NHK ni Youkoso!

Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu addpermalink

a) lazy, sardonic male point a view
b) the female lead is really just lonely
c) both progress into something much more special than how it started out. 

report Recommended by Vesey

Colorful (Movie) addpermalink

Both deal with issues of depression, fitting in and finding your place in society. It also deals with themes of moral ambiguity and how the search for happiness can lead to what to  some would appear to be bad moral behavior. 

They also both have good character development, writing and plot. 

report Recommended by fluffybumbum

Jaku-Chara Tomozaki-kun addpermalink

After "Jaku-chara Tomozaki-kun", watching the anime "NHK ni Youkoso!" is like switching from folk-pop to heavy metal. "NHK ni Youkoso!" deals very seriously with the issue of "hikikomori". Since the anime is from 2006, it already drew attention to the phenomenon at a time when it was not yet on everyone's lips. What's amusing here is that the story of "NHK ni Youkoso!" feels like the answer to the question what would have happened if Fumiya hadn't had a meeting with Aoi, who set him right. Maybe he would have dropped out of school and closed himself off to video gaming in his apartment. In fact, this is the story of 22-year-old college dropout Satou, Tatsuhiro, who has been a hikikomori for about four years and is the main character in "NHK ni Youkoso!". The anime is a psychologically well-staged drama that shows how Tatsuhiro tries to free himself from his obsessive isolation, to face his fears and the imaginary enemy NHK (Nihon Hikikomori Kyokai). His meeting with Misaki Nakahara, represents a turning point, comparable to the offline meeting of Fumiya and Aoi in "Jaku-chara Tomozaki-kun". The drawing style and animation are good for 2006 and very appropriate, especially for the subject matter, as are the music and dubbing. "NHK ni Youkoso!" is recommended in many forums, yet with the very clear portrayal of a "hikikomori" it is not light stuff and almost without a comedy filter!
As always, many thanks for reading.  read more 

report Recommended by Sesshomaru

Anime: Ore no Imouto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai

Ore no Imouto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai addpermalink

Embracing the otaku culture, having life counseling, and other crazy stuff. OreImo just faces more on the girly romance side while NHK ni Youkoso tackles things that a hikkikomori does and what they think are true "conspiracies". 

report Recommended by zetsuboSensei

Koe no Katachi addpermalink

Both anime deal with the theme of suicide, as well as a male character being regretful of his hurtful actions towards a vulnerable female character. 

report Recommended by CatSoul

Anime: Mushoku Tensei: Isekai Ittara Honki Dasu

Mushoku Tensei: Isekai Ittara Honki Dasu addpermalink

Both featured similarly flawed protagonist that shared similar trait (especially the LN version of NHK) and both focused on character growth as they're faced with new situation.

Mushoku is on the lighter side while NHK is more on the heavier side of story. 

report Recommended by HigekiTragedy

Higashi no Eden addpermalink

Higashi no Eden  and NHK have that conspiracy feeling to it and a little bit of NEET to it. What more is there to say if you liked one you will like the other. 

report Recommended by KawaiiLolita

Serial Experiments Lain addpermalink

Both contain extensive and exhaustive commentary on a particular modern social phenomenon: in Lain's case, it is on internet personae and the nature of the online world itself, while NHK explores the world of  Otaku and anime fandom, as well as those with crippling internet addictions, "hikkomori", and other people whose daily existence is hampered by paranoia.

NHK, although still difficult to watch at times, has the greater level of "entertainment value", although neither is exactly "light viewing" and both contain some very disturbing parts. Tone-wise, NHK is noticeably more humorous and dialogue-heavy, while Lain is the more self-consciously "abstract" of the two. 

report Recommended by lukanicoletta

Beck addpermalink

Both are essentially indie movies that were animated. Both Koyuki and Sato are stuck in a very bad mind set in the very start of the shows, and I believe that Koyuki could have ended up like Sato if not for his music passion.  

report Recommended by midoco123

Koi Kaze addpermalink

A young girl suddenly appers and changes the main hero's life forever. Both anime's have a great psychological aspect in them. 

