The appeal and evaluation of "The Tatami Galaxy": A unique world view and the art of storytelling

The appeal and evaluation of The Tatami Galaxy

"The Tatami Galaxy" is a TV anime series that aired in 2010 and is based on a novel by Tomihiko Morimi. This work is a story about the youth and frustrations of college life, and the combination of director Masaaki Yuasa's unique direction and Nakamura Yusuke's original character designs has made it popular with many viewers. Below, we will introduce detailed information and reviews of this work, as well as recommended points.

■ Public Media

TV anime series

■ Original Media

novel

■ Broadcast period

April 22, 2010 - July 1, 2010

The broadcast stations and times are as follows:

• Fuji TV: April 22, 2010 to July 1, 2010 (Episodes 1 to 11) Every Thursday 24:45 to 25:15
• Kansai TV: April 27, 2010 to July 6, 2010 (episodes 1 to 11) Every Tuesday 25:29 to 25:59
• Saga TV: April 29, 2010 to July 8, 2010 (episodes 1 to 11) every Thursday from 24:45 to 25:15
• Tokai TV: April 29, 2010 to July 8, 2010 (Episodes 1 to 11) Every Thursday 26:15 to 26:45
• BS Fuji: May 8, 2010 to August 7, 2010 (Episodes 1 to 11) Every Saturday 25:00 to 25:30
• Sakuranbo TV: May 15, 2010 to July 31, 2010 (episodes 1 to 11) Every Saturday 25:05 to 25:35
• Hokkaido Cultural Broadcasting: July 18, 2010 to October 3, 2010 (1st to 11th episodes) Every Sunday 25:30 to 26:00
• Fuji TV TWO: March 4, 2011 to April 8, 2011 (Episodes 1 to 11) Every Friday 18:00 to 19:00
• Animax: May 8, 2013 to July 17, 2013 (episodes 1 to 11) Every Wednesday from 22:00 to 22:30

■Broadcasting station

Fuji TV Network, Fuji TV TWO, Animax

■Frequencies

half an hour

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 11

■Original Story

Tomihiko Morimi

■ Director

Masaaki Yuasa

■ Production

• Animation Production: Madhouse
• Produced by: The Society of Four and a Half Tatami Rooms (Asmik Ace Entertainment, Fuji Television Network, Sony Music Entertainment, Dentsu, Toho, Kadokawa Shoten)

■Works

Illustration by Yusuke Nakamura ©Yojohanshugikai

■ Story

"I can state categorically that I have not done anything of practical use in the two years up until the spring of my third year of college."

"I" is a proud third-year student who dreams of a "rosy campus life". However, reality is far from it, and two unfruitful years are about to pass. I am manipulated by my bad friend Ozu, the mysterious free spirit Higuchi-sensei makes unreasonable demands, and I can't seem to get close to the solitary maiden Akashi-san.

I wish I could go back to being a shiny new freshman and start college life all over again!

If, at that fateful clock tower, he hadn't joined the film club "Misogi" and had chosen another path... If, at that fateful clock tower, he hadn't responded to the bizarre call for disciples and had chosen another path... If, at that fateful clock tower, he hadn't joined the softball club "Honwaka" and had chosen another path... If, at that fateful clock tower, he hadn't joined the secret organization "Fukunekohanten" and had chosen another path...

A tale of youthful futility and folly that unfolds as the protagonist gets lost in four parallel worlds.

■Explanation

Director Masaaki Yuasa finally joins NoitaminA!

Animator and director Masaaki Yuasa, who continues to exude the primitive charm of animation - "the way the pictures move is satisfying in itself" - is finally joining "Noitamina".

This is his first time working on the original novel, "The Tatami Galaxy" by Tomihiko Morimi. Surprisingly, this is also the first time one of Morimi's works has been adapted for the screen. The script was written by Ueda Makoto of the Kyoto-based theater company Europe Kikaku, which is active all over Japan. His works, such as "Summertime Machine Blues" and "Bend! Spoon" (originally written by Uri Geller in Winter), which have been made into films, feature intricate mechanisms interwoven within offbeat humor, and have attracted much attention not only in the theater world but also abroad. This is his first time working on an anime script.

The original character designs are by Nakamura Yusuke, whose first artbook "Blue," released last year, has become a bestseller, selling over 60,000 copies. This is also his first time working on an anime character. The unique characters are colored in designs that are full of a mood that combines nostalgia and newness. The work is produced by Madhouse, the creators of the 2009 hit anime "Summer Wars." Creators active in various fields have come together to make "Yuasa Group," a unique production system for TV anime, in which one animator is sometimes in charge of storyboarding, directing, and animation direction.

