This review may contain spoilers
Animals
I went into this drama knowing almost nothing, and I emerged from it with a surprising boost in self-confidence. I really didn’t expect that. What started as a casual watch slowly turned into something that made me stop and reflect on work, self-worth, and how much we allow ourselves to endure.
Plot*
The story follows Umi, an assistant director working for a major Japanese Talk show. Her entire life revolves around work. She is overworked to the point where she can’t even remember how many days she has gone without proper sleep. Her work environment is brutal; she’s the one who does everything, the one everyone relies on, and the one people dump their tasks on without a second thought.
After pushing herself for too long, Umi falls asleep during a live TV broadcast. It’s revealed on air that she has been working without sleep for three days straight. This sparks controversy and public backlash toward the TV station, forcing the company to give her time off. During this break, and with encouragement from Kazuo, a freelance photographer working for a company called Animal, Umi makes a life-changing decision: she quits her job as an AD and embarks on a completely new journey.
She joins Animal, a makeup company run by a CEO with a modern approach to work culture, a bit like Google, one that prioritises employee well-being, mental health, and balance. For the first time in her life, Umi is encouraged to speak up, share her ideas, and take care of herself. Slowly, she begins to rediscover not only her voice, but also her self-worth and her ability to love herself.
Thoughts & Themes
Well, the drama’s principal topic on toxic work culture is very strong and very real. Japan is known for having an extremely strict—and often toxic work environment, but what makes it even more troubling is how normalised it has become. Everyone knows it’s unhealthy, yet no one complains. People just endure it.
Animal, on the other hand, is the complete opposite. The CEO actively encourages employees to take days off, go skiing, rest, and look after their mental health. Most importantly, he actually listens to them. It’s uplifting and refreshing to watch such an environment, but the drama is also smart enough to show that even a comfortable environment can become a trap.
That is exactly what happens to Kazuo, who becomes so comfortable working for the company that he slowly forgets and stops chasing his dreams altogether. It subtly shows how such comfort can become a trap. When everything is supportive and easy, some people forget their ambitions and stop chasing bigger goals. The drama suggests that comfort does not always mean accomplishment, and that sometimes growth only happens in uncomfortable places. It doesn’t romanticise either extreme, and I enjoyed that aspect.
There’s also a rom-com element running alongside the heavier themes, with love triangles woven into the story, which keeps the drama light enough to watch without feeling overwhelmed.
About the Title
The title initially caught my attention, and I assumed it would mean something else. At first, I was surprised to realise it’s simply the name of the company. But the more I thought about it, the more intentional it felt. Maybe it’s also a commentary on how toxic systems treat people like animals, working them endlessly without care, while this company tries to redefine what work should look like.
Plot*
The story follows Umi, an assistant director working for a major Japanese Talk show. Her entire life revolves around work. She is overworked to the point where she can’t even remember how many days she has gone without proper sleep. Her work environment is brutal; she’s the one who does everything, the one everyone relies on, and the one people dump their tasks on without a second thought.
After pushing herself for too long, Umi falls asleep during a live TV broadcast. It’s revealed on air that she has been working without sleep for three days straight. This sparks controversy and public backlash toward the TV station, forcing the company to give her time off. During this break, and with encouragement from Kazuo, a freelance photographer working for a company called Animal, Umi makes a life-changing decision: she quits her job as an AD and embarks on a completely new journey.
She joins Animal, a makeup company run by a CEO with a modern approach to work culture, a bit like Google, one that prioritises employee well-being, mental health, and balance. For the first time in her life, Umi is encouraged to speak up, share her ideas, and take care of herself. Slowly, she begins to rediscover not only her voice, but also her self-worth and her ability to love herself.
Thoughts & Themes
Well, the drama’s principal topic on toxic work culture is very strong and very real. Japan is known for having an extremely strict—and often toxic work environment, but what makes it even more troubling is how normalised it has become. Everyone knows it’s unhealthy, yet no one complains. People just endure it.
Animal, on the other hand, is the complete opposite. The CEO actively encourages employees to take days off, go skiing, rest, and look after their mental health. Most importantly, he actually listens to them. It’s uplifting and refreshing to watch such an environment, but the drama is also smart enough to show that even a comfortable environment can become a trap.
That is exactly what happens to Kazuo, who becomes so comfortable working for the company that he slowly forgets and stops chasing his dreams altogether. It subtly shows how such comfort can become a trap. When everything is supportive and easy, some people forget their ambitions and stop chasing bigger goals. The drama suggests that comfort does not always mean accomplishment, and that sometimes growth only happens in uncomfortable places. It doesn’t romanticise either extreme, and I enjoyed that aspect.
There’s also a rom-com element running alongside the heavier themes, with love triangles woven into the story, which keeps the drama light enough to watch without feeling overwhelmed.
About the Title
The title initially caught my attention, and I assumed it would mean something else. At first, I was surprised to realise it’s simply the name of the company. But the more I thought about it, the more intentional it felt. Maybe it’s also a commentary on how toxic systems treat people like animals, working them endlessly without care, while this company tries to redefine what work should look like.
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