Mr. Osomatsu

Episode 13

After a disappointing clip show and an off-week, Mr. Osomatsu returns with one of its strongest episodes to date. This week, viewers are treated to three madcap shorts that showcase all of the series' core strengths. The first shows off Mr. Osomatsu's knack for surrealism and subverting expectations, the second is all about self-parody, and the third serves as a sterling example of cringe comedy and off-the-cuff character humor.

You'd be forgiven for thinking you started the wrong stream after starting up episode 13. This week's opening segment utilizes a realistic art style and chronicles the daily life of Sanematsu, an unmarried sad-sack salaryman who's rapidly approaching middle age. After being looked down on by his section chief and workplace peers and unjustly accused of subway molestation, poor Sanematsu can't seem to catch a break. But as we learn toward the end of the short, Sanematsu's life isn't all doom-and-gloom. It turns out he shares his cramped apartment with five identical brothers, who all have personalities that resemble the Matsuno siblings. The warm and happy attitude Sanematsu adopts when interacting with his siblings is a stark contrast to the depressed demeanor he displays at the office. However, when a well-meaning female coworker (who's possibly meant to serve as a stand-in for Totoko) shows up at Sanematsu's residence to cook him dinner, she finds her office's pariah carrying on an animated conversation with no one but himself.

The randomness of the first segment is also its primary appeal. As we've seen in the past, this series is able to pull off sweeping aesthetic and tonal shifts with aplomb. Is Sanematsu's situation a realistic portrayal of what life would be like for these loser brothers by the time they're almost 40? (Sad and friendless, with nothing ever going their way?) Is the ending meant to imply that the entire series might be an illusion in one lonely man's mind? Save for the "matsu," why are the names of the brothers different? What about the Totoko-like woman who has a soft spot for Sanematsu? Does she actually have feelings for him or does she simply view him as an object of pity? This segment raises so many questions that don't even need answers because this show is that zany.

Instead of featuring much in the way of actual gags, the segment itself functions as one large joke. Not many anime comedies take gambles this large, and far fewer succeed in doing so. Fortunately, Mr. Osomatsu knows what it's doing in the humor department. The bit continues just long enough, never running the risk of overstaying its welcome. Additionally, the double-decker twist ending serves as the perfect end cap to a truly bizarre little tale.

If you're itching to see gender-flipped versions of the Matsunos, the second segment, aptly titled "Girlymatsu-san," should be right up your alley. This story finds female versions of the boys waiting for a group of prospective suitors to arrive at a mixer. Aside from altered appearances and a lust for boys, everyone's personalities remain pretty much intact. For example, idol otaku Choromatsu is now a bespectacled fujoshi, and fan-favorite space-case Jyushimatsu is a heavily-tanned dye-job "gal." Although the banter between the newly female Matsunos is amusing, this is the weakest skit story-wise. To be fair, the spectacle of the sextuplets as girls is probably meant to take the place of an actual narrative, and in that respect, the segment accomplishes what it sets out to do.

Initially, the boys seem more down-to-earth as women, and their individual appearances are far more distinct. However, they're still the Matsunos, so it should come as no surprise that they're incapable of getting along any better than their male counterparts. It's interesting that as women, their grossness pertains mostly to appearance (halitosis and unwashed underwear) and their cockamamey schemes revolve around manipulating men. Nevertheless, this segment presents an accurate portrayal of what the boys might be like as girls.

The only story set in the actual continuity is episode 13's funniest offering. The final segment finds Osomatsu walking in on Choromatsu while the latter is engaged in choking the chicken. While the eldest Matsuno brother is hardly fazed by the encounter, Choromatsu is understandably shaken, causing him to lash out at Osomatsu and the rest of his siblings. Before long, all the sextuplets are at each other's throats, criticizing one another's quirks and questioning the "necessity" of Todomatsu. When Osomatsu constructs a "Fapping in Progress" sign to prevent future masturbation mishaps, the boys make up for several seconds. As the Matsunos squabble over space constraints in their shared futon, the end credits roll, taking our favorite sextuplets into a brand new year.

Mr. Osomatsu starts the year off right by confusing and amusing all at once. This show is no stranger to taking risks, and as evidenced by its latest installment, the gamble almost always pays off. If episode 13 is indicative of what we can expect moving forward, Osomatsu fans have a lot to look forward to in 2016.

Rating: A-

Mr. Osomatsu is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.

Amy is a YA fantasy author who has loved anime for two decades.