Tatami galaxy is one of these anime where everything falls into place In the end, I know you'll see the episodes and think that they are the same, but each one is more different than the last, if u pay close attention, by the last episode, it becomes clear what the writers are trying to tell you, and the art style is very unique and beautiful, a must watch for someone who likes unusual and well made shows.
17 Reviews
A really weird but truly enjoyable series
DMMMUFFIN3 August 2021
The characters are great, have some Curious music, and really interesting way to tell the story
I loved a lot of things in this series but I felt confused some times.
I would recommend it to everyone who is interested in something unique.
I loved a lot of things in this series but I felt confused some times.
I would recommend it to everyone who is interested in something unique.
Life Moves Fast in 'The Tatami Galaxy'
dmdebruyn10 June 2020
'The Tatami Galaxy,' based on a novel by Tomihiko Morimi and directed by Masaaki Yuasa, is a high-concept YA mini-series with an intriguingly bizarre premise: a young nameless student arrives at college with high hopes of experiencing an idealized "rose-colored campus life," joins an activity circle that he eventually becomes disillusioned with when it fails to lead to his ideal college life, gets mixed up in a series of ludicrous situations, and finally wishes to start over and join a different activity circle, causing time to rewind and prompting him to start over again. However, choosing a different activity makes no difference, as the protagonist gets bogged down by the same disappointments, gets embroiled in escapades with the same level of lunacy, and even gets faced with the same eccentric cast of characters.
The protagonist's constant striving and failing to achieve his desired lifestyle gives the show a quirky and darkly humorous streak that also comes across as nihilistic. It also gives the show a vehicle through which to deliver its central themes.
'The Tatami Galaxy' is a show that warns its viewers to not expect too much and to embrace what they get instead. This is showcased through the journey of the nameless student. Every time the intellectual youngster goes back in time and redoes his first two years at college, he fails to recognize many of the good things that made up those two years due to his arrogance in pursuing the perfect life.
The show also relies heavily on an atmosphere of loss and the sense that something is missing or missed out on. This sense of incompletion is ever-present in the protagonist and his escapades as he completely misses all that made his life at college precious. Likewise, viewers of the show experience the feeling that they have missed something as 'The Tatami Galaxy' is an extremely fast-paced show where every episode flies by in blink-and-you'll-miss-it moments (and blink-and-you'll-miss-it subtitles), so fast that two years of the protagonist's life go by in 22 minutes! This rapid-fire pace is concurrent with another core theme of 'The Tatami Galaxy.' The speed of the show emphasizes the fact that life doesn't stop for anyone (even if one can go back in time and relive his last two years), so one must appreciate and enjoy those amazing moments while they last. As Ferris Bueller once said, "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."
Life does move fast in 'The Tatami Galaxy,' and every moment that flies by in each episode is unlike anything ever seen. From a bike-stealing agency whose sole purpose is to spoil one's day to a lifelong war of pranks between a zen-like super senior and a lecherous club president to a love doll that gets treated as a real person by any individual who comes across it, every episode of 'The Tatami Galaxy' is chockful of creative absurdities that make for an entertaining experience. It embraces weirdness while remaining grounded in the ugliness of human error, all the while reminding viewers that they are capable of avoiding the same mistakes and enjoying life for what it is. It is an enjoyable show, and I recommend it for anyone looking for something different to watch.
The protagonist's constant striving and failing to achieve his desired lifestyle gives the show a quirky and darkly humorous streak that also comes across as nihilistic. It also gives the show a vehicle through which to deliver its central themes.
'The Tatami Galaxy' is a show that warns its viewers to not expect too much and to embrace what they get instead. This is showcased through the journey of the nameless student. Every time the intellectual youngster goes back in time and redoes his first two years at college, he fails to recognize many of the good things that made up those two years due to his arrogance in pursuing the perfect life.
The show also relies heavily on an atmosphere of loss and the sense that something is missing or missed out on. This sense of incompletion is ever-present in the protagonist and his escapades as he completely misses all that made his life at college precious. Likewise, viewers of the show experience the feeling that they have missed something as 'The Tatami Galaxy' is an extremely fast-paced show where every episode flies by in blink-and-you'll-miss-it moments (and blink-and-you'll-miss-it subtitles), so fast that two years of the protagonist's life go by in 22 minutes! This rapid-fire pace is concurrent with another core theme of 'The Tatami Galaxy.' The speed of the show emphasizes the fact that life doesn't stop for anyone (even if one can go back in time and relive his last two years), so one must appreciate and enjoy those amazing moments while they last. As Ferris Bueller once said, "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."
Life does move fast in 'The Tatami Galaxy,' and every moment that flies by in each episode is unlike anything ever seen. From a bike-stealing agency whose sole purpose is to spoil one's day to a lifelong war of pranks between a zen-like super senior and a lecherous club president to a love doll that gets treated as a real person by any individual who comes across it, every episode of 'The Tatami Galaxy' is chockful of creative absurdities that make for an entertaining experience. It embraces weirdness while remaining grounded in the ugliness of human error, all the while reminding viewers that they are capable of avoiding the same mistakes and enjoying life for what it is. It is an enjoyable show, and I recommend it for anyone looking for something different to watch.
