Well, uuuh….
Damn, How do I even begin to talk about this anime?
The very first time, I got introduced to this anime is years back and that was….
AMV HELL 3: Motion Picture - “At least I have a chicken!”
To some, from what I’ve heard that THIS anime is the parent of the great Nichijou.
Alright, let’s get on with this “slice-of-life” story: Azumanga Daioh!
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**STORY**
Taking place in High School……
Well, that’s about it, I suppose.
Generally, Azumanga Daioh is all about the daily lives of these meddling, crazy kids in High School from the 1st day greeting till graduation.
What, are you going to expect my big synopsis just like the others I have reviewed?
Haha, NO! Not today!
This, because it doesn’t have a story to begin with.
Every skit or “scene” is directly from a Yonkoma(4-koma) Style Manga
[I am not going into details about Yonkoma but if you want, there’s Google/Youtube. You can come back anytime you like once you are informed.]
All the strips in the Yonkoma are dysfunctional but they’re all brought together in the same theme ex. Sports Festival.
Y’know what, each of these scenes are supremely hilarious and fun. Complete utterly fun!
YOU LIKE FUN!?
I LIKE FUN!
LET’S HAVE FUN!!!
10/10
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**ANIMATION**
It’s old(today), detailed yet simple. From uniform changing to close-up shots. The lack of detail is more or less everything else. The fellow classmates, backgrounds, special effects, and the girls. It doesn’t get any more basic than that. It’s what matters of the animators choosing their battles or many things going all at once, it kicks up drastically.
It’s old but I like it though.
6/10
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**CHARACTERS**
The Dubbing on these characters……. Well…..
SPOT-ON!
All the way down to the very core of them.
In the slice-of-life genre, each main character have been given at least one major trait(s) or querk that becomes the core bases of describing them.
However in Azumanga, it’s not that easy to describe each character in one sentence….. Mostly.
Tomo - The hyperactive girl who would hype anything. From saying words or doing something that comes into her head.
Yomi - Tomo’s BFF. A girl who is obsessive about her weight. The typical smart person in the group and Tomo’s anchor who attempts and/or fails to get her grounded back to earth.
Chiyo - The child prodigy. She’s the cute mascot of the group who would cheer on for her friends to succeed however she can despite her very young age.
Sakaki - The shy yet cool person. Loves cute things, especially to cats.
Then there’s
Osaka - The quiet student who can be…… well…
insane.
Of course, there is the secondary characters:
Kagura - Athletic Rival of Sakaki
And
Kaori “Kaorin” - who has a high infatuation to Sakaki.
Now, we’re done with the students, now the teachers.
Yukari - Homeroom English Teacher who has unconventional methods of teaching. Short-tempered and gets dysfunctional sometimes.
Minamo - Kind, gentle PE Teacher and rival to Yukari.
And then theres….
Kimura - hard to describe such a man.
....Oh wait.... perverted.
The point is, these characters don’t have one core trait…. Most of the time. Which is makes this show really fun!
How each of these characters together despite extreme traits is “normal”. That of which is complete….
Again, FUN!!
YOU LIKE FUN!?
I LIKE FUN!
LET’S HAVE FUN!!!
9/10
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**SOUND**
Soundtrack is drop dead wonderful in utilizing variety of unique and rare instrumentations to give this feeling of “light hearting”.
Instruments like recorders, tubas, accordions, etc. All to make Azumanga to show its light heartedness. So pleasant to listen!
Which, this is good.
The opening animation and music….. Is fun to look at but lyrics…… it doesn’t make sakes.
Well, you want to know something?
AZUMANGA DAIOH DOESN’T MAKE ANY SENSE!!!!
Which it perfectly fits for this anime!
The ending animation and music also fits and this time the lyrics make sense. The theme is very melancholy and a bit trippy. I still give this a bravo.
10/10
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**ENJOYMENT**
THIS anime is purely essence of fun and I enjoyed the HELL out of it. All the way to the very last drop of it.
Fun for everyone who is living in High School or right after that!
10/10
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**VERDICT**
Azumanga Daioh is what other High School slice-of-life shows that they wish or came to be.
It’s a kind of thing that grabs your attention SO FIERCLY!!! ….and let you go…… THEN COMES BACK AGAIN!!!!!!
This is the kind of anime who is for someone that is living or reliving high school life. Of course, there will be people that will say, “Oh, why are you watching this about high school? Are you trying to experience all that High School again?” IGNORE THAT! This is the kind of anime that would enjoy for someone who wants to escape from “real life”. Like bills, debts and such.
It’s almost therapeutic.
My score may not be a 10 but my recommendation I give the “best of the best” and it’s a MUST OWN for your good collection.
For anyone who wants a good funny slice-of-life this will be the one to check out.
VERDICT - 9/10 - LMFAO!!!!!
RECOMMENDATION - TITANIUM LEGEND
