Tanaka-kun Is Always Listless

Tanaka-kun Is Always Listless follows Tanaka, a high school student whose default mode is near-constant indifference. He dozes through classes, club activities and chores, preferring minimal effort and quiet over excitement or ambition. Ohta, his dependable friend, handles everyday logistics and tolerates Tanaka's sleepiness with a mix of exasperation and loyalty. Their interactions, plus reactions from classmates who range from amused to smitten, make up short, scene-driven sketches that focus on timing and dry humor rather than dramatic arcs. Episodes are light and episodic, highlighting small moments and recurring gags, and small character quirks fuel most of the laughs, consistently.

Released in 2016, the anime was created by Akemi Omode and Nozomi Uda, and features Kensho Ono as Tanaka and Yoshimasa Hosoya as Ohta, adapting a short-form comedic premise for television with tight pacing.

Tanaka's perpetually listless manner and the show's short, vignette-style episodes made it easy to clip into GIFs and share online, helping it become a quiet favorite among slice-of-life anime fans and casual viewers. Fans often quote his deadpan reactions, create fan art, and share GIFs across social feeds, frequently worldwide.

Critics and viewers generally give it warm ratings for its deadpan humor and gentle pacing, reflected in a 7.5/10 user vote average, with recurring themes of friendship, comfort and the contrast between energy and calm. Many viewers cited its soothing rhythm and understated jokes as reasons to rewatch episodes regularly.

The series didn't collect major industry awards, but it earned a steady fanbase and positive word-of-mouth for its light comedic timing and memorable pair dynamic, which kept it visible in seasonal anime discussions and saw modest recognition in fan polls.