Azumanga’s animation is really nothing too special. The palette of colors is almost always bright and cheery, the lines and shading relatively simplistic. However, Azumanga Daioh does a great job of portraying the story through the simple animation style. Occasionally the animators resort to using typical anime face faults or chibis to tell the story. Although some hardcore anime fans might shy away from such cheap animation tactics, which normally detract from a good show, I think the animators made great use of them in the most ridiculous of situations.
The music matches the storyline perfectly. Both the OP and ED, “Soramimi Cake” and “Rasberry Heaven” respectively, are both sung by the group Oranges and Lemons. The theme songs are bouncy and whimsical in melody and rhythm. I rarely skipped the OP and ED sequences; I think I even found them somewhat addicting. The soundtrack, like the art, is relatively simplistic. I don’t think I would listen to it regularly outside of the anime itself. The music did grow on me though, especially how well it was paired with the specific moods of different scenes.
The characters are definitely the main driving point of Azumanga Daioh. The show is filled with unique characters, each with their own memorable, “offbeat” personalities. Tomo’s unrelenting enthusiasm, Saki’s fondness for animals, Kimura-sensei’s obsession with teenage girls- this show’s great and amazingly varied cast of characters characters set it apart from most school animes. Sometimes the character interactions get a little predictable, like how Yomi always scolds and yells at Tomo when she’s annoyed. Still, watching the characters go through everyday life is never boring, and I grew to like nearly all the characters by the end of the show.
Azumanga Daioh, from my point of view, is a highly recommended watch, especially for those who like comedy and slice-of-life shows. Many of the show’s aspects are admittedly very simple, such as the art style and the background music. Although the characters do get older and change slightly over time, Azumanga does not have a particularly deep storyline, nor are events in episodes strongly related to each other. The show primarily focuses on the interactions of the characters. However, therein lies Azumanga Daioh’s charm as silly but lovable slice-of-life comedy.
