These are the famous words of the great Ayumu "Osaka" Kasuga, and these lines alone are enough to describe the tenor behind the show Azumanga Daioh: The Animation, a slice-of-life show with repetitive running gags yet it somehow manages to grab the hearts of its viewers.
Plot:
As a show in the slice-of-life genre, there is no story. Azumanga Daioh however features a school life setting in which characters live the many unique adventures of life. This show will walk you through the wonderful, fun days of high school life, packed with silly interactions, fun, and serious academic moments.
This show made me remember the fun and carefree days I had with my peers during my high school days. Hanging out, going on trips, having silly conversations with friends, and even studying together are all experiences that I dearly miss. As this show has proved, time goes by fast when you're having fun, so before it's too late, all I can say is to learn a thing or two from this show and make the most of high school so that you'll have no regrets moving forward.
Characters:
Typical slice-of-life comedies feature characters from which comedic timing is used around them. Azumanga Daioh, however, approaches this genre differently, in that it constructs its comedic timing based solely on each character's characteristics and personality. In other words, Azumanga Daioh's characters make up the overall riotous of the show.
This is a classical move in the anime space and the likeness of such is determined by one's personal preferences. I have personally found this specific use of characters to be no small feat, but due to how the comedic-aspect of this show is accomplished, I found it to be quickly repetitive. Make no mistake, as repetitive is not in the context of "it's the same type of thing over and over again", but in one that considers the standard nature of each character and is slightly distinct.
Viewers are introduced to six main characters:
Ayumu "Osaka" Kasuga - A transfer student from Osaka, Japan, hence the name "Osaka". Diagnosed with stage 4 silliness disease, she is a girl with a unique perspective of the world.
Sakaki - A shy woman who is often found in a pensive state; reflecting in deep or serious thought commonly in animals. Despite that, she cherishes her peers incredibly, making her my personal favourite.
Chiyo Mihama - An adorable, intelligent "child prodigy", having skipped five grades to the first year in Japanese high school. She is of appealing, innocent, lovable, and frankly, perfect nature. She is my personal 2nd favourite.
Tomo Takino - She's just a silly goose with some form of ADHD, often letting her intrusive thoughts win.
Koyomi "Yomi" Mizuhara - The most mature and serious of the group, but also characterized by many as the "most punished" of the show; having to constantly hinder Tomo's antics, sings horribly, fails her college entrance exams, struggles to maintain her diet, and after a plan was made to go to an amusement park, she gets bedridden despite researching and being all excited.
Kagura - Similar in a sense to Tomo in terms of energetic demeanor and is more geared towards athletics. Unlike Tomo however, she is able to control her exhilarative nature and maintain her focus.
Overall, every character has their own unique role in exhibiting comedy in this show, and are all very likable.
Except Kimura. You're an opp if you like Kimura.
Visuals:
The animation and art that was present in this show were of a simple and clean nature. Make no mistake as this is not a drawback, but a feature that only enhances the comedic aspect of this show.
The characters are drawn in a cutesy fashion, something I very much like. In addition to that, the facial expressions at times are so stupid yet sure to make you laugh.
Sound:
The OP is very nice and catchy, whereas the ED was something I unfortunately couldn't get into.
Every soundtrack used in Azumanga Daioh is appropriately used and complements every situation very nicely. There are some soundtracks used in the show that have multiple variants that make you go "wait this sounds familiar", giving it a feeling of familiarity yet distinctiveness. Additionally, sound effects are great and are only an enhancement to the comedic timing of the show.
Concluding Statement:
Overall, I give this show a 9/10.
Azumanga Daioh may not be for everyone. If you're not into slice-of-life, character-driven comedy, or monotonous running gags, this show may not be your cup of tea, and that's okay. But for those who do enjoy one of these things, this show will be sure to make you go "OH MY GAH!" and relive the hilarious chaos of high school friendships filled with endearing quirks and unforgettable memories.
