OVA
Description
The character Ichimatsu Matsuno, one of the sextuplets from the Osomatsu-kun and Osomatsu-san series, appears differently depending on which version of the story is considered.
In the original 1960s manga and anime, Ichimatsu shares an identical appearance and largely interchangeable personality with his five brothers. He is depicted with the same bowl cut, two cowlicks, and standard uniform as his siblings. During this period, his traits were not consistently unique to him, and the brothers were often not distinguished by name. However, some portrayals suggest he is the most serious and strong-willed of the group, with a practical nature and possibly a marginal advantage in intelligence, though he remains academically poor like the others. He could act in a kind, caring manner toward younger children but was also capable of being merciless. In some stories, he showed greater physical endurance than his brothers, such as when he nearly reached the top of a building while chasing a character named Chibita.
In the 2015 reboot and its subsequent film, Ichimatsu gains a much more defined and complex personality as an adult NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) living at home. He is known as the lone wolf of the Matsuno family. His appearance becomes distinct from his brothers: he has droopy, half-closed eyes, messy ruffled hair, and a hunched posture. He typically wears a purple hoodie, blue sweatpants with a white stripe, and sandals, with purple being his signature color. He is also often seen wearing a white medical mask over his mouth.
His personality is characterized by a muted, dark, and antisocial exterior. He is extremely withdrawn, has low self-esteem, and finds it difficult to express his emotions. This behavior is a defense mechanism that hides a deeply sensitive and fragile inner self, which has been symbolized as a glass heart with a fragile sticker on it. He has a profound affinity for cats, preferring their company over people and often feeding stray cats. He is frequently shown in the company of felines, which brings him comfort. Despite his quiet nature, he is prone to violent and sadistic outbursts when provoked, particularly towards his brother Karamatsu, whom he openly despises and often calls "Shittymatsu."
A significant part of his background is revealed in the Osomatsu-san movie. During his high school years, he adopted a popular, outgoing, and confident persona, calling himself Ichi. This was a mask he created to differentiate himself from his brothers and fit in with a social circle, including a now-successful man named Yanagita-kun. The effort of maintaining this false personality eventually led to a traumatic failure and collapse, which directly shaped his insecure and antisocial adult identity. When confronted with his teenage self, his reaction is one of extreme self-loathing, including suicidal and violent impulses.
His role in the story is primarily as one of the six main characters, often creating conflict or dark humor through his gloomy demeanor and interactions with his brothers. His primary motivation is not driven by ambition or goals, but rather by a desire for self-protection and a struggle to connect with others, finding solace only in cats.
Key relationships define much of his behavior. He has a particularly close and protective bond with his younger brother, Jyushimatsu, and the two are frequently paired together. In contrast, he harbors a strong hatred for his older brother, Karamatsu, which some suggest stems from jealousy. He feels awkward and intimidated by his brother Choromatsu, who actively tries to live a normal life. With the other brothers, Osomatsu and Todomatsu, his interactions vary but are often marked by his typical irritability or disinterest.
Ichimatsu possesses a few notable abilities. He demonstrates greater physical stamina than his brothers on occasion. He is also shown to be skilled at origami, having made paper cranes and a paper gun. A comedic, recurring visual gag allows him to transform into a cat or develop cat ears and a tail, emphasizing his connection to felines. He also has a fear of hypodermic needles.
In the original 1960s manga and anime, Ichimatsu shares an identical appearance and largely interchangeable personality with his five brothers. He is depicted with the same bowl cut, two cowlicks, and standard uniform as his siblings. During this period, his traits were not consistently unique to him, and the brothers were often not distinguished by name. However, some portrayals suggest he is the most serious and strong-willed of the group, with a practical nature and possibly a marginal advantage in intelligence, though he remains academically poor like the others. He could act in a kind, caring manner toward younger children but was also capable of being merciless. In some stories, he showed greater physical endurance than his brothers, such as when he nearly reached the top of a building while chasing a character named Chibita.
In the 2015 reboot and its subsequent film, Ichimatsu gains a much more defined and complex personality as an adult NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) living at home. He is known as the lone wolf of the Matsuno family. His appearance becomes distinct from his brothers: he has droopy, half-closed eyes, messy ruffled hair, and a hunched posture. He typically wears a purple hoodie, blue sweatpants with a white stripe, and sandals, with purple being his signature color. He is also often seen wearing a white medical mask over his mouth.
His personality is characterized by a muted, dark, and antisocial exterior. He is extremely withdrawn, has low self-esteem, and finds it difficult to express his emotions. This behavior is a defense mechanism that hides a deeply sensitive and fragile inner self, which has been symbolized as a glass heart with a fragile sticker on it. He has a profound affinity for cats, preferring their company over people and often feeding stray cats. He is frequently shown in the company of felines, which brings him comfort. Despite his quiet nature, he is prone to violent and sadistic outbursts when provoked, particularly towards his brother Karamatsu, whom he openly despises and often calls "Shittymatsu."
A significant part of his background is revealed in the Osomatsu-san movie. During his high school years, he adopted a popular, outgoing, and confident persona, calling himself Ichi. This was a mask he created to differentiate himself from his brothers and fit in with a social circle, including a now-successful man named Yanagita-kun. The effort of maintaining this false personality eventually led to a traumatic failure and collapse, which directly shaped his insecure and antisocial adult identity. When confronted with his teenage self, his reaction is one of extreme self-loathing, including suicidal and violent impulses.
His role in the story is primarily as one of the six main characters, often creating conflict or dark humor through his gloomy demeanor and interactions with his brothers. His primary motivation is not driven by ambition or goals, but rather by a desire for self-protection and a struggle to connect with others, finding solace only in cats.
Key relationships define much of his behavior. He has a particularly close and protective bond with his younger brother, Jyushimatsu, and the two are frequently paired together. In contrast, he harbors a strong hatred for his older brother, Karamatsu, which some suggest stems from jealousy. He feels awkward and intimidated by his brother Choromatsu, who actively tries to live a normal life. With the other brothers, Osomatsu and Todomatsu, his interactions vary but are often marked by his typical irritability or disinterest.
Ichimatsu possesses a few notable abilities. He demonstrates greater physical stamina than his brothers on occasion. He is also shown to be skilled at origami, having made paper cranes and a paper gun. A comedic, recurring visual gag allows him to transform into a cat or develop cat ears and a tail, emphasizing his connection to felines. He also has a fear of hypodermic needles.