Drama Digest
The House Spirit Tatami-Chan is a mixture of comedy and horror and revolves around the life of Tatami-Chan, a house spirit. Tatami-Chan is a ghost who is presently living in Tokyo in the company of other spirits and humans. The drama deals with the issues of both worlds, that of the living and the dead. Unemployment and job-hunting are the main concerns of the series. Along with that, the plot consists of Tatami, stating future outcomes of the present situations and actions of the characters.
The Feel-Good Part
The heroine is cute (sometimes rude) and is the center of attention. She is a house spirit who, according to Japanese folklore, has the power to decide and alter someone’s future. In addition to this, the illustrations are pleasing and adorable. Few dialogues are humorous and thought-provoking.
The Disappointing Factor
The House Spirit Tatami-Chan has nothing that could make it stand out in the entertainment industry. It feels more like an insignificant YouTube series (one review called it a power-point presentation) even though it is a result of a professional endeavor. The presentation is uneven and most dialogues are unsatisfactory. The movements and interactions of the characters are very limited visually; they are either moving their lips in an unrealistic manner or reacting to something by giving vague and incomprehensible expressions. When such is the case, the whole burden of the drama falls on the narrative of the plot; in this case, even the plot is far from being well written.
In-Depth Analysis
Tatami-Chan has a sharp tongue; she is a quirky ghost who has moved from Iwate Prefecture to Tokyo metropolitan area. Her admiration for Tokyo has led her to the city, but unemployment is the problem she has to face. The gas, electricity and water bills have become topics of concern for the unemployed spirit. After moving to Tokyo, she realizes that all that glitters is not gold; basically, she finds sad and confused people trying to make a living in the urban life.
Star Power
The voice actors have done a satisfactory job; however, the anime doesn’t manage to stand out as special. The voice acting is the only thing that makes up for the half-decent animation. The side characters include a monk living in the same apartment as Tatami-Chan and the landlady whose only wish is to meet amazing men. It is not hard to tell that such a plot cannot manage to make its mark in the industry filled with exceptional dramas and shows.
Overall Opinion
Overall, The House Spirit Tatami-Chan is short, poorly produced and barely entertaining. It’s too plain for someone who is willing to take his or her time out to specifically watch a show. The jokes are basically non-existent and it is more like a visual novel. The frequent zooms on the faces of the characters are a few examples of poor animation. The characters are simple and forgettable. The first few episodes are decent but the whole concept gets boring as the show progresses.
