Great Teacher Onizuka

Imagine yourself as a once feared member of a notorious gang, and now in your early 20's, you've decided to become a teacher to change student's lives. However, there is one problem: You're perverted, you've never been really smart, and you know you can't pass the teacher's examination.

This was the case for Eikichi Onizuka, 22 years old. However, he did have a lot of strong points.

MAY CONTAIN MINOR SPOILERS

Story: After Onizuka Eikichi got employed at Holy Forest Academy. He was made in charge of the infamous class 2-4. They were known for shaking the foundations of teachers by doing horrible things to them. They made ... them look stupid by outsmarting them, torturing them by throwing water at them, and getting them fired through scandals such as taking girl's panties. They were notorious, but Onizuka was not afraid. He tamed them. One by one. That is the basis of this anime. Onizuka's quest to gain the trust of the students of class 2-4, and to have them believe that teachers are worthy of their respect. Of course, on the way, he'll still be trying to catch a glimpse of his female student's panties. You wouldn't want it any other way.

Art: This is an old school anime. Art is not up to par as today's anime. But I enjoyed this artwork a lot more. The facial expressions are extremely well done and more realistic than recent anime artwork. The studio did not skip out on artwork to save money, but beautifully recreated the artwork of the manga as best as they could have for the anime. They did an excellent job. It reminds me of the artwork of Evangelion, and Slam Dunk.

Sound: There were two opening songs. Driver's High by L'arc~en~Ciel and Hitori No Yoru by Pornograffitti. These two songs made up the sound of the anime. I looked forward to hearing these songs with every episode I watched. They are very memorable. I do not usually watch the ending songs of anime unless they catch my interest from the first note, so the ending songs are much less memorable to me. The music of the anime seems nonexistent, but that is not a bad thing. It only means that it fit each scene perfectly and did not wreck the anime's mood. It was beautifully made.

Character: Perhaps the best part of this anime were all the characters. The characters were beyond the story itself. Each new student that was introduced had a grudge against teachers and each of their grudges was shattered and their trust in teachers renewed by Onizuka. Each character also had their own special trait. They were well made and voice acted extremely well. Don't watch the dubbed version. It's a joke.

Enjoyment: Perhaps one of the best shonen anime out there, I greatly enjoyed GTO. If you liked such anime such as FMA, Slam Dunk, and Evangelion, then I guarantee you'll love GTO. The story is simple, but it has a big heart and a big message behind it. The only reason this anime received a nine is because of the ending, but it has led me to reading the manga because I couldn't have enough of this anime.

Overall: Watch it. You will not be disappointed.

I can with quite confidence say that this is anime is definetly in my top 10 favorites.

Story: 10/10
The story may seem sorta dull, there are alot of other animes and mangas that has this plot but GTO really makes use of the plot fully. It has quite a few twists and it really is a very edge gripping and great plot.

Art: 9/10
The art isn't the best i've ever seen. The art is only average but it really does fit in with the whole plot and you don't think about the art that much when you watch.

Sound: 9/10
Some of the characters voice acting isn't that ... great. But overall it dosn't get on your nerves and most of the characters are well played.

Character: 10/10
Amazing characters, they all have their own problems and specialtys. It really isn't just the same characters all over the place and normal characters. They are all unique in a very good and fresh way.

Enjoyment: 10/10
Great variety of jokes and they don't break the tension in the plot. Some of the jokes and expressions of Onizuka just sents me laughing on the floor, definetly enjoyment of the first class

Overall: 10/10
It's definetly a must watch for peoples who like a slight bit of action/ecchi/comedy a little romance or just someone who wants to watch something to pass the time with. It really gives you a long impression that will last in your mind for quite a while after watching it and making you want to watch more.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Enough said.

Just kidding.

Story: 7/10

GTO is probably the most popular classic comedy in animation ever. This anime inspired so many other plots for Christ sake! And the definition for “anime” or “Japanese cartoon” should include GTO in the description. This anime made me laugh. The humour in the story was not only memorable but gave the story the proper structure. Although, the plot itself wasn’t very organized. It gave the audience some entertainment sure, but it was choppy. The pace went up and down like a roller coaster. Side stories and fillers made it less interesting. It had so much potential but fell ... short. However, I am going to admit, the plot, as slow as it might’ve been, did give an excellent ending. I’ll reassure you all; it ends on a solid note.

