Welcome to the NHK - MUST SEE - Anime Review

[@pinknecro]

This anime caught me off guard when I started watching it, I had just quit my job after I had been given a shitty position, even though I worked my ass off. I felt as if the whole world, my friends and family were all against me, and I stopped going out all together. I used to be extremely suicidal with heavy depression, so when I started watching, it honestly made me feel better, as if they had made this anime to raise awareness to real issues that people suffer during depression. Thank you for taking the time to review this anime as a whole, I wish more people knew about it

[@SloanTheOtaku]

One of the few anime that changed my outlook on life

[@peachiee1]

i love female otakus

[@slickyyMPA]

NHK is the type of anime that makes you feel some type of way.

[@MrDzoni955]

That suicide attempt scene in the middle was the highlight of the series. It was so sad and dramatic, and completely hilarious and over the top at the SAME TIME. Fucking awesome.

[@MrDzoni955]

***** I'd say that part was the best. Two arcs after that one weren't that great tho, but the ending was fine.

[@MrDzoni955]

***** Obviously, it worked very well for me.

[@JunmaiShu]

+Terriccota Pie If you liked that, if you haven't already check out "Paranoia Agent". There's a hilarious (IMO) episode in that about a few people that get together for a suicide "party".

[@MrDzoni955]

John Smith PA is my favorite anime, i watched it countless times.

[@drhashtagyolo]

+Born2Run it worked great on me

[@vannen1098]

I fucking love NHK.

[@wiredupauhi]

I remember your previous profile picture.

[@animeXcaso]

I simply love this soundtrack, sometimes it made me cry

[@bobsamurai]

+anime X caso i cri everytim

[@animeXcaso]

+BobSamurai Anime Reviews sorry?

[@famsu5654]

Purupururin purupururin Make it stooooooooooooooop...

[@alessandra5424]

"is she jiggly like jell-o?"

[@qtyandere]

The intro song to Welcome to the NHK is my favorite.

[@GokuT23]

"Be gone dirty whores" nice review

[@GokuT23]

+BattleScones lol this anime is one of a kind

[@NewCanadianTurtle]

I find this show unique as it's one of the most depressing and humorous shows I've ever watched. I remember watching this show back in 12th grade, and I remember reading the comments section for each episode. It made me happy to realize that I wasn't alone, and there were other people who were going through the same troubles I did at the time. I had problems talking to women, I had very little friends, and sucked at socializing in general. I used anime/manga/video games to help me get through some lonely times. I'm 21 now, and life is so much better than it used to be because I pushed through the negativity. For those who are going through a tough time, the best advice I can give is to stick with friends who accept you no matter what. I know it sounds cliche as fuck but one mistake people make is trying to hang out with people who don't give a rat's ass about them (aka cool kids).

[@justarandomyoutubeaccount6812]

Great review Bob, NHK sounds really interesting, I think I'll watch it soon, after I finished Ping Pong The Animation, Ergo Proxy, Hyouka and rewatched NGE + EoE.

[@fdggfhfg6110]

+Just a random KZbin Account Yeah NHK is really good I hope you'll enjoy it.

[@tatsuhirosato8646]

This will always be one of my favorite animes. You did a great review on it! I'm glad to see someone getting it so well. You really do have to read the manga/book to understand a few points in the anime. You mentioned the talking furniture, that's the most obvious, but there are a lot of things that would simply be censored out in an anime. It is an adult story. Sato constantly deals with a fading sense of purpose and has a desire to die for a cause. Misaki wants to build someone up to destroy them. Yamazaki initiates a fight club type scene at one point with Sato. I'm sure the script got a thousand revisions on this story! The animation is cheap, I won't necessarily call it bad maybe just budget, the art could use a bit of extra help too, but I'm just happy that it was made! Usually if it isn't a high school love story or a ninja in training series it never gets made.

[@michaelmiky11]

I think it was a good objective review, you talked about so many things. I can't wait for the Golden Boy review btw! I watched it with a couple of friends because you said it would be funny, and it was hilarious :)

[@bobsamurai]

+Elsie thanks!

