The Evil Anime Japan Refused to Buy

The Laughing Salesman: An Analysis of a Unique Anime Phenomenon

This video delves into the iconic Japanese anime series, The Laughing Salesman (Warau Salesman), focusing on its premise, character, cultural impact, and the reasons behind its recent revival's struggles.

The Premise and the Salesman

The core concept of The Laughing Salesman revolves around a mysterious salesman named Muro Fukuo, often referred to as "The Laughing Salesman." He encounters individuals, primarily Japanese salarymen, who are experiencing misfortune or possess character flaws. Muro offers them magical devices or services that promise to solve their problems, ranging from calming nerves for a barber to improving a golf swing for a salaryman seeking respect. Crucially, these solutions are offered "completely free of charge," with Muro's sole compensation being a satisfied customer. However, each magical solution comes with a strict rule that the customer must never break.

The Inevitable Downfall and Muro's Punishment

The narrative structure of each episode typically involves a customer accepting Muro's offer, experiencing initial success, and then inevitably breaking the imposed rule. This transgression leads to Muro's reappearance, not to offer further assistance, but to punish the customer for their broken promise. The video suggests that while some customers "deserve it" due to their flaws, Muro sometimes manipulates people's lives for seemingly no reason, perhaps for his own amusement or to deliver a dark punchline. Ultimately, the customers are portrayed as "slaves to his whims," emphasizing Muro's absolute control.

Cultural Impact and Merchandise

The Laughing Salesman has achieved iconic status in Japan, with Muro's distinctive "ear-to-ear smile" appearing on a wide array of merchandise. Examples include blankets, lighters, and even a brand of spirits. The show's popularity also spawned video game adaptations, most notably a point-and-click adventure for the Sega CD. This particular game is highlighted as an impressive achievement for the system, even utilizing the Sega Mouse controller. The video also showcases a "horrifying" piece of merchandise, a window-mounted figure reminiscent of Garfield toys, but with a disturbing aesthetic.

Digital Rights and the 2017 Revival

A notable fact mentioned is Muro's involvement in a digital rights campaign in 2000, with the slogan "You better not copy that floppy or the salesman just might get you," serving as a humorous anti-piracy message.

In stark contrast to its original success, a new Laughing Salesman anime produced in 2017, despite being made in HD, featuring updated stories, and even using the original intro music by Emi Nakamura ("Don't"), became one of the worst-selling anime of all time. The video attributes this failure to several factors:

• Demographic Mismatch: The series was marketed towards an older demographic, and anime targeting Japanese adults generally does not sell well.
• Time Gap: A nearly 30-year gap between the original series (ending in 1992) and the revival meant a significant loss of name recognition.
• Voice Actor Change: The original voice of Muro, Kouhei Miyauchi (also the Japanese voice of Darth Vader), was replaced in the remake with a noticeably higher-pitched voice, which the presenter felt was an irreplaceable loss.

The Appeal of the Original Series

The presenter expresses a personal fondness for The Laughing Salesman, attributing it to a childhood spent with similar anthology series like Eerie Indiana, The Twilight Zone, Goosebumps, and Are You Afraid of the Dark? This familiarity with episodic, often dark, cautionary tales made the series resonate immediately.

The original series aired for three seasons from October 1989 to September 1992, comprising 103 10-minute episodes, and was followed by nine TV specials and a short-lived live-action series in 1999. Currently, the franchise is most prominently featured in popular pachinko machines in Japan.

Misconceptions and the True Nature of the Salesman

The video addresses common misconceptions about The Laughing Salesman, particularly the tendency for modern viewers to seek deeper lore and explanations for Muro's powers. The presenter firmly states that Muro cannot be beaten, there is no deeper meaning, and his powers are whatever the story requires. He is described as a "force of nature" or a "horror monster," not bound by conventional rules. The key to enjoying the series, according to the presenter, is to "suspend your disbelief."

Conclusion and Viewing Recommendations

The Laughing Salesman is characterized as an "underrated, misunderstood anime" that is "opposite to what modern anime fans expect." It is recommended for viewers seeking short, self-contained stories about an unbeatable character who disrupts people's lives. The ideal viewing experience is described as "comfort food," enjoyed once a week rather than in binge-watching sessions. The presenter emphasizes that the show is not about lessons for the customers; rather, it's about Muro "getting a laugh out of it," highlighting his inherently evil nature. The concluding remarks offer cautionary advice: "be thankful for what you have," "be careful what you wish for," and "never ever pirate anime."

Key Concepts

• The Laughing Salesman (Warau Salesman): The central character and anime series.
• Muro Fukuo: The enigmatic salesman.
• Magical Devices/Services: Solutions offered by Muro to customers.
• Rules and Broken Promises: The core mechanic leading to customer punishment.
• Pachinko Machines: A current popular medium for the franchise in Japan.
• Anthology Series: The episodic nature of the show, similar to The Twilight Zone.
• Force of Nature/Horror Monster: The presenter's description of Muro's true nature.