Art: 9/10

No doubt about it, this is what anime should look like. I love, love, LOVE the animation in this, especially the facial features. I couldn’t stop laughing whenever Onizuka showed a funny expression or other character for that matter. It’s really what made the anime unique! The background art even impressed me! The style of the 90’s really showed clearly. And the style is definitely the old fashioned style that is rarely used anymore.

Sound: 9/10

As a dubbed watcher I have to say, this was very well done. The voice actors did well to keep the character’s voice in check. It matched well with who they were and brought on the comedy in the tone and mood of the voice. The funny noises the characters made, the emotion set through, it was all great!

The opening songs were both equally great! It set the tone of this guy will do anything for women he loves, even though he’s incredibly silly when he looks cool. It’s a dream he’s in and boom! At the end he’s found in his room, smoking a cig. It’s a fairy tale dream and really does well to keep up with what the anime might be about.

Character: 8/10

No doubt, Onizuka is the funniest character I’ve come across. He’s also seems like a pretty rad teacher too! I wouldn’t mind him as my professor. Lol On top of that, he’s a past gang leader, has mad ninja skills, and seems to be almost invincible. Puts a bit of a twist on the whole thing. But what I like most about him is he seems like he has a fear of woman even though he’s wildly obsessed with them.

The only character I question is Urumi Kanazaki. She seems too smart. I mean there is smart, and then there is too smart. She’s the latter. It’s interesting that she has heterochromia iridium which I’ve never seen on an anime character before, and I’m curious to know if that is tied into something more. I might’ve forgotten about a few parts too, so I might’ve missed something about her. But keep a close eye on her when she appears in the plot. She’s a very important character.

The character development in this is absolutely amazing. The best I’ve seen in any anime. From episode one to the finale, there are so many changes made to the characters that they don’t even seem the same. Even the bitchy mean girls seem to change!

Enjoyment/Overall: 6/10

As much as this anime was awesome, I didn’t enjoy it as much as I thought I would. I guess because I’m not into this kind of genre. But when my friend told me about it, I had to check it out. It was a great past time to watch and deemed entertaining at some parts for me. I’m very picky with anime I really like….but this was a great anime that anyone should check out!

I give this an 82% on the teacher scale.

A classic if there ever was one. This is one of the shows that made me an anime fan int he first place that didnt involve giant mechs (gundam)

The number of episodes may be off-putting to some people who dont want an lengthy show but trust me its very worth it. Being a show made in late 90's when anime was just becoming popular in the US it artwork is not very flashy. Think "Akira" before the remaster.

Trust me though the show is top-notch. Lewd humor, strong moral lessons, and not terrible voice acting for it's time. In-fact i'd say its probably one ... of the best dubbed animes for it's time! You'll recognize the voice actors immediately since there was only a handful of notable ones at the time.

If you want to take a time machine back into the classic of anime or your a super anime fan and you missed this GTO is one show you should watch. Probably in at least my top 10 or top 20 animes, cause as i said at the start it's the one that made me realize maybe anime isnt just about robots in explosions. There can be motorcycles and gang violence too leading to a more self-aware kinda of thinking about yourself to where when it's over you'll realize things about yourself you didnt think about before.

Upon starting GTO, my impression was rather mixed. Onizuka, the protagonist, came off as ethically questionable despite some of his more likable aspects. Primarily, his fantasizing about minors came off as particularly distasteful and outdated, especially given his position of power as a teacher.
That being said, I came to love Onizuka as a character. His outlandish ideas and unpolished nature make him highly enjoyable. His laid-back and reasonable demeanor is contagious and inspirational. GTO stands as a potent example of a show that is not only entertaining but may also influence one's life directly. Onizuka, aside from his occasional perversion, stands as a fantastic role ... model for viewers to learn from. The world would be a better place with more Onizukas.

Admittedly, the formula can be somewhat repetitive. That being said, having a formula does not automatically make the show worse. The added predictability and lack of surprise in a character's arc is usually outweighed by the unpredictability of how Onizuka will get there.
Aside from the show's formulaic nature, there are some other problems that serve to impede my enjoyment. In certain situations, the required suspension of disbelief of what events are transpiring given the show's grounded setting is too much; instances might occasionally be a tad too ridiculous and overdramatic for me. Additionally, fanservice of minors is an unwelcome but all too common sight in this show. These moments are often inexplicit and brief (thankfully) but are present nonetheless.

