Review of The Way of the Househusband Season 2

This review is for the entirety of the Gokushufudou anime – season 1 and 2. I watched it all in quick succession and the tone is consistent enough throughout to only warrant a single review from me. Gokushufudou is an amazing comedy anime that I can highly recommend. It made me laugh out loud frequently which is something few other series have ever been able to achieve. I watched it together with my partner, and being able to share this comedy with someone else was a great experience. The premise of an ex-yakuza, Tatsu, becoming a househusband is novel, but it could have become boring if notworked out properly. Fortunately, each and every mini-chapter within every episode had the same charm and managed to create a new spin on the same concept. In this way, even though the same concept was used over and over, it stayed fresh every time. Tatsu’s yakuza vibes contrasted hilariously with his household tasks – yet the intensity with which he approaches those tasks only makes the whole affair funnier. And then there are the many double-meanings and implications and misunderstandings caused by his speech style. The main character is so steeped in the yakuza way of life that his way of wording things always ends up becoming a catalyst for the humor in this series.

Of course, it’s not just about Tatsu. His wife Miku and friend Masa make frequent appearances as well and the series would not be complete without them. In fact, there are a dozen other side characters that are vital to creating new situations for Tatsu to interact with. All in all, I can say the characterization is excellent and ties in with the style of comedy perfectly.

Now, the animation is very to the point, and especially in the first season is more like a slideshow. Honestly, I wasn’t bothered by this at all. It seems to only increase the comedic timing of certain events. It was refreshing because while the animation was simplistic, the actual art and quality of the linework was good. In fact, there are lots of stances and facial expressions throughout Gokushufudou that are really funny, creepy or otherwise impressive.

The sound effects and background music were fine, but the opening in particular goes hard. Again, there is this contrast between a pretty hardcore musical style and lyrics that are all about doing housework. It’s great.

To summarize, Gokushufudou is a funny series consisting of many short chapters per episode. It keeps using the same premise over and over, and if you enjoy this premise it’s likely you’ll enjoy the entirety of the anime.