DigitalNoob

WTF Wednesday’s Guest Month continues, as does my attempt at finding you some of the oddest that Japanese culture can offer.

This week: Haré + Guu, known in Japan as Jungle Wa Itsumo Hale Nochi Guu [which translates, approximately, to: The Jungle Was Always Nice, Then Came Guu]. Like many anime, it starts with a simple story. Haré lives with his mom, Weda, in a small village in the jungle. One day, Weda finds a lost little pink-haired girl, Guu, and is so enamored by her cuteness that she just has to bring her home.

But… Guu is no mere innocent cutie pie. I can’t really explain what she is [because the anime doesn't really, either], but suffice to say that she’s… special. Amongst other abilities and oddities about her, she keeps an alternate dimension in her stomach. In her stomach dimension are some strange creatures, such as a cat-erpillar [imagine a train-sized caterpillar with a feline face], skyfish with giant lips for faces, two Japanese school students, pyramids, and oh so much more. That’s just the beginning of the weirdness, and Haré is apparently the only one who ever notices.

The series pokes fun at many different genres of anime and pop culture, as well as coating it with a nice thick layer of bizarre humor. It’s one of my favorite anime, even if it is the hardest to explain. But let’s be honest… That’s half the fun! There’s something so enjoyable about having to say ‘I can’t explain it. You just have to watch!’

On that note, here’s the first episode!

PS: For those of you that are saying ‘Hey! It’s not Wednesday in my time zone!’ … It still is in mine, so there!