■Cast

• "I", narration by Shintaro Asanuma
• Ozu/Yoshino Hiroyuki
• Akashi-san/Maaya Sakamoto
• Master Higuchi/Keiji Fujiwara
• Kaori/Shintaro Asanuma
• Jougasaki Senpai/Suwabe Junichi
• Hanuki-san/Yuko Kaida
• Fortune Teller/Ako Mayama
• Ainoshima/Sato Setsuji
• Johnny/Nobuyuki Hiyama

■ Main staff

• Original author: Tomihiko Morimi
• Produced by: Kazuhiko Yusa, Hachiho Tomikawa (Fuji Television), Naoki Kitagawa, Yoshio Takada, Junichi Shinsaka, Kenji Shishido
• Director: Masaaki Yuasa
• Series Composition: Makoto Ueda
• Character design: Yusuke Nakamura
• Character design and chief animation director: Nobutaka Ito
• Art Director: Shinichi Uehara
• Color design/Kunio Tsujita
• Director of photography: Keiko Ishizuka
• Edited by Yoshiko Kimura
• Video editing/Sony PCL (Tomoki Takemura, Satoshi Noguchi)
• Offline editing assistant/Tsuka Tsukamoto Mariko
• Title and logo design/Yoko Akutagawa (note)
• Recording adjustment/Yamamoto Kazutoshi
• Recording assistant: Taiki Sato
• Sound effects/Katsuhiro Nakano (Soundbox)
• Song selection: Maiko Goda
• Recording Studio/Omnibus Japan
• Sound Production: Takuya Ohno, Takuro Okada
• Sound Production/Tohokushinsha
• Sound Director: Eriko Kimura
• Music by Michiru Oshima
• Music Producer/Hiroaki Sano
• Music Production/Sony Music Entertainment
• Programming: Mizuno Ayako (Fuji Television)
• Production: Yoshinobu Sato, Yoshihiro Yamazaki (Fuji Television), Takejiro Kamei, Goro Hirota, Daiji Horiuchi
• Public Relations/Kyoko Tanaka (Fuji Television)
• Promotion/Anri Maeda (Fuji TV)
• Promotional cooperation: K Press
• Original work cooperation: Shuichi Kitao (Ohta Publishing), Jun Kobayashi (Kadokawa Shoten)
• Cooperation: Kyoto Prefecture, Shimogamo Shrine, Hatena Co., Ltd.
• Costume cooperation: Morikage Shirt Kyoto, Kazuki Kuraishi (adidasJapan KK)
• Interview cooperation: Toshihiro Tonohara (Yoshida Dormitory, Kyoto University), Gingetsu Apartment
• Production Desk: Satoshi Nakatani
• Setting Production: Kim Hyun-dae
• Production Administration: Emiko Uchimura
• Production management: Yukiko Futakata, Shunji Sakai
• Chief Producer: Koji Yamamoto (Fuji Television)
• Producers: Fumie Takeuchi, Noriko Ozaki (Fuji Television)
• Animation Producer/Tsutomu Fujio
• Animation Production: Madhouse
• Produced by: The Society of Four and a Half Tatami Rooms (Asmik Ace Entertainment, Fuji Television Network, Sony Music Entertainment, Dentsu, Toho, Kadokawa Shoten)

■ Main Characters

• I am the protagonist. A third-year university student. Two years have passed since I started university life, and now I am sitting in my four-and-a-half-tatami room. I lament that the rosy campus life I once dreamed of is now slipping away because of Ozu, who has been holding me back...
• Akashi-san is a second-year university student. I meet her at a summer used book market, as a co-worker and as a customer. She is an intelligent and cool black-haired girl. She only lets out a manga-like scream when she encounters moths, which she hates.
• He is a monster-like friend of Ozu's "I". He shows up everywhere, busying himself with pointless things, dragging "I" into a negative spiral. He is secretly involved in the secret organization "Fukunekohanten" and is actually trying to control Kyoto from behind the scenes(?). He has a cute girlfriend whom "I" never tells about. There is also a vague sense of a dirty "love" between him and the protagonist.
• A university eighth-year student who is a symbol of Master Higuchi's moratorium. He commands his "apprentice" with his mysterious charm and makes him act for his own benefit. Ozu is also in the service of Master Higuchi. He may actually be a god.
• The president of the Jougasaki-senpai film club. He's a ladies' man, but he's also a germaphobe and loves love dolls.
• Hanuki-san is a dental hygienist. She is learning English. "I" fall in love for a moment. However, her true identity is a woman with a terrible drinking habit. She plays the role of a housewife to Master Higuchi.
• Ajima-senpai is the head of the library police. Despite his considerable position, he holds a grudge against Jougasaki-san in love(?)
• Kaori-san, the love doll that Jougasaki-senpai loves

■Subtitle

• #1/Tennis Circle "Cupid" (2010/04/22)
• #2/Movie Club "Misogi" (2010/04/29)
• #3/Cycling Club "Soleil" (2010/05/06)
• #4/Looking for Apprentices (2010/05/13)
• #5/Softball Circle "Honwaka" (2010/05/20)
• #6/English conversation circle "Join English" (2010/05/27)
• #7/Circle "Hero Show Club" (2010/06/03)
• #8/Reading Circle "SEA" (2010/06/10)
• #9/Secret Organization "Lucky Cat Restaurant" (2010/06/17)
• #10/Yojohanshugi (2010/06/24)
• #11/The End of the Tatami Period (2010/07/01)

