Azumanga Daioh
Highschool is
the funniest time of life
by Face
February 14, 2004
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 Osaka.... err durrr...
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High School is an
unsteady period of life. While trying to maintain a healthy balance
between studies and pastimes, it is very common to see students buckle
under the pressure. Azumanga Daioh is a droll comedy about High School,
a caricature of the stereotypical and the bizarre, alike, and a
refreshingly tasty treat of anime goodness.
The story follows a group of girls through all three years of High
School. The ten-year-old Chiyo has been pushed up into the freshman
class in order to further develop herself as a student. Osaka has moved
from Osaka to Tokyo, and soon after unwillingly adopts the nickname,
Osaka. Almost immediately, they become good friends with the rest of
the group. As friends, they fight, they argue and annoy one another,
but in the end, they laugh, and so did I.
Azumanga Daioh is entirely devoid of restraint; it's boisterous,
slapstick teeming, and oddly enough, cleverly endearing. An odd mix of
rudimentary style repartee, and spontaneous slapstick gimmicks work
together to create a callow comedy routine that never fails to make me
smile -- well, more or less. From the muddle-headed goofball Osaka, to
the overstated genius Chiyo, the entire cast of quirky characters is
bound to make you chuckle sometime or other. The best thing in the
series, for me, is the way Osaka dwells upon her weird daydreams. She
seems to agonize over the littlest things, but takes the most pride in
accomplishing those trivial yet difficult tasks. For instance: while
eating lunch at one point, she opens up a package that contains her
chopsticks. Apparently, Osaka thinks it's good luck if you perfectly
snap them in half. As she prepares for this monumental task, she
focuses in with a steadfast determination, and carefully breaks them in
two. She then looks up with a satisfied smile, and says, "hehehe" --
absolutely hilarious.
Every episode is a different adventure, typically about an event going
on at school. They go through cultural fairs, sporting events, and
school fairs. Strangely, during summer vacation, the girls visit
Chiyo's summer house with their teacher. Wherever they go, chaos
eventually ensues, and hilarity triumphs. The girls constantly question
themselves and each other over issues that (I assume) most girls think
about. However, they ask questions with no reserve; if they want to
know why Sakaki's breasts are bigger than Tomi's, they ask Sakaki
herself. If they want to know about an experience with a man, they ask
their teachers. I got a perverted kick out of Tomi's breast comparison
discussions with Sakaki, and the drunken sexual experience conversation
with their P.E teacher. Their overwrought sexual tension is without a
doubt the most humorous and lucid element of the series. Mainly because
of the Japanese teacher, Kimura-sensei. He's a pervert in every sense
of the word, and he doesn't try to conceal his feelings regarding
female dress policies either. One of his recommendations suggests that
girls should be required to tuck their shirts in while wearing their
P.E. uniform. He visually demonstrates the pros and cons of tucked and
untucked during his class period, creating one of my favorite scenes of
the entire series.
His and Her Circumstances was funny, even I have to admit that. It's
over-the-top slapstick often caught me completely off guard. However,
where His and Her Circumstances failed (in the comedy department),
Azumanga Daioh flourishes. It's aware of when things are leaning
towards overly redundant, and knows when a joke is no longer funny. The
voice actresses have a masterful command over their characters, and
consistently deliver precisely when it counts. I'm satisfied.
As a starting point for new fans or as a way for seasoned fans to
broaden their horizons, Azumanga Daioh is the perfect choice. It's
funny, charming, and absolutely irresistable. Get ready for a
laughter-packed experience. |
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| Director: |
Hiroshi Nishikiori
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| Genre:
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Comedy/Slice of life
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| Episodes:
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26 TV Show
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| Released:
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2002-04-08
2002-09-30
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| Production: |
GENCO
J.C. Staff
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| Also known as: |
Azumanga Daioh: The Animation
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| Links: |
| ANN
Profile |
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