[@themomenthasarrived160]

+BobSamurai Anime Reviews please make a review on the fate/zero series because i know you made one on the fate/stay night which is considered to have many plot holes but make on one fate/zero

[@heisdarkness7141]

+BobSamurai Anime Reviews hey bob i was just wondering how you say that rainbow had mellow drama but i just watched nhk i honestly think this series has way more, can you elaborate on this?

[@danika.page.marie.enfield]

can i just say, A+ reveiw. i rewatch this anime every year, 3 years going.

[@bobsamurai]

+Danika Enfield thanks!

[@waldox1]

+Danika Enfield What do you like about this anime? I just finished watching it.

[@danika.page.marie.enfield]

+Quetzel the Giraffe to me the best part is how we think misaki has everything together but shes more broken than anyone else. so in short the character development.

[@waldox1]

Danika Enfield That's very true. Misaki was a bit of a mystery, at first she seems like some innocent too good to be true type of girl and then we slowly see her dark side. She definetly has her manipulative tendencies but that's probably because of her past. This anime had more of an effect on me than I thought it would. Crazy .

[@max101victory]

Incredible review Bob, and thanks for reviewing my personal favourite anime series and being very fair with everything.

[@bobsamurai]

+max101victory thanks max! yea it was a tough one but im glad i finally did it

[@khaaaled2007]

Amazing review Bob, you manage to put how I felt about the series in words NHK is still the most impactful viewing experience I have ever had not in just anime, it gave me a whole new perspective on so many things about me personally and my life in general,seeing things through an other charcater helped me be more objective in my assesment, I'm not good with words but I would definitely say Welcome to the NHK was a cathartic experience for me and I can see that it had a big impact on you as well and so many people here in the comments nit's such an amazing show

[@jesserodriguez506]

Soooo fucking relatable. This is the anime that really helped me with certain aspects of my life.

[@bobsamurai]

+Coin Return yea its really dark but it puts it all into perspective

[@MrRisk13]

Awesome review bob! The first time i watched Welcome to the NHK was from watching one of your top 10 videos i really enjoyed it and it is also one of my favorite anime!

[@xnekonekoo3594]

NHK is alot to take in... Great Review Bob! Love this Series soo much

[@phothewin6019]

I finished NHK this summer. Very depressing, makes you put things into perspective. Very relatable anime, especially for anime fans.

[@JackeD693]

Can't agree more, Welcome to the NHK has been my favorite anime for years and has had such a major impact on my life. Awesome review Bob!

[@Zerovibritannia60]

I got introduced to this anime by you actually back in 2013 I think. you kept on saying that this was your favorite anime and I wanted to see why so I watched it and I also find it pretty life changing too. I really relate to satou because he felt so much like me that it was like watching parts of my life and how I could end up in the future. That's one of the reasons why I hold nhk up as one of the best anime I've ever seen. so I have to thank you bob for showing me this great anime and awesome review as always

[@Matticus1229]

Even though I knew what score you were going to give it in the enjoyment category going into the review, as I've seen your previous videos, I wanted to see your take on it as a whole. I've only watched the first two episodes, but after watching this I'll probably start it back up again immediately. I'm glad I found you through WatchMojo's anime reviewers list. Keep up the great content!

[@RisingSunReviews]

This was a great review of the show, I haven't seen it yet, but you really made me want to see it, and gave me a lot more information than the other reviews of the series I've seen.

[@krisrulz95]

Great review Bob! This has to be one of my favourite anime ever. Hearing Hitori Bocchi still makes me cry.

[@chappiescollectables]

Great Review. I completely agree. It still holds up as my favourite anime because I can really relate to Satou.

[@owlid3890]

great review, like you this series means a lot to me and is my favorite for many different reasons. I finished the manga recently and it was also phenomenal, I enjoyed it even more than the anime (that might just be because I generally prefer manga though). I started watching anime about a year and a half ago with stuff like attack on titan and sword art online and all I cared about watching were action series. I became a fan of yours and decided to check out NHK after hearing it was your favorite, and I'm so so so glad I did. it opened up a whole new world of anime to me as well as strongly impacting my real life. Thank you so much Bob for introducing me to this series.

