It occurs to me that since I downloaded the ed to this show I have been listening to it almost non-stop. It’s that deliriously good.It’s weird how jpop is, how you have no idea what their saying and just somehow learn to appreciate the music on it’s own. But this post isn’t about jpop but our hikkomori friend Satou and his life. A word about Satou. While watching this ep I realized that while NHK is supposedly about otaku, Satou is not a normal otaku in any way. He lacks any knowledge of anime, manga, or games. Why would an ” otaku satire ” manga put a non-otaku as it’s protaginast? Because it’s easier for us to get acquainted with otaku culture as Satou does. Or is it because it makes Satou an even more pathetic character than his otaku friend Yamazaki by having no passion for anything at all? Anyways enough analyzation and onto the differences between manga and anime.
A short summary first. We begin from last time with Satou and Misaki at the park, Satou just being enlisted in the project and that he has to meet Misaki the next day. All throughout the next day Satou does nothing and decides to not go to the meeting, sad at how he lied to Misaki about not being a hikkomori. But then Satou imagination flares up and he thinks Misaki will get raped if he’s not there and quickly heads to the park. There, he lies to Misaki about having an in-home job (seeing a pattern here?) and that he’s a creator of some kind.
Back at home, Satou gets drunk and decides to yell at the guy who plays anime music all the time next door. Bursting through the door, he finds out his neighbor is Yamazaki, a hardcore ero game otaku. Satou once saved Yamazaki from bullying, and he joined Satou’s literature club later. They are both surprised to see eachother, and Yamazaki thinks Satou is still in college, to which he agrees. Yamazaki is in game design, and while they both get drunk, Satou decides to take his student book and tell
Misaki he’s a game designer. While meeting Misaki, Satou is spied on by Yamazaki, who now knows Satou is a hikkomori. He won’t lend him a game to show Misaki, but decides the two should join together to make their own game, an eroge game, and that Satou will write the scenario. Not so short a summary actually.
Of course the ep has been lengthened, as in the manga both meetings with Misaki take place in the same night, where she invites Satou to the project and he tells her he’s a creator. Also Yamazaki does not spy on them, instead Satou ask’s for his help later.
The meeting with Yamazaki is also rearranged, as in the manga it happened before Misaki asked Satou to the park. Here we also get the complete ommission of Yamazaki’s ” All women are evil ” speech and his ” super maid robo ” idea, instead replacing it with joyful remembrences of old times. So now we know Yamazaki is just an otaku, not a women-hating otaku. That’s really weird gonzo.
Also it seems Yamazaki now has a taste for ” older women ” instead of 12 year old lolitas. Imagine that, an otaku withoug a lolita complex! Of course this is just for the censors, but I worry about the next ep which is called ” Welcome to the Bishoujo ” instead of ” Welcome to the Lolita “
Two scenes were added as far as I can tell. The scene where Satou imagines Misaki getting raped by a masked molestor (which is a hilarious addition), and where his sempai asks him to join the literature club. The club is mentioned in the manga but I don’t think they ever show Satou getting recruited like that.
My nit-picking aside I’m still enjoying NHK. The music’s still awesome, the animation fresh, and I’m falling in love with Misaki’s voice. That voice perfectly captures the characters playful and depressing sides. Now if only Satou would over-react more…
August 12, 2006 at 3:59 pm
I’ve been following NHK closely – I think it’s one of the better anime series to come along in awhile.
September 24, 2006 at 10:58 pm
Personally, I thought this music was the best. My forum has been packed with new age comments. Sort of cool!!