The Way of the Househusband has officially ed Netflix's growing list of original animes, but its animation style has been controversial among audiences. While other original animes by the streaming giant have been well received— like The Seven Deadly Sins and Devilman Crybaby— The Way of the Househusband has had a polarized reception; fans either seem to love the absurd comedy or have been turned away from the anime because of its unique, non-moving comic style of animation. The animation of The Way of the Househusband has become one of the greatest points of contention surrounding the anime. Was the animation a stylistic choice, or a sign that Netflix went light on the show's budget?
The Way of the Househusband, adapted from the popular manga with the same title, follows the daily life of Tatsu, an ex-yakuza boss formerly referred to as "the Immortal Dragon." Instead of ruling the streets with an iron fist, Tatsu now lives the life of a househusband. He is fiercely devoted to taking care of his beloved wife, Miku, who has a successful career as a designer, and their household. The quirky Netflix comedy shows bits of the "Immortal Dragon's" new life as he does everything a househusband would— taking cooking classes, cleaning the house, preparing for Miku's birthday, keeping fit, and taking care of Gin, their mischievous cat.
Some fans, however, disapprove of the series' motionless animation style— a common comparison likens the animation to a choppy PowerPoint presentation. Most of the show's movement comes from camera panning instead of traditional animation. Review sites like IMDb are full of one-star reviews for the Netflix anime, calling the animation cheap and saying it distracts from the show's humor, and the series went viral on Twitter as audiences mocked the animation. Though the trailer Netflix released for The Way of the Househusband revealed the motionless animation style, fans were surprised to find the entire series had been animated this way. Audiences were starting to wonder if Netflix had kept the budget small for this eagerly-awaited adaptation.
However, the animation style choice is a little more complex than just a matter of budget. Director Kon Chiaki explained in an interview with Attack on Titan and The Seven Deadly Sins that lift the comedy of the show (Kenjiro Tsuda and Jonah Scott singing "Happy Birthday" as Tatsu are absurdly hilarious) and contribute to the characters' quirky charms. Kousuke Oono, the manga's original creator, even praised the animation style for maintaining the manga's deadpan comedic timing.
While the motionless animation may not appeal to all audiences, The Way of the Househusband was never intended to be a highly detailed anime. It's a series built best for casual watching— its absurd comedy, fast-paced skits, and brief episodes make the series perfect for fans who just want a little wholesome viewing without any heavy plot points to follow. With Netflix greenlighting season 2 of The Way of the Househusband, only time will tell if the series will stay true to its manga-style animation following its internet backlash.