Ranked #119

Lucky ☆ Star

Lucky * Star is about highschool girls and.. ummm, well, that's about it. It basically revolves around the lives of four girls (later on, more people are given some time) and the random conversations they have.

Story
This series is not incredibly plot filled. Actually, there really is none. It's not even really character driven. This anime, however, doesn't need much of a story. It still works out in a cute way. However, the rating IS for story, and in all fairness, there really was none. I think this is a fair, if not quite high rating for what was presented.

Animation
The best animation is definitly in the opening sequence. Everything flows nicely in it, and it throws money around to give a flawless performance. Once you get to the actual show, however, there is basically no movement what so ever, save the talking.

The art style isn't top notch. It is kept with the original 4-koma's style, but I still think they could have coloured it a bit better. Maybe make the girls atleast look more their age.

Sound
I did really like that opening song. Quite catchy. The in-show music was also fairly well done, aside from the fact that I didn't really notice it. The music just kind of melted into the background. That's the only reason why it's not higher on my rating. It was good, but nothing to write home about.

Character
This was my biggest issue. The series had INCREDIBLY 2-dimensional characters. They did not develope, they did not change. We did no see any different sides to them. The closest to this was with Konata, and... whatever her name is. The older of the twins.

This may have been alright, because this would seriously screw up the nature of the anime, but because of the 2-D element to them, I couldn't really connect to any of them. Except maybe Konata. I'm a big nerd too.

Enjoyment
While I did have a few giggles, I did not either really like this series, or really dislike it. I can see why people like it, but I don't understand the overwhelming popularity. I was told it was funny, but it wasn't a comedy. It was slice-of-life. I was told it was meaningful. That was a load of bull. I watched the series with no expectations, and I ended it with none. I don't see myself rewatching this anytime soon.

Overall / My Comments / My Feelings
I know people will be angry, but it wasn't an overall amazing show. It has no story, the art was pretty boring, the sound disappeared, and the characters were 2-D. The only thing this series had that I liked was the otaku jokes. Other than that, I couldn't relate. Highschool isn't like this for me. Not at all. And I don't know people who are so stereotypical. I was a little disappointed, I think.

I can't say anything but, sorry fans. I just couldn't get myself hooked. I atleast pulled through all the episodes, but it was becoming a little draining towards the end. I had no real drive to finish it... read more

5 WORDS OR LESS REVIEW: Hysterically Funny

I don’t think I watched anything like Lucky Star before. I know people say it’s a bit over hyped, or that it’s nothing compared to Azumanga Daioh or Pani Poni Dash! but there is something to Lucky Star. That’s why a lot of people, including me, like it. Let me enumerate on why I like it.

I like the story. Sure there isn’t much of a definite storyline, but that’s what makes it easy to understand. Besides, it’s a slice of life anime of four regular high school girls (well, maybe Konata’s a little different) so you shouldn’t expect anything out of the ordinary. Even if it is like that, it still manages to entertain me and crack me up, and doing that with such little material is a hard task.

I would say Lucky Star is very otaku oriented, as it makes fun of anime and otaku clichés. Other than that, it makes use of a lot of spoofs and parodies to create comedy, which is a strength depending on how you look at it. It’s a strength because it’s great for full fledged otaku viewers, but it’s a weakness if casual anime fans fans (those who don’t watch anime on a regular basis, I suppose) try to watch it. They probably won’t get the spoofs. Sure they can do some research on it, but I guess it wouldn’t be as funny that way.

The characters are a huge part of the comedy, because they themselves are clichés. Tsukasa is a moe character, while Miyuki is a meganekko. Kagami is a little tsundere, and of course, legendary girl A herself, Konata Izumi, is the rabid otaku. Out of all the girls, Konata has to be my favorite. I guess it’s because I see myself in her. I guess there’s a little Konata in every otaku out there. The extended cast is also hilarious, like Minoru Shiraishi and Akira of the Lucky Channel segment, as well as the characters’ relatives and their classmates.

Speaking of Minoru Shiraishi, I have to say that Lucky Star did wonders for his career. I think he’s more famous than before, and he’s not even a main character. As for the other VAs, it’s definitely a great cast. Two of my favorite VAs, Aya Hirano (Konata, of course) and Tomokazu Seki (Meito Anisawa) are in it, so that’s one reason for me to be happy. Even the one episode extras are awesome Tomokazu Sugita and Daisuke Ono made cameo appearances for Lucky Star. You also gotta love Fumihiko Tachiki, who played all the random old woman characters throughout the series.

