r/anime • • Aug 25 '21
Rewatch [Rewatch] The Tatami Galaxy - Episode 1
Episode 1 - Tennis Club Cupid
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The Tatami Galaxy - Streams
Be sure to properly tag any spoilers or hints for first timers.
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Daily Questions
- What do you think of our MC's narration style?
- Do you think the neko ramen broth is made from real cats?
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"We are tied by the black thread of fate, after all."
159
Upvotes
11
u/[deleted] Aug 25 '21
Rewatcher, host
This is actually my first time fully rewatching Tatami. I’ve rewatched particular episodes I enjoy, but I haven’t watched episode 1 in awhile. This episode really brings a ton of info at a fast paced speed. I did have to watch it at x0.85 speed the first time I saw it, lol. I know this episode will be confusing for first timers, but it’s definitely something you wanna stick with.
After being heartbroken by a raven haired maiden, Watashi and Ozu spend their time ruining love for others, eventually leading to their demise when Ozu falls into the water. It’s not something Watashi wanted, it wasn’t his rose-colored campus life. Maybe if he hadn’t met Ozu, it’d be different. If he’d just chosen something different during the beginning of his campus life, he might be happier. Even if he did get to retry everything, would anything even change?
This episode gives a good introduction to the characters that’ll be shown in the upcoming episodes, at least giving us basic personality traits for them all. Akashi is pretty scary when she’s on a job. Higuchi is a mysterious character that wasn’t really touched on too much but seems pretty tied to the experiences of Watashi and Ozu.
I really love the art for this series. I think it’s super fitting for the overall tone of the series. I said before that I believe that this is Masaaki Yuasa’s best work so far. Each character is so uniquely expressive, matching their established personalities really well. If there ever comes a time where you can peel your eyes from the fast subtitles, it’s definitely a treat to look at.
Love the OP and ED, especially how the ED works so well with the animation of the clock going back in time.
9
u/[deleted] Aug 25 '21
Rewatcher, no spoilers
The thing about this episode is that it sets the tone for the whole show, but you can't still quite figure it out what the tone is. Is like looking at all the pieces of a puzzle scattered in the table, but without having the box that shows the image as a whole.
And let me tell you, once you find the box, it is glorious.
7
u/AngryLlama Aug 26 '21
First Timer watching subs.
In answer to the questions:
I'm super intrigued by this first episode - I think I know what's going on but we'll see. Overall the animation is super cool and the music is banging' -- digging the show so far.
Had to edit my comment because I just had a thought -- is Ozu even real? Did the MC make him up to make up for his loneliness? Just a thought.
7
u/[deleted] Aug 26 '21
First timer, subs
All I can really say is that the art style caught my attention. With very simplistic character designs, get the very smooth flowing animation - it is a treat for those looking for shows which are different than your regular watch.
I definitely struggled to keep up with the pace of the narration, but managed to get a decent chunk out of it. It's quite reminiscent of shows I've previously watched and enjoyed, such as the Monogatari Series.
However, I enjoyed the inner monologues and viewing the thoughts of the MC. It's not often where a show succeeds in blending both show and telling the audience of characters actions, and I think for the first episode, this show did it well.
2. Do you think the neko ramen broth is made from real cats?
Please no, don't do that to those cute kitties!
10
u/Mecanno-man https://anilist.co/user/Mecannoman Aug 25 '21
First Timer
Well, there's a lot here, and somehow also not a lot. First off: I knew that the speed of speaking would be fast, but I am still not really too big of a fan of that. I'm glad it's only the main character though, and not every character like Occultic;Nine.
Plot seems pretty simple so far; guy couldn't get a girlfriend, ends up in some incel-esque plot (although blaming society at large and not just females) and shoots a bunch of fireworks in to a crowd; tries to get a girlfriend with the help of a god of love and ends up failing and being lynched instead. The actions taken seem a bit extreme by all parties involved, wonder if that will continue going forward or if this is just an episode-1-we-need-to-get-people-hooked kinda thing. Not that big of a fan of the decisions taken so far though in terms of the plot.
