The Tatami Galaxy: Masaaki Yuasa’s Best Work
It’s time to introduce Masaaki Yuasa properly.
The Japanese director is the brain behind some of the most prized artistic animes, notably Kemonozume and Devilman Crybaby. That being said, his body of work is rather underrated: Yuasa can upgrade pretty much any anime to a godly artistic level, and his impact on the industry isn’t spoken about enough. The Tatami Galaxy is proof that
You should buckle up for this anime. The narration is fast and almost rhythmic, and since English dubs aren’t available, you will have to do with express subtitles. Regardless, The Tatami Galaxy is very much a necessary watch for anyone who deems themselves somewhat versed in anime.
The plot follows a nameless young man attending Kyoto University who is painfully average and as ambitious as a block of tofu. His listless ways of life drag him down as he ponders from his tatami mat room, until he meets the self-proclaimed god of matrimony. This meeting flips a switch in the main character and throws him to the opposite end of his current lifestyle, where he tires himself out by jumping from club to club at his university. Morally grey and ubiquitously strange characters make the protagonist spiral into misery punctuated by self discovery. This 11-episode anime is daintily dressed with a romantic subplot, making The Tatami Galaxy relatable to many young people who find naviguating adulthood too complex.
The storyline by itself isn’t enough to bewitch, but what truly makes The Tatami Galaxy special is the art direction. Mixing in a vivid color palette, bits of foggy videos, cuts in time, and atypical angles, this anime is a kaleidoscopic jump into the ordinary as much as the anomalous. Emotions and time are communicated through the visuals, and despite being hard to keep up with the speedy dialogues, it is rather intuitive.
Loneliness, friendship, and the butterfly effect are devoured by the beautiful animation. The Tatami Galaxy is a sure hit for Tekkon Kinkreet and Mononoke fans. It’s the kind of anime you’d like to keep for yourself, but doing so would be just selfish, knowing how touching it actually is.
About the Author:
Mizuki Khoury
Born in Montreal, based in Tokyo. Sabukaru’s senior writer and works as an artist under Exit Number Five.