There's nothing as boring as a story about successful love.....
scytheslash3 May 2011
Well this is my first review...... here goes...
A brief synopsis: Freshman Watashi(literally 'I' in Japanese) finds himself repeating his first 2 years in college with disastrous consequences over and over again, never seemingly realizing that he's repeating life making the same mistakes over and over.
Based on a novel of the same name, "Yojōhan Shinwa Taikei", or literally "4½ Tatami Mythological Chronicles" is perhaps the most innovative anime series I have ever seen..... the Groundhog Day of anime if you will. Masaaki Yuasa's (of Cat Soup and Mind Game fame, and if you haven't seen them go see it NOW!) Tatami Galaxy is one of a kind.
The character designs are pretty distinct from standard anime conventions, and what caught my eye in the first place. I'm surprised more people don't know about this series, because it's a true GEM in covering what many people go through trying to fit into campus life. The humor is light hearted and genuine.... and the characters avoid falling into stereotypes, instead they turn out to be incredibly engrossing and believable.
What's remarkable is how all the stories come together at the end, for a satisfying conclusion. Something which most anime end up trying to do unsuccessfully..... 11 episodes seem like too short a time spent in dealing with Watashi's life...but as the end makes it clear There's no point in continuing a story which has been resolved... a lesson which a few anime out there should realize by now...
P.S. There are 3 7-min specials which were also released with the DVD, watch out for them too!
My rating: An excellent series from start to finish, keep an eye out for small details in between the series. EVERYTHING ties up at the end :)
A brief synopsis: Freshman Watashi(literally 'I' in Japanese) finds himself repeating his first 2 years in college with disastrous consequences over and over again, never seemingly realizing that he's repeating life making the same mistakes over and over.
Based on a novel of the same name, "Yojōhan Shinwa Taikei", or literally "4½ Tatami Mythological Chronicles" is perhaps the most innovative anime series I have ever seen..... the Groundhog Day of anime if you will. Masaaki Yuasa's (of Cat Soup and Mind Game fame, and if you haven't seen them go see it NOW!) Tatami Galaxy is one of a kind.
The character designs are pretty distinct from standard anime conventions, and what caught my eye in the first place. I'm surprised more people don't know about this series, because it's a true GEM in covering what many people go through trying to fit into campus life. The humor is light hearted and genuine.... and the characters avoid falling into stereotypes, instead they turn out to be incredibly engrossing and believable.
What's remarkable is how all the stories come together at the end, for a satisfying conclusion. Something which most anime end up trying to do unsuccessfully..... 11 episodes seem like too short a time spent in dealing with Watashi's life...but as the end makes it clear There's no point in continuing a story which has been resolved... a lesson which a few anime out there should realize by now...
P.S. There are 3 7-min specials which were also released with the DVD, watch out for them too!
My rating: An excellent series from start to finish, keep an eye out for small details in between the series. EVERYTHING ties up at the end :)
Beautiful, and life-reaffirming
infernoguyrules26 September 2012
My first review here, just like the other person who's reviewed this so far. I'll make it short. This is one of the greatest series I've ever seen. Minute for minute this was one of the most worthwhile watching experiences I've ever had, anime or not. The animation as absolutely beautiful, often including multiple mediums and styles, the main style being very stark drawings with very subdued subtle coloring and great animation, but also including highly stylized film-work on occasion, the occasional splash of 3d, another very vividly colored style, and a really odd sort of chalk-board looking style of cg for particular scenes. The story is an adaptation of a novel, and the visuals tell it in a way that never could've come through in novel form, which are the best kind of adaptations in my opinion, I'm very curious about the original novel though. I'll just go ahead and not cover any parts of the story, as you can find that many places, including here, and I'd rather not spoil any more for you. Watch this now! These 4 hours of TV will not be ones you feel like you wasted, permitting you enjoy good art.
A show of quality
stefanostsougranis29 March 2014
From time to time, I desire a show that will deliver a simple and grounded in reality plot in an unorthodox way with great success. Yes, you should already understand that Tatami Galaxy holds no need for superficial or amazing concepts to be successful, just a realistic story executed in a masterful way.
Story : 10 / 10 "Masterful"
Tatami Galaxy is set on a fictional universe, specifically a town, which seems pretty close to the modern Japanese towns. Our main character, Watashi, expects to find the rose colored campus life that he always dreamed of, entering a campus club. Instead, he finds mischief and disappointment in every way possible. Every time he joins a club, everything seem to go wrong and he ends up regretting his choice, wanting to go back to the moment of choosing it and reset his life by changing his choice. The plot is following his different choices and the different lives he lived after them. Watashi begins a journey of self- discovery, where the weight of his choices matters the most, becoming a matured young man who lives his life with unlimited freedom but also respect on every choice.
Art : 9 / 10 "Great"
The show uses a minimalistic style that combines cartoonish graphics with no shading with a lot of live action film segments used in for quick depiction of areas with lots of background detail. Seen as poor by many, the art of Tatami Galaxy is gravely underrated. It effectively depicts the themes of the show, taking a realistic approach on many problems that college students face in Japan. Furthermore, it becomes very interesting when adding the psychological symbolisms included in the show.
