Welcome, readers, to Late to the Party , a column that's right on time when it comes to catching up on anime everyone's already watched. This column addresses a universal truth in regard to being an anime fan: an anime backlog is quite the powerful beast. Many of us have one, where we amass more and more content we have designated in the "planning to watch" category. How and why it takes so long to actually address this task varies from person to person, but the gratification of finally allocating the time is really quite splendid. Occasionally, it’s by watching a classic anime from yesteryear that you’ve had your eye on for quite some time. In other instances, it’s a more recent premiere that just slipped by. This month, I’m tackling an anime that has been at the top of my to-do list since I first started it in April 2020. That’s right, I’ve been waiting for five years for a chance to finish this one off. The Cat, the Reptile, and the Degenerate Studio: HOTZIPANG First aired: October 2019 (almost six years late to the party! Can you imagine how much paperwork would have piled up in that time??) The wealth of anime at our disposal in 2025 is such that we can freely pick our next watch based on our present vibes. I don’t know about you, but August has been a madcap month on my end, so I wanted to pivot toward an anime that would suit that energy. And I have to say, after watching Africa Salaryman , my life actually seems rather tame in comparison. What you see in the title is exactly what you get — in this world of anthropomorphic beasts, the various animals of the African plains toil their lives away in your bog standard 9-5 job. Now I know what you’re probably thinking: If the plot mirrors the trials and tribulations of the average Japanese salaryman, is this even set in Africa? My answer is… yes, technically. It’s a bit of a mystery sometimes, as the rules change to suit the current plot beat. Eventually, you’ll learn not to pontificate on it too much. Anyway, the three central figures are the kindly Lion, the overly serious Lizard, and Toucan, who defies description for the most part but can be roughly summated as a womanizing degenerate. They wear suits, they liaise with clients, and they put in hours of unpaid overtime for a thankless corporation. In this way, you can start to see some familiar aspects of other office-based anime. But much like the employees themselves, Africa Salaryman refuses to remain conventional. At times, it injects its animal cast into the routine, such as when Toucan goes to a mixer to meet college girls. He winds up being paired up with a pig — not a conversational, self-aware pig, but your run-of-the-mill, oinking, snorting pig in a cute hat. How does this happen, exactly? I won’t spoil the payoff, but suffice to say, this is Africa Salaryman at its eccentric best. RELATED: Aggretsuko and Africa Salaryman Team Up in Office Exchange Video In other instances, it eschews office tropes entirely, such as sending the trio off into uncharted swamplands to track down a mythical beast. By now, you’re so used to the mayhem that occurs within the office, this excursion really just seems par for the course. As a reminder, one of the workplace denizens is a hamster wielding a pair of knives . I defy you to try and predict what comes next, as it is a fool’s errand. The Strength of Africa Salaryman’s Characters The reason it works so well is due in large part to the strength of its characters. Despite taking place in an office, the cast of Africa Salaryman is surprisingly small. While there are a few returning figures here and there — such as the miserly company president or an overzealous honey badger whose talent for fearlessness often results in him dying horribly — the lineup is largely made up of a rotating roster of one-off appearances. RELATED: Why Did It Take Me So Long to Watch Kanon (2006)? Funnily enough, these are some of my absolute favorite moments, as they range from unusual to inexplicable. I didn’t have Tomokazu Sugita (of Gintama , Kanon and JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure fame) playing a half-rabbit half-apple mascot on my bingo card for roles to anticipate, but I’m pleased to have experienced it now. Perhaps you can glean some sense of symbolism and tranquility from the proceedings. There is a curious juxtaposition between the wild freedom of the African savannah, against the mundane rigors of a gloryless corporate job; perhaps a statement of how we all deserve a reprieve from the existential crises that come with office politics? Surreal as it may be, there is a kind of eerie truth in the absurdity of the average work day, and the often deranged antics of one’s colleagues. RELATED: Why Did It Take Me So Long to Watch Polar Bear Cafe? I’m somewhat reminded of Polar Bear Cafe , albeit without the innocent optimism and earnest dedication to one’s career prospects. That isn’t to say that Africa Salaryman is cynical or mean-spirited, however. Once the end credits roll (as sung by Lion himself, Akio Otsuka), you gain a sense of the camaraderie of this trio. Even with their differences of species and temperament, they’re all simply doing their best to survive in the stressful atmosphere of the working world. …Except Toucan, of course. That guy’s just a jerk, straight up. Defiantly Unique The episodic nature of Africa Salaryman means that you get to enjoy multiple segments at a time. It’s akin to a slapstick sketch show, and it always keeps things fresh and interesting. Its deranged sense of humor typically breaks the fourth wall, liberally applying references to other famous licenses. Sometimes, it’s a familiar anime gag, like the infamous Yamcha death pose from Dragon Ball Z . Other times, it’s completely out of left field, such as the above pictured homage to Stephen King’s IT . There’s lots of fun to be had here, and it never takes itself seriously for even a moment. As I alluded to in the lede, that is exactly what I needed to consolidate the turmoil that has been my month. Africa Salaryman is aesthetically appealing, fast-paced and defiantly unique. If you want to witness a lion at the dentist, a lizard trying to run budget meetings, and a toucan attempting to score a date at the club, you’ll feel right at home. You utter weirdo, you.
