Sadistic Comedic Psychological Drama     Aug 28, 2007     reviewed by Riavan    

I've read the first 3 volumes of the manga and watched the full anime series subtitled. Welcome to the NHK is kind of a lop-sided sadistic comedy, the main character goes through alot of things that the majority of people can relate to, including getting hooked on hentai, wasting away his life on an MMO computer game, avoiding getting a job and so on. Theres also a slight focus on relationships and love. Towards the later episodes it turns it's focus to depression. I'm told this is more so in the manga than in the anime.

It hits close to home so that it's easy to relate to the characters and what they're going through. It's not a romantic love comedy, if that's what your hoping for. It contains comedic elements but is more of a psychological drama played around the problems and issues that many young adults in japan and around the world have to deal with. One of the best manga/anime series I've had the privlege to read/watch.

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NHK Review     Oct 10, 2008     reviewed by ChocoMilkTea    

Welcome to the NHK is a Seinen, Psychological, Comedy, Drama about a guy who has become a hikikomori (someone who has shut themselves away from society) and is living his life believing in conspiracies. Then his life is suddenly turned around when some girl decides to cure him of his hikikomori ways.

This series starts of confusingly enough and it seems to flows at a very slow pace as it introduces the main characters and the overall plot of the series. However from the start it is pretty difficult to understand exactly what this is all about, because it doesn't do things in a way most anime series does. It's only until a couple episodes into the show that you can truly understand the nature of this anime and that is of the various psychological and social issues each character is faced with. What makes it so interesting are the different psychological disorders that are shown and the way they are realistically expressed by the characters like Tatsuhiro Satou being a hikikomori and Misaki who's trying cure him but she is obviously messed up in the head as well. With all the serious issues in this anime, it's quite refreshing to see all the hilarious antics they get into, whilst still retaining a sense of realism.

The animation for this anime suits it perfectly with a great deal of detail put into the backgrounds and environment. Although the characters do appear to look a bit off quite frequently but this can easily be over looked due to the nature of this show. The music also helps a lot, with plenty of weird melodies to go with the baffling moments and the catchy opening themes.

Overall Welcome to the NHK is really an anime of its own, with nothing to compare it against. This anime is able to realistically show many different problems that the Japanese society is facing with and in the process make you laugh whilst keeping you intrigued throughout. Yet due to the unfamiliarity of this anime, not all anime fans will be able to get into it. So if you want to find out what it means to be a hikikomori, then check this out. ^_^

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Something Different     Jul 05, 2007     reviewed by Kendoka    

Welcome to NHK is very interesting, and while I've enjoyed the first three books, I'm unsure as to where the series is headed. We follow the main character Satou in his struggles to overcome his acute social withdrawal, and his interaction with his friends all who seem to have their own motives/goals. Dealing with everything from Ero Games and Lolita Complexes, to Suicide Pacts and addictive MMORPGs this series tackles the serious social issue of Hikikomori, but often to humouros ends. I enjoy the manga and will keep reading if only to see what strange issue/taboo it takes on next.

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I totally relate!     Jun 16, 2008     reviewed by kuri    

Welcome to NHK has a great story and I'm sure a lot of us otaku can relate to it. The main character goes through the struggles of unemployment and relying on his parents for support. He wants to do better but his hardcore gaming and lolicon obsession keeps sucking him back into a terrible state. Even though realisticly its kinda sad they turned it into a comedy. Well a comedy-drama. The supporting characters are great as well as the main and without them I don't think the story would get anywhere. I really enjoy the art and as a girl I don't mind the pervy parts so much. x)

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