Sound : 9 / 10 "Great"
A testament to the superb voice acting could be that, even though Watashi's speech is faster than a bullet train, he still manages to keep the viewer in his toes with his smart (and funny) take on many different subjects and make him feel whatever emotion he emits. As for the soundtrack, it fits great with the theme and mood of the series, successfully representing the constant changes in atmosphere, from the melancholic "Youjou han to Castella to Watashi" to the mysterious "Kamotaketsunuminogami" and powerfully liberating "Yojouhan Ki Owari" or "Takasegawa".
Characters : 9 / 10 "Great"
From the bullet-speed monologues of Watashi to the stoic and spiritual presence of Higuchi, the cast is the recipe for instant success. Watashi is a young college dropout who never seizes to amaze with his sarcastic and dark but witty dialogues on everything he analyzes. He is the source of the dialogues and monologues in Tatami Galaxy, and his themes vary from social commentary to self - sarcasm of the highest caliber. Ozu is another college student, dark and devilish character, who constantly drags Watashi to troubles. However, he has some hidden aspects which make him intriguing and three-dimensional. Akashi, a college student in the engineering department, is an adorable female character, and Watashi's biggest love interest. Higuchi is a stoic, and full with dreams on exploring the globe, character who is still a college student, even though he ,by far, had exceeded the minimum years of studying there. He also has many hidden sides, which made him mysterious, spiritual and occasionally wise. There are more characters that are also very interesting, but doesn't quite measure up to the other mentioned above. However, there is not a single character that is not likable in this series, because of his quirks and personality.
Enjoyment : 10 / 10 "Masterful"
I fully enjoyed every minute of Watashi's attempts to reach a rose- colored campus life, his moments of self-discovery and liberation scenes.
Verdict : 9.4 / 10 "Excellent"
When simple but meaningful premises meets innovative and unique storytelling methods, a show like Tatami Galaxy is born. Excluding or changing only one component of the Tatami Galaxy's recipe would result in losing it's eternal glowing.
There's nothing more boring than reading a review, so give yourself the chance to watch this exquisite show. You will not regret it.
Story : 10 / 10 "Masterful"
Tatami Galaxy is set on a fictional universe, specifically a town, which seems pretty close to the modern Japanese towns. Our main character, Watashi, expects to find the rose colored campus life that he always dreamed of, entering a campus club. Instead, he finds mischief and disappointment in every way possible. Every time he joins a club, everything seem to go wrong and he ends up regretting his choice, wanting to go back to the moment of choosing it and reset his life by changing his choice. The plot is following his different choices and the different lives he lived after them. Watashi begins a journey of self- discovery, where the weight of his choices matters the most, becoming a matured young man who lives his life with unlimited freedom but also respect on every choice.
Art : 9 / 10 "Great"
The show uses a minimalistic style that combines cartoonish graphics with no shading with a lot of live action film segments used in for quick depiction of areas with lots of background detail. Seen as poor by many, the art of Tatami Galaxy is gravely underrated. It effectively depicts the themes of the show, taking a realistic approach on many problems that college students face in Japan. Furthermore, it becomes very interesting when adding the psychological symbolisms included in the show.
Sound : 9 / 10 "Great"
A testament to the superb voice acting could be that, even though Watashi's speech is faster than a bullet train, he still manages to keep the viewer in his toes with his smart (and funny) take on many different subjects and make him feel whatever emotion he emits. As for the soundtrack, it fits great with the theme and mood of the series, successfully representing the constant changes in atmosphere, from the melancholic "Youjou han to Castella to Watashi" to the mysterious "Kamotaketsunuminogami" and powerfully liberating "Yojouhan Ki Owari" or "Takasegawa".
Characters : 9 / 10 "Great"
From the bullet-speed monologues of Watashi to the stoic and spiritual presence of Higuchi, the cast is the recipe for instant success. Watashi is a young college dropout who never seizes to amaze with his sarcastic and dark but witty dialogues on everything he analyzes. He is the source of the dialogues and monologues in Tatami Galaxy, and his themes vary from social commentary to self - sarcasm of the highest caliber. Ozu is another college student, dark and devilish character, who constantly drags Watashi to troubles. However, he has some hidden aspects which make him intriguing and three-dimensional. Akashi, a college student in the engineering department, is an adorable female character, and Watashi's biggest love interest. Higuchi is a stoic, and full with dreams on exploring the globe, character who is still a college student, even though he ,by far, had exceeded the minimum years of studying there. He also has many hidden sides, which made him mysterious, spiritual and occasionally wise. There are more characters that are also very interesting, but doesn't quite measure up to the other mentioned above. However, there is not a single character that is not likable in this series, because of his quirks and personality.
Enjoyment : 10 / 10 "Masterful"
I fully enjoyed every minute of Watashi's attempts to reach a rose- colored campus life, his moments of self-discovery and liberation scenes.
Verdict : 9.4 / 10 "Excellent"
When simple but meaningful premises meets innovative and unique storytelling methods, a show like Tatami Galaxy is born. Excluding or changing only one component of the Tatami Galaxy's recipe would result in losing it's eternal glowing.
There's nothing more boring than reading a review, so give yourself the chance to watch this exquisite show. You will not regret it.
