Gokushufudo: The Way of the Househusband

October 21, 2021 9:40 AM - Season 1 (Full Season)

Tatsu, an infamous and feared yakuza boss nicknamed "the Immortal Dragon", retires from crime to become a househusband so that he can support Miku, his kyariaūman wife. The episodic series depicts a variety of comedic scenarios, typically wherein Tatsu's banal domestic work as a househusband is juxtaposed against his intimidating personality and appearance, and his frequent run-ins with former yakuza associates and rivals.
posted by rikschell (7 comments total)

It's surprising to me how much I liked this series. It gets SO much mileage out of essentially one joke. But as a former stay-at-home-dad/househusband myself, I found it truly touching in places. It demonstrates a form of masculinity that is not toxic and incorporates traditional gender expression in nontraditional ways. Tatsu is serious, but deeply playful. Of course, it doesn't linger on or ask too many questions about his violent past; the tone is too light for that. But as an in-the-present, everyday fella, you could do a lot worse for a sensei than Tatsu.
posted by rikschell at 10:02 AM on October 21, 2021

My wife and I really enjoyed this and were excited when the live action version came out. It took us the whole first episode to realize that The Ingenuity of the Househusband is not the same thing and we stopped watching.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 10:25 AM on October 21, 2021 [1 favorite]

It's surprising to me how much I liked this series. It gets SO much mileage out of essentially one joke.

In some ways I think it parallels One Punch Man, insofar as it's a single good idea stretched and drawn out like taffy. Delicious, delicious taffy.
posted by Mr.Encyclopedia at 12:16 PM on October 21, 2021

Why is there a multi-cultural trope about portraying gangsters comedically, and looking the other way in terms of violence? Not that I'm complaining. Stop!! Hibari-kun!, for example, is amazing.

Regarding this show, I have definitely never seen an anime with so little actual animation. They just zoom in and out, pan up and down. When people run, they just move a picture of them running back and forth. It's literally just manga with a sound track.
posted by jabah at 5:04 PM on October 23, 2021

Regarding this show, I have definitely never seen an anime with so little actual animation.

Yeah, it reminds me of the motion comics that Marvel used to put out when they were figuring out how to make comics for electronic devices. I'm guessing the budget for the show was pretty small which is why they went this way.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 1:28 PM on October 25, 2021

I read that they actually tested full animation and settled on limited animation as a better fit. I guess the manga is almost more of a strip comic than a comic-book style. It's all short gags. It worked for me.
posted by rikschell at 1:58 PM on October 25, 2021 [1 favorite]

I felt like the animation style was a great fit. It really captures the breakneck speed and comedic quick cuts of the original manga panels. So much of comedy is in the precise control of the timing.

I found Househusband very touching in places, too! The premise of this show is completely antic, and yet it has a tender heart of gold. Who would have thought that out of all the shows on TV right now, I would find my favourite ideas about caretaking, soft masculinity, and self-care expressed in a show about a hulking yakuza?!
posted by fire, water, earth, air at 3:59 AM on October 26, 2021 [2 favorites]