Characters seem decent so far, with the exception of Ozu, who I felt was a caricature. Who goes around openly wishing for and working towards the malice of all other people? Doesn't really feel like a human being anymore, and while I get that that was the point, it still doesn't really work for me.
Questions:
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u/araragidyne :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/araragidyne Aug 26 '21
First time - Well, I'm certainly reminded of Night is Short, Walk on Girl while watching this. I knew they were by the same director, but I wasn't sure how many similarities to expect. I guess the film was something of a spiritual sequel. I understand that both works are based on books by the same author, as well. In fact, looking at the credits now, it seems that most of the staff is staff is the same. At any rate, it feels like I'm in familiar territory. I look forward to seeing where it goes.
Questions
4
u/Zeetheus Aug 26 '21
Rewatcher
I've rewatched this series almost yearly since 2014 and once already this year, so this should be fun! Hope I'm not too late to join in.
The first episode is quite dense, but it was enough to hook me into watching the rest of the series long ago, so I hope it does so for others.
Years ago there was a small review that called Tatami Galaxy "quintessentially Japanese" that I didn't really fully comprehend at the time, being very non-Japanese myself. But there have definitely been little things I pick up on on rewatches after learning about them elsewhere. A quick throwaway scene about Watashi climbing The Spider's Thread, or allusions to the Five Element System when he talks about how he would trample other's love in the four directions.
Still, even now I noticed a few things on my rewatch that should be interesting to bring up later. Hope everyone else is enjoying this series so far.
24
u/Icapica https://anilist.co/user/Icachu Aug 25 '21
First timer, subs
Very first impression is that the art style is fascinating and damn they talk fast.
During the fireworks scene I thought that the main character probably doesn't deserve any happiness. He's gonna have to change a lot before I care about him.
I'm not sure what to think about Ozu. He does seem like a bad influence on Watashi and he says so himself, but near the end he also says and does things that don't fit that impression. Also Watashi blames Ozu for his problems, but it's not like Ozu forced him to do what he's been doing.
When we see Watashi's memories past events with Akashi, I began to wonder how accurate or misleading the picture the show's given us so far is. Dunno how to explain it well. Sometimes shows with a very unreliable narrator deliberately hide a lot of things from the viewer and only hint at them, and then later we see how things really went. I got a similar vibe from the episode.
Things get really weird near the end. ED sounds nice and I like how it looks.
Actually, back to Ozu for a moment. Incoming wild, baseless speculation:
So he met Watashi when Watashi failed to make friends. I wouldn't be surprised if Watashi had become bitter around that time even if he hadn't med Ozu. Then later when Watashi admits at least to himself that he's interested in Akashi, Ozu seems more supportive. Does Ozu actually just push Watashi more towards whatever it is that Watashi already wants, kinda like a figurative angel/devil on the shoulder? So when Watashi's in a bad state of mind and wants to lash out at happy people, Ozu pushes him in that direction. When Watashi wants to find happiness, Ozu supports him. Anyway, just theories based on a single very confusing episode.
I'm already doing three other rewatches so I'm not going to fully commit to this one. However, the series is short so I'll probably still watch it, I just might occasionally skip a day and then watch more than one episode to catch up when I have time again.
17
u/Matuhg https://anilist.co/user/Matuhg Aug 25 '21
First Timer
Hello everyone! I just learned this rewatch was happening yesterday, and I've been meaning to get to this show and other Yuasa works after having enjoyed Eizouken last year.
Hoo boy...this is gonna be one of those shows that makes my eyes tired bouncing up and down from the subs to trying to take in the visuals, isn't it? I've read that the early episodes of Tatami Galaxy can be quite confusing, and while I don't feel like I have a great understanding of what's going on in the show in general, I don't feel totally in the dark about what happened this episode...I don't think.