A truly unique experience for anime lovers and haters alike
juhanijspurdo7 August 2017
I'll tell you right now that I don't like anime. I never got into it and of the anime I've been exposed to, I felt the horrible overacting and ridiculous plots robbed the medium of anything worth watching. Now that I've seen The Tatami Galaxy, I'm forced to eat my words and consider it one of the greatest television shows of all time. It's an artistic powerhouse with great characters, clever writing, and an unmistakable artistic style.
The art itself is admittedly what attracted me to the series. I've always been interested in avant-garde animation and this is one of the most beautifully animated shows of them all. I won't bore you with describing the style itself but needless to say it's incredibly unique and satisfying. Even if the writing was atrocious this would be a show worth watching on the animation alone. Luckily enough, it isn't the only great thing about the series. The story keeps reeling you back in time and time again until before you know it, it's all over.
The plot is simple -- an unnamed protagonist recollects his previous two years at university and, like most people, asks whether or not doing something different would lead him to a better position for his 3rd year. For the protagonist, this is often culminated in joining a different club or choosing to pursue a different girl than he previously had, and the series explores what alternative possibilities arise when these choices are made. Imagine "Groundhog Day" or "Lola Rennt" with the wonders and curiosity of a misfit underclassmen.
The show presents itself as an outstanding stand-alone project with a clear story structure. Even though each episode is essentially revisiting the same kind of conflict and resolution, the differences are fresh enough to surprise you every time. Every episode starts with the protagonist complaining about how he came as a freshmen looking for that "rose coloured" (romantic, idealized) campus life complete with a raven-haired maiden, and every episode ends with him asking himself if he had only done something different, wouldn't he have gotten what he'd came to university in search of? This formula allows for seemingly minute details and background characters to re-appear in genuinely novel and surprising ways throughout the duration of the series. The writing is astounding to say the least and you'll find yourself watching the series again and again noticing every time a couple of new things which either foreshadow or reference that which you hadn't seen before. It's not usual that such a limited run series can offer so much on repeated viewings.
The ending is one of the best finales of all time. It ties every loose end up in a way that I would have never expected and feels incredibly satisfying. The last episode answers every question you have about the series, has a very clever twist, and leaves the protagonist with some proper insight and feeling when it's all said and done. It even choked me up a bit, which was probably the last thing I'd expect from a show that doesn't seem to take itself so seriously. The sentimentality and philosophy at the end really strikes a chord and leaves the viewer with insight on their own life decisions and how to come to grips with them.
The most telling part about the show is that you don't end the series wishing there were more, rather, it's a perfectly self-contained package that covers all the ground it needs to without an inch too little or too much. Shows that are this well thought out from start to finish are so rare and few and far between I'm at a loss to even think of a comparable example.
So all this excellence and nothing bad? The only thing negative to say is that the narrative is EXTREMELY fast in every episode so reading subtitles is pretty much as hard as it gets. The worst part about that being how hard it is to enjoy the art style without missing out on key dialogue and narration at the bottom of the screen. If you're patient, you can pause it when you need to or slow down the playback speed, but bear in mind the rapid pace plays very well into the animation style, and serves to "cram" a lot of content into each 22 minute episode. But if the pace were slower and each episode an hour long, the show would definitely lose its magic.
In the end, I guess all I can say is to watch The Tatami Galaxy and see if you like it yourself. Give it at least a few episodes before you make a decision and believe me you'll be hooked. I cannot recommend it highly enough for those who like artsy animation, poignant but never overbearing themes, and the foibles of truly unique characters experiencing college life. Simply put, anime fan or not, this is one of the best shows you'll ever see.
The art itself is admittedly what attracted me to the series. I've always been interested in avant-garde animation and this is one of the most beautifully animated shows of them all. I won't bore you with describing the style itself but needless to say it's incredibly unique and satisfying. Even if the writing was atrocious this would be a show worth watching on the animation alone. Luckily enough, it isn't the only great thing about the series. The story keeps reeling you back in time and time again until before you know it, it's all over.
The plot is simple -- an unnamed protagonist recollects his previous two years at university and, like most people, asks whether or not doing something different would lead him to a better position for his 3rd year. For the protagonist, this is often culminated in joining a different club or choosing to pursue a different girl than he previously had, and the series explores what alternative possibilities arise when these choices are made. Imagine "Groundhog Day" or "Lola Rennt" with the wonders and curiosity of a misfit underclassmen.
The show presents itself as an outstanding stand-alone project with a clear story structure. Even though each episode is essentially revisiting the same kind of conflict and resolution, the differences are fresh enough to surprise you every time. Every episode starts with the protagonist complaining about how he came as a freshmen looking for that "rose coloured" (romantic, idealized) campus life complete with a raven-haired maiden, and every episode ends with him asking himself if he had only done something different, wouldn't he have gotten what he'd came to university in search of? This formula allows for seemingly minute details and background characters to re-appear in genuinely novel and surprising ways throughout the duration of the series. The writing is astounding to say the least and you'll find yourself watching the series again and again noticing every time a couple of new things which either foreshadow or reference that which you hadn't seen before. It's not usual that such a limited run series can offer so much on repeated viewings.
