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Plot Synopsis

Azumanga Daioh is a slice of life anime that follows six friends throughout their three years of high school. There is no overarching plot other than following the experiences of these six characters through high school; however, Azumanga Daioh still succeeds on its strong cast of characters and their interactions. The main characters are all female, and the friends - and their teachers - get into some very interesting and hilarious situations. They are: Tomo, the energetic one with no self control, Yomi, Tomo's...'friend' through all their school years, Chiyo, the 10 year old genius, Osaka, the airhead, Sakaki, the tall, athletic and shy one with a thing for cats, and Kagura, the athlete and self-proclaimed rival of Sakaki.

Credits: destati

Story & Characters

Azumanga Daioh's stroyline plot flows with the seasons and time, and the anime version took a great deal of some of the scenes from the four volumes, and created a timeline revolving around the six girls, who come from different background and personalities (Kagura, the jock, Osaka, the space cadet, Sakaki, the gentle but tall giant that loves all things cute, Koyomi, the one who is worrisome aboput weight, Tomo, the reseident idiot, Chiyo, the child prodigy, etc.), their teachers, and some other important supporting characters, of three years of high school. One of the members of JC Staff wanted to create "...the type of anime that makes people feel good when they watch it..." [Newtype, April 2004], and the result was an anime that emulated and complimented the manga proper.

Some audiences may find the punchlines off kilter; however, it would be rare to find someone not laugh after watching the show. One of the writers of the show's script, Kazuki Okochi, skillfully placed the jokes within the context of the show. It was brought to my attention by one of the users in Minitokyo that the series in Australia was given a rating of MA+ 15 , due to one of the inside jokes in Episode 4. Again, some audiences will need to take caution.

The story rotates around some of the key characters in the series. For some examples, Episode 2 focused on Ayumu Osaka Kasuga, the transfer from the city where her nickname originated from. Episode 12 focused on child prodigy Chiyo Mihama, whose coming of age comes forth within these three years (and is the wealthiest of the bunch). Epsiode 11 focused on Sakaki and Kagura. In sports they are rivals, but outside, they are best friends. Episode 18 focuses on the problems and dilemmas around Yomi, who has a pench8ant for spicy food and taiyaki. Even the supporting characters are represented, with Episode 24 dedicated to Maya, the Iriomote cat adopted by Sakaki, and a staunch protector against another important cat, Kamineko. The latter harasses Sakaki by biting her hand that reaches out toward him.

Episode 19 was pointed out by JC Staff as the original episode [Newtype, April 2004] created by them. This talked about the girls and where they will stand in the future. This episodes enhances the plot significantly, and brings closure to the manga equivalent of AzuDai.

Another of the more popular parts of the plotline include the graduation ceremony. I have heard from a number of my fellow friends at [url-http://invosionfree.com/forums/azumanga]Wonderland[/ur;l] that they cried or had a lump in their throat watching a the plot of the series culminate in this event. This episode, hands dows, is a solid and proper way to conclude Azumanga Daioh.

Rating

9 (very good)

Art

The art for the characters is superb and wonderful. Even when the characters are at their most comical moments, no details in the hair and outfits (and even bust size) are compromised, and if theyare, they are to a minimum. The background of the various scenes in the show are well thought of. It provokes a gentle, non-arresting feel when watching it.

There is fanservice, but for those who were expecting a show that has naughty and suggestive overtones had better best find another show to consider. A great deal of this fanservice comes from the summer episodes, in which the girls are on the beach, wearing swimsuits.

In some moments of shock, the art becomes wild and disorganized, but is done in good taste. They emulate the emotions and feelings at that given time, a go-od depiction o-f slice of life.

Rating

10 (excellent)

Sound

In the DVDs, the English and Japanese tracks are quality. What I found interesting about the English track (fdubbed by IS&M) was that in a number of departments, it superiored its Japanese counterpart. A few examples include Kira Vincent-Davis as Osaka, with a soft, Texas accent that makes a good equivalent to the Kansai dialect (the guide in V1 calls this a "Houston accent"), and Luci Christian's role as homeroom teacher Yukari Tanizaki. The energy and power that comes off a character like Yukari comes forth.

Rating

10 (excellent)

Presentation

When I first heard about Azumanga Daioh in 2003, I didn't know how popular a series like this was in Japan. How do six young schoolgirls, who look cute and adorable no matter what their age, make a significant impact on how we see things? The big answer: watch it unfold!

Once I had seen the first episode, the addiction started to come about. As time went on, I came to appreciate the many key elements of the show, and how the pieces fit together. And there are a lot of pieces to this.

Osaka's spaciness and philosophies. Yomi's commitment to dieting. Tomo's spirited nature that is even ch8ildlike. Kagura's athleticism. Sakaki's penchant for cats. Chiyo's hard work ethic in the adverse face of high school life. Each character is just as importanit as the other. Together, these six girls in many ways work together to put us on one of the most magical rides of their lives as young women. Azumanga Daioh does not rotate around one single character, but around all of the characters. Slice of Life, spelled out.

In short, this series is one of the most well-done anime & manga series made in this era. The storyline is pure slice of life. The art is a painting in every capture. Both English and Japanese tracks are high quality. This series can be watched over and over again, and one may find it a bit peculiar if another would get tired of enjoying too much Azumanga.

Rating

10 (excellent)

Final Verdict

9.67 (excellent)

Reviewed by Hachiko, 3y 33wk ago