Mr. Osomatsu

Episode 3

So far, Mr. Osomatsu has come up with a new way to deliver its unique brand of madcap humor each week. Whereas the premiere episode was completely off-the-wall, last week's installment calmed things down a bit and told two cartoonishly inflated slice-of-life stories. Episode 3, on the other hand, is essentially a manic sketch comedy show. Within this installment's twenty-odd minutes, everything from torture porn horror films to iconic children's anime franchises are given the Osomatsu treatment.

The extended Saw parody, aptly titled "OAW," is liable to evoke feelings of Family Guy, Gintama, and other animated comedies that love drawing out jokes. A vengeance-crazed serial killer by the name of Jiguzou, an obvious reference to Jigsaw, can't seem to figure out which one of the Matsuno siblings he wants to murder. He initially wants to put the titular Osomatsu on the chopping block, but his target continues to change as he's presented with new information throughout the long but gratifying segment. Among the episode's other noteworthy parodies is Dekapan Man, a stomach-churning send-up of Anpanman, starring Dekapan, a portly acquaintance of the Matsunos. If you're not above laughing at bodily functions and detached testicles, or are at all familiar with Takashi Yanase's enduringly popular manga-turned-anime, you'll likely be amused.

In addition to an assortment of film and TV parodies, episode 3 features some funny slice-of-life bits. "Please Let Me Sleep," in which Choromatsu's slumber is continuously interrupted by his brothers' eccentricities, is instantly relatable to anyone who's ever shared a bed. (Why all six boys share a single futon is a question for another time.) The final segment, where the sextuplets visit the public bath and subject Choromatsu to the "Osomatsu Quiz," further establishes straight-laced Choromatsu's role as the Matsuno household's resident comic foil. Furthermore, the outright greed the Matsunos display in "Trick or Treat" and "Pachinko Police" illustrates that these boys know their way around a grift.

It almost seems like we'll never know the "real" Mr. Osomatsu because each week is never the same as the last. (Granted, the vignette style of this week's installment is much closer to the multiple-segment format of last week's episode than the series premiere.) This type of presentation has its benefits and its disadvantages. Some viewers will appreciate the change in routine, while others may find themselves enjoying certain formats while not caring for others. It continually surprises us, and it never gives its audience a chance to decide if they're in it for the long haul. If surrealist, fast-paced humor isn't your bag, Mr. Osomatsu is liable to seem too "out there."

This week's episode suffers from cramming too much content into its limited runtime. While some segments play out longer than others (see the Saw parody), there's no natural flow from one bit to the next. Strangely, with the show devoting less attention to establishing each of the sextuplets as individuals, I actually had an easier time telling some of the Matsunos apart. Perhaps three episodes was enough to become acclimated to their voices and respective quirks.

Although the formula may change on a weekly basis, Mr. Osomatsu is a solid and reliable comedy. Given the sheer abundance of gags, even the most ardent sourpuss will find something to chuckle at each week. Still, this week's stories are too short and randomly arranged to do the series justice. It resembles a four-panel comic adaptation, even though the comic was not four-panel style. In future installments, I hope to see Mr. Osomatsu prioritize quality over quantity.

Rating: B

Mr. Osomatsu is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.

Amy is a YA fantasy author who has loved anime for two decades.