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[Dracil]

Just like Genshiken was about otakus, this anime is basically about the hikikomori lifestyle. Hikikomori is a term to describe the new phenomenon in Japan (and spreading worldwide) where people will just isolate themselves in their room for months or years, avoiding all social contact when possible.

Often these people are also NEETs (Not engaged in Education, Employment, or Training), which is related to Freeters (people who are underemployed, going through a string of low-paid jobs), and twixters (a Western term describing the generation of young adults between 18-29 stuck between adolescence and adulthood)

You've probably seen hikikomoris in other places, like Jun from Rozen Maiden, or one of the guys in Densha Otoko.

Anyway, in this anime, there's a girl who seems to be trying to help him, and an otaku friend who's much more well-adjusted than he is. Genre-wise, I'd call it a comedic drama, but if you strip out the humor, it's a somewhat serious social commentary that also explores some of Japan's subculture, like otaku, lolicons, internet suicide, galgames. I think the author of the novel from which the anime was adapted from was originally a hikikomori himself as well, so the story's a little autobiographical.

The anime is actually somewhat censored compared to the manga/novel, e.g. they cut out the drugs, less focus on the lolicon aspect, etc.

Those of you who've seen Suzumiya Haruhi and the ending parodies will be delighted to know that the person who did the Gundam ending parody has done a Gundam ending parody for this anime too!

Warning, the original may be a little disturbing. The song's basically about how the world's wonderful when you're a baby, and the world becomes bad once you're an adult, so it's best to be a baby human/adult (fansub says kidult).
Original: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfFOfi83GwI
Parody: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbLDITqACVc

 

[Abbadon]

I'm not an intentional hikikomori, but I really don't get out much. Can't drive, don't have school or a job, live well out of walking distance from anything fun, and my church has gone to pot.

When the Bible study I was attending closed for summer, I really only had contact on here.

Admittedly I'm doing much better than a variety of folks out there.

I may well want to check out the anime, if not the manga. Don't have a youtube subscription, and don't have a good enough modem to watch it though.

 

[aaronibus62]

I have a feeling that the Hikikomori syndrome might be from Satan in some fashion. It sounds so much like a new route to self isolation more common in older people. For it to be so pravalent in young people in Japan is astounding.
Japan is a country under lots of Satanic bondage. Had Americans headed the call of General MacArthur at the start of US occupation of Japan in 1945 to send over missionaries, maybe there would be more of a presence of God than there is now.

 

[shirono]

I have a feeling that the Hikikomori syndrome might be from Satan in some fashion. It sounds so much like a new route to self isolation more common in older people. For it to be so pravalent in young people in Japan is astounding.
Japan is a country under lots of Satanic bondage. Had Americans headed the call of General MacArthur at the start of US occupation of Japan in 1945 to send over missionaries, maybe there would be more of a presence of God than there is now.

Syndrome from Satan huh? sounds like a typical fundy thing to say. (look don't want to be offensive, but I've been up since 6 AM and it's after midnight here and I've put up with way to much crap today as it is.)
Why is it that it's from satan for kids to be secretive and hide away from the world. Also what does the occupation have to do with it, there were missionaries there, but the japanese did not see why they should have to convert to another religion. In the past Shinto simply absorbed Buddhism and other religions and melded with them. The Christians were asking for something that the japanese saw no need to do.

Also why is Japan under Satanic Bondage.

I think Hikkimori seems more like a depression disorder that needs treatment through Phsyciatry that a Satanic bondage that needs a preist or such like to fix it.