Watch Himouto! Umaru-chan

Himouto! Umaru-chan is an anime television series that aired in Japan from July to September 2015. The show is directed by Masahiko Ohta and produced by animation studio Doga Kobo. The anime is based on a manga series written and illustrated by Sankaku Head. The show has been licensed for release in North America by Sentai Filmworks, who have released it on home video in both English and Japanese language versions.

The story of Himouto! Umaru-chan centers around Umaru Doma, a high school student who is a popular and intelligent girl with good looks and great grades. However, when she is at home, Umaru adopts a completely different persona - that of a lazy, junk food-loving, video game-obsessed otaku. Her brother, Taihei, is her only witness to this transformation as Umaru keeps her two lives separate.

Through the show's 12-episode run, we follow Umaru and her close friends as they go about their daily routines both at school and at home. While her classmates see Umaru as a model student, at home she is a total slob, obsessing over anime, manga, and video games while constantly demanding food and attention from Taihei who finds himself playing the role of her caretaker rather than brother.

One of the most notable aspects of the show is its depiction of the various ways that different people interact with Umaru's dual identity. Some characters are completely oblivious to her two sides, while others are aware of both and enjoy both versions of her. One character in particular, Kirie Motoba, initially dislikes Umaru but soon becomes fascinated by both her personalities and becomes one of her closest friends.

As the show progresses, we see Umaru evolve and mature as a character. While she initially struggles with trying to balance her two lives, she eventually learns to embrace both sides of her personality and becomes more comfortable showing her true colors to those around her. One of the more interesting aspects of the show is the way that it explores the idea of what it means to be yourself, and how different people view that concept.

Overall, Himouto! Umaru-chan is a lighthearted and fun anime that explores some interesting themes while keeping things light and entertaining. Umaru is an endearing character who is easy to root for, and the show as a whole will be enjoyable for fans of slice-of-life comedies. The show also explores some intriguing ideas about identity and the different masks that people wear in different situations, making it a more thought-provoking experience than it might initially seem.

The voice acting is excellent across the board, with Sara Ornelas delivering a standout performance as Umaru. Jad Saxton is also great as Taihei, bringing a lot of depth and nuance to the character that helps to make him more than just a one-dimensional straight man. Emily Neves shines in her role as Kirie, bringing a lot of charm and humor to the character.

The animation style and character designs are also noteworthy, with bright and colorful visuals that help to bring the show's world to life. Overall, if you're looking for a feel-good anime with some humorous moments and an interesting central concept, Himouto! Umaru-chan is definitely worth checking out.