Azumanga Daioh Review
By howtwosave
Azumanga Daioh Review
J.C. Staff
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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
Highly OVERRATED anime, this is definitely not the funniest anime and it really doesn't deserve all this attention.
I heard so many good things about this anime that this show was just "good fun" since it didn't have a plot. But this show was a drag to watch, it's so slow and I swear most of the time we just see the characters standing and staring after "something" happened like a joke (that probably failed) and there's total silence and it just seems like eternity.
There were lots of times I wondered to myself why I was still watching it. Basically I forced myself to watch all the way up to 19 because people rave about it and I was curious what the fuss was about but I realized it's just overrated.
Most of jokes that are in this show are slow, stale, dull; the jokes just aren't very "smart", they're very simple "immature jokes" you'd find in kids shows. There's nothing about the comedy aspect that was impressive, there were very few things that were actually funny (not hilarious).
There were a few jokes and some random things it did that did work which was great but it can't makes up for all the boredom and the failed jokes. There were moments of amusement and a couple episodes that I enjoyed.
This pacing of this anime's jokes is so sloooooooooooooooooow. I usually guessed what was going to happen way before it actually did. Then it would happen, then I'd still be bored. Then sometimes they would repeat that joke. Then they would some really loooooooooooong pauses after/between jokes like what happened is SO weird or awkward that someone is supposedly needs that much time to laugh but it really isn't. I get all jokes but, it's just NOT that funny.
I would never recommend to a comedy fan because there are much funnier animes (that are actually funny and brilliant) out there and I did not laugh hysterically watching this anime like everyone said that I would. I've seen comedy animes that are funny so i laugh (laugh hysterically sometimes), hence the comedy, but this one is just amusing and I laughed once or twice or just have a smile.
Also School Rumble comparisons are quite pointless, actually I think school rumble is funny while this one is not, but the point is they're just 2 comedy animes both set in a school . School comedies existed in the 90s and the 80s so what's the point?
All the characters are interesting and unique... but there is no character development since there's no plot so it takes away from it a bit. Eventually I noticed they act the same, react the same with the same jokes and they get old.
Also they are somewhat stereotypical (the cute one, athletic one, smart one,dumb one, etc etc!!) but they are still all likable even Tomo for me since I could relate to her (not that I act like her).
Somtimes the characters seemed boring and/or annoying because they tried way to hard to be funny. The only genuinely funny character were the perverted teacher guy and Osaka and at times. But all in all the characters are good.
Basically this anime is REALLY slow/boring most of the time, few parts and few eps with actual moments of amusement, it has good characters, the comedy was repetitive, very simple, nothing special (childish, no where near brilliant as people were exclaiming). It wasn't worth watching, I was mostly bored.
- Rating
- 4 (below average)
Art
The animation is really simple and clean which fits the style of this anime, but I don't like this kind of look. There's nothing too impressive about it.
- Rating
- 7 (above average)
Sound
The music in this anime was alright sometimes bordering irritating, I wasn't too fond of the opening it just sounds irritating with the high pitched voices but I suppose it goes with the show. The background music started rubbing me the wrong way after a while. I do like the ending song very much.
But from what I recall it's mostly silence since they have such long silences after a "joke" which I didn't find that funny. They would have these ridiculously long pauses after a joke and I'm just sitting there still bored to death and I'm like was that supposed to be funny? Is someone supposed to be rolling on the floor laughing from that?
The seiyuus all did a good job portraying high school girls and especially Chiyo-chan.
- Rating
- 7 (above average)
Presentation
Apparentally there is no plot be because it's a comedy but failed miserably as a comedy.
Azumanga Daioh at its best it is mildly amusing.
eps 1-5 are so boring it's sleep-inducing, gets better towards 15 but still some boring eps along that way.
This anime relies on "lame" childish jokes (very simple, possibly stupid, easy jokes that aren't funny to me anyways) and cuteness. Cuteness just doesn't work all that long even if it is Chiyo-chan.
