Doujin Work is another series based off a 4koma, and given the first impression that Lucky Star left, I was wary of my expectations heading into this one. While I can’t say say Doujin Work blew me away, it came off pretty well and left me sort of wanting more, so all things considered, I liked it.

Doujin work is centered around Nanajimi Osana (great name or GREATEST name?) who is introduced to the world of doujinshi.

The ordeal starts innocently enough, with Osana recounting the story of how she lost her job to her friend Tsuyuri. But well into the story she realizes that Tsuyuri is half asleep and not paying attention at all.

Tsuyuri explains that she barely got any sleep last night, and when Osana jokingly suggests it was because she was doing something perverted, Tsuyuri surprisingly confirms that that is exactly the reason. Osana’s questioning and Tsuyuri’s vague replies end up creating a whole misunderstanding which leads Osana (and the surrounding passengers) to believe that Tsuyuri was pleasuring herself all night long.

Things are only worsened when Tsuyuri invites Osana to help her, offering a job of sorts. Osana gives a thanks but no thanks reply and begins to scurry off, but is tempted by Tsuyuri’s promise of a 20,000 yen (~$160 USD) compensation.

After losing a whole night’s sleep worrying what Tsuyuri had in mind, Osana is relieved to hear that she was talking about drawing doujinshi manga. Because most of her work is centered on rape, Tsuyuri sticks with her explanation that she was doing perverted things by drawing all night.

So the help Osana enlisted for is sitting at a dealer’s table at Comiket, helping Tsuyuri sell her merchandise under the circle name ‘Pantsu Revolution’. Obviously embarrassed at the material she’s involved in selling, Osana is noticeably out of place. Until an old childhood friend of Osana, Justice, and his loli companion, Sora, drop by to say hi to Tsuyuri.

But rather than seeing her childhood friend, Osana is cheered up by Tsuyuri’s explanation that doujinshi circles can make in the tens of millions of yen per Comiket if they become popular. Being a materialistic money hoarding person, Osana lights up at the prospect of raking so much cash by drawing comics and decides to charge into the world of doujinshi with the ultimate goal of PROFIT!

First Impressions

While Doujinshi Work wasn’t laugh out loud funny, it was entertaining in that “so stupid it’s funny” way. Tsuyuri’s vague description of her night and the resulting misunderstanding was great, usually in circumstances like that the character realizes what they’re saying midway through and end up a blushing mess. Tsuyuri’s ability to stay calm, oblivious to what her story may insinuate to the perverted mind was pretty lulz.

And then there’s osananajimi, whose love for money is so strong that she chances at a lesbian experience with her friend to score a quick buck. There’s tons of comedic potential in her character and her inability to plan out the ‘???’ in half baked plan:

1. Draw doujinshi
2. ???
3. PROFIT!

I just hope the series doesn’t take itself too seriously and focuses on one shot gags instead of trying to build up a coherent story, if it does the latter I can only seeing it becoming a half-assed Comic Party rip off.

Technical aspects of Doujin work were terrible but fitting. The animation kept true to its 4koma roots and kept the backgrounds and extras only mildly animated, a technique we’ve grown used to in L*S. The animation and character designs of the foreground weren’t anything special either, but their rough feel really makes it seem like an amateur 4koma in motion.

One things that I thought they did great was the use of the manga stills. I haven’t seen this technique used since FLCL, probably since it can’t be used to any effect under normal circumstances. But for quick and often nonsensical scenes like these, it’s a nice alternative to full animation (and it saves budget!).

The music was just weird though, the OP and ED were kind of catchy, but rather forgettable. But that one track that started playing when the two set up shop was quite the WTF!? moment.

It looks like I’ll keep watching Doujin Work, as long as it stays a gag comedy I think it’ll be an interesting watch. Also, the episodes are only 14 minutes long, which works well because it flows well with the truncated feel of a 4koma, and if it ends up sucking, I’ll be relieved that not much time was wasted watching it.

Also, to the bloggers out there and anyone discussing Doujin Work, am I the only one who misspells Tsuyuri’s name as Tsuruya -EVERY SINGLE TIME- I type it T_T!?

Aside: This was another one of those entries that was spontaneously written in the wee hours of the morning. If there are any inconsistencies or mistakes in my grammar, summary or general ramblings, just give me a heads up and I’ll fix it when I’m back from work.

~ Shirukii ~