The characters are a strange group to say the least, but you will definitely find someone to identify with, or a character that reminds you of someone. No matter how outrageous the personality. The star appears to by Chiyo-chan, the cute little genius who is only about 10 years old, but it is actually about a core group of girls who are friends and are growing up and enjoying life together. Ms. Sakaki is the “cool” girl who is tall athletic and popular, but she loves cute things, especially cats. And she wishes she were cute like Chiyo. Tomo is the girl who appears to have ADD, and is generally a hyperactive idiot who doesn’t think before doing or saying anything. Yomi is her best friend and is probably the most ordinary of the group. She’s about as smart as Chiyo and like many normal teenage girls obsesses about her weight and eating habits. She’s also often the voice of logic in the group (thank god). And then there is Osaka, she’s the kid who daydreams a lot and says weird things, she’s a bit slow, honestly. She’s also probably my favorite character.
Kagura is another girl who joins the group later and is almost as athletic as Ms. Sakaki and a bit of a tomboy. She’s also her chief rival and a bit of an idiot like Tomo and Osaka. She falls into the strange category of being in between a main character and a supporting one, much like some of the teachers. Ms. Yukari qualifies as a main character and is also a great source of comedy, much like Chiyo, Osaka and Tomo. She’s the strange self-centered teacher who can’t wait for the end-of-the-day bell to ring. Strangely enough, she is pretty smart and is a language (English) teacher. Her best friend is also a teacher. Nyamo, who is much more practical than her friend, is a P.E. teacher and very popular with the students. The group is pretty much rounded out by Kaorin, a girl in the same grade as the others who is a huge fan of Ms. Sakaki (much like many of the girls in the school) who looks up to her coolness in a strange kind of groupie way.
The plot is pretty much that of a sketch comedy show. It all comes together more or less chronologically, as it covers the three years of high school of the girls. Things are usually highlighted by annual events like the sports or culture festivals and trips to Chiyo-chan’s summer home (her family is RICH). And the comedy is usually a random mix of random insanity. The laughs come from all angles as characters just being themselves lead into hilarious moments. The pitifully un-athletic Osaka trying to do gymnastics, Ms. Sakaki and her love of cats, Tomo being Tomo and generally annoying the hell out of Yomi, Chiyo-chan just trying to understand a high school world in a child’s body and generally when anyone upsets Ms. Yukari, all lead to the most hilarious moments. The comedy translates well and is laugh out loud funny.
If I had any complaints, they might be that some jokes do fall flat. And the show can very much be an aquired taste. And that might be my biggest recommendation, as well. I have to fish for something I don’t like about this series.
It is hard to explain why the show is so good without someone watching it. With a show like this it is best not to tell the joke, but to let someone see. It is so good that you hate to see it end. The ending goes without saying, they have to graduate and go to college, but it is sad because even with 26 episodes you never want it to end. I would recommend this show to ANYONE.
Note: the score for the story is only so low, b/c there isn't much of a story, more like situations. Its not a bad thing, it just makes the score kind of irrelevant.
