Audience reviews
20 · Sample from the first available page, separate from the total number of ratings.
Flugel3
Everything was perfect. Did Tatami Galaxy justice which is an accomplishment that not many sequels can say they've accomplished. Although this isn't exactly a sequel, it feels more like a side branching mini plot within one of the worlds of Tatami Galaxy. The characters all feel just like they did in the original, all of them maintain all the charms which made them wonderful. Apart from Jougasaki, who is the only one who feels different. But that's only because we don't really see any of his degenerate tendencies apart from his ego and fragility.
The art and animation got a massive upgrade, looks really pretty. Almost like a perfected version of the style presented in the original, although, of course, the original has a certain charm that is lost on the new style due to this. I can't tak…
Read at the sourceplebrepel
[JP, subtitles were above average]
Someone involved in this production possessed a real time machine and used it to bring us Yojouhan Time Machine Blues. It feels and sounds like the same team from back then made it. There is not much else to say. Surely you are reading this because you saw Yojouhan Shinwa Taikei and if not you should fix that before viewing Time Machine Blues.
This is a rarity where changing studios did not suck out any of the spirit, with a 12 year gap to boot.
My rating is in regard to the feat of making something that appears to have been sealed in an underground facility in secret until it was found and released. If this sort of mimicry was standard practice you may not ever experience the despair of modern necromancy ever again.
Read at the sourceHaustlaufivindi
Original and funny anime with good SF roots, peculiar drawing style and presentation. Despite the comedy and surrealism of the narrative, "Tatami Time Machine Blues" clearly shows the optimism of classic 1950s science fiction. It is seems to be by influenced by both Young's "The Dandelion Girl" and Heinlein's "The Door into Summer" which are some of the most popular SF stories in Japan. Tomihiko Morimi's attitude to the "paradox of time" is the same as that of Young and Heinlein. Or, if you like, the same as that of Boethius. However, the tone differs both from the lyrical "The Dandelion Girl" and from the melodramatic adventure "The Door Into Summer". The slightly absurd "Blues" is not as serious, but much more cheerful and "light" than its literary inspirations. Immersing the protagonist…
Read at the sourcejetrax12
I was probably harsher on this due to its relation to Tatami Galaxy, which set an impossibly high bar; if it was not related to that, I would probably have ranked it a bit higher, but I think I still would not recommend it as a must-watch. The narrative structure was much more straightforward than Tatami Galaxy, and one is kind of expected to be familiar with the characters of the aforementioned. That said, it was still a fun little romp with familiar characters and felt a little comfy in that regard - it was nice to see the main cast all doing stuff together instead of how adversarial Galaxy felt at times. While it lacked the punch of Tatami Galaxy's message, it felt like it remained in this form: where Tatami Galaxy said don't dwell on your past mistakes, this said don't worry about your…
Read at the sourcewhiteflame55
I had a really good time with this one.
I was more continuously invested than with Tatami Galaxy, though this series doesn't wrap up as expertly as that did. The time machine itself is quite the vehicle for telling the story, leaving me grasping for hints from previous episodes - I think this might work even better upon repeat watch. It's more the ride than the destination on this one, though it's also nice to see some closure on some of the central plots of the series as a whole. Much to its credit, this also improved on the amount of attention various side characters got, something I felt was distinctly lacking in Tatami Galaxy. The animation is also on point, providing some of what that series gave in a sharper package.
Really, my only issues with this one are that the episodes were…
Read at the sourceGodslayer27
Just like with the previous season the plot starts with kinda absurd reason that puts on movements all the followed events with this time our characters trying to go back on time preventing that the air conditioner remote gets broken which sends them on a crazy journey throughout of time.
Now the nature of the series is very fast paced on the sense that the dialogs between the chracters as well as the narration that happens sometimes are fast (not so much like the first season at least i feel that way), on simple surface might seems like all fun though just like with tatami galaxy there are many serious and reflexive themes along the series on this instance being the premise revolving around time travel touching things like destiny or freewill like many others series that play with these…
Read at the sourceBountyfull
Operation nostalgia that does nothing of value, playing with the watcher's feelings about the 2010 masterpiece.
The problem with this sequel? Potential future? Whatever it is, is that it's lazy. Extremely lazy. It backloads the entire character development, background, and nuances to the 2010 main series while giving us a glimpse of a different path.
But let's go in order.
When dealing with this kind of anime, which is abundantly quoting and taking inspiration from the original, it's impossible to not consider parallels with the former series. The screenwriters impose it on us, anyway, since the series forces you to know all the characters beforehand. This is not necessarily a bad thing.