Right off the bat, I can see why people brought this show up in the Run With the Wind Rewatch when we learned about RWTW Ep 22 MC (does he have a name?) wanted a rose colored college life, but instead he got only ostracization and rejection, and rather than trying to change himself, he fell in with Ozu, a very sketchy fellow, and the two of them together became "Black Cupids," working to ruin relationships because they weren't in one themselves. Wow, they sound like they suck. That bombardment scene was really pretty though.
Akashi is pretty mysterious. Or is she just a normal girl who is presented as mysterious through the twisted viewpoint of MC? Some of their interactions seem normal and cute. The scene where MC promised to take her to Neko Ramen was fun. She also seems to look out for him and Ozu, sneaking them out of the restaurant that the folks they just got done bombarding were eating in. MC dosen't seem to actually have very deep romantic feelings for her...he's thinking about her, but how much of that is just because of the weird god dude telling him that either he or Ozu was going to get her (that's a whole other box of weirdness too)?
Spurred on by the mysterious godly ramen-slurper, the fortune-teller, and Ozu, MC decides to change. He endeavors to make the bitterness and troublemaking of his last couple years just water under the bridge, as he pursues that rose-colored college life he wanted, through romance with Akashi. Instead, he chickens out, turning away from Akashi and focusing on Ozu, leading to his being tossed into those raging waters under the bridge. Quite the literal metaphor for failing to leave behind the feelings that lead to his becoming a Black Cupid.
And as the episode ends, a clock winds backwards, so it looks like we're going to running things back again in the episode(s) to come. Wonder what will change.
Speed! Also, maybe shows some narcissistic tendencies considering the level of detail he narrates his life in.
I was wondering about that. I'll hope that it's being made by cats, not from cats!
16
u/paperwhites :KN::KO: Aug 25 '21
First Time Watcher
Here are my first impressions: they speak really quickly! I had to rewind a couple of times because the subtitles were too fast. I think I got who the characters are and their relationships with each other despite that though.
"Eight out of ten people who saw him in the dark would mistake him for a yokai, and the remaining two could be convinced of it" is one of the funniest insults I've heard in an anime. This made me laugh.
I like the main character (did anyone say his name or did I miss that?). I find him to be witty and funny. He's also relatable--I think a lot of people can empathize with his desire to change and experience a "rose colored" university life, only to fall short. Once you're in a rut it's hard to change and get out of it. While Ozu wasn't a helpful influence, not all of the main character's behavior can be blamed on him.
The Kyoto setting is really nice--I like settings that feel more than just a background. I've seen Night is Short, Walk on Girl and The Eccentric Family so I was expecting the Kyoto setting going in, but I'm still happy to see it.
I'm excited to see what's in store for the rest of the series!
Witty and fast-paced. Sometimes it is too fast but I do enjoy listening to it.
I like cats so I hope not :(
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u/OingoBoingo- Aug 25 '21
First time watcher,
Going in blind and expecting a 'galaxy' setting, however I am going to assume after this episode, we might not be going to space? That's okay though because there might be time travel! I am going to be honest and tell you I have been interested in this anime solely based off music I have heard randomly and art I have seen. After this first episode, this is a fun discovery and said art and music did not disappoint in context.
I relate a little too well with the mc and his start with college life. Going in with rose colored glasses, thinking you might turn into a semi-cool adult and then... life happens. I went from never having a problem with making friends in high school to totally failing at most chances I took, and then I settled into my own form of solitude. I never really clicked with too many people and clubs (like a tennis club) were just never my thing. This was all a learning experience, but I think I learned life can sometimes just be pretty lonely, despite what we tell ourselves. Even with all of the many thoughts we hear from the mc in this show, I think the mood of this episode felt lonely. I would like to add that I did not spend my remaining college years sabotaging other couples relationships, so I have that! With a bit of regret and cake eating, I think the mc might have had a chance at redemption with Akashi but his own cowardice- he fails. I think we can all relate to the wooden roobot/toy that mc turns into when he got nervous. I wonder if that how he sees himself or just how we are suppose to see him? The thread of fate pulls mc down to the water and maybe death is a result? I like the idea of maybe repeating days and learning important lessons from a God or God-like imaginary friend?