Overall, these gripes are not overly significant. GTO balances serious themes and ideas with a light-hearted comedic tone without feeling as though it is doing a disservice to its themes. All the characters are a joy to watch on screen, feeling nuanced and well-written. The character expressions are amusing and the animation feels well-suited to the series. GTO manages to feel relaxed and comfortable while also tying in heavy topics in a way that does not feel... well, heavy. One could point to any of these factors as ones that make GTO a great show. To me, however, the show's potential to influence people positively in their behavior is what makes it above and beyond.

Sidenote: the chairman is incredibly based and underrated. Also, the first outro is an absolute banger.

This, I consider, a masterpiece. Never in my life I got so addicted to an anime that I stayed up late everytime against my parents will. Though at that time I never finished this. Luckily for me it came back scheduled 9 PM.

It has a good story though at times unrealistic. The idea of a former motorcycle-savvy gangster wanting to put GT before his surname is pretty unique nonetheless. Onizuka's process of doing that is even more of a surprise.
I could go on telling the reader loads of funny stuff but that would spoil everything.

The animation has a somewhat 80's esque. There's nothing wrong ... with that but it was first released in the late 90's; the time when the anime art of today were storming the screens of Japan. I would've given it a seven but if I think about it would look advanced if it were released in the 80's so I'd give it a nine.
Besides it fits the mood.

The songs good. Some of them were done by two of the most popular Japanese bands of the nineties and today. Those days when HYDE had a ponytail and Porno Graffiti was(well) young the sound of their voices were just fresh. I give some credit to the others.
Driver's High rocks!

I praise GTO for it's expanse character exploration and developtment. It's unbelievable how it defines each and every one of them very well! Onizuka does a great job changing his students using his witty street smarts. Onizuka is perverted though but to hell with that.
Not bad on the characters for 43 eps. Unlike some animes out there...

Enjoyment is clear.
It entertains period(.)


Overall 10 out 10 outstanding! Every episode contains good laughs and always leaves a heartwarming feeling after finishing one. Lessons are learned everytime. Go watch it.

First off - WOW.

A friend of mine suggested that I'd watch this one. First time he called it GTO so I was paranoid as I usually am because I'm very picky when it comes to anime. But when I looked it up and read "Great Teacher Onizuke" I just had a feeling that it has to be good.
The first thing that came to my mind after the first episode, was it's resemblance with Golden Boy. The whole young guy figuring out his life theme.
One of the things I really liked about it was the fact that in the 43 episodes it covered a ... lot of different characters with different stories and characters. It kept me interested the whole time and I couldn't stop laughing, especially when it had something to do with the Cresta.
In the end I regret going through it in 2 days. Wish I would've enjoyed it a bit more. Other than that, I dare say this is one of the best pieces of Anime I have ever seen. I kind of got sad watching the last episode but sadly there's an end for everything, especially good anime.

I actually tried watching the show and quit at my first attempt. Why? Because of Onizuka Sensei's excessive attachment to underage girls' panties, which, at the time, I found unbearable, or at least unworthy of 43 episodes.

However, I was soon to see there is much more behind this dramatically idiotic attitude. There is pain and strong willpower mixed with over-the-top optimism, teenage saltiness, and a genuine desire to make the world a better place...all of these parading through Onizuka's total lack of social etiquette and education.

Unfortunately, GTO won me over only to lose me again as a fan.

For me, this show should have ... never gone past episode 19 or to be more precise, never last more than 21 episodes. 19 out of 43 episodes made me laugh sincerely and root for the gangster desperately trying to turn teacher. It appeared he was going to tackle the deepest secrets and fears of each of his class members and make them see life in a different, positive way, using his rugged "educational approach". In the process, characters were evolving and unfolding their stories in an honest and fun way. This was a solid 10 anime. The additional two episodes were at least as good, but unfortunately came too late.

