Darkly amusing, surprisingly thoughtful, and at times almost painful to watch, Welcome to the NHK puts the 'fun' in dysfunction.  Based off the manga, which is based off the novel by Tatsuhiko Takimoto, the anime series, with its mix of fantasy and reality, aptly describes the difficulties that arise when one doesn't follow the social norm.  Whether by choice or necessity, overcoming one's problems is never easy, and Welcome to the NHK takes a humorous, surreal, dramatic look at one very rocky road.

A growing number of young people in Japan have dropped out of college, abandoned their jobs, and holed up, alone, in their apartments.  Only leaving the safety of those four walls out of necessity, these people, known as hikikomori, have become a social phenomenon that is cause for concern.  One young man, Tatsuhiro Sato, a hikikomori for the last four years, has come to the conclusion that he is the victim of a nationwide conspiracy orchestrated by the Japanese broadcasting company, the NHK.  He believes the NHK is creating a world of hikikomori who will stay at home to watch TV, brainwashed by anime with cute girls.  His theory might have a few holes in it, but he intends to do something about this diabolical plan...as soon as he's able to leave his apartment.  A chance meeting with a young girl accompanying her aunt on a canvassing trip brings a new opportunity for Sato.  The girl, Misaki, has chosen him to be her project, and claims she can help cure him of being hikikomori.  Now, who's going to need more help, Sato or Misaki?

Welcome to the NHK is a strange little series.  It wasn't something I found very easy to watch all in one go, and ended up nibbling on a few episodes at a time over several weeks instead.  While the series can be hysterically funny on the surface, there are other, much darker currents running just underneath.  Sato is one troubled young man with a very real problem.  It's obvious he doesn't know how to approach this problem.  He does the best he can to deal with it, but unfortunately, those attempts don't yield much in the way of results.  Or at least not good results.  Even with the assistance of Misaki and his next-door neighbor, Yamazaki, the desperation of Sato's situation is evident.  As the story rolls along, it becomes apparent that Sato isn't the only one with issues.  The series makes a good point that at times, we all may find ourselves a little desperate, and that things will come to a point when we have to make the nasty decision of figuring out what to do.

In some ways, it might have been better if the series had a smaller number of episodes.  Sato manages to get himself into quite a few unpleasant predicaments, and it doesn't seem as though all of them are necessary.  The situations tend to be interesting and often funny, but after a while it's as though he's just floating from one bad plan to the next.  Perhaps this is the point.  Sato is so lost, he's willing to try just about any schlock scheme, if there's the promise he might get better.  However, after reading the novel, which is, ironically, much more streamlined than the anime, it's hard to accept that Sato is so weak-willed. 

Weak willed or not, Sato has one impressive imagination, and his flights of fancy are a highlight of the series.  The NHK's periwinkle blue monkey-like minions are particularly creepy, and the scenarios Sato creates in his head are truly something to behold.  While the artwork in the series is pleasantly simple, straightforward, and leans a little toward the realistic, the imaginary sequences take on a surreal quality that is very well done.

Welcome to the NHK is worth owning.  While it's not the type of series that lends itself to marathon-watching, it warrants multiple viewings.  There's a great deal going on, and it's worth it to take the time to think about what's happening.  The recognition the viewer feels, either from the situations presented or the characters that are introduced, makes the series special, in a warped, wrongly funny, uncomfortably self-reflective way. 

A note:  Welcome to the NHK is rated TV-MA for a reason.  There are a great many references that might prematurely bring up that sex discussion you've been meaning to have with the kids.  If the munchkins watch, be prepared for awkwardness.  And the language is a bit salty.

Details: Runtime for Part 1 300 minutes, contains episodes 1-12 on two dvds.  Part 2 is also 300 minutes, and contains episodes 13-24 on two dvds.  Extras are pretty stripped-down, with clean openings and closings and trailers.  The reverse side of the dvd jackets feature character pin-ups.