Yojouhan Shinwa Taikei, Aku no Hana Recommendations
Different is better. As soon as something comes along that isn't a harem and/or doesn't have generic moeblob character design, BEST ANIME OF THE SEASON! For better or worse, this is ALWAYS how it goes. In the case of Tatami it's highly regarded across the board since there wasn't any manga artwork to disregard for the purposes of ART. Aku Hana is FAR more of a love/hate series; people familiar with the source material generally disliking it and people unfamiliar often labeling it as the best anime of the season.
The approach of both series is, simply put, style over substance... and cheap over expensive. Aku
Hana had real people/locations rotoscoped. Tatami often used real stuff as backgrounds and/or flashed through images of real things, with artsy/unfinished drawings of the characters themselves. Aku Hana's stylistic selling point, rotoscoping aside, was turning one panel transitions into repetitive eight minute walks. Tatami's was repeating the same episode over and over, with the same characters playing the same roles and there being no character growth in any of those episodes.
Any and all failings relating to substance should be overlooked with these two. Half an episode dedicating purely to walking is more important than pacing. Likewise, the same events playing out with minor differences matters not when it moves the soul with an idea. If you don't approach these two with that mindset, disappointment awaits.
There is one key difference between the two: for Tatami you'll want the pause button handy if you have any hope of being able to read all of the subtitles. For Aku Hana, it's the opposite: you'll want the fast-forward button at the ready whenever anyone starts walking. An ironic difference, for sure.
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Both are extremely unique anime with a non-traditional art style. They stray away from most of the cliches out there and stand out among the never-ending supply of moe anime that come out every year.
