Mr. Osomatsu

Episode 12

Your enjoyment of this week's Mr. Osomatsu will largely depend on how amenable you are to repeated material. Although there are only ten episodes (not including the recently pulled series premiere) from which to take footage, Mr. Osomatsu closes out its first cour with a clip show hosted by super-deformed Flash-animated versions of Osomatsu and Totoko. (Both characters only have a handful of poses and expressions that are used throughout the entire episode.) The theme of this "special" is determining which of the Matsuno brothers is the biggest loser and worthy of the title "Losermatsu."

This week's installment is essentially a collection of clips that showcase each sextuplet at his absolute worst. Following the boys' birth order, Osomatsu is the first to have his jerkiness put on full display, while Todomatsu clocks in last. If you've enjoyed the series up until this point, you may get a kick out of revisiting some of the first cour's funniest moments, but if original content is what you're after, you're likely to walk away disappointed.

The wraparound segments in which the chibi-fied Osomatsu and Totoko comment on the proceedings are the only new material to be found this week. There are a few laughs to be gleaned from their banter, but unless you're a die-hard fan, episode 12 is far from essential viewing. While trying to determine which brother is the biggest loser is a clever idea, even casual viewers will see the end result coming from a mile away.

The featured clips serve as perfect examples of what sets each sibling apart. (They're all their own brand of terrible.) Conspicuously missing among the clips is the stellar first episode. (Remember those mounting legal troubles due to copyright law in Japan?) I can't help but wonder if the home video release's "new" first episode is actually the original episode 12.

Although clip shows aren't something audiences clamor for, Mr. Osomatsu features a wealth of scenes that can elicit laughter even after repeat viewings. Even so, many of the clips aren't as funny outside of their respective narrative contexts. If you're eager to revisit some of your favorite Osomatsu moments, I'd advise checking out the episodes that spawned them. This week's outing adds almost nothing to the experience and can safely be skipped.

Rating: C-

Mr. Osomatsu is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.

Amy is a YA fantasy author who has loved anime for two decades.