[@katikyogaming875]

oh yeah + puzzle on the background so good

[@lookermage1]

Puzzle and ending 1 omf

[@katikyogaming875]

yeah dude and the puzzle extra hot and the ending 2 aswell

[@abdoumazo9029]

Great review Bob, It's been a while since I last watched "welcome to the NHK", but it had such a big impact on me when I first watched it, and it made me rethink many things about my life style back then, it will always be one of my all time favorites.

[@bobsamurai]

+Abdou Mazo same here but its so hard to watch for that reason

[@johnny92788]

Everytime you talk about Welcome to the NHK you make me want to watch the anime and read the manga and light novel again :) I'm gonna go do that now

[@macb6236]

man this is the most underrated anime.Its dark,comedic and has a great soundtrack.

[@JunmaiShu]

Good job of keeping the review objective while still conveying how much it personally touched you. It can be a fine line to walk for a critic. I pretty much agree with you. The character dev. in this Anime was superb. They were all fleshed out well from the main characters - to that REALLY f'd up guy that never left his room, then HAD to get a job to avoid starving to death when his sister got locked up for a week or so. That part really tugged at my feels strings. I could relate to Sato in so many ways, which is kinda embarrassing and I won't get into exactly how. But as soon as I identified with it, and it happened immediately within the first few minutes, I was hooked. 24 episodes was the perfect length, and I never felt there were luls in the story or that it could've used more episodes to better flesh things out, as is the case in many an Anime. They budgeted their time wisely and it was consistently entertaining throughout. Not sure it'd quite make my top 10, but top 20 for sure. Your score sounds about right.

[@yusufkhan1479]

I remember when I watched NHK for the first time, the suicide scene where Satou goes "Time to die" cracked me up. Round two, and I could see how brilliantly the whole anime is directed. The same scene is really depressing. Life changes in moments.

[@brasteen1]

This anime is so good

[@pokemongirl5674]

Very nice review. I saw Welcome to the NHK back in 2012 and I was depressed so I related to Sato throughout the show. I do agree on the ending of the show. It is my 3rd favorite anime (it has been in my top 3 ever since I watched it)

[@bennybeck]

Fantastic anime, thanks for the recommendation Bob

[@UltimateCrusherJoe]

I love Welcome To The NHK it was the first slice of life esque anime I watched when I was new to anime, I don't think this anime was life changing but I did love this show for it themes and how it made me contemplate life. I don't re-watch many shows but I do revisit this one a bit because it is one of my favourite shows, you did a great review and I hope more people can experience this show.

[@ProfessorAnime]

This anime and series in general is just fantastic. I have to get reviewing this series as well. This anime has made a huge impact on my life. It's one of those series where you wish you could meet the creator and just shake his hand.

[@xD00mxx]

Just finished watching this series last night, it was great.

[@Datenshi-Beats]

Wow coincidentally enough I'm going finish this anime tomorrow, gotta wait till then to watch this review Bob! :D

[@billdonoso2000]

My ringtone is Satou's Pururin ringtone. I loved NHK so much in pretty much every aspect of it, which I have barely ever seen in the anime that I've watched so far. I agree with your review almost to the letter except for the animation score; it isn't amazing, but I definitely liked it quite a bit, especially with some of Satou's psychological moments.

[@bobsamurai]

+Billy Donoso haha my ringtone used to be that too

[@NewCanadianTurtle]

that ring tone is a pussy repellent

[@bobsamurai]

NewCanadianTurtle im a pussy magnet so it works out alright

[@theupandcomingartist5903]

we need more anime like this one. great review Bob.

[@bobsamurai]

+ReddFoxx Phelps thanks!

[@hannahryan3229]

The irony of my therapist and psycharist both loving this and my mom wondering what a doctor who studies brains what like this weird thing for. I found it really interesting and unfortunately, like how most of the world is anymore with how relationships go (i.e. how Sato's "friends" treat him). I really felt for him when the stupid song wouldn't shut the hell up, I watched it again recently and felt like that song was those damn rob lowe and other similar commercials on all the freaking time! I love how you showed the way I saw it as well, however, I thought the hallucinations were because he had been so shut in, kind of like spongebob with penny,tissue, and chip. Also fun fact, NHK's mascot is Domo! I love Domo and yet I can see where Sato is coming from. High five from across the nice bridge on a good review!

