Africa no Salaryman (TV)

I'm really surprised that this flew under the radar for most people despite it being one of the more interesting anime to air this season. It's funny, has some decent characters, and it's something fresh from what is usually coming out of anime studios from Japan. At least give the first 2 or 3 episodes a try, if the first couple episodes aren't your cup of tea, then it might not be for you. Sound and background music fits the show, the art and 3d actually works decent with the show, and the story is kept simple. Overall, I enjoyed it and I would definitely recommendthis to anyone looking for a comedy anime slightly more older catered then the usual highschool demographic

I came into Africa no Salaryman with almost no expectations, except maybe thinking it would be similar to Gaikotsu Shouten'in Honda-san, i.e. a down-to-earth slice of life work comedy. What I got out of it was quite possibly the wackiest and funniest comedy of the season, maybe even year that almost never fails to surprise me at how absurd it can be. While not every episode is balls to the wall madness, (the final episode for instance was surprisingly down to earth and normal), the majority of the series effortlessly juxtaposes relatable work life with nonsensical, almost non-sequitur comedy to the point of perfection. Ialways have a dumb grin on my face as I watch this, at times even pausing the video just to hold onto my laughter. It's great, saying more or spoiling any of the jokes kills the fun. Go watch it already. 7/10

For what it was and what it wanted to be - budget & “western-influences” included - it was an incredible show, and quite hilarious (and... somehow endearing, too...). Can’t give it a 10 cos, I’m sure even the studio agrees but, it was never meant to be a production on that level, nor did it want it to be; and giving it ‘only an 8’ would be to disregard the “heart&soul” - with how well it composed and synergised itself in & with every department of the show - that went into this endearing and memorable project. Be it the music (both the front stage andthe back stage), but it the animation (which matches every tone and implementation of the show), be it the voice acting (only watched the dub—and it was incredible!...), be it the directing (which was completely unified with the scripting and sound design), or the ‘story boarding’, or even just the fact that every facet of Africa Salaryman feels like it ‘wasn’t just a creation of many smaller components with fantastic direction and then, eventually, combined together, but rather... as if there were an ‘overall cohesion - a dream of a goal, or even “an inspired labour of love” - from every member of (what I assume was) a small team & budget’. Honestly, this kind of production, albeit ‘never intending to be a Blockbuster’, is something that can only come to exist through “an office of entirely Unified and Motivated corporate slaves” (as turtle would put it), which only makes the ironic juxtaposition to our African Salarymen more meaningfully poetic and bittersweet - a message that, I’m sure, the team that put together this lighthearted work of art, thought was a beautifully-satirical final touch on their studio’s child. 9/10 is what they aimed for, and 9/10 is what they accomplished. Bravo. (...And pleeeaaase do a sequel!!! Don’t slack off, Toucan!)

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