report Recommended by Johnny_FBI

The old school art and serious vibe immediately link the two Masterpieces. Both main characters, Satou and Koshiro share similar habits and inner turmoil. This ranges from smoking, badgered clothing and unkempt/unshaven appearance, and accumulating garbage and tissues around their residence, as well as the psychological ramifications of their predicament and the societal acceptance, or lack thereof. Both share comparable female's in Misaki and Nanoko, who are fairly younger and intrude in the MC's life as love interests out of the blue, but with a predetermined goal in mind. Both MC have reservations from pursuing their love interests, albeit for different reasons, yet both divulge into guilty fantasising and getting off in misery to the tempational vixens, which they know are beyond their reach. Both MC share an Older Acquaintance , Hitomi "Senpai" and Chidori respectively, who get in the way of their love interest. All these characters dance around the edges of committing suicide, and in nearly identical settings to boot. There are endless similarities between the 2 Giants, and if you liked one you WILL like the other. read more 

report Recommended by SlickD

Both sets of protagonists, or couples rather, are socially inept, naive, aimless wanderers with disjointed families. In addition both use their relationships to straighten themselves out and reintegrate into society. While in NHK our protagonist are already outcasts and fully detached from society, in Koi Kaze you witness that transformation happen first hand. Both these shows are excellent examples of the social standard. 

report Recommended by vasili101

Before you check my recommendation, check SlickDragon's; everything he said is completely spot on. First, let me immediately say that both these shows are some of my absolute favorite I've come across in the anime medium. If you want bittersweet psychological dramas (emphasis on the bitter), then you've found your shows! Koi Kaze and Welcome to the NHK both specialize in what I'd like to call the "quintessential hopeless and aimless societal outcasts" archetype. Each put their own spin on it, but this is the main focus of these two shows which drives their drama and protagonists' predicaments. Both Satou and Koushirou are bound by unconventional desires and vices that have curtailed them from achieving what a conventionally well-adjusted individual might consider a healthy and normal lifestyle. Both protagonists, whether justified or not, eventually divulge into morally questionable acts to fulfill their sexual desires. Both protagonists arise suspicion from people they regularly talk to of being an outcast or socially inept. As for their differences, Welcome to the NHK is black comedy and drama while Koi Kaze is almost entirely drama-focused and sprinkled in with romance. Tonally, both shows are quite similar, hence why I recommend it, but I would say that Welcome to the NHK is interlaced with more lighthearted and comedic moments while Koi Kaze is unrelentingly serious. Both shows are equally excellent and, might I add, unrivaled in portrayal of a loss of hope in being able to re-integrate back into a society that does not accept who they are. Neither show asks for the viewer to wholeheartedly accept that the protagonist is a great individual and that society is somehow wrong in viewing these folks in a somewhat negative light, however, both these shows do ask for some sympathy from the viewer to truly try to understand and have compassion for what eventually lead these protagonists to their ruin.  read more 

report Recommended by MettaWP

Net-juu no Susume addpermalink

Adults Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET) is the primary link between these two series. They both deal with identity issues, self-deprecation, and reliance on others for happiness but have a very different take on how to approach these sensitive topics. NHK ni Youkoso has much darker themes but at the core of both is a story about companionship and love between two damaged people, forging new memories and forgiving old regrets that have molded them into the isolated people they've become and transforming them into the people they will be. 

report Recommended by Fire

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Kamisama no Memochou addpermalink

Expanding on what a neet exactly is. 

report Recommended by lumii

FLCL addpermalink

These are both so unique that it's hard to make a good recommendation based on similarities. While these shows are in many ways very different from each other, they are the only ones I've seen that are comparably amazing. That's not very descriptive, but if you loved one I think you'll enjoy the other. 

report Recommended by eklie

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Orange addpermalink

A disinterested girl helps a troubled boy , and he also knows what they are and how to support it. 

report Recommended by JuanShot87

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Boku dake ga Inai Machi addpermalink