Going forward with the series, something broke - characters lost their sharpness and the stories looked like Naruto fillers and Fairy Tail episodes at the same time...if that’s even possible. The anime became so weak and hard to bear, I watched it on double speed, just to try and find some worthy moment. Unfortunately, it was a downward spiral.

I will only give few hints and avoid spoilers - repetitiveness, inconsistency in character behaviour, forced drama, uncalled matchmaking, and a school trip to Okinawa’s beaches preceded by a swimsuit hunt. Worst part is, the last worthy story was "suffocating" in episode 42 and 43 right after all the mess, rendering this last effort more or less useless.

At the end, I am not sorry for watching. At least now I know who was the inspiration behind Gintoki Sakata, as his antics and even some of his usual movements and facial expressions, were easy to recognise in Onizuka, his predecessor.

I kind of hate to give this series a 5, as this is not like the traditional 5/10 show. It isn't forgettable or average. It's simply an episodic series with many hits and many misses.

Our protagonist Onizuka is a thug teacher who is also a borderline pedophile. Thankfully the latter trait is backpedaled on in like the first episode, but he is still a perverted weirdo throughout the entire series. However, he is also a good teacher. The story mostly consists of Onizuka help his students in questionable ways, such as a kid getting bullied or something in that nature. Most story changes and ... character developments are minor enough so that one could watch any episode and still enjoy it, and this is not a bad thing. Cowboy Bebop has a similar structure, and is an excellent anime. Saiki K in particular is a comedy that does it well. However, many episodes in GTO are simply not good, because the series will often feel like it's repeating itself, and the formula only occasionally changes.

The best episodes are often in new locations, have unique problems with a comedic solution, and a lesson for the children who are for some reason allowed to watch this show. Some even allow the characters to grow a bit. The worst episodes are the ones that do the same things again. I remember very early in, two consecutive episodes end in the exact same way, which was really off putting. However, the REALLY worst episodes have the character Tomoko in the lead. The only characterization Tomoko gets is that she is stupid and his big breasts. Keep in mind, this is a high school girl, so many of her episodes are cringe-inducingly uncomfortable, and the jokes are also centered around her aforementioned characteristics, which isn't really my kind of comedy.

The visuals and music are pretty average. Sometimes there's some visual comedy, but it's usually just a funny face or something.

Sometimes enjoyable, sometimes not. I haven't read the manga, but I have a feeling it's better.

At some point in my life, I wanted to be a teacher, but that dream never really materialized. Nevertheless, I can confidently say I got to be one through Onizuka after watching GTO. Despite me never becoming a teacher He mirrored my interactions with kids when I worked as a camp counselor during high school. Looking back, I realize I was simply being myself, and the children seemed to appreciate that. Each morning, I brought cards and snacks, would be over-competitive in sports and activities, gave every kid in my group a nickname, and drew both positive and negative feedback from fellow counselors, especially my ... manager. One day an incident occurred that got me in big trouble, but after the child's apology and confession, I avoided being fired.
To emphasize my point, Onizuka is a lot of things, he’s self-centered, annoying, immature, impulsive, lazy, perverted, you name it. —But most of all, Onizuka is true to himself and the people around him. From helping Yoshikawa become a man, Fuyutsuki with her past, and helping and being a father figure in Murai's life, you can't help but respect Onizuka.

Despite being In a school where students and teachers lack trust and understanding. Onizuka is the bridge between the two groups. Students respect and trust him because he constantly goes above and beyond for his students in the most unique of ways, sometimes risking his job. I also gotta give credit to Principal Sakurai for having my boys back. She constantly supports and watches Onizuka. Throughout the show, she goes above and beyond in securing his employment through the crazy situations he ends up in. I also can't forget Vice Principle Uchiyamada for being an absolute Chad in carrying the show in terms of comedy, there's never a dull moment with him on screen.

All things considered, this show is very similar to both Gintama and Assassination Classroom, in both structure and storytelling, especially with the MCs. Gintama is the latter, due to its similar comedy and more serious nature. Where GTO truly shines is its real and grounded approach in its messaging, not only in reality but having very relatable issues such as peer pressure, personal identity, bullying, social issues, abuse, and so on. Also, unlike Assassination Classroom the show doesn’t focus on one or two characters thought the series but the whole class. Characters aren't left out after their respective arcs but develop and have several appearances episode by episode.

