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Synopsis:
In Miss Yukari's English class, every day is an adventure. First off, there's the teacher herself. A bit of an air-head, she may have graduated from high school, but she sure hasn't left.
And with the arrival of not one, but two transfer students - one ten-year-old prodigy and one space cadet - it's going to be an interesting year! |
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Review:
Azumanga Daioh is like a cute puppy... infected with rabies.
Rather than changing this situation, the producers of Azumanga Daioh decided it was going to have more fun foaming at the mouth and gnashing its teeth. And that's a good thing, folks.
When you have to produce a straightforward anime series about the school lives of 16 year old girls, you know the concept isn't going to keep anime folks awake at night in anticipation ..well, maybe for some.
The girls have no magical powers [it's not Sailor Moon] and no they do not take their kit off [not that sort of series, you sickos]. So it's actually to the studio's credit for making Azumanga Daioh entertaining even for a big kid like me. More pats on the back for the creators for being able to adapt Azuma Kiyohiko's four panel [count 'em, four] dailies into a 26 episode series. Now that's pretty impressive.
If you anything you can look forward to a series where there are no giant mechas and kids just go to school, you know, like normal kids do. No angst, nothing. Crazy idea but Azumanga Daioh has done it.
So what's the hook then? It's simple — humour, mostly bizarre and offbeat, sometimes stupid but I laughed nonetheless. Like a complete pinhead.
This 26 episode series is a visual diary of 6 girls from their first day at high school to their graduation. Visual diary is an apt description as the series follows no obvious plots or continuation of narratives. Each episode has seemingly random and funny incidences that let you enter into the lives of these girls. And what great characters they are too, well written and rounded characters, lovingly realised with all their individual quirks. From Chiyo, the pint size 11 year old genius who has academically accelerated into high-school, to the slow witted Osaka, these characters are damn infectious. There's the super-energetic human tornado Tomo, who tries to be good at everything but more often than not, she just leaves a trail of damage in her wake. Sakaki is tall and mature, always looked upon as a serious girl who is good at sports but in actual fact, has an insatiable desire to play with kittens.
Although Azumanga Daioh is a predominantly straightforward series, there is no shortage of simmering subtext to keep the eagled-eye amongst you occupied. If you've ever attended an all girls' school, then you will know there is always one male teacher who's just plain weird. Introducing Mr. Kimura, the slack-jawed [literally] teacher who dishes out some pretty disturbing personal revelations- 'I want to drink the swimming pool water the girls swam in'. [!] Well, if that doesn't grab your attention, then there's the more predictable schoolgirl crush of Kaori on Sasaki and I haven't even started on the symbolism in the New Year dreams episode!
The DVD also comes with an informative booklet about the characters and cultural explanations which is very handy indeed. The booklet also contain character sketches and artwork which I believe deserves a mention. The artwork is deceptively simple, with crisp lines and warm colours, it belies whatever production budget they may have had. Sure it's nothing amazing and at times characters' hands are just drawn as rounded stumps but it don't matter one bit! The decision to be unfussy actually enhances the series and can be observed in its music, pacing and structure. This lack of complexity or should I say lack of gimmicks is very refreshing.
It doesn't matter at which point you happen to catch the series, there's a little gem in each one although having said that, I would have preferred seeing the whole series as the experience would have been more complete. It reeks of cuteness from every pore but don't hold that against it. How can you resist when the theme song starts with “ Lu la Lu la Lu, a piano sends its melody the field of dreams all over the world”? So go on and let yourself be infected. I can think of worse ways of spending my time. 7.5 detachable talking pigtails out of 10 by Ching Yee back to the top
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