Now to discuss another popular rant. People are let down by the art style of Lucky Star, because it’s so different from other KyoAni series (Kanon 2006, Air, etc). I see this as a positive. The characters are cuter that way, and being different is a good thing. Visually, Kanon 2006 and Air look great, but the character designs are a bit commonplace and standard. Lucky Star gives a breath of fresh air, that’s what I like to think. The characters, colors, backgrounds – everything. Everything (visually) about Lucky Star is cute, another strength of Lucky Star.

The music is also otaku oriented. For the first half, most of the songs are themes from actual anime. Aya Hirano’s rendition of “Cha-la Head Cha-la” has to be one of my favorites from Lucky Star. I also like Minoru Shiraishi’s rendition of “Hare Hare Yukai” and “Motteke! Serafuku”

To end this review, I think Lucky Star is a great anime. It certainly has its merits, and I understand why a lot of people like it. However, I understand that it’s not perfect, and that it cannot please everybody. read more

Story: There isn't really a main story, the series revolves around the daily life of 4 high school girls. This series is based on a Japanese 4-panel comic strip, and as comic strips go, the contents can be just about any topics that come to mind. Though there's no main story (people gets judgmental about this), people overlook the fact it is BECAUSE there's no main story, there's no restrictions to what the series can talk about.

Art: The art style from the anime were pretty much the same as from the manga. There wasn't any inconsistencies and the animation was relatively smooth the entire time. The characters/backgrounds were drawn the way they are because...again...this series is derived from a 4-panel comic strip.

Sound: The BGM blends with the episodes very well. The opening song always got me pumped up to watch the episodes no matter what kind of mood I was in at the moment. The ending songs were all taken from somewhere else and sung by the voice actors, and most of them were absolutely hilarious (especially Hare Hare Yukai sung by Shiraishi Minoru along with the 2 player fighting game training mode simulator).

Characters: What's done so well about the character development is that you learn about the characters the same way you learn about someone in real life, from their casual conversations in school. Even though this is a comedy, there are some dramatic scenes here and there showing some of the character's life at home. There's also a wide variety of characters (who're normal and aren't golden haired, KI blasting, walking slabs of muscles) for the viewer to relate to.

Enjoyment: I really like how this is a show that you can just pick up and enjoy without knowing the contents of the previous episodes. There are also many references, so many that a normal person (who doesn't watch much anime or play games) wouldn't be able to understand more than half of it.

Overall: The thing about Lucky Star is that not everyone's going to like it. This show is aimed towards regular anime watchers/gamers. Those who are not anime watchers will be confused at the references, older people may think it's plotless insanity, and younger people may not understand the jokes.

With that said, if you're an anime watcher (if you're taking time to read this I'd bet you are), this show will be an absolute blast. This anime is the KING of referencing, and with each episodes being a synthesis of small events, you'll never guess what could happen next.

**Brief Warning**
The first few episodes of the series may seem boring at first, but they're for introducing the 4 main characters. No matter what you may think, keep watching, give it a chance. By episode 10 or so, you will not regret sticking with this series. read more

Normally when I score story in a Slice of Life show, I do it based on all the episodic stories combined. But what happens when a show does not have that and is just pure life and is random with no coherent order/story. That is why I left the score a blank.

But I would still like to talk about the content. Lucky Star plays off its humor through normal everyday conversations. Talking about the most random things and finding humor out of it is tricky. Personally, I found most conversations hilarious because I enjoy the idea of everyday situations being made fun at. This type of humor is not for everybody and thus why this show can be a hit or miss.

Another aspect of this show is its use of references. A good amount of conversations play off such references. And they can go anywhere from other anime to current events. It went as far as to use an old commercial. One of the keys to be able to enjoy this anime is to be able to know the references. Watching as much anime as I do, I got most of them easily.

Art/Animation: Technically speaking, this is not KyoAni's best work. But the style and design works really well for this type of story. There are times where I felt that they were being very lazy and yet there were times I was marveled at the level of detail. Of course it is nowhere near the level of their other works such as Haruhi.

Sound: Voice - Everyone plays there roles really well. I was particularly impressed with Hirano Aya (voice of Konata). KyoAni really utilized her vocal range and made great situations out of it.

Music - To me, this is probably the weakest aspect of the show. The OP is indeed catchy but it can only be appealing for so long. And the "different" ED each week was a hit or miss. The only great part about it was the appearance of Minoru Shiraishi. Having him sing for the last part of the series was brilliant. Listening to him was a blast.

Character: Perhaps the strongest aspect of the show. The cast of Lucky Star are great. The variety it has and the way they fit so well together really bring out the show. Whether you come to like this show or not, I believe there will be at least one character that you can't help but like. Rather than me telling you, I hope you go check out this show after reading this review and see for yourself.