■ Related works

• The Tatami Galaxy: Unaired TV Episodes
• The Tatami Galaxy Special Edition

■ Theme songs and music

• OP1
  
  • Lost Dog and Beat of the Rain
  • Lyrics by Masafumi Goto
  • Composer: Masafumi Goto
  • Arrangement/ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION
  • Song: ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION
• OP2
  
  • As God Says
  • Lyricist: Junji Ishiwata
  • Composer: Yoshinori Sunahara
  • Arrangement/Yoshinori Sunahara
  • Singer: Junji Ishiwata & Yoshinori Sunahara + Etsuko Yakushimaru
• ED1
  
  • As God Says
  • Lyricist: Junji Ishiwata
  • Composer: Yoshinori Sunahara
  • Arrangement/Yoshinori Sunahara
  • Singer: Junji Ishiwata & Yoshinori Sunahara + Etsuko Yakushimaru
• ED2
  
  • Lost Dog and Beat of the Rain
  • Lyrics by Masafumi Goto
  • Composer: Masafumi Goto
  • Arrangement/ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION
  • Song: ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION

Rating and Recommended Points

"The Tatami Galaxy" is a work that exquisitely blends the anguish and humor of youth, and its unique world view and the charm of the characters have attracted many viewers. Below, we will explain the evaluation of the work and its recommended points in detail.

Story and Themes

The story of this work depicts the frustration of university life and the futility of youth, with the protagonist, "I," joining various clubs and organizations but drifting away from his ideal campus life. In particular, the depiction of four parallel worlds in which the choices made at the fateful clock tower are different gives a realistic portrayal of the "what if"s of life. This theme is easy for many viewers to empathize with, and evokes the anguish and frustration of youth.

As the story progresses, the protagonist's inner thoughts are explored in depth, depicting his process of self-reflection and growth. This allows the viewer to empathize with the protagonist's feelings as he follows the story. Furthermore, humorous depictions and unexpected developments add color to the story, successfully portraying a serious theme in a light-hearted way.

character

Each character in this film is unique and leaves a strong impression on the viewer. The protagonist, "I," is a university student troubled by the gap between his ideals and reality, and his feelings are portrayed realistically. Ozu is a bad friend who drags "I" down, but he is also portrayed as a lovable character. Akashi-san is cool and intelligent, but also has a weakness for moths, giving him many facets of charm. Master Higuchi is portrayed as a mysterious and attractive character who symbolizes moratorium.

The relationships and growth of these characters enrich the story and deeply move the audience. The voice actors' performances are also excellent, and in particular, Shintaro Asanuma's narration of "I" enhances the atmosphere of the work.

Film and Production

Director Masaaki Yuasa's unique direction is one of the biggest attractions of this work. In order to bring out the primitive charm inherent in animation, a special production system was established in which one animator was in charge of storyboarding, direction, and animation direction. This makes the character movements and expressions very lively, creating a visual impact.

The color scheme and art direction are also impressive, with the scenery of Kyoto and the four-and-a-half-tatami room depicted beautifully, making for a visual treat. In particular, the scenes in which the four-and-a-half-tatami room is depicted symbolically leave a strong impression on the viewer.

music

The music in this work is also worth praising. The opening and ending songs, "Mayoiinu to Ame no Beat" by ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION and "Kamisama no Iu Toori" by Junji Ishiwata, Yoshinori Sunahara and Etsuko Yakushimaru, add to the atmosphere of the work. In addition, Michiru Oshima's background music also enhances the emotions as the story unfolds, stirring the viewers' emotions.

Recommended points

"The Tatami Galaxy" is a work that depicts the suffering and humor of youth, and is relatable to many viewers. In particular, people at turning points in their lives, such as university students and working adults, will be able to enjoy it by relating it to their own experiences. In addition, the unique direction of Director Masaaki Yuasa and the character designs by Yusuke Nakamura are also highlights, allowing viewers to enjoy the artistic quality of the animation.

In addition, the gorgeous musical lineup, including ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION, Junji Ishiwata & Yoshinori Sunahara + Etsuko Yakushimaru, is also one of the attractions, so it is recommended for music lovers. Overall, the story, characters, visuals, and music are all of a high standard, making it a work that can be enjoyed by a wide range of people.

Conclusion

"The Tatami Galaxy" is a work that depicts the suffering and humor of youth, and the unique direction of director Masaaki Yuasa and the character designs of Yusuke Nakamura combined to make it a work that has been loved by many viewers. The story, characters, visuals, and music are all of a high standard, making it a work that can be enjoyed by a wide range of people. Please give it a watch.