The Tatami Galaxy

Overview

Original character design by Yusuke Nakamura

Yojohan Shinwa Taikei literally translated as the 4½ Tatami Mythological Chronicles or just Tatamy Galaxy is an anime adaptation of the homonym novel by Tomihiko Morimi. The original novel was first published in 2004 and then republished in a new format in 2008, being announced in 2009 an anime adaptation by Madhouse Studios with Masaaki Yuasa as director. The 11 episode series adapted to the noitamina slot, has original character design by Yusuke Nakamura (Asian Kung-fu Generation cover artist) while Nobutake Ito is in charge of character design in the animation and Makoto Ueda is supervising the scripts.

The animation has a clearly Yuasa trace, following the steps of Kaiba or Kemonozume but with different approach, mixing 2d and 3d graphics and highly filtrated live-actions scenes , in a more monochromatic style.

As for the plot we follow the protagonist, presented simply as “I” (watashi) into different paths of his life, depending on the Club or circle chosen in the freshman year of College.

Akashi, the "Protagonist" and Ozu

Each episode deals with his choices, as every episode is different and has a distinct club, which goes from a Cycling club, a tennis club or even an English speaking circle. During his so called “Ideal campus life” he encounters many characters that keep appearing during most of club variations, such as Ozu, his only friend but also is worst enemy, Akashi a female engineering student who is the protagonist love interest or Higuchi a 8 year college student.

In the incessant quest throughout clubs he keeps “trying to grab that opportunity dangling right in front of his eyes” but there’s always something that seems to go wrong and the story resets at the end of the episode much like the recreation of alternative realities depending on some crucial choices. One final aspect patent in every episode is the dialogue pace, as the protagonist telling the story fires some long monologues talking about his infinite possibilites, but clearly just pointing out his idiocy as he dweels in his illusions, because in the end these fast dialogues just occur inside his passionate but delusional mind.

Music

Opening Themes

Ending Themes