Welcome to Anime of the Week #46! Do you like slice of life anime? You like comedy? You like little sisters? Then this anime is for you! The anime is Himouto! Umaru-chan.
July 9, 2015 ~ September 24, 2015 (Summer 2015)
People are not always who they appear to be, as is the case with Umaru Doma, the perfect high school girl—that is, until she gets home! Once the front door closes, the real fun begins. When she dons her hamster hoodie, she transforms from a refined, over-achieving student into a lazy, junk food-eating otaku, leaving all the housework to her responsible older brother Taihei. Whether she’s hanging out with her friends Nana Ebina and Kirie Motoba, or competing with her self-proclaimed “rival” Sylphinford Tachibana, Umaru knows how to kick back and have some fun!
Himouto! Umaru-chan is a cute story that follows the daily adventures of Umaru and Taihei, as they take care of—and put up with—each other the best they can, as well as the unbreakable bonds between friends and siblings.
If there’s one thing I want to say right off the bat, is that the main heroine, Umaru, is my favorite character and is definitely the highlight of the show. Though she does act like a freeloader when living in the apartment complex, she does care for her relative. Plus, she’s fun to watch and see what antics she does, even when under the guise of the mysterious UMR. Though the other characters have their time to shine, too. Umaru’s brother and his fellow co-workers, Umaru’s friends, each of them has their moment in the spotlight, though some get the spotlight more than others, which is a shame.
The animation is nice to look at, and there are times where it knows to be quiet and heartwarming. The soundtrack is also nice to listen to, no complaints here.
Though I’d say one of my other favorite moments in the anime are some of the references they make to other sources of media, whether it’s Monster Hunter, Mario Kart, or even Danganronpa for a split second. As someone who’s a fan of mentioned games and more, I thought they were a little funny.
Overall, Himouto! Umaru-chan is a fun anime to watch, even back when it was airing three years ago. If you’re looking for an anime with some comedy with a bit of heartwarming moments, then maybe this anime might be your cup of tea.
2 Seasons ~ 24 Episodes
Thanks for reading, and see you on the next Anime of The Week! 🙂