[@wigbig6192]

i started watching this review tonight, halfway through - paused the review and rewatched the first 6 episodes. such a good series ;o;

[@GSWarrior18]

+BobSamurai Anime Review Great review. Agreed with a lot of your points especially with the animation. Just finished what the anime this past Wed and wanted to see your review 1st. Keep up the good work.

[@525Lines]

NHK shows virtually no anime in the US but I did notice the Korean channels are either gone or don't come in.

[@jessica.bowman]

Just finished it today. I loved it! I was crying at the end. I knew I would cry watching Anohana but I definitely didn't expect it watching NHK.

[@SuperLuigisWorld]

and here i though Sato talking to furniture was just a clever metaphor for the warped, racing thought process that someone with paranoia, intense social anxiety and depression would most likely have

[@aminrosli9744]

Just finished this anime. 8/10. Probably gonna rewatch it sometime

[@maraschwartz6731]

I liked the style. The characters were very bleak looking and I thought it was fitting

[@Toracube]

The best reviewer on YT !

[@bobsamurai]

+Toracube thanks!

[@marcothephoenix2904]

BobSamurai Anime Reviews It would be better if (1) it was shorter and (2) we saw less of you, and more of the anime.

[@lummy8566]

I watched Welcome to the NHK when I was in deep depression and man did this anime changed my life ;_; Forever my favorite and #1 for how much it connected to me

[@BloodILike]

Maaaan, you are doing God`s work. Great detailed reviewer.

[@lookermage1]

Terrific review for one for my faves Bob! :) this anime definitely changed my life for the better and I have SO much nostalgia for it, even thinking about it I hold it so deer to my heart just like you. Also I have a question even though I watched the anime and read the manga is the novel worth buying and reading through? (I'm aware it's expensive but I'm willing to if it's that different) thx

[@bobsamurai]

+Rick Grimes yea its worth it. dat focus on misakis life and sato/yamazaki interaction. plus the ending is better too

[@ProfessorAnime]

+Rick Grimes I agree as well I have seen the anime and have the manga and novel and the novel is just so....just so good.

[@joelcuevas7570]

I'm also interested in reading the novel, but I'm not sure where to find it or how expensive it is.

[@ProfessorAnime]

Here ya go: www.amazon.com/Welcome-NHK-Novel-Tatsuhiko-Takimoto/dp/1427802564/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1440771401&sr=8-2&keywords=welcome+to+the+nhk

[@rakkaofglie5769]

This anime was secretly comissioned by Alex Jones and produced by the History Channel.

[@bobsamurai]

+Rakka of Glie conspiracy!

[@AlchemicalForge91]

why did the intro music to Welcome to the NHK change partway through the series?

[@b.s.864]

+Joe Urban It is fairly normal for anime to change intros every 12 episodes. I know that does not actually answer your question. I suspect it relates to season length as most anime come in a multiple of 12 episodes.

[@the1andonlybasedgodoflife724]

This show is freakin' AWESOME! I need to re-watch it at some point, and check out the novel/manga versions as well.

[@shamstu5550]

Great review Bob

[@starseven1981]

The last review you did of this seemed more negative. This review was better than the previous review. I would actually comment that this series for those who have seen it shouldn't be considered a negative series. It's overall an exposure to the negative psychological elements that occur due to isolation. I also think you can explain the beginning without drug use. I never found that as a necessary explanation. The fact that he had been isolated for as long as he had been. You can simply say it's an expression of his total disconnect with reality. I found in some ways that Welcome to the NHK was very encouraging in many ways because if you watch it all the way through it shows how he emerges from all the issues that had plagued him during the rest of the series. I find it does present an excellent view of how these problems can effect people. The resolution at the end really does make a lot of sense if you think about it. How do you break the habits associated with these types of problems? I'm not going to answer this as I would prefer people to watch and find out for themselves.