The ending is one of the best finales of all time. It ties every loose end up in a way that I would have never expected and feels incredibly satisfying. The last episode answers every question you have about the series, has a very clever twist, and leaves the protagonist with some proper insight and feeling when it's all said and done. It even choked me up a bit, which was probably the last thing I'd expect from a show that doesn't seem to take itself so seriously. The sentimentality and philosophy at the end really strikes a chord and leaves the viewer with insight on their own life decisions and how to come to grips with them.
The most telling part about the show is that you don't end the series wishing there were more, rather, it's a perfectly self-contained package that covers all the ground it needs to without an inch too little or too much. Shows that are this well thought out from start to finish are so rare and few and far between I'm at a loss to even think of a comparable example.
So all this excellence and nothing bad? The only thing negative to say is that the narrative is EXTREMELY fast in every episode so reading subtitles is pretty much as hard as it gets. The worst part about that being how hard it is to enjoy the art style without missing out on key dialogue and narration at the bottom of the screen. If you're patient, you can pause it when you need to or slow down the playback speed, but bear in mind the rapid pace plays very well into the animation style, and serves to "cram" a lot of content into each 22 minute episode. But if the pace were slower and each episode an hour long, the show would definitely lose its magic.
In the end, I guess all I can say is to watch The Tatami Galaxy and see if you like it yourself. Give it at least a few episodes before you make a decision and believe me you'll be hooked. I cannot recommend it highly enough for those who like artsy animation, poignant but never overbearing themes, and the foibles of truly unique characters experiencing college life. Simply put, anime fan or not, this is one of the best shows you'll ever see.
Unique concept and direction
rookescanor18 February 2019
To a common viewer, the anime might be found a bit weird in the first glance, firstly due to the quick narration of the protagonist character 'Watashi', and the unique and liberal art style.
The story might seem to have a lot of repeating scenes in the initial episodes for the viewer, but then again the story basically follows the concept of parallel universes to support it.
I can assure you the story builds up pretty intense and captivating in the later episodes. The ending is very justified to personal opinion, and worth the time of viewing the 11 episodes to the end.
Genres include - psychological, slice of life and romance.
For an anime like The Tatami Galaxy, I would've given a review of 8, or 9 at best. Factors like - witty and unique direction, the unexpected flow of the storyline, working the anime in a lower budget (due to numerous real-video scenes), and good anime opening/ending have earned it a 10 from self.
It wouldn't be hard for anime enthusiasts to complete the 11 episodes.
For common viewers, do give this show a scrutiny till the end. Assurance that the conclusions are to the worth.
The story might seem to have a lot of repeating scenes in the initial episodes for the viewer, but then again the story basically follows the concept of parallel universes to support it.
I can assure you the story builds up pretty intense and captivating in the later episodes. The ending is very justified to personal opinion, and worth the time of viewing the 11 episodes to the end.
Genres include - psychological, slice of life and romance.
For an anime like The Tatami Galaxy, I would've given a review of 8, or 9 at best. Factors like - witty and unique direction, the unexpected flow of the storyline, working the anime in a lower budget (due to numerous real-video scenes), and good anime opening/ending have earned it a 10 from self.
It wouldn't be hard for anime enthusiasts to complete the 11 episodes.
For common viewers, do give this show a scrutiny till the end. Assurance that the conclusions are to the worth.
How convoluted can an animated college life be?
Quirky_analysis7 February 2020
Note: this is from a video review, look for links on my profile page.
TG aims to overwhelm with symbolic metaphors, complexly dense in so little time, it is akin to a puzzle that runs like clockwork. This very ending is a representation of how the mind can categorize, how one tatami mat goes into the next to form the shell of a larger structure, a macrocosm of the final story, each square correlated with the narrative of interconnected characters prior in time.
Even though they are relatively simple geometry it questions concepts; lyrically, why does it seem to reference the symbol of a (kami) god? Is it just internal monologue, done in a softer tone than the haste of its counterpart in the series? Note the inversion between the normal ending and the one at the opening of the last episode, from a multitude of colours to a solitary blue, reality ends up upside-down (just as Ozu switches roles at the end) and the potentialities of history are conjured up like the flourishing infinities that lay before empty time. Higuchi at one point urges seeking out a circle among all the angled shapes, but none is found until the episodic prophetic opportunity is taken. And so it becomes one.
A robot, symbolic not of heroism as in Masaaki's Ping Pong anime, but a shell that protects an introvert, that defends against the possibility of failure. The yellow carpet is present but so is the armour, the red sky indicative of an anguished subjectivity, but do automatons cry? Out of frustration time rewinds as the internal psyche of the protagonist clasps at a mental solution. At the beginning, tatami mats were the logical equivalent of disorderly rocks scattered among prehistoric imagination. How do societies evolve despite strife? Light contrasts darkness. How does a limited individual fit in?
Real objects and a shadowed environment, stand in for their drawn counterparts to possibly convey the physicality of sensation, as the representation of geometry's sharper shapes. A subjectively interminable number of days are intertwined with past exploratory fictions. Mundane universality. A farrago of hallucinatory experiences reveal to oneself... the ideal other, which is sunnily yellow and as chimerical as his own individual attempts at impression. Purple is a state in between.
