The appeal and evaluation of "My Landlord and I": A moving story and the depth of the characters

"My Landlord and I": The appeal of a short animated film and its profound worldview

"My Landlord and I" is a short anime series that was broadcast on NHK General TV in 2020. In just five minutes, this work depicts deep human relationships and a unique worldview, and was loved by many viewers. Here, we will introduce its appeal and detailed information, as well as explain why we recommend it.

Overview

"My Landlord and I" is based on a manga by Yabe Taro (Karateka) and was animated by Fanworks. It was directed by Sakuda Hazumu and aired for five days from March 2nd to March 6th, 2020, at 11:45pm every day. Although it was a short series of five episodes, the content was dense and left a strong impression on viewers.

story

The story of "My Landlord and I" depicts the daily life of the protagonist "I" and his landlord. "I" is a young man living in an apartment, and the landlord is the manager of that apartment. At first glance, the two have a normal relationship, but as the story progresses, the landlord's past and "I"'s inner thoughts are revealed, and a deep bond is formed.

Each episode stands on its own, but if you watch the whole series, you can see how the relationship between the landlord and "I" gradually deepens. In particular, in the final episode, a secret from the landlord's past was revealed, deeply moving the viewers.

character

"I"

The protagonist, "I," is a young man living in an apartment. His name is not revealed, and he progresses through the story as the viewpoint character. "I" is introverted and tends to withdraw into his own world, but he gradually changes through his interactions with his landlord. The voice actor was required to suppress emotional ups and downs in order to realistically portray the protagonist's inner world.

Landlord

The landlady is the caretaker of the apartment and my neighbor. She has a warm and kind personality and is always concerned about me. However, she has a deep secret in her past, which becomes an important element of the story. The landlady's voice actor was required to perform a delicate performance in order to express her kindness and inner depth.

Animation and Music

The animation for "My Landlord and Me" was created by Fanworks and features simple yet beautiful drawings. The backgrounds are painted in pale colors, which helps to bring out the emotions of the characters. Music also plays an important role, and background music is used to enhance the atmosphere of the story. The music in the final episode in particular had a strong impact on the viewers' hearts.

Ratings and Recommendations

"My Landlord and I" received unusual critical acclaim for a short animated film. Viewers commented that "it portrayed deep human relationships in a short amount of time," and "the secret of the landlord's past was moving." Experts also praised it as "a work that showed the potential of short animated films."

Here are some reasons why I recommend this work:

• Deep human relationships : In just five minutes, the film depicts the deep bond between the landlord and the protagonist. Viewers can empathize with and be touched by the relationship between the two.
• Beautiful drawings : Fanworks' animation is simple yet beautiful, bringing out the emotions of the characters. The soft colors of the backgrounds also help to enhance the atmosphere of the story.
• A moving story : The secret of the landlord's past, especially in the final episode, deeply moves the viewers. It is highly acclaimed for dealing with deep themes despite being a short anime.
• Musical Effects : The background music is used to enhance the atmosphere of the story, and the music in the final episode especially touches the hearts of the viewers. The synergy between the music and the animation is wonderful.

Related information

The original manga for "My Landlord and I" is by Yabe Taro (Karateka). The original manga contains more detailed story and character backgrounds, so reading it after watching the anime will give you a deeper understanding of the work. Director Sakuda Hazumu has also created unique worldviews in his other works, so following his work is another way to enjoy the film.

In addition, Fanworks' animation has also been highly praised for its other works, so if you are interested in their drawing style, you should check out their other works. This work, which was broadcast on NHK General TV, is also being rebroadcast and streamed, so those who missed it can watch it.

Conclusion

"My Landlord and I" is a work that shows the possibilities of short animated films, and has been praised for its deep human relationships, beautiful drawings, moving story, and musical effects. This work leaves a strong impression on the viewer, and is definitely worth watching at least once. Please check out the original manga, other works by the director, and other animations by the production company to enjoy this work even more deeply.