Enjoyment = My score on MAL (it is subjectively rated)

Overall, this is a very enjoyable show. But it is for those who are into those kinds of humor. It is not something I would recommend to everybody. I believe this show is one of those shows where it is a hit or miss. read more

I gave this anime a 4/10 not because it was bad, but simply not my kind.

This anime was recommended by my fren, TBH when I told him I want to have a comedy series after failing to find one which suits me.


The first episode did'nt get my attention but I continued on as I see high ratings from site and also since it was recommended by fren.

I only start to enjoy a little more on episode 6 but it is only episode 6. Other episodes remains the same style. Frankly Im really bored throughout the series but pushed myself to end this just so I can give least bias review. My first review in MAL.

The opening of Lucky star was good but the closing was the worse kind I ever saw. The ending song featured only to listen the song the anime's girl characters were singing. This remains the same till epi 14. Now the director or producer appears to entertain for their crap ending song. It is still lame however.

There is no story and was light and simple (different topic on every epi). In addition, its very short as there is a narrator speaking session at about the 18th minute. This session is also quite boring.

If you are one of the people easily find humor in 'slice of life' comedy and can enjoy text/talk type anime. This is for you.

All in all, this is my honest opinion and review. I did not mean to anger anyone and I request respect for it.

Thx read more

Ok, this would be my first review. So bear with it..

Konata Izumi is every inch of an otaku. Even though she's athletic and smart, she doesn't join any club at school. Because she is afraid that she might miss her fave show or not able to play games.

She and her friends love to enjoy anything. ANd of course the usual things that girls do, to talk. They will chat any topic that may come up.. From the proper way of eating cornets to going at anime cons. These random and exquisitely bizarre slice-of-life situations are brought together in one of the best anime series today: Lucky Star.

This anime started airing last year and finished also in the same year. (please refer to the synopsis of this one). Some anime fans find this anime boring. But not for me. I really find myself on the protagonist of this anime, Konata Izumi. She loves anime so much and the same with me. We have the same passion for anime and alike. =)) Which I guess every otaku who had watched this feels the same way as Konata do.

Moreover, the series' beautiful character designs became one of its winning factors. Each one of the characters is well-defigned and is subtly contrasted with its less-detailed background. This gives the viewers a hint that the anime focuses only on the main characters and their interaction. The color tones also exude a friendly and warm atmosphere. That's why KyoAni or Kyoto Animation gathered millions of praises for their every work. The opening song for Lucky Star is upbeat and the music video is great too!

There isn't much to expect from the plot since yonkomas are really made to have no plot. Which means the plot is randomnized. Every episode will leave you bursting from laughter.

All in all, I must say this anime is brilliant and very charming! And every otaku shouldn't never ever miss to watch. read more

Lucky Star is a Slice of Life, Comedy with no real plot; it just focuses on the daily lives of 4 school girls. It mainly pays attention to Konata Izumi, a very athelic girl who could be really smart, but she spends most of her time on anime, manga and playing games.

This great anime began with the slowest of starts that can easily turn anyone off, except of die-hard fans of anything produced by "Kyoto Animation", but after the first couple of lackluster episodes this anime becomes really enjoyable to watch. It's then when you really notice the differences in the characters' personalities and the way they interact. Lucky Star can be classed as a "Satire" because most of the time the characters mock various social issues that a lot of us viewers can relate to, "like trying to find enough time for your anime and games". It's this that brings about hilarious parody moments however people who are new to the world of anime/manga/drama CD/games will feel left out, from not understanding the jokes. At least the "Lucky Channel" at the end of each episode is funny no matter what, with the hilarious duo that never seems to get along.

The style of animation in Lucky Star is very different from the stunning realism of "Kyoto Animation's" usual works, as Lucky Star adopts a very cartoony look. Nonetheless it works well bringing forth the weirdness of the character's personalities. The music on the other hand is basically non-existent and it's only the odd opening theme and various insert songs that can help redeem this factor.

Overall Lucky Star turned out to be a pretty enjoyable otaku fest but this anime is obviously not for everyone. Even though it's able to turn a simple topic into a hilarious episode full of parodies, each episode may be fun for someone yet not for someone else. I gave Lucky Star a high rating because I've seen many anime and can understand most of the jokes, so if you want the same experience then either watch many anime before starting this one or not bother watching it at all.
^_^ read more

An eccentric show with high production values

Lucky Star is considered the holy grail for many hardcore Otaku people and it really is - which also makes it a "love it or hate it" show. Being an avid enthusiast at best, I could appreciate how Lucky Star nails the intended market, while disliking the morals behind such a show.


Story: 7/10
In short, this is a gag-comedy show with a (rather twisted) school life genre.

