UlasanAnime.com – It’s a peculiar kind of irony to find oneself relaxing with episodes of Hataraki Man after a workday.
This series is indeed brimming with ironies, and in many ways, it mirrors my own experiences, which are also quite common. If Matsutaka’s concluding statement in the first episode didn’t resonate with you, you might have dismissed Hataraki Man entirely.
You might also be interested in : In the Quiet, Big Hair Reigns
Regardless of whether you did or didn’t, be aware that this TV series delivers a very down-to-earth reality check by its conclusion. Although presented with somewhat unrealistic circumstances, as anime often does, this groundedness lends the series significant credibility. In certain aspects, this Dilbert-esque examination of workplace experiences is essential for fully appreciating the interpersonal office drama. It likely appeals not only to those currently navigating or who have navigated such situations but even more so to those who confront these fundamental issues with greater honesty. It prompts the question: how do you live your life?
With that said, I’m not even sure the typical blog reader would be interested in titles like this. It’s designed to convey realism and express emotions through cartoon-like exaggeration, which paradoxically makes it more charming than a live-action show would be (avoiding the need for slapstick that real actors might employ). It’s not that it couldn’t be achieved in live-action, of course. However, these characters are not drawn to be mere eye candy, so there’s immediately less for the viewer to be distracted by.
As I’ve slogged through the episodes, having now finished watching all the fansubs (which is likely a prerequisite for fully enjoying the show), that very question has bothered me repeatedly: why is this show animated?
Perhaps the answer I arrived at wasn’t entirely satisfying, but somewhere between my 2D complex and the distraction of people rather than drawings of people lies the key. It carries a scent of loneliness, yet even that is ironically fitting for a blog entry about Hataraki Man.
Simply put, if I were you, I wouldn’t take any of the advice it offers seriously, no matter how true it may seem.
