This was one of the first anime series I watched start to finish as a teenager, and it blew my mind. With only a handful of animes under my belt, I'd seen enough to be very familiar with several anime cliches (namely melodramatic dialogue and anticlimactic storytelling), and as such, I watched Di Gi Charat with the understanding that it was a satire on the whole genre. I'm surprised to find that it wasn't designed as a satire, but was simply a whacky comedy that employed common anime elements in bizarre situations. But I still watch it and think "yeah, anime IS ridiculous".
Each episode would have a different tone from the last, either emulating an action-packed thriller, a supernatural drama, or a melodramatic slice of life, and sometimes even nothing in particular (which was just as hilarious). What also convinced me it was a parody was that the design of characters and animation would suddenly shift into an over-the-top 80's shounen or shoujo style that further punctuated the absurdity. The cast of side characters were all caricatures, that we can all agree on, but I was also under the impression that the three main characters, Dejiko, Petite Charat, and Usada (yeah she hates that name) were also parodies of the "moe" style. The fact that they're sincerely designed characters makes me laugh. Oh, anime!
I understand not everyone is as cynical as I am when it comes to anime, so not everyone will see Di Gi Charact as a parody, but I imagine overlooking the moments that could be interpreted as satire would make the show seem kinda bland. Either way, I highly recommend watching this series with friends late at night, as sharing in the confusion will add to the fun.