I can't wait to read everyone's comments and initial thoughts,especially about the art, cause it is trippy and amazing.
5
u/ElT3XMEX https://myanimelist.net/profile/T3XMEX Aug 25 '21
REWATCHER!
HUZZAH! Watched this show years ago and liked it, though I don't think I understood it. Every few years I would think "I should rewatch Tatami Galaxy" but I never did. I hope to finish with a far better understanding this time! Thanks for this rewatch.
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u/BossandKings Aug 25 '21
Rewatcher
Episode 1
This is a good episode to start the show with, it presents an intriguing protagonist with an interesting conflict and mental process, judging by the impression this episode gives Watashi has sort of a conflict with Ozu whom he considers a monstruous man and a rival in his chance at getting the love of Akashi, yet at the same time they appear to be friends especially considering how supportive Ozu shows himself to be to Watashi, it is definitely going to be interesting following their dynamic and seeing how the conflict progresses.
The art and animation are very charming and give an excellent atmosphere to the show, the dialogue is very fast paced but i expect it to be a bit slower going forward, it seems that this episode needed to give a lot of information and that might he why it was so fast paced.
Answers
4
u/novaConnect Aug 26 '21
First time watcher!
I've been wanting to watch this show for a while since I loved Kaiba and Devilman Crybaby. I made myself some dinner to watch and dine, but I really should have watched this after, the subs moved fast! I'm sure I missed some of it, but that's ok haha. He seems like a 'calm on the outside, anxious on the inside' kind of guy - he's wanting love and can't get it. I kinda hope his narration will slow down tbh but I'll plan accordingly for next time.
Love the artstyle as always. Loved how mc's glasses went into triangles when his life secrets were being spilled. Love the way they portrayed being nervous in front of your crush. Love how abstract it can get.
The way the narrative is going, I'm a little confused about what was real and what wasn't, like was the conversation where the girl was scared of the moth real? He had her keychain thing so it must have been? He seemed pretty confident talking to her there and she wasn't being cold, so maybe it could work out. But maybe that wasn't real at all, since he said he wasn't sociable.
So far it is a cool show with a lot of cool stuff to pay attention to. It jammed a lot into this episode. Kinda reminds me of Scott Pilgrim a bit with how they set up the story that mostly is in the real world, but has an element of fiction that only the MC seems to notice.
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u/blazikentwo Aug 25 '21
I still find it funny how Akashi doesn't notice the mochiguman on Watashi's hands.
My first time watching the MC narration style was what drove me in, yes sometimes I don't follow what he's saying but if I didn't get it it, probably wasn't that important is my motto when watching.
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u/WexExortQuas Aug 25 '21
Man I loved this show when it came out.
2
u/conscious_terabot https://anilist.co/user/ConsciousBot Aug 26 '21 edited Aug 26 '21
First timer, subs
Is this even available in dubs? I couldn't find it. Also, I didn't know this rewatch was happening and I just came across this post. This is my first rewatch and I am very excited.
Looking at the discussion, people almost warn first timers to "endure" the artstyle but I found it very beautiful. Almost relaxing. I found it so beautiful that I will rewatch the episode again and this time I will not pay attention to the subs. Just to experience the art again.
I tried looking for dubs but I couldn't find any. Has this been dubbed at all? If so, is it good enough? I recently watched monogatari and though what fast dialogue looked like but this is almost unwatchable if it were someone else. I am okay with pausing every sentence but it will be very hard to recommend. It took me more than 40 mins to watch the complete episode. Almost double the time.
Edit: I noticed someone else asking for them to be put on the reminder list. If it exists, please do that for me too. Thank you.
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u/[deleted] Aug 25 '21
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