The show follows the life of a dysfunctional otaku, Konata and her rather unplausible school life. It is amazing how the producers managed to put the most mundane of conversations onto the screen but it somehow works. While the flow is hard to get for some (including myself), some subjects hit home for me such as the UFO catcher.

What really brings this show to life is the very good interaction between the characters during the mundane conversations. It is also amusing to see a show for otakus ridiculing otakus, which brings a sense of sanity exactly where needed.


Art: 7/10
A perfect example of KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid). How much simpler does the art get? With the advances in CGI, recent shows (especially KyoAni) have seen increased use of colours, shadings and usage of detail - the hair in AIR is a prime example. Lucky Star is so amazingly and ridiculously simple that it is this simplicity which has made the art so catchy and unique.

While I have mixed feelings at the loli-esque art (they look 12, not 17), it does accomplish its intended mission very well.

The animation is as smooth and fluid as ever.


Sound: 6/10
This is a relatively simple, slow show where sound is not the most important thing, unlike Macross. The BGM is as simple as the art and does the job.

The OP theme, as much as I dislike it is possibly the best track in the "Drum Master" game and has a good following among the die-hards.


Character: 8/10
This is where the show shines. Konata's family brings enjoyment (I can ridicule them to oblivion), and Kagami brings some balance and sanity into the show. So much that for much of the show, my thoughts were in-line with Kagami whenever Konata went on her antics. Konata and Kagami really are an excellent combination and some say opposites attract?

The supporting cast contained variety yet had a smooth flow so was good to watch.


Enjoyment: 7/10
The abundance of "What the..." moments, following Konata's train of thought gave enough entertainment, as well as her interaction with Kagami. I also found the quirks of every character amusing. While it was entertaining, I did not die from laughter however.

Again, I'm sure the show hits the intended market right on the spot.


Overall: 7/10
A "good" show which I found good fun out of and is unique. If you're the kind of person who likes music which sounds like a CD skipping, except a hundred times faster, then you will love this show! read more

In my time watching anime, I have not watched any (so far) quite like Lucky Star. It's simple yet amusing approach to comedy is very addicting, and it covers a large range of topics. Basically it focuses on the life of average japanese high-school girls. After that, hilarity ensues.

From the beginning I wasn't too interested in it, I thought it was dull and boring. But I gave it a chance. And I'm pretty effing happy I gave it that chance, becase I found myself short of breath from laughing. There are so many referances to anime and manga, mostly, but it also parodies things that relate to everyone in everyday life.

As for the direction and art style, it fits perfectly with the storie's premise. Cute and sometimes wacky *I can't beleive I just said "wacky"* the expressions on the characters faces are priceless, and are sometimes better than the reason the made those expressions. Without giving too much away, I will say that when the art style gets "serious", it's often the funniest part of the show.

The music is slightly Animal Crossing-esq, with a casual yet appealing sound, that really sets the mood. The voices (In the japanese VO) are very well done, matching each character almost perfectly. As for the characters themselves, they are the best part of Lucky Star! Each character has their own personality, and each one is drawn out to a stereotypical point. For example: Kagami is one of the main characters, and is often ill-temperd and down to earth, so it shows on her very often, to the dismay of Konata especially.

I loved this anime, and the only thing that can match the overall enjoyment of this in my opinion is Cowboy Bebop. It's a very different anime from what I'm used to, i.e; Dragonball, Hunter X Hunter, ect., but it's different in an amazing way. read more

I first heard of Lucky Star just randomly wandering the net. And Like I normally do. I added it to my plan to watch list. At first, I thought it was a little boring, But I gradually got used to the concept of their daily life from school to sleep.

There wasn't a major story line. Just different things that could actually happen in real life. The four girls were all friends and had different interests. The show started different the most shows I've seen. They talk about food, homework, boys, music, hobbies. Just about everything an average group of High School girls would talk about. Even though they all had different hobbies, they got along.
The art was just fantastic! I loved the animation, and the movements that everyone made. How everything looked so real! The sound was also great. The background music, like it's supposed to, helped make the mood of the conversation. Say that they were asking Miyuki a question, The background music would make the atmosphere actually seem a bit confusing, because Miyuki knew so much, that she always confused Tsukasa. The Characters were lovely. They all had their own attitudes, and their own looks. There wasn't anything that I was able to see that made the characters look the same except for the characters that were blood related. Then they looked a bit like each other, but still had their own distinct look.
I enjoyed the show just because it cheered me up. The random conversations, and the interests that they had. Even a few of the jokes that the creator put in the show were quite amusing. Overall. I loved everything about the show. If I was able to change it, I wouldn't change one thing. I thought that it was absolutely wonderful. read more