Review originally written in 2017.

Himouto! Umaru-chan is an anime that explores the amusing yet relatable concept of leading two contrasting lives. Initially, I found it easy to connect with Umaru, the main character. But, my enthusiasm shrunk exponentially as I realized her character development would remain stagnant throughout the entire anime.

The anime tries, and fails, to explore the idea that all people have different sides to our personalities. Unfortunately, this theme takes a backseat to “comedy.” If you find watching a girl repeatedly teasing her kind-hearted brother entertaining, you might enjoy Umaru's antics. If this premise doesn't sound very funny to you, chances are you'll get very bored of it very quickly. Just like I did.

My main issue with this show is repetitiveness. Seeing Umaru bother her brother without consequences becomes tiresome after a while. The lack of growth and learning from mistakes hampers character development and prevents the show from reaching its full potential. The comedy mostly revolves around Umaru's quirky transformation into a mischievous gremlin whenever she's away from others. However, without Umaru's presence, the show fails to deliver laughs. Despite receiving more screen time than anyone else, she falls flat, along with the rest of the cast.

While the characters are pretty badly-written, the anime’s art brings them to life a little bit. The art style is simple, portraying typical suburban environments found in slice-of-life anime. Although the characters lack originality, their expressive behavior compensates for it. In her gremlin form, Umaru's playful antics remind you of a cat, making you want to sit on the couch with a refreshing soda while relaxing. Sometimes, Umaru’s brother’s character design flips to something out of Ace Attorney or Kaiji. It is creative, but does not always match his personality and comes off as pandering.

The music in Himouto! Umaru-chan is forgettable, adding nothing to the overall experience. While some catchy tracks accompany humorous scenes, none stand out as exceptional. Personally, I found the opening theme loud, brash, and obnoxious, which aligns well with Umaru's character. Which is why I always skipped it.

The anime relies heavily on forgettable jokes that persist throughout, and I highly doubt the sequel will offer anything different. Umaru's humor is like the Minions from Despicable Me—contextually thin but filled with obnoxious noises and mannerisms. Although the writing and comedy in Himouto! Umaru-chan left much to be desired, I don't consider my time watching it a complete waste. Everyone's experience may vary depending on how much they identify with Umaru, which can significantly impact their enjoyment of the series.