Long story short, I really loved this show, especially the early and later episodes. I loved the characters, messaging, music, and hilarious comedy. The filler did throw me off causing me to go on a 6-month break from the anime but the show instantly picked itself up after I got passed it. Unfortunately, the ending was both incomplete and rushed. And to add insult to injury the anime from what I've heard censored and changed a lot of things in the manga due to broadcasting concerns, and because of said issues I give GTO an 8.3

I will be giving the manga a visit... This was hard but Anko Uehara was best girl :P
(Fun fact Onizuka and I are the same age)

First of all why i give this anime to 10/10 because every detail of this anime is very awesome.

Story starts with our main character named Eikichi Onizuka who was a ex-bosozoku gang leader and a emperor of Shonan.
(You can get more info about this if you watch the prequel of the show named ''Shonan Junai Gumi''.Its a old OVA & includes 5 episodes.)

He wants to be one of the best teacher in Japan and he declares this thing in his mind as a biggest dream.He got also a alternative dream which is...breaking that virgin wall.Oh btw he is 22 years old and still a virgin.

First ... of all Eikichi is a different teacher than from other teachers in Japan.He thinks every single student have a light in their body.He always protects them from the troubles and give them a good support about life.He also says no to bullying/suicide and sexual harassments which is a real deal thing.

Tbh i feel Eikichi as a friend because when he is happy you can be happy and when he feels sad or angry you can also feel same feelings with him because this anime gives a real deal vibe about it.

GTO can also make you feel very happy...make you a laughing machine and make you feel sad too.

I also recommend you to watch prequel OVA and live action series because they are worth to watch.

I watched this anime 3 times and i have a plan to make it 4 because this anime deserves it and if you got a time you should definitely watch it and get a DVD for you anime collection :)

10/10 an underrated masterpiece & its worth to watching.

This is really funny show and I like how the main character is not an entirely pure-minded person. I feel too much nowadays people a re afraid to make protagonists that are really not great people without giving them some sort of redemption arc. Onizuka is a pervert and a rude idiot but it adds to the charm of the show and I like that he stays that way.
The art is so funny and so is the show and Onizuka himself, and his interactions with the students as well.
I just wish that Onizuka would have sometimes have actually faced consequences for his actions. At first ... I didn't mind but it's not as fun to watch him and his dangerous antics while knowing "it's not really dangerous, there are no stakes, he is not risking anything".
Otherwise I really recommend watching it.

GTO, a classic.
Onizuka's past life is a delinquent who is an ex-gang member and a virgin... ('-') anyways, together with his best friend Ryuji Danma, and was once known as the Oni-Baku: Shonan's strongest fighting duo and is feared by many people. He became a teacher at Holy Forest Academy upon seeing the display of a teacher's power over girls, yep that's the reason and also he's still a delinquent after becoming a teacher LOL. He was assigned to become the advisor of the classroom 3-4, where the students always violated teachers and make them quit their job, and that's where Onizuka's career started.

What I ... love about Onizuka is he doesn't see himself as a superior to the students but as one or equal to them. A type of teacher that defies the logic of being a teacher and just do whatever he wants lol. He teaches life lessons rather than the routine schoolwork, that may apply to the students or might change the way they currently are just like the room 3-4s students, Onizuka often try to solve every problem of his students even tho it sometimes puts himself to danger he still goes on and do it. That's why Onizuka is definitely a great teacher.

About the art and sounds, there's not really a whole lot to talk about the art and sounds, for me its decent, just pure classic and and nothing too crazy.
I will always like the style of the old anime so that's that.

Overall for me I think the story was good, and did enjoyed it a lot.
Although there are a lot of annoying and dislikeable characters in the story but Onizuka changed them and because of what he did, it changed the way I look into them, except for Miyabi, she's just the worst lol.

If I were asked to "would you recommend it?"
Yes, I would definitely recommend it to others. Not just the anime but the entire franchise, like manga.
I haven't read it yet, but I would definitely enjoy it as much as I enjoy the anime series. It is a great series that people can enjoy watching.

#First Review
I have been on this platform for several months and today I decided to write my first review- and what's better than to start from one of the best,enjoyable anime that I have ever watched.