Hanuki's pink may be her weird humour, his hypothetical allies relive illusory lives, green may represent youth just as Akashi is showered in the colour later on, but Higuchi is stereotypically wiser than that; fishing for words, randomly instinctive, calm as trees, his gut not withstanding.
Jougasaki, Masaki may be representative of the director of a similar name, in reality an overgrown Ozu, fanning strife if possible. And so they go. These relationships tumble and rumble, but what is a social construct? How does a self interact with the other? How can a distance be closed and can they hear each other?
What fortuity lay in cupboards? What a fluky ceiling. Metabolism, is it involved in rumination? An unveiling of a physical transformation, protein manifest, a palate of animated imagination. Hallowed ramen, feline oddities. A grey background.
Ozu, is he indeed a multicoloured disruptor of dichromatic tennis courts, a drunk (?), an astronomical film splicer, a verdant dyer of shirts, or a nebulous component of some surreptitious institution. Chronicler of society, fountainhead of pyrotechnics, the Grinch? Enabler of perversity, an overcoated yokai hybrid (perhaps like Inuyasha?) who merely kindles the fiery passions of dalliances (or not).
What is that which is forlorn? How could portals be pulverized? A flaxen contraption in a monochrome universe, this is an art of contrasts. An ashen, vacant firmament looms, but could Ozu be figurative of anthropoid romance? His phantasmic whistling may hint towards it, just doesn't help that it's with his friend's conjured up ideal.
Where could a yellow (same make as the phone?) airship take us, the completion of an 'ultimate' fantasy? The green valleys of some ritualistic gates reveal Ozu's quixotic tour de force. But what shade of colour do both result in? The airship emoji could certainly be useful. Who is this onion-shaped Ozu, and what have they done to his grin? Well, he could try serenading his own literary creation. But who are these foolhardy mercenaries who meddle in affairs of the heart? And so, as batteries always do, right at that exact moment.
Despair takes hold of the beard in this sphere of vacuity, but pasta it could relish along with quite an artistic alluvion, striding into a backwards movie, and finally the squid hybrid! Forty winks, of course, and a rave theoretically! An equine fictive binding, readying for a flick, and symbolic social engineering.
This and more he invoked from a hypothetical time loop. Could one truly have such infinite space (despite the holes)? But how could this shell devoid of colour be remedied, how could hue be interposed between the self and the exterior?
The canopy of an abode, moths someone fears, the hand flowed, nimble conceits, a spider's thread, material books' frontier, a Maromi symbol? A leafy, lush reality, this dreamy rhythm, the drawn and not so intermingling; a clear sight of what one forgot, an opportunity missed, carpe diem wrought, an airy figment, an alluring utopia.
Might this be that orb of chance, this omnipresent express out of solipsism? Might this trance have been but a prance through fecund flights of fancy? This carriage ever-heading, an existential swaying; this marriage of planes, an engine of Lepidoptera. And I am out.
TG excels not just at the little details, nor merely the amalgamation of reality and fantasy, not just with animation, but narratively too, that it is hard to fathom how both were created separately. How is it that mundane life, a monologue usually reserved for dreams, is given such a climactic adaptation? A breath of fresh air, a transition between realms, a kaleidoscopic vision. This series does so much in so few hours. It is a walking painting, an animated chameleon, it begs us to wonder at the spectacle, what could be if the arrow of time shifts, how does perception interact with the world? Is art ethereal? What cadence is surprise? Is language formless, and is life but a dream?
TG aims to overwhelm with symbolic metaphors, complexly dense in so little time, it is akin to a puzzle that runs like clockwork. This very ending is a representation of how the mind can categorize, how one tatami mat goes into the next to form the shell of a larger structure, a macrocosm of the final story, each square correlated with the narrative of interconnected characters prior in time.
Even though they are relatively simple geometry it questions concepts; lyrically, why does it seem to reference the symbol of a (kami) god? Is it just internal monologue, done in a softer tone than the haste of its counterpart in the series? Note the inversion between the normal ending and the one at the opening of the last episode, from a multitude of colours to a solitary blue, reality ends up upside-down (just as Ozu switches roles at the end) and the potentialities of history are conjured up like the flourishing infinities that lay before empty time. Higuchi at one point urges seeking out a circle among all the angled shapes, but none is found until the episodic prophetic opportunity is taken. And so it becomes one.
A robot, symbolic not of heroism as in Masaaki's Ping Pong anime, but a shell that protects an introvert, that defends against the possibility of failure. The yellow carpet is present but so is the armour, the red sky indicative of an anguished subjectivity, but do automatons cry? Out of frustration time rewinds as the internal psyche of the protagonist clasps at a mental solution. At the beginning, tatami mats were the logical equivalent of disorderly rocks scattered among prehistoric imagination. How do societies evolve despite strife? Light contrasts darkness. How does a limited individual fit in?
Real objects and a shadowed environment, stand in for their drawn counterparts to possibly convey the physicality of sensation, as the representation of geometry's sharper shapes. A subjectively interminable number of days are intertwined with past exploratory fictions. Mundane universality. A farrago of hallucinatory experiences reveal to oneself... the ideal other, which is sunnily yellow and as chimerical as his own individual attempts at impression. Purple is a state in between.
