Animation and Pacing:
The clever use of still frames and recycled animations added humor to the show, but the pacing was often too slow for my taste.
Voice Acting:
The Japanese voice actors did a phenomenal job. The English dub was serviceable whenever my file defaulted to it, but lacked the oomph the original team brought to the table.
World-Building:
One odd aspect of the show is the near-absence of parents and other teachers besides the main three. While obviously due to budget constraints, it does create a somewhat unrealistic environment.
Characters:
- Chiyo-chan: My favorite character. Her kindness and care for her friends were genuinely touching and get me teared up just thinking about it.
- Sakaki and Kaorin: Their interactions were sweet and endearing.
- Tomo and Yukari: Both can be quite abrasive and unlikable, with Yukari being particularly immature for a teacher.
- Osaka: A fan favorite for good reason. Her unique perspective on the world is both amusing and sometimes insightful.
- Koyomi: Unfortunately, she didn't leave much of an impression.
Missed Opportunities:
- Chiyo's father, despite being prominently featured in the intro, was underutilized in the actual show. The show wasn't as surreal as I was expecting. I haven't watched them yet, but I'm guessing this is where Lucky Star and Nichijou decided to capitalize.
- The creepy teacher's inappropriate behavior was never properly addressed, which was disappointing. Would have been nice to see some consequences and character growth.