They're similar in how both of the main characters are isolated from most people and often have inner narrations throughout the story. They both have events in their past that are often brought up and are relevant to the plot. They share psychological and seinen genres, which makes them feel similar as well. Not to mention, both series deal with very dark topics, like suicide (NHK) and kidnapping (ERASED). 

report Recommended by PaperCutAssassin

Comic Party addpermalink

Both works thoroughly explore the otaku culture; positives and negatives. Comic Party focuses on the exploitation of the increasing popularity of doujin books, similarily NHK ni Youkoso! explores the rising consumerism in eroge visual novels. 

report Recommended by Deago

Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko addpermalink

Now I know what you're thinking. What similarities could a show about cute yet crazy girls and SHAFT antics and a show about distressed individuals and dark comedy possibly have?
When you look past the design choices they actually have plenty of similarities.

Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko begins with Matoko moving in with his aunt and cousin. Erio is detached from the world, traumatized by some prior experience. He vows to gradually ease Erio back into society.
Welcome to the NHK begins with Satou, a depressed hikkikomori, and his pathetic life. Prone to drug abuse (which the anime excludes), he has hallucinations and illusions of grandeur, not unlike Erio's fascination with being an alien. Misaki acts as his guide on his way to reintroduction to society.
All of the characters in both series have their own issues which are touched upon.

The shows also both include plenty of parody and referential humor.
The first season of Denpa (if it ever gets more) only strays into the cutesy side of the story. It has yet to get into the real meat of the novels, while NHK explores it far more. read more 

report Recommended by notsureifsrs

Chobits addpermalink

Hideki is very similar Sato (MC from NHK!)
and you could also probably relate Chii to Misaki from NHK

These Anime both have their similarities and differences but I'm absolutely positive that if you like Chobits you will enjoy Welcome to the NHK! just as well.

Both main characters are technologically retarded / slightly perverted / and have a few other social problems of their own. 

report Recommended by Auralvampire

Kuzu no Honkai addpermalink

Both are adult theme issues touching on relationships and real world topics. 

report Recommended by ValkyrieRandgris

Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso addpermalink

In a classic "boy meets girl", spring came to the protagonists who face mental problems which makes it difficult to fulfill their dreams, to receive help from a girl that will make you transcend himself. 

report Recommended by JuanShot87

Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata addpermalink

There are some similarities like:
- about creating games (and many problems)
- similar characters  (tomoya-yamazaki)
- both of them contain romance and humour

The difference is that NHK isn't just about games like Saenai. 

report Recommended by windowsmemphis

Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai! addpermalink

Similar nature in which the protagonist/lead support switch between their imagination and reality. Also, excellent character development. 

report Recommended by blackthorn91

Barakamon addpermalink

There are some similarities about main characters. They are young adults, don't like spending time with people and got many psychological and creavtiveness problems. Characters also changes through the anime. 

report Recommended by windowsmemphis

Domestic na Kanojo addpermalink

Here me out, Domestic girlfriend is a trash show and is purely comedy/entertainment over any kind of deep message. But the shows have some common appeal, both deal with people in similarly stupid situations and have bizarre outcomes.  

report Recommended by Church_of_Yeezus

Outbreak Company addpermalink

Both explore the otaku/hikikomori culture but one is way more GOOFY than the other. 

report Recommended by p4ndam

Sewayaki Kitsune no Senko-san addpermalink

Depressed anon living alone has someone come and try to save him. Add some brightness to your eternal night and give this show a chance. 

report Recommended by AmericanPie

Mayo Chiki! addpermalink

In NHK ni Youkoso the main charcter is Satou Tatsuhiro, who is being helped to recover from a hikikomori lifestyle. In Mayo Chiki the main character is Kinjiro Sakamachi who people are trying to help his gynophobia (fear of women)...in other words both protagonists are getting help for some sort of disorder/disease.  

report Recommended by MTNFrostAngel15

Angel Beats! addpermalink

Both series deals with the hardship of life and the unfairness of it all.  We get to see many relationships blossom and see the power of friends. Prepare for saddness/tears! Overall awesome shows that are done far too soon. 

