Goumon Baito-kun no Nichijou

When I read the synopsis and title, I was a bit skeptical as to what I would expect, since the title had the word torture in it. But I was completely surprised when there is very little graphic torture shown on-screen, and the torture aspect is mostly there as a conversational topic and to give the show a workplace setting to showcase the characters struggles, character development and their workplace professional development, while having a workplace vibe that is supportive and wholesome.

If you enjoy watching a slow-paced Slice of Life and Cute Boys Doing Cute Things (CBDCT), this is the show for you. If you ... are expecting a show with a complex plot, I'd suggest finding a different show to watch as there is not really much of a plot since the show is just the boys at work and any conflicts and struggles tend to be resolved very quickly. I also appreciate how they did a backstory episode for their final episode which also helps to add some depths to some of the characters that we get to know for the past 11 episodes.

I loved the character designs, it is the perfect show for people like me who enjoys looking at beautifully drawn male characters on screen and the studio did an amazing job at drawing these characters. I would definitely love to see more of such anime that is focused on wholesome Cute Boys Doing Cute Things moments.

(I'm begging MAL, please create a new theme for CBDCT, there should be enough shows at this point for a theme).

Slice of life meets torture.

Was this a bad anime? No. Was it a great anime? Not for me at least. I found it a little too slow and boring for my taste. It really errs on the slice of life side with torture as it's base for the premise. I found myself watching this on 1.5x speed.

Not sure what I was expecting without reading the synopsis but if you want a slower paced, adult cast anime, where you only ever see a little blood spatter then give it a whirl.

The art style is suited well for an anime like this.
Adding in extra characters here and ... there was good and they were fleshed out well.

"Goumon Baito-kun no Nichijou" aka "Daily Life of a Torture Part-timer" is just the latest piece from Diomedea (formerly Studio Barcelona) that shows they're willing to take risks and try anything. It's refreshing in a landscape of Isekai and Shonen titles dominating the charts that some new things are getting made. Alas, newer is not always better and brave lives just across the street from stupid. That's how I feel about this 12-episode adaptation of the web manga featuring a work place that specializes in the physical torture of suspected criminals as a method to gather information, in a world where that's legal as long ... as it's licensed. I'd call it disgusting and dystopian but, I know it goes on in law enforcement and other uniformed services across the planet; but, I digress.

This queasy-sounding premise is actually that of a buddy ensemble comedy. The mood is cheerful and light, the torture details are implied, with minimal blood and gruesome looking implements in the hands of trained professionals. And that brings us to the cast, Sero is the part-time torturer who gets the focus. Young, enthusiastic, and dedicated, he's really found himself enjoying a line of work that has seen dozens come and go for various reasons. His mentor, the full-time Siu, is a dead-pan expert supporting twin daughters as a single dad. The duo are a good team, more like a big brother, little brother team than a senpai and kohai as they work at Spirytus, licensed torturers in a building that looks like a cigar bar. They both report to the owner, Hela, a drag-enthusiast who started the whole thing many years ago. Hard to believe such a hardcore torturer could be so delicate, but it's suggested by his heterochromia that he's multifaceted in more ways than the gender not matching his wardrobe.

The duo are soon joined by Mike and Hugh, the former a prodigious author who is interested in the work of torture for his writing, and the latter looking for a way to get away from the gawkers who oogle at his fantastic good looks- so much to the point he hides behind a scarf in public. Each of them gets into the work in their own, personal ways, and all deal with common job woes; physically demanding, not enough help, or know-how, and the hijinks that follow. It would make for a wonderful premise if there was any sense of drama, danger, or the joke wasn't always the same; "Hey, they're complaining about it likes it a normal job- but they're TORTURERS: Get It?!"

Yeah, I got it the first time. It was funny the first couple times. If only they had a better punchline or a second one.

Get used to the presentation of what turn out to be very lukewarm characters, each uniquely corky like everyone else, and their odd specialty in a torture business. The only time we ever get a glimpse of a juicy story ready to draw us in is when they flashback to before the days of when Spirytus opened. Finally covered in full come the 12th episode, we get to see a stark contrast; a dark, gritty, and frankly, actually interesting story that the previous 11 episodes lacked. Lacked because nothing happens of any consequence, the contrast of these lovable goof balls against their violent occupation only has charm for so long. This show got boring in a hurry and they missed many chances to do something compelling every other episode.

I can't quite bury this show because of the characters being somewhat memorable and maybe the chance to do something more with a prequel series or something heavier happening in Season 2. But, the daily plots are just so dreadfully dull that by the time I got to the enjoyable prequel episode, I was bored of it all. I don't recommend this show for anything but casual viewing, at best. Perhaps it's on me? Maybe some of the humor is missing on me because I don't know Japanese culture or speak the language? English dub coming at some point, I imagine- not that it needs an improvement, the VA work is fine top to bottom. More than I can say for the intro and outro music, which as generic a montage with some guitar blasting as you can get in Anime.

The show says torture work isn't for everyone and anime about it isn't either, I guess. 3/10. Skip it.