Most of the jokes were lame in my opinion. sometimes it was executed so slowly I knew what it was and even if I didn't predict it it's still not funny. It's paced very slowly, there are lots of silent moments with the characters just standing there and staring after some "joke" and whatnot. I don't know why anyone would laugh hysterically that long at that lame joke. The worst part is that they repeat the same joke that I didn't find funny in the first place!
The situations they use to make the long pauses just aren't that interseting and I've seen much more random/weirder/funnier animes which make this anime look lame in comparsion.
Some of the parts when it was random and weird like with chiyo-chan's hair was pulled off well and it was amusing but another random part with the cat/sakaki was just stupid and they devoted way too much time to that.
Overall I was bored, a few eps and a few moments were bearable possibly slightly amusing or slightly enjoyable. What I didn't expect from a comedy that is called the funniest anime ever.
I will probably never watch this show again... I couldn't even finish it.
A comedy is just supposed to be fun and I just watch but I had to force to myself to watch. I'm supposed to laugh (at the very least if not hysterically from what everyone was saying about this), but this show was a drag to watch.
Like I said before if you're looking for a great comedy this isn't it but if you're looking for an extremely slow anime (that isn't deep), with some simple/light/childish/immature jokes with great characters this is for you.
- Rating
- 4 (below average)
Final Verdict
5.00 (moderate)
Reviewed by howtwosave, 1y 14wk ago
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Lemme say that your review of this anime is made of failure. You went in expecting no plot, but you somehow wanted a plot in the show anyway? That's worse than failure.
no I said it has no plot supposdly because it 's supposed to be hilarious then I watch and i'm bored to death.
It is a meaningful anime about a group of girls entering and graduating from high school,at least to me.Yes i agree that the first few eps were slow and boring but the story develops constantly and it turns out to be meaningful anime in the end.Probably because i miss my high school days and that's why i liked this anime.I'm not sure about you.Anyway this is just a review.NO harm forgiving a bad review ya?
I'd recommend you stay away from Lucky Star then.
Despite the fact that AD had no plot as such, the characters did stay very true to themselves, even if the character development was missing.
Something in this review told me you went in looking for things you could rant about ... in short, you watched Azumanga Daioh in completely the wrong frame of mind. There's really not much I can agree to in this review ...
I just went in to watch this anime and enjoy it since people are saying it's so funny, etc etc and I saw it and I was bored to death. that's it.
Come back in a few years. It's obvious you're not in the right mindset to watch this anime.
Many people who rank this anime low are people who want bread and butter crap.
You might want to consider editing the way you wrote this review.
I mean, I got that you thought it was "lame, dull & boring" by the third time you wrote about it. In the first parragraphs! and it really starts to feel as a weak argument by the 20th time.
On the anime itself, I've watched little and found it to be amusing and a bit random. But I am easily amused so I might be not that objective
I love Azumanga Daioh.
Even though it does go from part to another, its still good.
Hmm I'd probably give it a little higher than 5. it is sort-of overrated, and an odd style of comedy, but I sort-of like it.
I definitely like Azumanga Daioh a LOT more than Lucky Star, which people say is comparable.(REALLY dislike Lucky Star).
But Azumanga Daioh IS about the mundane, ordinary lives of a group of high school girls and there isn't supposed to be a plot; even the original manga series was a compilation of four panel gag comics. I do agree with you that what really drives this series is the characters, however, because those seeking a plot in this anime won't find it. I think one reason some people might not find it funny is because it's Japanese humor, and some comedy series really aren't for everyone. Even in itself I think Azumanga has its own sort of humor different from what you would expect of series like FLCL or Shin-chan.
I think Revan makes a few good points, and while you don't have to change your opinion, you should make stronger arguments based on more than just your opinion. Why wasn't it funny? Why do you think other people might not find it funny even though this anime is highly popular? I don't mind negative reviews, but I want some arguments to open my mind to other points of view that I might not even have noticed about some of my favorite series.