report Recommended by DataPrime

Durarara!! addpermalink

the 3 main characters are basically the same, and both animes change a lot between drama and comedy 

report Recommended by flyingpardin

Video Girl Ai addpermalink

While its not really similar in tone or anything both series feature a younger girl attempting to help a dejected young man. The relationship between Satou and Misaki is very similar to the relationship between Yota and Ai. There's also some similar themes and aesthetics (especially where the gal game is concerned) between the two series. Even the ending is kind of similar, though Video Girl Ai is a little less developed being only a 6 episode OVA.  

report Recommended by sexyanimemilfs

Doujin Work addpermalink

They are both quirky series about people trying to make it in Japanese subcultures. :) 

report Recommended by plumxxjam

Aku no Hana addpermalink

While the basic setting/environment of these two anime are different, they both have male main characters who suffer from anxiety and and considered on the fringe of society. The main female leads both have "contracts" and are centered around bringing the male leads out of their shells. Aku no Hana has a darker tone than NHK. 

report Recommended by little_robot

Rozen Maiden addpermalink

The main character is almost like the same as Jun , a recluse and a hikikomori and barely goes out. Aside from,that the story is pretty much different. 

report Recommended by UshiromiyaMamoru

Byousoku 5 Centimeter addpermalink

They are very similar since they both have a male main character with many problems with many sad moments.  He also has many regrets through out the series about his life. Welcome to the NHK has more funny moments and not quite as sad of a love life though. 

report Recommended by SageBug

3-gatsu no Lion addpermalink

Both of these shows are compelling in their own ways. Given how the protagonists in both shows have personal demons of their own, they struggle to fit in with the rest of society, much less find a place that manages to effectively bring out the best in them both. Similarly to how Sangatsu treats its supporting characters, NHK fleshes out its supporting cast by giving each of them loads of subtle characterisation, namely refraining from exposition dumps and actually having them interact with the main cast in ways one would least expect. Both of them also feature female leads who serve to aid the main characters in their predicaments and so on. Also worth mentioning is the visual presentation of each of the shows. NHK relies heavily on hallucinatory and comical imagery to capture the feeling of paranoia that its main character is constantly subject to whereas Sangatsu takes a more nuanced approach with its visuals by incorporating a juxtaposition of vibrant and dull colours into its scenes, making for a more visceral and well-rounded experience. read more 

report Recommended by Convectuoso

Great Teacher Onizuka addpermalink

Both series have about the same comedy-drama ratio (well at least for the first half of NHK, it later turns to mostly drama). Both also deal with many serious issues, but never fail to deliver on humor either. Also both series have something other comedies usually don't, a heart. There's a real heart to them both. Also both series have some pervy humor in them, but also other types as well.  Also I just think both series would apeal to the same type of person. 

There is a difference however. NHK relies on a lot of dark homor, and turns into more of a drama then anything else, and it;s truly for the better. It becomes a much better show for it. GTO doesn't use dark humor, and never really turns into a drama, but it does get a little more serious as it goes on.  read more 

report Recommended by Prede

Kami nomi zo Shiru Sekai addpermalink

Both main characters are similar in there life styles.  

report Recommended by OdysseusUlysses

Shoujo-tachi wa Kouya wo Mezasu addpermalink

NHK ni Youkoso! and Shoujo-tachi wa Kouya wo Mezasu both share characters who are heavily engrossed into the gaming project that they are making. Furthermore, the main characters in both shows bring out both the best and worst of each other that you wouldn't see otherwise if the show centered only around one person. What I mean by this is that, for example, some of the main characters serve as emotional support pillars. The main difference, however, is that NHK is much heavier on the drama aspect. 

report Recommended by -Remix-

Anime: Ore no Imouto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai Specials

Ore no Imouto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai Specials addpermalink

One of the underlying plot bits in each of these is a pair of gamers working together to create an eroge.  

report Recommended by Numi