GTO - a hilarious comedy anime where we follow the life of a man who decides to become a teacher ....and well he teaches in a unique fashion indeed.For the main character Onizuka..he is the definition of the person who is in control of a situation that has gone wrong...I mean the man doesn't give up and always stands for the things he knows matter.

The comedic twists aren't ... something out of the blue or unique...but it takes real talent to make a simple joke work..and kudos to the studio for doing the same thing exactly.

Glad, It was one of the first anime that I ever watched.

Great Teacher Onizuka


Genres, Comedy, Drama, Ecchi, School
Episodes-43
OP-Driver's High,Hitori No Yoru
ED-Last Piece,Shizuku, Cherished Memories, Driver's High

Story-10/10-There is so much that happens, and with a whole class the adventure is nonstop. There are a whole bunch of side stories that gives information on the different cliches in a classroom, then at the end the story finishes with a great climax.While the mood is usually funny, there are some sad and lots of suprising moments that make the series very enjoyable. The series has lots of those what will happen next moments that just really make the story very interesting.

Sound-8/10-The OPs/EDs are just great I loved every single ... one of them. The music feeds the atmosphere of the series perfectly, and with 2 soundtracks there is plently of music to go around. The seiyuus fit the characters pretty well most of the time.

Character-10/10-With a whole classroom of students almost every type of personality is shown, and presented in a very humorous way. Onizuka's personality is really unique, he acts stupid most of the time but there are times when his seriousness really makes him seem cool. He is always very unpredictable and always amazing the viewer and shocking his students.

Animation-6/10-This series is pretty old, about 3-4 years old. The art and animation really shows the age, but since this is basically a comedy series, it doesn't hurt the series that much.

Value/Enjoyment-10/10-I LOVED this series.. i was addicted to the manga about two years ago.. and finally watched the series. This is one of those anime that you MUST have!! I was laughing through every episode! I read the manga first about 2 years ago.. but I still laughed at every funny scene despite knowing what was going to happen.

Overall-9/10

GTO-

I'm a big fan of Steven Blum from Bebop to Vandread to Champloo...on and on.

Animes with him are basically the only dub i ever watch, and i saw this on a list of his animes he has acted in. At first I didnt think much about this anime sides some perv who is a giant pedobear. But after watching this anime with 3 episodes left, i have to say this ranked higher than GITS, Bebop, and FMA on epicness. The guy is a role model to me and i personally wanna grow up to be just like him, minus the teacher part.

This is one of those anime that after I finish I get disappointed because I am going to miss watching it. The flow of the story was excellent and in almost every episode I laughed pretty hard. Of all the animes I have seen this is probably the most comical one I have seen. The artwork was well drawn and the facial expressions were great. Each character had their own individuality, although sometimes I couldn't tell all the characters from each other because there were so many.
Although the genre of GTO might not seem very interesting, you will be ... surprised if you start watching it. The mood of the story and characters really keep your enjoyment. I would recommend if you plan on seeing GTO, find a free evening with a lot of spare time. After you see the first few episodes it's hard to not see the next one.

Great Teacher Onizuka focuses on former delinquent and motorcycle gang member Eikichi Onizuka's goal to become a teacher which leads him to the private school known as Holy Forest Academy where he must straighten out the troublemaking students of junior high Class 3-4. Mixing around comedy and drama, GTO explores Onizuka handling the troubles of his students in some bizarre and crazy ways.

Obviously, much of the comedic highlight of the series comes from the antics of Onizuka. He's far from being your ideal candidate for a teacher thanks to his impulsive, perverted, eccentric and violent personality that he relishes in when resolving the varying situations ... that take place with his students and saving his job against those attempting to sabotage it. While he can be prone to bizarre acts like dressing up in random costumes and ogling any attractive woman that crosses his path, he also isn't afraid to pull crazy acts to get students out of trouble or show “tough love” to those causing trouble. The ridiculous acts that Onizuka pulls throughout the series combined with the comical faces he can display in various situations easily makes him one of the more amusing characters you can see in an anime series.

