Tanaka-kun wa Itsumo Kedaruge (Tanaka-kun is always listless)
The most calm, peaceful and chillest anime that I have ever watched, taking slice of life to a whole new level. I have never enjoyed any other slow paced anime more than this. I happened to be chillin’ in Tokyo on a Saturday night flipping through channels to see what’s on TV. Being the avid anime fan, anything that’s anime is my preferred choice. That’s when Tanaka-kun was airing on the episode about Valentine’s day. Mind you, my Japanese language proficiency is not good enough to watch an anime without English subtitle, however, watching it raw will still make you shake your head and chuckle at the characters’ antics.
As the title suggest, Tanaka is the main lead and his listlessness is the reason why you will just shake your head and go ‘WTF’ at his absurdness thinking he really is the master of listlessness. No matter how listless or laid back you are, it’s hard to compete because Tanaka is really a on whole new level. This anime sets in high school with Tanaka-kun as the main lead with his best friend or his so-called wife, Ohta who is always there for him.
Generally lacks enthusiasm but ironically, he can be exceptionally enthusiastic to find ways to take his listlessness to new height. One awesome example was how he felt that it was a chore to bring and open an umbrella when it is raining, but he can go to the extreme way of trying to dodge the rain, ‘ninja style’ sliding and hopping between raindrops.
What makes this show funny is not just Tanaka’s listlessness but also, how such a guy can attract friends and attention despite not wanting them. The other characters in the anime made it much more entertaining by ‘encouraging’ Tanaka and his way.
Ohta is a tall, long ponytail delinquent-looking high school student who is Tanaka’s friend. Despite his look, he has a very feminine and maternal side to him such as liking sweets and desserts, acts responsibly and kindly to strays or strangers and a good friend that Tanaka relies on. Ohta took up the role of taking care of Tanaka and usually respects or applaud his listlessness and if Tanaka attempted to try something that is out of the norm of his listlessness, Ohta will encourage him on his efforts. Ohta also always try to encourage Tanaka to do better than being listless, however, ended up baby-sitting Tanaka instead. Many occasions, he carries Tanaka to classes and even back home when he falls asleep. This duo’s chemistry is hilarious and Tanaka often commented that Ohta will make a good ‘wife’ for Tanaka.
Other characters include their classmates such as popular natural airhead (tennen) and sports nuts, Kato who does everything well without much thoughts and much effort, a calculative intelligent and nerd looking Shimura who refuse to accept his fate of unpopularity, the class rep Shiraishi whom had her high school debut and a crush on Tanaka as well as the happy go lucky short and cute, Miyano whom holds high regards to Tanaka, wanting to be his disciple in listlessness. It’s really cute whenever she calls him “shishou!”.
On the other hand, there are also other characters outside of class who either like or dislike Tanaka. We have Echizen, from other class, a delinquent wanna-be that wears her school uniform to the ankle. She sees Tanaka as a rival and jealous of Tanaka because of how Miyano always admires Tanaka as a master. Maybe jealous is too strong of a word to describe Tanaka and her relationship because they are somewhat friends as well through Miyano and Ohta and it’s hilarious because she often misunderstand Tanaka’s action. For example, Tanaka was sick and couldn’t talk and opted to write on sketchpad if he needs to ‘speak’ to people. He forgot to bring his textbook and Ohta suggested to go next class to borrow from Echizen. As a lazy guy, he wrote on the sketchpad that Echizen should just change her surname to Ohta or Tanaka. He meant it that because Echizen’s name has too many strokes. However, Echizen thought Tanaka and Ohta likes her and are proposing to her. There were many instances where their interaction are hilarious.
To make things even more interesting, the anime/manga introduces the characters’ younger siblings whom somehow knows each other in the same junior high school with Tanaka’s sister Rino having a brother complex (having a crush on her brother) and hating Ohta for she sees him as her rival. Ohta’s sister also happens to be Rino’s best friend and seemed to have a crush on Tanaka. The recent manga development also introduces Miyano’s brother who have a crush on Rino, whom he met on a volleyball match and likes her authoritative leadership.
One more character that should have her own character introduction is the unknown named (a check shows she’s called Saionji) part-timer who works for multiple part-time jobs and always run into the Tanaka and Ohta duo. It became a running gag throughout the anime/manga where she thought Tanaka and Ohta are trouble kids, even when they are just normal high school students through their appearance, while Tanaka thought she is a very hardworking and nice lady. On more occasions as she bumps into them during her jobs, she grown to become more interested and curious about the duo and their dynamic.
As a slice of life comedy, there is really not much going on besides seeing how Tanaka goes all out to achieve his intended listless life and his friends admiring his tenacity and encouraging him. However, this is not boring at all and I highly encourage everyone to watch this light-hearted anime. The opening theme song fits the anime nicely as well with a very easy going vibe and cheerfulness that the anime also eludes.
Monochronos 