ART 9.5/10
The original has aged respectably, but Shingo Natsume empowered everything to the max w…
Read at the sourceHalcyon13
Not a direct sequel, Yojouhan Time Machine Blues is a spinoff set in the Yojouhan Shinwa Taikei universe and the events seemingly occur in an alternate timeline, while still retaining the original cast and setting-based context. The parent TV series is certainly not essential viewing, but I find that it enhances one's understanding of Tomihiko Morimi's (original creator) prioritization of character chemistry, which, unfortunately, benefits this ONA's ability to appeal to the audience, especially on the newer side. It's unable to form the full picture of contrasting dynamics alone given the limited runtime, and without that subtext, the already enjoyable humor isn't elevated to comprehensive insight into the so-called rose-colored campus life. The shades of youthful philosophies reflecting…
Read at the sourcesammm24
Really great continuation of the Tatami Galaxy! I watched that years ago, but because this is not marked as season two I never knew it existed until now. Really disappointing, considering it probably would have gotten a lot more deserved attention, but I suppose it makes sense, as it has been more than a decade since the first season. But still incredible, and I highly recommend watching after you have seen the first season!
There are fewer episodes than the first season, which is sad, but they still pack a great story into them, so it is ok. The main character, Watashi, also speaks a lot slower than he did before. I think that was a turn-off point for people with the first season, so I suppose this is an OK change, though it does affect his character a little.
Read at the sourceSteamwood
If you liked The Tatami Galaxy, then this will be a nice little romp with the fun group you liked before with a couple alterations (Jogasaki is a little more aggro than usual) and it'll be a great time. If you haven't seen Tatami Galaxy, this is a good shorter step into the themes of the series, and if you enjoy it then I can't recommend the original enough! If you hated it, then I cannot help you at this time.
Striking visuals, great humor, interesting and mind-bending plot, fun characters I loved to see again, and all in a concise package of 6 slightly shorter episodes. Very much stands on its own, but much better with the added context of Tatami Galaxy. I loved it, but it wasn't as groundbreaking as the original so it gets a little less than perfect from me. Glad it exists!
Read at the sourceMustang_47
Tatami Time Machine Blues is a great sequel and a love letter to the fan of OG Tatami Galaxy. It's never meant to replicate what the og show did. The story just expands with the characters it established in the first part based on a play and movie called "Summer Time Machine Blues" and just focuses on 1 Watashi variant with a different story (instead of 10 variants). As the characters are dealing with an active problem, the main protag doesn't get that many opportunities to do his trademark "meta-commentary" but it's still here and there. But that's fine and I think Shingo Natsume did an excellent job with the plot he had and he's a perfect replacement for Yuasa. The first and the last episode almost felt like Yuasa directed them. And ofc in terms of animation, Science Saru did great to ma…
Read at the sourceSenpapa_
Not so long ago I decided to watch The Tatami Galaxy, it was an anime that I was planning to watch for a while now, so when i watched it, it quickly became one of my personal favorites and one of the few anime that i can wholeheartedly say that it's a masterpiece, so when I heard that it was receiving a spin-off, you bet I got excited, and i am very happy to say that it did not disappoint and that it is an easy contender for anime of the year.
Characters (10/10)
Now of course this anime is meant for people who have already watched Tatami Galaxy, its not really a sequel and it also doesn't spoil anything major from The Tatami Galaxy, it's mostly meant for those who really enjoyed Tatami and just want to see more fun moments with the memorable cast, if you loved the cast of Tatami, then i c…
Read at the sourceTakumaEN
Words can't describe the joy I had while watching through this anime. As a huge fan of the original, "Yojouhan Shinwa Taikei" (or Tatami Galaxy for short), the moment they announced "Time Machine Blues" was in the making and that it would be handled by Science SARU, I just knew I could rest at ease given that Yuasa and Choi were integral members of the original staff, and to nobody's surprise, the trust was not misplaced.