[@bilguun7993]

Just finished watching this series. All I have to say is that it has an amazing theme. The story shows what is happening to the japanese society right now and what the young adults of today are currently facing. the characters are very relatable, they each feel like a real person and i grew to like all of them. I would say that this is undoubtedly my favorite slice of life( yes slice of life. plz don't kill me) series i have ever watched. It's definitely in my top 5 but i'm not sure i will put this over FMAB. Because let's just be honest here. FMAB IS BEAAAST.

[@Vlayer]

One of my favorite aspects is the blend of dark comedy and tragic/depressing drama. It really captures how society views the issues that Satou is going through. Porn addiction and online gaming addiction is normally not seen as "real" addictions, you'd be more likely to find someone laughing at those issues than taking them seriously. Welcome to the NHK does both, by making the viewer initially laugh at how ridiculous Satou's situation is, before demonstrating the actual toll that it's taking on his mind and his life. Really, the only issue I have with the narrative is the inclusion of the conspiracy as well as his more extreme delusions(furniture talking). Some paranoia would've been fine, but it would've been better to just leave those aspects out of it. Despite going against the name and the source material.

[@sabersworn]

I love it. It's in my personal top 3.

[@ivanmartinez714]

I barely found out about this yesterday at night n finished it today. N its already in my tops n ive seen over 2000+ animes

[@Grangolus]

Great review, fair on it's faults and fair on it's many good points. Personally I cried a bit at the final episode, I thought it was a very beautiful conclusion to a well done series. It also left me a little emotionally drained for a few days, which is a good thing in a way?

[@bobsamurai]

+cman977 thanks! anything that makes you feel something can be a good thing

[@dragontony1000]

my favorite anime it's awesome the music so relatable I wish they made more anime s like this one

[@Thegreatarrowguard12]

You're REreviewing Golden Boy? I only remember you reviewing it cause I watched your review of it and it convinced me to see it. Best Ecchi I've ever seen (Chobits might beat it out but honestly it didn't have to be ecchi to be good :P )

[@bobsamurai]

+Thegreatarrowguard12 hell yea, golden boy deserves it, then after that im reviewing an anime that went out with a "bang"

[@crimsonalpha6470]

this is my favorite of all time. on my second DVD set

[@CornishCreamtea07]

Sounds a bit like Otaku No Video, the main character has nothing to do with Anime, but after meeting an old friend, he becomes obsessed with it.

[@bobsamurai]

+CornishCreamtea07 maybe ill review that one too

[@taktl0s]

Such a great anime.. I'm still searching for a new one to watch, but I can't find one that is as good as welcome to the NHK T.T

[@akmadman36]

What do you use for your theme.

[@theahoaho7948]

This really sounds like the manga Inside Mari but its nothing like it in the same way.

[@yusufkhan1479]

You say it's your favourite anime I subscribe. As simple as that

[@Lbpbest1]

how exactly was it life changing for you bobsamurai?

[@mets2128]

Nihon Hōsō Kyōkai is what the acronym stands for it’s Japan’s answer to PBS basically it’s a television station

[@vivi-fe5rj]

I always thought it was just his overactive imagination from being in his apartment that he thought his furniture was talking to him. :P

[@andreysantiago]

Great review!!

[@alcoholicdad6580]

just finished it. amazing plot. and yes, I cried multiple times.

[@alcoholicdad6580]

I'm going to read the manga after watching your review. I want to get as much as possible.

[@butlerstarheart9679]

This review is awesome. Welcome to HNK is my top 2 favorite anime. Also have anyone heard of Indie game: the movie, it a documentary film that influence to this anime. differently recommend it.

[@Killerqueen2000]

7.5 imo. liked misaki a lot.

[@AbstractFocus]

Number #1 anime of all time. It's very relatable.

