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I don't think any other anime had the same instantaneous impact on me as Yojouhan Shinwa Taikei did upon finishing the final episode. I also can't recall any other anime becoming one of my favourites so quickly.

One of my absolute favourite aspects of the show is how the show is how the plot slowly unravels over the course of the show. One might say that this should be a basic storytelling requirement, but rarely is a piece of art able to accomplish this with the perfect pacing that Tatami Galaxy has. The way in which uses the plot device as a means of world-building ... is masterful; small, seemingly insignificant details pop-up in multiple timelines, and often transform into much bigger, considerably less insignificant details, which allows the world and the characters within it feel genuinely real. I found myself becoming more attached to these people than in any anime I've ever watched, aside from perhaps Hunter x Hunter, and the experience of realising this during the last episode made me tear up slightly.

However, what's most interesting about this is how the creators were able to meticulously piece together this puzzle before the viewers eyes over the course of 11 episodes, while simultaneously moving the story along at breakneck speed. One possible flaw would be that reading the subtitles while taking in the events on screen is incredibly difficult, although I will say that my speed-reading skills improved significantly by the end.
But this wasn't done without reason, as it accurately conveys the mentality of the protagonist, who drastically overthinks every decision he has to make; a flaw I assume most people can relate to (as the writers most likely realise).

This anime's greatest achievement, though, would be the insane visuals. Never before have I seen a piece of animation with the level of visual storytelling of Tatami Galaxy. Most of the animation is used to represent the inner workings of the protagonists mind - visual metaphors are in abundance here. I don't think this show would be anywhere near as good without the the level of detail and love put into every second of the animation. I believe that for something to have god-tier animation, I should be able to understand the ideas and concepts without the sound turned on, and the show goes above and beyond this requirement. I'm sure I would be able to understand the ideas, concepts, plot and characters arcs with no sound or subtitles to guide me, simply through the genius-level direction of Masaaki Yuata.

As you can see, I have refrained from stating any of the aformentioned ideas and concepts, simply because (as someone who myself went in completely blind) I would say that part of my enjoyment of the series was discovering all of it myself as the show went on, and watching the mural unfold before my eyes without any knowledge of where it would go or which direction it would take. Never has a piece of art taught me so much about myself and many of the toxic mentality's that have held me back from enjoying the simpler joys of life, and given me the motivation to go out and do exactly that. Without a doubt, The Tatami Galaxy earns its place as one of the greatest anime of all time, and one of my own personal favourites ever.

10/10.

I'm going to begin this review by making two statements; firstly, don't expect this manga to be deconstructing tropes or to be anything vastly different from the norm, despite what you hear. Secondly, this manga is currently one of my favourites currently in publication, and may end up one of my favourites ever.

Now, onto the actual review [OBLIGATORY MINOR SPOILER WARNING].

Story: 8

No matter what is told to you by fans of the series, don't assume going into this that it'll be entirely removed from any typical shonen story that you've ever seen/read. The story is a usual one of a boy with powers in ... a special school where everyone else has powers, and thus numerous battles ensue involving the protagonist and his buddies.

However, what makes this manga fantastic isn't that it's completely removed from shonen tropes; rather, what makes it great is the astounding skill with which the mangaka executes them. Story arcs do have similar foundations to what you've seen in many shonen manga, but it's the way they are meticulously done that draws you in. The story arcs are perfectly paced, and never overstay their welcome. They develop naturally and with style. You can really tell that the author put a lot of thought into the structuring of the story arcs and the overall plot of the manga, down to every single chapter.

The only reason it isn't higher is that the start isn't nearly as strong as the later arcs, as they aren't as interesting, and Horikoshi becomes more comfortable as the story progresses and becomes more detailed. However, this is promising too, as this means that the upcoming arcs are going to be even better than the last few. An exciting prospect, to say the least.

Art: 9

The art in Boku no Hero is one of its strongest points. And it may not seem like it at first, as one could find it slightly jarring. The manga takes lots of influence from Western comics in more ways than one, so to many it could seem like (in terms of art) the two styles don't mesh perfectly. To those I would say, give it time. It might seem goofy or strange at first, but Horikoshi becomes much more comfortable as the manga progresses. The line-work and tones give it the Western feel, but at it's foundations it still looks Japanese. This also applies to the colour pages, which use bright, vibrant colours and larger-than-life poses to give it an awesome superhero aesthetic. As a package, it feels like a breath of fresh air.

The artwork is incredible in the action sequences. Every movement is crystal clear, and the panels are creative and have a sense of fluidity. As the fights progress they become more and more intense; and this applies to the story too. As the mangaka develops as an atrist, the fights themselves also develop in intensity.

But where the art really shines is the characters. They're designs are insanely creative, and sync up with their individual powers and personalities perfectly, from the hair to the costumes. It's extremely refreshing to see a mangaka put in so much effort into detail, even in side characters. There is one villain especially that has a few panels that are so intensely intricate that it's practically nightmare fuel.

Character: 10

Undoubtedly, the characters are the best part of the manga. I could go on about how much detail is put into almost every character, even side characters, and how well they develop over the course of the manga. I could talk about how they all have their own distinct personalities, and how it's a joy to watch them interact. I could talk about how one of the villains might be one of my personal favourites of all time. But instead, I'll just talk about the main character.

The main character of Deku is genuinely different to any main character I've seen in typical shonen manga. Usually, they're either a hot-headed idiot or a brooding teenager with hidden powers. But not Midoriya Izuku. He grew up without powers in a world where everyone else had one, but he still wants to be a hero. This underdog tale isn't unique, but his personality is what makes it. He doesn't just work out a lot and shout at people who don't believe in him, rather he uses his sharp wit and analytical skills to one day achieve his goals. Even when he does (spoiler warning) inevitably get powers in the first few chapters, this is still incredibly important, as while it is insanely powerful in concept, it comes with a massive (and genuinely dangerous) toll. Thus, he needs to intelligently use his power in creative ways to push through an situation that comes along, sometimes not even using it at all, a welcome detraction from many manga where the MC just uses his OP power to overcome any obstacle in his path.

He still goes through the usual shonen trope of winning out of pure determination (as well as the previously mentioned intelligence, often in conjunction), but the difference is when he's destroying his body, the reader genuinely connects with his character, and it comes with a sense of consequence and worry when the fight is finally over, unlike most shonen when the reader knows that the main character will recover quickly even after pushing himself to the brink. This becomes much more apparent during a certain tournament arc and continuously as the story progresses, especially in the most recent battle. You may have heard the term 'Absolute Madman' thrown around often in relation to this character.

Enjoyment: 10

This series is a roller-coaster ride from the first chapter. Watching the manga grow and watching it develop has been immensely enjoyable. It hooks you in from the first chapter with its refreshing aesthetic, massive characters and world-building. Most importantly, it's a wild amount of fun to read, and I'm excited as to where it'll go next, especially with the current arc, which, depending on the direction it takes, might be one of the best shonen arcs in recent years. I genuinely can't wait to see where Horikoshi Kouhei takes it next.

Overall: 9