hikikomori<\/a>, or recluse. \u00a0Over time, the main character builds a few friendships that involves one person that wants to rescue him from his condition, and his next door neighbor, a high school friend. \u00a0At first, the main character lies, claiming that he is a video game script writer (working with his next door neighbor), in order to justify his apparent lack of job, and reclusive behaviour. \u00a0But what started out as a lie, eventually leads the main character into exploring otaku culture, and attempting to write a script and produce a video game with his high school friend. \u00a0Eventually, the main character comes to grips with his condition — sometimes slipping deeper into reclusive behaviour — and copes with his existential life, even though life seems to throw one road block after another, but occasionally helping out others (with similar conditions) along the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\nGenshiken<\/em> is filled with characters that somewhat lack life direction, they are at least motivated to complete college and find work. NHK<\/em> is more of the darker side of the 20-something life, with dropping out of college, living off a allowance, using otaku culture as an escape (or a better life dream fulfilment fantasy), with deeply psychological overtones. In NHK<\/em>, there is some light use of alcohol, and cigarette dependency, but I’m really surprised there’s no stronger recreational drug use, considering the depths of despair the main character slips into. Genshiken<\/em> felt life-affirming, whereas NHK <\/em>felt like whatever you did in life, made no difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIn the back of my head, I’m wondering if there was a cultural shift or a short time period between the two shows; either when they were conceived, or in the creators of the manga themselves, or a very small generation gap, or an economic shift, maybe. The technology in both animes seems similar, but in NHK<\/em>, character design for the video game was being done on the computer; the manga the Genshiken<\/em> group produced, even though most of the post production work was done off screen, it seemed like it was done with technology a few years prior to NHK<\/em>… Which also may play into the difference in the general attitude of the characters… maybe years of living in economic downturn give creators a very different world view.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI’ve binge watched both shows, couldn’t stop watching either one. You quickly become wrapped up in the lives of the characters of both shows. I’d recommend them both.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.mouse-network.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/unnamed-1.jpg?resize=474%2C267\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n