Onizuka's fun character is obviously not the only piece of the series that makes GTO a classic. The students and faculty to the series also get their moments to shine as Onizuka finds himself either bringing them under his wing or thwarting their attempts to get rid of him at Holy Forest Academy with his crazy antics. The majority of these characters do get a good deal of fleshing out that explore how they acquired their mentality with either education as a whole from the eyes of a teacher or opposing the educational system as a student. The series has a smidge of social commentary in it where it lashes out against Japan's educational system for ignoring the dreams and desires of its students while obsessing over public image, social status and economic gain. Through Onizuka's crazy ways, the students of Class 3-4 gain someone who allows them to behave as they like without the preaching and obsessing of what the teachers expect them to accept. The only low points with GTO's storytelling are some underdeveloped characters and unresolved storyline developments as the manga digs more into the problems facing some of its characters, like Urumi, Miyabi and Mr. Teshigawara.

Visually, GTO is about on par with what you expect for a late 1990s anime. The series is obviously running on a limited budget with drab colors, minimal details with scenery and character designs and a number of moments where the visual quality can degrade during more elaborate animation sequences. On the plus side, the anime retains the manga's drawing style thus you still can relish fun out of seeing Onizuka's exaggerated facial expressions in all their glory.

For music, the opening and ending musical choices are among the more memorable musical pieces you can listen to out of anime that are fitting for GTO's comical and serious moods, Driver's High and Shizuka being the more memorable ones for this reviewer. Beyond these, the insert tracks do their part to compliment the show's various comical and serious moments yet can gradually get repetitive thanks to GTO's fairly long 43 episode run.

In spite of a few hiccups, Great Teacher Onizuka is still among one of anime's more memorable dramedys thanks to the antics of its titular character and having a diverse cast of characters influenced in their actions from a rather messed up educational system. The series is a definite recommendation if you are looking into older anime titles.

REVIEW OF THE ANIME AND THE LIVE-ACTION VERSION!

Anime

One word perfectly describes GTO. BITCHIN. Great Teacher Onizuka is one hell of a bitchin anime. It has a unique setting with a surprisingly amazing story.

Story - A show about an ex-biker gang member who's dream is to become a teacher. At first I didn't think much of this premise, but my friend kept telling me it was a great show so I decided to give it a try. Amazingly enough it turned out to be excellent. The story is one of a kind. This show actually spurred a live action version in Japan. The live-action is pretty ... good too.

Art - At first I didn't think much of the art. It didn't look that great to me, but when Onizuka makes one of his infamous facial expressions, you can't help but burst out laughing. I have never seen an anime with such ridiculous yet realistic facial expressions before in my life.

Sound - I dont remember. :( I watched this anime a while ago and can't remember what I thought of the music but I can safely say the live-action versions music what GREATO!.

Characters - All good ranging from shy to outgoing. You never end up hating any of the characters, because in the end they all turn out to be misguided youths who just need some guidance and direction.

Just a heads up, the last ten seconds of the show are extremely funny if you live in California. You'll know what I'm talking about.

Live-Action

The live-action version is 13 episodes, each 40 minutes long. There were several notable changes made in the live-action version. A few new characters were added, and a few were removed. A few of the stories were slightly altered though this was not necessarily a bad thing.

The live-action version of Great Teacher Onizuka also has a different feel to it than the anime. While the anime tends to be a combination of comedy and drama, the live-action version leans more toward the drama side though it has its moments. Actually, when the season finale was aired in Japan, it broke a record for most people who tuned in to watch a program. Though many changes were made, the live-action version of Great Teacher Onizuka manages to retain the original spirit of the anime.

One thing to note is that the acting is over exaggerated in the live-action version. From my experience, this tends to be fairly common in Asian movies and shows. So if this doesn't bother you, then you will most likely find this version of GTO quite entertaining.

I give the live-action version a 9 out of 10. During almost every episode I got super teary eyed during the climaxes (I know embarrassing). So if you tend to get teary eyed while watching animes then be sure to watch the live-action GTO alone to save yourself the embarrassment.

This decade or so old anime is still kicking, with hilarious original humor. The story is basically all about a dumb yet wise ex-biker gang leader, who turns to teaching, whose previous experiences help him gain the trust of his students, whether they like it or not. What really makes this series funny is how every problem he runs across, ends up with some crazy gang related experience put to use. Plus the outrageous promises he makes, cause an even funnier plot to erupt every so often.

I give this anime a 10/10, but the so called "romance" is somewhat disappointing.