Forum - View topicEP. REVIEW: Tanaka-kun is Always Listless
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wandering-dreamer
 Posts: 1733 |
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Honestly a lot of the buildings here, like the supermarket and the school, look really western to me, like what I would expect to see in a fancy-pants magnet school. It certainly makes the show stand out a little bit from all the other high school shows right now!
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OtakuV
Posts: 2 |
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When i watched the first episode I wasn't sure how a show revolving around Tanaka being a listless person would hold my attention, but here I am as it's become one the shows this season that I can't wait for the next episode each week. You got me Tanaka sensei!
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Hameyadea
 Posts: 3679 |
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Yes
 Sakamoto vs. Tanaka-kun duel!
I like the show's pace, and that includes the pauses between answers and retorts. I actually watch Sakamoto first, just to emphasis Tanaka-kun's atmosphere even more, and it works great for me
About the possible homoerotic aspects of the show mentioned in the review, I view them both as a couterpoint to the kind of shows where the characters act all flustered at any hint of the subject, as well as a parody of those tropes. *asking Tanaka* "Who is your ideal wife?" "Ōta, because he can carry me and looks after me." And since was played seriously, it made the scene all the more funnier. And if we are on the subject: I've noticed that in the show, almost only Ōta has colored lips in close-up shots 
Last edited by Hameyadea on Sun May 08, 2016 6:01 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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JaggedAuthor
 Posts: 981 |
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I'm actually not surprised to learn that Tanaka's parents are seldom around. Otherwise, they'd probably realize their son is suffering from chronic fatigue and get him the appropriate treatment. However, I was a little shocked to discover that Ohta and Tanaka apparently knew nothing about each other's home lives.
The abundance of ultra-modern architecture - not just the school, but the train station and supermarket, too - almost creates the impression that the show is set in the not-too-distant future, though I doubt that's actually the case. |
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Via_01
 Posts: 551 |
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This is one of my favorite shows this season. Episode 1 was certainly underwhelming, but the addition of Miyano, Echizen and Shiraishi and how they interact with the Tanaka/Ohta pair has been a delight.
I'd add that Tanaka, besides everything that the reviewer mentioned, has shown that he can understand people and surprisingly give good advice. He basically tells Miyano and Shiraishi that it's alright to "be themselves", as trying to be anyone else can hurt them in the long run. Tanaka is very "himself" in that regard: he's unmotivated, lazy, and more often than not relies on Ohta for even moving around. The show's atmosphere is also particularily great: it's calm, silly, but it can also be pretty understanding at times. I take Miyano's feelings towards Echizen as 100% romantic, however, the show frames it as a moment just like any other in these characters' lives, it doesn't over-dramatizes it, and thus frames their apparently-lesbian relationship as something completely normal (in fact, neither Tanaka nor Ohta seem to see it as anything strange). It's been all in all a pretty enjoyable ride. I need these types of shows every now and then. |
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zztop
Posts: 650 |
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Most of Tanaka-kun's locations are in Hiroshima, Japan.
Even the high school's a real place, Hiroshima Motomachi High. http://www.motomachi-h.edu.city.hiroshima.jp/ |
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Hameyadea
Posts: 3679 |
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Nice. Thanks to that, I managed to find the school in Google Maps, looks good (Street View). They even have escalators! |
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+ 光
 Posts: 226 |
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hohoho what's this? I'm glad to see Tanaka-kun got in by popular demand! He might be listless, but his audience certainly isn't~♪
I agree with Rebecca. The addition of characters, who we learn about more every episode, really helps to build up the show. The show itself doesn't take the affection between Tanaka and Ohta as something seriously 'romantic', though I do find the comments surrounding their 'mutalism' enjoyable. I would also love to go to that school! |
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RestLessone
 Posts: 1426 Location: New York |
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Oh, I'm glad this is getting reviewed now. I see others noted the architecture as well. It's all super modern and shiny! Must be a pretty well-off area. In any case, it's really nice to look at and adds some sort of flavor to the setting.
I wasn't too thrilled with the first episode, but I'm happy that I stuck around. The show has found its groove. It's a very sweet series with a likable cast and gentle humor. It's also one of those few series where I actually feel invested with the burgeoning romantic feelings. It doesn't weigh the series down, it happens quite naturally, and it doesn't divert attention from the humor. Echizen and Miyano definitely come across a couple to me. I'll try not to get too comfortable with that interpretation though; in other series, it often comes down to one obsessing over the cute factor. Echizen fits that mold so far. I like that Tanaka is so straightforward with his "Ohta as a potential wife" comments, rather than making it awkward or meant as an obvious tease. Didn't they essentially indicate it wasn't romantic though? After Ohta responds with "me?!" to Shiraishi, she amends her question to be if he has a romantic crush on someone. As a final note, I'd like to see more of Shimura and Kaitou, Ohta and Tanaka's two guy friends. Last edited by RestLessone on Sun May 08, 2016 7:42 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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lebrel
Posts: 374 |
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So glad to see this is getting reviewed after all, it's such a little treat.
I particularly like the visual esthetics, with the simple character designs and the flat colors and warm creamy palette. I tried to pick up a copy of the Japanese edition of the manga at Kinokuniya yesterday, but they were out of Volume 1.  I hope it gets licensed someday.
I did think Tanaka recognizing Shiraishi by her breast size was kind of a poor choice; it doesn't seem to fit his general lack of interest in other people, plus that kind of humor doesn't really fit the tone of the show. I guess it is technically a shounen series, though.... |
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Gina Szanboti
Posts: 11642 |
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Couldn't disagree more. I really love those long, silent takes. Their timing is always perfect, not too long, not too short. I don't think they're used for the purpose you think, but to give the viewer time to anticipate what sort of reaction or answer will be given. You can practically see the gears spinning in their heads while their bodies are frozen by the situation. The scene in the copy room in episode 4 was priceless.
That actually worked for me, to my surprise. Tanaka is short and it takes a lot of energy to raise his head on those occasions when he walks. If you think about it, it's just a matter of practicality to recognize people by what's most often at his eye level. I bet he could also recognize everyone in the school by their shoes if he had to.
I can't wait to meet Tanaka and Ohta's siblings. 
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brucepuppy
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Looks like people are happy that this finally gets more attention and regular review. Well, count me in! I always have soft spot for anime with deadbeat protagonists because I'm a gutara myself ^^
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DuskyPredator
 Posts: 15582 Location: Brisbane, Australia |
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TvTropes seems to think that Miyano and Echizen are indeed a romantic couple.
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Merida
 Posts: 1946 |
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I would love to see a crossover! 
This is definitely one of the pleasant surprises of this season for me, i'm looking forward to it every week. And i totally agree with those housewives in the supermarket that everybody should have an Ohta. Tanaka is one lucky guy!
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iatheia
Posts: 130 |
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Yasss. Best show of the season, I always look forward to it, and it was quite disappointing that there were no reviews for it before. I loved the pacing of it since the very first episode, love the characters, love the art style, and couldn't have been happier once they added yuri to the mix.
In comparison, I don't understand the hype behind Sakamoto, nor how it is at all similar to Tanaka-kun. That is a one-note series if I've ever seen one, not to mention bordering on creepy and cruel. I've officially dropped it this week. Compared with the fluffy blob of happiness that is Tanaka-kun and its character, where all of their motivation are clear and all of them are extremely relatable, there isn't even a choice about which one is a superior series. |
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