Hataraku Onii-san!
Movies
Also Known As
Working Buddies!
Genre
Comedy
Synopsis
Chatorazawa Tapio is a cheerful calico and Roshihara Kuehiko is a pessimistic Russian blue. The two study in the same college, and also work together on various odd jobs.
Background
Hataraku Onii-san! was originally created by Yoshiki Usa, also well-known for creating Wooser’s Hand-to-Mouth Life. The series is centered around a cheerful calico named Tapio and a somewhat aloof Russian blue named Kuehiko. They’re students together and jump from part-time job to part-time job, meeting all sorts of interesting and funny characters as they also end up learning about themselves.
Each episode ends up surrounding a theme like how difficult it is to not look at something when you’re told not to, or the importance of respecting secrets. These themes are summarized at the end of each episode by the koala-like Animal That Cannot be Named.
The director, series writer, and animation studio have all worked together in the past on the horror series Kagewani including director Tomoya Takashima, writer Hiromu Kumamoto, and the animation studio Tomovies. Character designs were produced by Haruka Oda while music is produced by R.O.N. (Garo the Animation, Kuroko’s Basketball).
Thirteen episodes are planned and began airing on Jan. 5, 2018. Each is short at around 5 minutes, and both the opening theme “Hataraku Onii-san” and ending theme “Keep Your Hope Alive” are performed by DearDream.
Characters
Tapio Chatorazawa (CV: Kentarou Tomita)
A calico cat with a lot of energy which seems to go nowhere. He always tries to get Kuehiko to join him on his adventures and he always wants to do well at his job. He also gives Kuehiko nonsense nicknames.
Kuehiko Roshihara (CV: Takuya Mizoguchi)
A cool Russian blue. He can come across as aloof and misanthropic, but he’s quite clever and caring. He often gets dragged along by Tapio.
The Animal That Shall Not Be Named (CV: Tomokazu Sugita)
A strange yellow creature with the ears and body of a koala who speaks with mysterious aphorisms at the end of every episode. He first appears before Tapio and Kuehiko while they’re doing part-time work for a shipping company.
Jakonekawa-senpai (CV: Junya Enoki)
A civet cat and a coworker at the convenience store. He’s extremely mysterious and occasionally off-putting, but he’s great at his job (at least when it comes to the coffee).
Arupain-senpai (CV: Masaki Outa)
A super stylish goat who works at the apparel store and even wears clothes from there.
Sukoyama-senpai (CV: Yoshimasa Hosoya)
A Scottish fold who works as a driver at a shipping company. Gentle and overall laid-back, although a bit strange and difficult to read. He gets along well with Tapio and Kuehiko.
Zoubayashi-senpai (CV: Shunsuke Takeuchi)
An elephant who works at the car rental store. He’s a bit hard-boiled and speaks like he’s still in the army where he was a medic.
Oraura-senpai (CV: Hideaki Kabumoto)
An orangutan who works as a glass cleaner. Great at working at high altitudes and has a cheerful demeanor.
Angoramori-senpai (CV: Koutarou Nishiyama)
An Angora rabbit who works as a traffic examination advisor, although Angoramori is more interested in counting river sharks and rabbits than cars and people. Always a bit restless.
Kameda-senpai (CV: Kimito Totani)
A turtle who works at the aquarium. Kameda is extremely sincere.
Niwatetsu-senpai (CV: Yoshitsugu Matsuoka)
A chicken who works at an anime shop. Every few steps Niwatetsu forgets where he was going, but he’s great at multitasking.
Robanami-senpai (CV: Souma Ishihara)
Robanami is a donkey who works at the anime shop alongside Niwatetsu-senpai. Often ends up doing the things Niwatetsu forgets to do.
Kousei-senpai (CV: Souma Ishihara)
An Egyptian fruit bat who works at the game shop. Speaks with a light tone and is extremely cool.
Kanihei-senpai (CV: Kaoru Masaki)
A crab who works at the movie rental store and often buts heads with a customer by the name of Sarujima. Unsurprisingly well-versed in movies.