@howtwosave:
You know, there is a lot of series with characters with superpowers, or unnatural events. A lot of series that have a level of originality limited to the TITLE.
De gustibus non est disputandum. When reviewing a series, you cannot consider your taste. Do not compare the reviewed series with you favourites.
Moreover, it's impossible to rate a 13 hour-long series of 26 episodes by just a digit. It's like summarizing the Bible by "Fucking boring" or "Freakin' huge brick-book".
An attentive watcher will notice many hilarious gags, jokes, metaphors, values, advantages... You could e.g. say that "Pokemon" is a piece of shit, but for many kids it's an awesome show, and for many parents it's a pain in the ass.
"A point of view can be a dangerous luxury when substituted for insight and understanding"
I was watching Azumanga Daioh when I was leaving High School. It made a great impression on me. Most of the series we can find nowadays is warped by commerce, and seeking popularity in order to provide money for some producers. Thus, most of them are similar. Almost every new shounen is a copy of an other hit from the past.
Azumanga lacks plot - but does your life have a plot? I wonder. It's a 'slice of life' genre. We see different people act in situations we also experience sometimes. It's actually a hard task, to make a decent series without a plot.
There are also philosophical anime, like "Kino no Tabi"("Kino's Journey"). But I doubt that you see a talking motor everyday. Or travel from town to town without an actual destination.
Once, I heard a very wise advice in a popular series you probably know - "A ninja must read underneath the underneath". And, from a manga: "When you look at the leaf, you can't see the tree. When you look at the tree, you can't see the forest. You must look at the whole."
There is this thing called "objectivity" or something like that.
___________________________________________(...)
Of course you're not the only one that rates a favourite/hated series without second thought. I disagree with e.g. giving FMA a 9.5 rating. This series is for Troglodytes, if we compare it with e.g. Shinigami's Ballad.
But then again, what am I expecting from otaku's, laymen, simple fans, and pop culture kids?
There are probably very few professional journalists here... or maybe none.
If we think that way, all these reviews are just another way to say "This is an awesome series! I like mecha!" or "Crap. All of this is crap. There are no superpowers, no swords, and Ichigo would beat them all up!" or "I don't get this shit. I may not be a philosopher, but anime are not for philosophers, right?"
THE PLOT GRADE IS BASED ON THE COMEDY SINCE THERE'S NOT PLOT. BASICALLY THE COMEDY FAILED AND I WAS BORED TO DEATH MOST OF THE TIME. honestly i've seen funny animes that actually make me laugh and laugh hysterically.
it's very simple, this anime si either funny or it's not and basicalyl it's just NOT that funny. I don't know where you're pulling this weird analyzation. i like comedy, comedy aniems, i've seen such great ones asnd this one bored me to death and some of the jokes in this anime failed miserably.
not everyone ilkes the same anime so please stop trying to twist my words just becasue you can't accept that.
merged: 07-28-2007 ~ 05:05am
what i meant by comparison are anime that are actually funny, that actually are ridiculously brilliant and make me laugh hystericalyl while i was fighting to stay awake watching this anime.
@howtwosave: Then again, you completely forgot that a review should not be written in terms like "i was bored", "I think".
"not everyone ilkes the same anime" <-- Somebody writing a review takes that in mind. But what you wrote was only your limited point of view, as you didn't consider the existence of some other people's sense of humour. That's for the trivial reason of other people not being you. I don't know how many things we have in common, and reading such a review can't give me sufficient information.
Remember that 'review' can mean also 'a second reading'. Since you wrote 'I will probably never watch this show again... I couldn't even finish it.', I cannot say you actually wrote a review. Don't you think you could just make a forum comment about azumanga?
If watching this piece is too much for you, then this so called review is simply warped. Of course, just like many other reviews that glorify other series. Having an objective view isn't something easy, it's true.
Actually, AD IS a brilliantly funny anime. It's just that it takes a more refined understanding of humor and, of course, other people to truly understand the comedy behind it. I can see by your "review." that you have neither.
i love Azumanga Daioh bcoz its funniness and art!