Hanuki's pink may be her weird humour, his hypothetical allies relive illusory lives, green may represent youth just as Akashi is showered in the colour later on, but Higuchi is stereotypically wiser than that; fishing for words, randomly instinctive, calm as trees, his gut not withstanding.
Jougasaki, Masaki may be representative of the director of a similar name, in reality an overgrown Ozu, fanning strife if possible. And so they go. These relationships tumble and rumble, but what is a social construct? How does a self interact with the other? How can a distance be closed and can they hear each other?
What fortuity lay in cupboards? What a fluky ceiling. Metabolism, is it involved in rumination? An unveiling of a physical transformation, protein manifest, a palate of animated imagination. Hallowed ramen, feline oddities. A grey background.
Ozu, is he indeed a multicoloured disruptor of dichromatic tennis courts, a drunk (?), an astronomical film splicer, a verdant dyer of shirts, or a nebulous component of some surreptitious institution. Chronicler of society, fountainhead of pyrotechnics, the Grinch? Enabler of perversity, an overcoated yokai hybrid (perhaps like Inuyasha?) who merely kindles the fiery passions of dalliances (or not).
What is that which is forlorn? How could portals be pulverized? A flaxen contraption in a monochrome universe, this is an art of contrasts. An ashen, vacant firmament looms, but could Ozu be figurative of anthropoid romance? His phantasmic whistling may hint towards it, just doesn't help that it's with his friend's conjured up ideal.
Where could a yellow (same make as the phone?) airship take us, the completion of an 'ultimate' fantasy? The green valleys of some ritualistic gates reveal Ozu's quixotic tour de force. But what shade of colour do both result in? The airship emoji could certainly be useful. Who is this onion-shaped Ozu, and what have they done to his grin? Well, he could try serenading his own literary creation. But who are these foolhardy mercenaries who meddle in affairs of the heart? And so, as batteries always do, right at that exact moment.
Despair takes hold of the beard in this sphere of vacuity, but pasta it could relish along with quite an artistic alluvion, striding into a backwards movie, and finally the squid hybrid! Forty winks, of course, and a rave theoretically! An equine fictive binding, readying for a flick, and symbolic social engineering.
This and more he invoked from a hypothetical time loop. Could one truly have such infinite space (despite the holes)? But how could this shell devoid of colour be remedied, how could hue be interposed between the self and the exterior?
The canopy of an abode, moths someone fears, the hand flowed, nimble conceits, a spider's thread, material books' frontier, a Maromi symbol? A leafy, lush reality, this dreamy rhythm, the drawn and not so intermingling; a clear sight of what one forgot, an opportunity missed, carpe diem wrought, an airy figment, an alluring utopia.
Might this be that orb of chance, this omnipresent express out of solipsism? Might this trance have been but a prance through fecund flights of fancy? This carriage ever-heading, an existential swaying; this marriage of planes, an engine of Lepidoptera. And I am out.
TG excels not just at the little details, nor merely the amalgamation of reality and fantasy, not just with animation, but narratively too, that it is hard to fathom how both were created separately. How is it that mundane life, a monologue usually reserved for dreams, is given such a climactic adaptation? A breath of fresh air, a transition between realms, a kaleidoscopic vision. This series does so much in so few hours. It is a walking painting, an animated chameleon, it begs us to wonder at the spectacle, what could be if the arrow of time shifts, how does perception interact with the world? Is art ethereal? What cadence is surprise? Is language formless, and is life but a dream?
Repetita iuvant?
michele-mutti849 January 2021
[6,5/10]
Repetita iuvant means "Repeating does good", but in this case there are so many repeated scenes (Ozu introduction, furtune-teller, love-triangle, etc...) that is getting annoyed easily. Could have been the same in about half the time.
Too much "philosophic" for my taste.
(from same autor I loved Ping Pong)
Repetita iuvant means "Repeating does good", but in this case there are so many repeated scenes (Ozu introduction, furtune-teller, love-triangle, etc...) that is getting annoyed easily. Could have been the same in about half the time.
Too much "philosophic" for my taste.
(from same autor I loved Ping Pong)
Tatami galaxy
jonhfrank8 May 2022
Excellent from start to finish with beautiful animation with sometimes a combination of 2d, 3d and live action. The story being simple in concept but extremely enjoyably journey of self discovery and with my favorite conclusion to a story.
Underwhelming and totally confusing.com
Irishchatter31 May 2019
I just thought the whole thing was rather boring because it was rather too complex to understand what's going on. The art wasnt that great either, it was actually rather sloppy and all over the shop which is likewise to its storyline.
I probably am going to be the only one that doesn't like this anime since I've seen positively great reviews on here as well also seen on MyAnimelist . Hey I'm not stopping anyone to not love this anime but it's just a pity that it didn't click with me, that's all..
I probably am going to be the only one that doesn't like this anime since I've seen positively great reviews on here as well also seen on MyAnimelist . Hey I'm not stopping anyone to not love this anime but it's just a pity that it didn't click with me, that's all..
