"Azumanga daiô" (2002) TV series

Director:

Nishikiori Hiroshi

Seasons:

1

Genre:

Animation | Comedy

Tagline:

School goes crazy

Plot:

A humorous and highly unpredictable animated series following a group of high school girls and their teachers.

Plot Keywords:

High School | Love | Manga | Friendship | Emotionally Vulnerable

Cast

Tomoko Kaneda	...	Chiyo Mihama (26 episodes, 2002)
Yuki Matsuoka	...	Ayumu Kasuga / ... (26 episodes, 2002)
Chieko Higuchi	...	Tomo Takino (26 episodes, 2002)
Rie Tanaka	...	Koyomi Mizuhara / ... (26 episodes, 2002)
Yu Asakawa	...	Sakaki (26 episodes, 2002)

Also Known As:

Azumanga Daioh (International: English title)

Runtime:

Japan:24 min (26 episodes)

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Color:

Color

Certification:

USA:TV-PG | Germany:12 (episodes 1-7, 20-26) | Germany:6 (episodes 8-14) | Germany:o.Al. (episodes 15-19) | New Zealand:PG | South Korea:12 | Australia:PG | Canada:PG | UK:12 (part 1) | UK:PG (part 2) | Australia:MA

Company:

J.C. Staff

Trivia:

Episode #21, there was a name Tomoko Kaneda (the voice of Chiyo-chan), amongst staff list of key animators. What drawing she did was never revealed, though it is suspected that it is the depressed Chiyo-chan scribble at the start of the episode

Quotes:

[Yukari is trying to urge her class to win the sports fest]
Tomo Takino: Hey! If we win, you should treat us all to a can of juice!
Yukari Tanizaki: Juice, huh? Let's see... If we're looking at 120 yen a can...
[Counting on her fingers, deep in thought, and suddenly grins and shouts out]
Yukari Tanizaki: Okay! If you guys win, I'll treat you all!
Koyomi Mizuhara: Just how much did you bet on this?

Movie Connections:

Follows Azumanga daioh (2001)

Soundtrack:

Raspberry Heaven

I'm so glad I decided to try watching this

I saw a trailer for Azumanga daioh and thought it was going to be childish nonsense. Admitedly the trailer only showed a modified version of the show's introduction sequence, rather than real footage from the show. Shame on the makers of the trailer, I say! Then I watched an episode of the show and was instantly hooked. This is probably one of the best comedy animes I've seen so far. While shows like Abenobashi or Excel Saga are funny in a zany way, Azumanga is funny in a more realistic way. As other reviewers have noted, there is no plot as such - it's more like a sitcom.

The characters seem very likable and all have their own characteristics. Some of the teachers also feature, and I think this gives the show an interesting perspective as you see that they just as quirky as the kids. (OK, perhaps MORE quirky than some of the kids).

One of the reasons this show has hooked me is that it is consistently funny. Some other shows I've seen have had a few episodes that were hilarious and a few that barely raised a smile. I think every episode of Azumanga has had me laughing out loud.

If you haven't seen this show because the trailer put you off, don't panic! Yes, there's a certain amount of cuteness (especially Chiyo), but the show is a lot of fun. But the Muppets demonstrated that cuteness doesn't mean it's only for kids.

Azumanga may not be suitable for young children because of some cuss words and slightly teenage/adult content (although children see that on TV before the watershed these days). Teenagers aren't likely to be too worried by any of that though.

This 37-year-old male gives Azumanga daioh 5 stars out of 5!