Science SARU makes lightning strike twice by perfectly capturing what made the show so special in the first place, which is nothing to sneeze at considering it's been over 12 years since it first aired. Faithfully recreating the show's structure, aesthetic and humor was only possible thanks to the return of the original staff members and cast, but also new members that c…
Read at the sourceSingleH
Disclaimer: An entire bottle of Mount Gay Black Barrel, an undisclosed amount of Appleton 21, and multiple cans of Bacardi Rum Punch (to use as chasers) were consulted in the creation of this review. Plus however much Barrell Armida is in this rocks glass. This entire show and this entire review itself were both additionally and respectively viewed and created over the course of about nineteen hours. Alcohol and its affects were therefore heavily involved in all relevant processes. Hopefully you enjoy…
Being a drunk corpse, I figured a much more pertinent use of my time than watching Cyberpunk: Edgerunners—as much fun as that show was—would be to take a leap back in time to once again reacquaint myself with the 4.5 Tatami Ideologue, and I must say, it was more than happily worth my time.…
Read at the sourceJaekoi
The Tatami Time Machine Blues may not have the same identical style as Masaaki Yuasa’s acclaimed Tatami Galaxy, yet it is a title that lives up to its unrivaled legacy known for poetic storytelling. It is artistically defined by its cultural sensibility, sophisticated writing, and verbose panache, capturing the frenetic repetitions of life in ways that allow one to truly feel its grand revelations. Time Machine Blues reroutes its original concept through Shingo Natsume’s more-than-capable directing, meshing in Yuasa’s former narrative knack with his own individual flair in presentation. Natsume’s abstract ideas come in the form of a cutback on mentally taxing developments, restructuring it with a dose of narrative patience and preplanned mathematics in its implementation of time-travel. Ra…
Read at the sourceProfessional2341
This is a continuation of the first installment of Yojouhan. Yojouhan in of itself is a completed story, but the writer was inspired by his friend's play and wrote a sequal after 10 years adapting the play into the Yojouan universe. So, in this world, the cathartic resolution our main character comes to towards the end of the 1st season never happened, and this is the summer after his 2nd year.
However, it has very similar themes that are being tackled, but from a different angle. Taking action, being proactive, and forging your own future. Also, taking advantage of opportunities, taking responsibility of your actions, and most important: you can't change the past, but you can change the present. All of these themes that were tackled in the 1st season are tackled again, but in a new, lig…
Read at the sourceotherdummy
Yojouhan Time Machine Blues is Science SARU’s treat for all the Tatami Galaxy fans wanting more. Our ever-so-unfortunate Watashi and the zany crew are as delightful as ever as they travel across time and space to save an air conditioning remote control from its fizzily death. Although it is a side-story of The Tatami Galaxy and roughly follows the plot of another move, Summer Time Machine Blues, the show does a good job at assimilating the story in The Tatami Galaxy universe, with the location, character relations, and cast all carrying over. The only new character, Tamura, integrates quite well into the pre-existing gang. And there are plenty of Easter eggs for sharp-eyed fans to find, such as Jougasaki’s shirt.
The Tatami Galaxy’s shining point is its cast, all with their own eccentric…
Read at the sourceGsarthotegga
Though TTMB is suggested to be a sequel to the original Tatami series, it appears to be set in an alternate timeline/universe from the rest of the franchise and would probably still be enjoyable without having seen the original, though it's reliant upon the original series to introduce the characters, and it references past scenes regularly, as well as a segment from The Night is Short, Walk on Girl. The novelist behind the Tatami Galaxy series was inspired by Summer Time Machine Blues (I believe he is friends with the creator), and the plot is the same, with the main alteration being Morimi's quirks as a writer and his cast from Tatami Galaxy. It's mildly nonlinear for the first episode but quick and to the point while being well-paced enough to provide familiar characterization for all o…
Read at the source_Redo_
Honestly, going into the tatami galaxy, I wasn't really interested. But, in a matter of seconds, I regret what I say. The tatami galaxy is awesome. It brings up a unique idea, and instantly gets the person watching in love with the show. The tatami time machine blues is no different.
The tatami time machine blues is a much more different change from season one. It introduces a different idea, compared to the first season (if this is a sequel). It's a really simple and fun idea. The writers know what they're doing, because this was incredibly entertaining. The concept, humour, etc.
Honestly, I was pretty disappointed that Madhouse wasn't going to animate this. Science SARU had surprised me though. The visuals were the same, which had got me pleased that there wasn't a new style (or differ…
Read at the sourceMcsuper
First of all, let me be clear here, this show is not a sequel for The Tatami Galaxy, but I highly recommend you to watch it to get the most out of this show. This review will be written in a way that assumes you have watched The Tatami Galaxy.
This show was essentially a side story in the universe of “The Tatami Galaxy”, and for many fans of that show, this would be extremely nostalgic, seeing the likes of Watashi, Akashi, and Ozu back at it with their ridiculous shenanigans. At its core, this show revolves around the same aspects as the Tatami Galaxy did, themes about grasping what’s in front of you, and the fact that time only goes forward, and you can’t change your past mistakes.
Though, where The Tatami Galaxy used a more philosophical approach to the whole time travel mechanics, Tim…
Read at the source