Uncle’s Obsession With Cute Things Episode 1 Review

The first episode of Uncle’s Obsession With Cute Things introduces Oji, a forty-something divorcee who secretly adores the mascot character Pugtaro. He hides this interest due to fear of mockery, creating a premise centered on gendered hobby expectations and social anxiety. The review notes that while the show engages with feminist themes regarding masculinity norms, it struggles as a comedy because Oji remains miserable without relief or catharsis. Unlike similar series that offer emotional healing, this premiere maintains a consistent tone of second-hand embarrassment. The narrative relies heavily on Oji’s catastrophizing over his colleagues and family discovering his fandom, which the critic finds unengaging. Although the ideological concepts are interesting, the execution is described as a tonal mish-mash where the humor fails to land effectively for the reviewer.

J-List Blog reported on September 25 that the anime premieres in October.