[@joelhenderson3723]

I really liked this show as well, and thank you for not calling it a comedy! I really never got why people couldn't see it for what it is. Is there any chance you could watch/review Gargantia on the Verdurous planet at sometime? It is probably my favorite anime of all time, and I am interested in hearing other opinions on it (mine won't change, of course, but I don't mind hearing from people who disagree). If you do, it is one of the few anime that I recommend watching in English INSTEAD of Japanese. The dub is that good. Additionally, the colors/art is absolutely beautiful (to my eyes, at least), and the story makes exceptional use of language/cultural barriers, which is something I have only seen rarely, and usually not done well.

[@fadedtiger3181]

I have to say...this is one of my favorite anime. I'ts funny, terrifying, and sobering. It's a deep look into what can happen if you fall into a hermit lifestyle.

[@nonnonsense1]

right I would have preferred if the female character there was a bit older, I think it would have been awesome if she was older than Sato. However, the series was brilliant none the less. They make reference to Jungian theory of cognitive functions and something tells me character development was based on Jungian theory which is why the characters are so brilliant. It's one of the most brilliant series out there and they made reference to shut ins before any western series.

[@Pickmanh]

Dude your intro is so badass! What's the name of that song?

[@maartenraaijmakers9571]

I could relate to Sato a lot more than I should

[@TazHall]

It was a glaringly honest show... that's for sure.

[@XxMobileWizXx]

i wish i could watch this anime again for the first time.

[@ZaBooma]

very good show! loved it

[@zack74561]

great review bob

[@bobsamurai]

+zack zamorano thanks!

[@rjsantos5605]

Will be watching this very soon:)

[@JamienautMark2]

I remember watching your review of this year's ago, you had long hair then. Weird how things change yet stay the same.

[@lachlanstill4813]

That gun looked pretty cool, what brand is it?

[@bobsamurai]

+Lachlan Still it was a NYKO "perfect shot" wii addon its $13 on amazon

[@bobsamurai]

+BobSamurai Anime Reviews i use it for house of the dead :3 i need to play my wii more lol

[@lachlanstill4813]

BobSamurai Anime Reviews Huh, it looks pretty "realistic" in terms of dimensions for a video game periphery.

[@bobsamurai]

yea it does, i love it but the orange clip on the tip holds the controller in and they break too easily, in fact it broke when i pulled it out of my pocket for this video :/ my other one broke too lol. ill have to buy another sometime

[@fimbleful]

I know it's kinda old LEWL but can you do a FLCL Review. PLZ?

[@bobsamurai]

+fimbleful naaah thats not old at all, i just review anime as i watch them so at some point ill review 70s series so FLCL isnt so old. whenever i rewatch it ill review it

[@fimbleful]

+BobSamurai Anime Reviews Ah I forgot I was watching an anime reviewer that's 30 years old lmao. Nhk is very artsy which is why I enjoy it. it takes a very real and serious topic "hikikimorism?" and makes fun of it yet sheds light on some of the dangers of being overly obsessive with ones interests. NHK is kinda like trying to delve into someones mind and capture it, which kinda reminded me of the nuttiness of FLCL. Like FLCL is trying to show a young adolescent boy discover growing up. IDK I'm trying to be discussive and relate 2 different anime when I've had no sleep. lewl

[@bobsamurai]

yea hahaha nhk and flcl is a bit of a stretch XD

[@noahthomas1909]

Hey bob how did you message the creator

[@bobsamurai]

+Awesome Anime Fan (Ghost Hunter624) found his email on a website that he runs for his novels

[@di-gun5791]

I heard the drug use wasn't explained because it didn't get past the censor. The pornographic photos were supposed to be CP too.

[@drock34000]

wait the pornographic pictures that yamazaki gave satou on the disc was cp or was the pornographic images that satou downloaded was cp

[@itsmapleman]

This anime really really messed me up in the head. Watched it back to back with Higurashi. I turned into a NEET in college while watching this and took two weeks to snap back to reality.

[@zeld6940]

From my favorites anime

[@increadibleangel7980]

I'm watching it now. And on 3rd episode but it's so dark

[@frogwithhatstaff7044]

This anime helped me through some shit gg NHK

[@VitoPlaysGames]

6:25 - Satou seems (at least) mildly schizophrenic, and I don't recall any drug use from the manga. Then again my memory is hazy.