The Tatami Galaxy is without a doubt a small masterpiece by one of the most innovative anime directors in recent years: Masaaki Yuasa.
It’s a difficult anime to categorize, but if we had to, we’d call it a dark comedy rich in stream of consciousness with a central theme: personal growth and self-awareness.
Because it’s such a unique anime, finding similar ones is a challenge, but we tried: here’s a list of the best anime like The Tatami Galaxy, Nihonime fans.
Table of Contents
10. Kino’s Journey
Kino’s Journey is basically an anime like The Tatami Galaxy, but with a chill and serious tone, without comedy and absurd scenes.
Its core theme is self-discovery and personal growth, achieved through a long personal journey exploring new cultures and traditions.
It also has a primarily episodic structure, so if this mix is what you’re looking for, it might be perfect for you.
This anime follows the story of Kino, a young adventurer who travels on his trusty motorcycle Hermes and spends three days in each city he visits.
You’ll get to witness Kino discovering new places and settings, along with the customs and habits of the people living there, from the wealthiest to the poorest.
9. Sayonara, Zetsubo-Sensei
Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei is an excellent choice if you’re looking for an anime with fast-paced gags similar to those in The Tatami Galaxy.
It also delves into deep themes centered on self-awareness and depression, with a similar character design.
For these reasons, we’re confident that you’ll enjoy it.
Nozomu Itoshiki is a teacher who is incredibly anguished by life, so much so that he often attempts suicide. (In comedic scenes, the series is not as tragic as it sounds.)
But one day Kafuka, one of his students, notices the professor’s state of mind and decides to do everything possible to give him hope in life again.
8. Monogatari Series
Did you appreciate The Tatami Galaxy for its heavy emphasis on dialogue, monologues, and streams of consciousness? Then Monogatari absolutely needs to be in your collection.
The plot, setting, and other elements are different, but you’ll find incredibly similar vibes.
The story revolves around Koyomi Araragi, whose life takes a drastic turn after encountering Kiss-Shot Acerola-Orion Heart-Under-Blade, a dying vampire.
With the assistance of Meme Oshino, a shaman, Koyomi regains his humanity but finds himself drawn into a world of supernatural phenomena and along the way, he also develops a romantic connection with Hitagi Senjogahara.
7. Ping Pong the Animation
Ping Pong the Animation is another anime directed by Masaaki Yuasa, and some even say it’s his best work, which alone should make you want to watch it.
And this is evident if you notice that it contains all the elements that distinguish his masterpieces, such as incredible animation and an introspective story.
The story centers on Tsukimono (Smile) and Hoshino (Peko), childhood friends with a hobby of playing Ping Pong since they were schoolmates in elementary school.
Don’t get fooled by the plot, this isn’t the classic anime about sports, it’s more than that: it will speak to your soul thanks to its deep introspection about the characters.
The matches will be merely a pretext for examining the psyche of the characters and their pasts, which are rich in drama and meaning.
6. Devilman Crybaby
Devilman Crybaby is another of Yuasa’s masterpieces and probably the pinnacle of his career along with Ping Pong The Animation.
The story, setting, and characters are completely different from The Tatami Galaxy, but it is still a series you cannot miss. So yep, hurry and go add it to your watchlist, you’ll thanks us later.
The protagonist, Akira, is too good of a boy, always reasoning things out, which leads to him receiving the nickname Crybaby.
Not so with Ryo, his best friend who is more fearless and arrogant, and by whom he gets carried away. One day, Akira is persuaded to go on a Sabbath, which turns out to be a full-blown satanic ritual to attract demons.
Everyone is possessed, including Akira, who nevertheless manages to control the beast through his gentle spirit. The result is Devilman, a man-devil with supernatural powers dedicated to the protection of humanity.
5. FLCL
FLCL is a series you’ll absolutely love if you’re a fan of The Tatami Galaxy and its absurdity.
This is because it’s likely one of the most innovative and over-the-top anime ever created, featuring some of the most absurd and colorful animations.
This hidden gem from Gainax Studio is truly an anime you shouldn’t miss.
The series is set in a small Japanese town where the young protagonist, Naota, lives. His older brother has left for America to play baseball, causing Naota to feel lonely and abandoned.
But his loneliness is broken by his brother’s girlfriend, Mamimi, who develops a strange attachment to him.
Things will change when he makes the acquaintance of Haruko Haruhara, a bizarre girl wielding a bass guitar and with crazy psychopath behavior.
4. Welcome to the NHK
Welcome to the NHK is simply a perfect follow-up if you’re a fan of The Tatami Galaxy.
Both series focus on deep themes, such as depression and the lack of self-awareness due to one’s inner demons.
Welcome to the NHK also shares with The Tatami Galaxy a semi-episodic structure and a lot of comedy in its storyline.
The only difference lies in the animation styles, but beyond that, these two anime are perfectly aligned.
The story follows Satou Tatsuhiro, a 22-year-old hikikomori who has completely withdrawn from society due to past traumas. He remains confined to his apartment, experiencing anxiety and paranoia at the mere thought of venturing outside.
His life takes a surprising turn when he encounters Misaki, a mysterious girl who claims she can help him.
3. The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya
The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya is an anime that we believe you’ll enjoy if you’re a fan of The Tatami Galaxy, so give it a shot.
Set in a school environment, it’s not your typical slice of life, as it incorporates extraordinary and supernatural elements into its story.
While it’s less absurd than The Tatami Galaxy, it shares some similarities that you might appreciate.
Haruhi, an eccentric and unique girl, has no interest in ordinary individuals and actively seeks out extraordinary experiences and individuals connected to ESP, time travel, and aliens.
This catches the attention of Kyon, a regular high school student, who suggests that she start her club to explore her interests.
That’s how the SOS Brigade is formed, a club dedicated to the paranormal, with members such as Yuki Nagato, an alien, Mikuru Asahina, a time traveler, and Izumi Koizumi, an esper.
2. Kaiba
Kaiba is one of the early works directed by Masaaki Yuasa and another must-watch on this list if you’re a fan of The Tatami Galaxy.
It features the classic themes that distinguish his works, such as existentialism and self-awareness, along with a Sci-Fi setting and plot.
Trust us when we say we’re confident you’ll enjoy it.
Kaiba is a one-of-a-kind Sci-Fi anime that explores the theme of memories.
In this world, memories are stored in chips outside the body, and the show presents viewers with a range of scenarios showcasing the impact this technology could have on people’s lives.
From machines that allow interaction with a chip to shuffle multiple individuals into one body to save money, the creators deliver new and innovative ideas that will leave you captivated and engaged.
1. Night Is Short, Walk on Girl
Night Is Short, Walk on Girl like The Tatami Galaxy is directed by Masaaki Yuasa, and it shares many similarities with the latter, starting with its crazy animations.
Both works delve into introspective and profound themes such as the search for one’s self, place a great emphasis on dialogue, and feature very similar protagonists of the same age.
This makes it an almost perfect choice for fans of The Tatami Galaxy, without a doubt.
A young student at Kyoto University has developed feelings for his younger classmate and has made it a point to encounter her as frequently as possible, always pretending it is a mere coincidence.
During a party attended by both of them, the boy decides to sit next to the girl, and as they switch clubs, it marks the beginning of a long and extraordinary night.
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