The Tatami Galaxy
Tweekums11 March 2021
This anime series is centred on an unnamed college student in Kyoto who feels that he has wasted his time there; he has no girlfriend and he has made only two friends' Ozo, who has no redeemable features, and first year student Ms. Akashi. One night he meets a god who tells him that Akashi will end up with either Ozo or our protagonist. He just has to grab the opportunity dangling in front of him. Our protagonist finds himself reliving the previous two years; each time making different choices, such as joining different clubs.
If you think all anime look the same then this will disprove that idea. The character designs and backgrounds are unlike any other series I recall watching, and I've watched quite a few. The story might sound repetitive but, while there are recurring events, each episode has more differences... and the similar moments prove humorous for the most part. There is a fairly small main cast but they are fun characters; our protagonist is the closest to a normal person. Ozo is strange, both in actions and appearance, he also provides much of the amusement. This series won't be for everybody but I'd certainly recommend it to anime fans looking for something different.
These comments are based on watching the series in Japanese with English subtitles.
If you think all anime look the same then this will disprove that idea. The character designs and backgrounds are unlike any other series I recall watching, and I've watched quite a few. The story might sound repetitive but, while there are recurring events, each episode has more differences... and the similar moments prove humorous for the most part. There is a fairly small main cast but they are fun characters; our protagonist is the closest to a normal person. Ozo is strange, both in actions and appearance, he also provides much of the amusement. This series won't be for everybody but I'd certainly recommend it to anime fans looking for something different.
These comments are based on watching the series in Japanese with English subtitles.
What makes it better is that not everyone understands it
hasdkeanr7 May 2021
Its truly a masterpiece .. got to say that it is hard to follow and understand .. but thats what makes it more beautiful and worth watching .. 8.9/10 but I'll give a 10 since Im seeing that a lot of trifles are getting higher ratings.
The most unique and fantastic anime
DigitalShark111 October 2021
The Tatami Galaxy is really unlike any anime you've seen. Not necessarily in it's premise, but in the way it's executed.
The Tatami Galaxy follows the story of an unnamed protagonist who meets a demi-god of love and matchmaking at a strange ramen restaurant. Over the course of many tries, the protagonist relives the same two years over and over again, trying to find the "rose tinted college life" he dreams of. He tries out different clubs, has to deal with his only friend Ozu who is basically the worst person alive, always attempting and chickening out to ask out the same girl he has a crush on. You know, college life.
Although it's somewhat episodic, the show cleverly wraps all the episodes up into a cool storyline that makes every episode relevant and unique. We learn more about characters that you originally believe were background characters, and learn that the characters we see on screen have a lot more to them than what meets the eye.
If I were to really talk about what makes this show so special, that would actually end up spoiling it. So you just have to trust me on this one. This show is incredible and it's not that long so give it a try. You won't be disappointed.
The Tatami Galaxy follows the story of an unnamed protagonist who meets a demi-god of love and matchmaking at a strange ramen restaurant. Over the course of many tries, the protagonist relives the same two years over and over again, trying to find the "rose tinted college life" he dreams of. He tries out different clubs, has to deal with his only friend Ozu who is basically the worst person alive, always attempting and chickening out to ask out the same girl he has a crush on. You know, college life.
Although it's somewhat episodic, the show cleverly wraps all the episodes up into a cool storyline that makes every episode relevant and unique. We learn more about characters that you originally believe were background characters, and learn that the characters we see on screen have a lot more to them than what meets the eye.
If I were to really talk about what makes this show so special, that would actually end up spoiling it. So you just have to trust me on this one. This show is incredible and it's not that long so give it a try. You won't be disappointed.
An opportunity is dangling in front of you
riturajbora-9619322 April 2023
The tatami galaxy has one of the most beautiful art style I have ever seen in anime. The art style is enough to make this anime worth watching. But art style is not the only good thing about this anime.
The tatami galaxy has a very weird storyline. Sometimes it gets confusing. But don't worry, you will understand everything in the end.
Some characters are weird but almost every character is likable.
The only problem I have with this anime is that the main character talks very fast.
The songs are good.
The tatami galaxy will be a treat for your eyes. And in the end it'll teach you something. Please watch it.
Now give me 1000 yen😂
The tatami galaxy has a very weird storyline. Sometimes it gets confusing. But don't worry, you will understand everything in the end.
Some characters are weird but almost every character is likable.
The only problem I have with this anime is that the main character talks very fast.
The songs are good.
The tatami galaxy will be a treat for your eyes. And in the end it'll teach you something. Please watch it.
Now give me 1000 yen😂
a 7-minutes personal record
TooKakkoiiforYou_32128 August 2021
7 minutes of the first episode I was able to endure of this incomprehensible, pretentious, fugly mess of the worst spieces, hands down the worst piece of animation I've ever experienced in my whole life. Angel Cop, Lain, Princess Arete and Mononoke can hold their beer to this...this...I don't have words to describe it, except maybe for absolute monstruosity, monstruosity that makes even the works of Ralph Bakshi look like masterpieces of animation in comparison. And guess what? Exactly like Lain and Mononoke, this is Uberoverrated by anime lovers for no real reason at all. What a surprise! Total eye and ear torture that I don't recommend to anyone. AVOID AT ALL COSTS, AND I MEAN ALL COSTS.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