Matsuzaka-senpai (CV: Hiroki Yasumoto)
A bull who’s in charge of the kitchen at a yakiniku restaurant. Very proud of his A5 rank.
Tonaka Shop Manager (CV: Soichiro Hoshi)
An extremely kind reindeer who is in charge of managing the cake store.
Pekko (CV: Honoka Inoue)
Roshihara’s younger sister. She’s sweet and extremely curious, and she loves turtles.
Cast
Kentarou Tomita: Tapio Chatorazawa
・Notable roles: Junya Sasaki (Dream Festival!), Gaju Akagi (Welcome to the Ballroom)
Takuya Mizoguchi: Kuehiko Roshihara
・Notable roles: Shin Oikawa (Dream Festival!, Dream Festival! R)
Tomokazu Sugita: The Animal That Shall Not Be Named
・Notable roles: Tadaomi Karasuma (Assassination Classroom), Hideki Motosuwa (Chobits)
Junya Enoki: Jakonekawa-senpai
・Notable roles: Takeru Takaishi (Digimon Adventure tri.), Horikawa Kunihiro (Touken Ranbu: Hanamaru)
Masaki Outa: Arupain-senpai
・Notable role: Itsuki Katagiri (Dream Festival!, Dream Festival! R)
Yoshimasa Hosoya: Sukoyama-senpai
・Notable roles: Reiner Braun (Attack on Titan), Asahi Azumane (Haikyu!!)
Shunsuke Takeuchi: Zoubayashi-senpai
・Notable roles: Kokuto Kirishima (All Out!!), Alexander Yamato (King of Prism)
Hideaki Kabumoto: Oraura-senpai
・Notable roles: Yuuto Kuroishi (Dream Festival!, Dream Festival! R)
Koutarou Nishiyama: Angoramori-senpai
・Notable roles: Atsushi Kinugawa (Cute High Earth Defense Club Love!), Kazuhito Narita (Haikyu!!)
Kimito Totani: Kameda-senpai
・Notable roles: Keigo Kazama (Dream Festival!), Yusuke Kawakami (King’s Game the Animation)
Yoshitsugu Matsuoka: Niwatetsu-senpai
・Notable roles: Kirito / Kazuto Kirigaya (Sword Art Online), Hajime Aoyagi (Yowamushi Pedal)
Souma Ishihara: Robanami-senpai, Kousei-senpai
・Notable role: Kanade Amamiya (Dream Festival!, Dream Festival! R)
Kaoru Masaki: Kanihei-senpai
・Notable role: Chizuru Sawamura (Dream Festival!, Dream Festival! R)
Hiroki Yasumoto: Matsuzaka-senpai
・Notable roles: Agi (Black Butler), Hozuki (Hozuki’s Coolheadedness)
Soichiro Hoshi: Tonaka Shop Manager
・Notable roles: Shinji Ogawa (Senki Zesshou Symphogear), Kei Kusanagi (Please Teacher!)
Honoka Inoue: Pekko
・Notable roles: Alma (In Another World With My Smartphone), Sakura Tanaka (Tsukigakirei)
Staff
Original Creator: Good Smile Company, Yoshiki Usa
Director: Tomoya Takashima
Series Composition: Hiromu Kumamoto
Music: R.O.N.
Character Design: Haruka Oda
Animation: Tomovies
Production: Good Smile Company
Theme Song
Opening Theme: "Hataraku Onii-san" by DearDream
Ending Theme: "Keep Your Hope Alive" by DearDream
Broadcast Information
Began Jan. 5, 2018 on Tokyo MX and BS Fuji with 13 episodes planned
Online Streaming
Crunchyroll
Official Links
Products on TOM
Working Buddies! Tapio & Kuehiko Acrylic Keychain Charm
Working Buddies! Mini Towel Collection
Working Buddies! Neck Strap
Working Buddies! Badge Set