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It would be uncommon to find a channel still airing this anime but it should be fresh on any Otaku’s memory in one way or another, seeing how many of its scenes are repeatedly used as internet memes.

At a glance

Azumanga Daioh is a manga and an anime that at first glimpse seems boring and almost not worthy of note (even though the intro is nothing short of awesome), due to its simple artwork and character design as well as the pastel colored backgrounds and a plain selection of colors for the general look of the show. In knowing and acknowledging this, it’s a rather pleasant surprise finding that this anime will grab you by your balls! (Your eyeballs that is what else could it grab you by, huh?) It’ll grab won’t let go, it’s simply captivating in a different but refreshing way.

Azumanga Daioh deals with the day to day life of a group of not-so ordinary high school girls. As much as this may seem like a common genre nowadays, it’s necessary to keep in mind that the original manga came out around 1999 and its anime adaptation followed in 2002, whereas modern examples of this kind of show didn’t rocket to wide-spread popularity until around the 2004-2007 period (the time when Lucky Star made its debut).

So, “What in the heck!?”

The thing with Azumanga Daioh is that it gets wacky pretty fast, but still manages to keep a hold on reality. Many of the crazy situations that seem to break the norm of the show are a product of the characters’ imagination running wild. The plots generally revolve around a seemingly usual day for the cast of girls, who are joined by some of their teachers and come together to create a series of funny moments that will make you laugh and even feel nostalgic, because it’s in many cases possible to point and say “Wow, I remember when that happened to me once!”

Part of the beauty of the show is how enjoyable it is to watch with someone else. The characters are quirky, fun and relatable to anyone who went through (or is going through) high school. The seemingly childish and simple designs compliment the happy and care free tone of the anime, making it obvious that you are in for something funny. It takes simple situations such as riding in a car with a horrible driver and turns them into gags that can fuel an entire episode.

Luckily enough the writing stays fresh and rich throughout the episodes, going from the first year of high school and our cast’s first interactions to the moment of their graduation. You could say that Azumanga Daioh is an anime where nothing really happens and you would be wrong. The characters grow; and the plots, while being somewhat grounded in reality and having only a general idea at their core (like a day at the beach), manage to create situations for the cast to exploit to its greatest potential.

Why you should watch

It’s worth noting that unlike a lot of anime, the English dub is actually very good and accurate which makes it worth while. The actors add a certain vibe to the characters that compliment their personality and most of the lines are properly delivered.

So if you want to introduce your significant other or a friend to anime and are unsure of what to pick, then this could be it. Azumanga Daioh is simple without being generic and is easy on the eyes. It has common and relatable topics that still manage to amuse and deliver humor effortlessly, as well as a rich writing that deserves praise for the way it manages to take something that could be as bland as oatmeal and create something so cheery and colorful.

So in short, schoolgirl anime fans needn’t look twice at this anime to decide whether or not to watch it, and those who need something to get them into the lighter tone of the medium might just find a friend in the characters, each unique in their own way and worthy of an introduction. However, it’s in your best interest to simply pick it up knowing the “why’s” and the “how’s” and find the “who’s” out for yourself. You won’t regret the pleasant surprises they bear.

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