime education of anybody who can say they truly love the medium. Incredible, unforgettable work.
Dec 31, 2025
Yojouhan Shinwa Taikei
(Anime)
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The Tatami Galaxy is a complex masterpiece which centers around one fundamental problem of life- the myth of arrival. Nietzsche mentions this, and essentially defines it as the postponing of one's life and rejection of vital essence in the present in exchange for the pursuit of some idealized other, be that some other version of yourself or some other place. The great enemy in this respect is the idea that you cannot be truly happy until you are that person, or until you have reached that place. The Tatami Galaxy, with wit and charm, totally eviscerates this concept, and lays bare what the myth of
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Dec 31, 2025
Mugen Kouro
(Anime)
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It's worth noting that I am the first to review this title on MAL. It is my belief that every anime deserves at least one proper review, deserves to have its content engaged and reckoned with. No matter how obscure it is, and no matter how long ago it was made, an anime still represents the creative passion of its creators, the hopes and dreams of the team that made it, and as such, I will give this one a fair and honest accounting here. Interesting series of short animations meant to advertise a video game. They have some cool lines, and the music is
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Dec 31, 2025
Canon T-70: Mirai Toshi-hen
(Anime)
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It's worth noting that I am the first to review this title on MAL. It is my belief that every anime deserves at least one proper review, deserves to have its content engaged and reckoned with. No matter how obscure it is, and no matter how long ago it was made, an anime still represents the creative passion of its creators, the hopes and dreams of the team that made it, and as such, I will give this one a fair and honest accounting here. Before Akira, there was this pair of commercials, and what commercials they are! Extremely impressive stuff. Absolutely floored by the
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Dec 31, 2025
Project HAL
(Anime)
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It's worth noting that I am the first to review this title on MAL. It is my belief that every anime deserves at least one proper review, deserves to have its content engaged and reckoned with. No matter how obscure it is, and no matter how long ago it was made, an anime still represents the creative passion of its creators, the hopes and dreams of the team that made it, and as such, I will give this one a fair and honest accounting here. Project HAL is just 3 cool-as-hell commercials for animation colleges in Tokyo, Osaka, and the Nagoya region respectively. Bitchin' mech
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Dec 31, 2025
Navia Dratp
(Anime)
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It's worth noting that I am the first to review this title on MAL. It is my belief that every anime deserves at least one proper review, deserves to have its content engaged and reckoned with. No matter how obscure it is, and no matter how long ago it was made, an anime still represents the creative passion of its creators, the hopes and dreams of the team that made it, and as such, I will give this one a fair and honest accounting here. Navia Dratp is an interesting series of shorts meant to advertise a collectible miniature board game. While it is clear
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Dec 31, 2025
Robo to Shoujo (Kari)
(Anime)
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Bomahead is an interesting project that's simultaneously an avant-garde CG-centric project and a homage to the giant robot mecha shows of anime's black-and-white era. It's a brief, passingly entertaining project, that doesn't really resonate with or wow me in a particular way. I feel like this is a title more aimed towards fans of the vintage mecha era, either real superfans or those who grew up with those shows. It's not bad, I just don't think I'm the target audeince. I also think it would have been a stronger project visually if it decided to go the traditional animation route rather than the CG route.
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Dec 31, 2025
kremlin is a funny, fast-paced, flash animated gag comedy anime that really has that vibe of the early 2010s internet, down to the art style and even the way the jokes were delivered. It's a fun work that's rough around the edges in such a way that makes it endearing and only adds to its charm. I wish there was a little more of it, but what does exist is clearly a work of the heart, a man's thoughts on comedy and cat ownership directly communicated to the screen with little interference in between. In a way, it reminds me distinctly of a Newgrounds
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Dec 31, 2025
Bouningen Weekend
(Anime)
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Bouningen Weekend is a strange and delightful little piece. I didn't know exactly what to think of it when I first found it, but I was nonetheless intrigued. It's a silent anime, and the style is very simple, but nonetheless it is capable of delivering those unfiltered snapshots of what life is like with a cat. Snuggling on a snowy day. Dealing with its mischief. Picking it up in the sunshine and giving it a hug. Simple, 30 second vignettes that describe one of life's simple joys without a single spoken word, or a single note of music. This was a really nice and relaxing
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Dec 31, 2025
Neko nanka Yondemo Konai.
(Anime)
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This is an interesting little tale about a deadbeat failed boxer and his heart of gold, especially as it develops in reference to cats. Honestly an interesting and compelling story, even if the art style and animation leave something to be desired. The story is easily the strong point, as it directly conveys how a person can find new meaning even after what they one lived for has been taken away from them, and how things you once viewed as burdens can become the foundation for a new life. The art and sound are both a little amateurish, but that's ok, as it adds to
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Dec 31, 2025
Komatta Jiisan
(Anime)
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Komatta Jiisan is a delightful little romance anime with a unique and unusual subject- an old married couple. Each episode, at only a minute long, consists of the setup for a silly joke the old man can use as a pretext to flirt with his wife. Had me smiling from ear to ear. Even if a lot of the jokes are pretty steeped in specific aspects of Japanese culture, and the animation is very basic, it was still a pleasure to watch. Put simply, I absolutely recommend it. It gives you an angle of what true love looks like from the everyday perspective, and that
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