The Tatami Galaxy

A disillusioned young man, known only as 'I', stumbles into a late night ramen stall and meets a mysterious self-styled god of marriage. That encounter catapults him back to his college years, where a charismatic but cruel friend steers him away from idealistic romance and into a mischievous role as a so-called "black cupid." The series rewinds and replays his university life in rapid, overlapping scenarios, each showing how small choices reshape relationships, regrets, and identity. The tone swings between dark humor and surreal fantasy as the protagonist tests alternate ways his past might have unfolded, with no single timeline holding the full answer.

The anime aired in 2010 on Fuji TV's Noitamina block, adapted from Tomihiko Morimi's novel and directed by Masaaki Yuasa. Production was handled by studio Madhouse, and the voice cast includes Shintaro Asanuma, Hiroyuki Yoshino, Keiji Fujiwara, Yuhko Kaida, and Maaya Sakamoto.

While I won't list specific trophies, the series earned strong critical recognition and festival attention after its release, and it showed up on numerous critics' year-end lists. That reception helped raise the profile of both its director and source author in animation circles.

Fans and creators often point to this show when talking about experimental TV anime. Its rapid-fire narration, stylized visuals, and densely packed episodes made it a common reference among anime enthusiasts, and it influenced discussions on how much a series can compress plot and stylistic risk into short runtimes.

Critics praised the show for its inventive storytelling and distinctive animation, and viewers have given it high marks, with a vote average around 8.24 out of 10 on aggregate sites. Major themes include choice versus chance, the weight of regret, and the ways friendships and romance reshape personal identity, all delivered through witty, fast-paced dialogue and surreal, often hilarious set pieces.