Japan Anime

Azumanga Daioh (Anime Review)

Azumanga Daioh chronicles everyday life in an unnamed Japanese high school in Tokyo, following the trials and triumphs of six girls: reserved Sakaki’s obsession with cute animals, Chiyo’s struggle to fit in with girls five years older, Osaka’s skewed perspective on the world, Yomi’s aggravation at an annoying best friend, Tomo, whose energy is rivaled only by her lack of sense, and Kagura’s efforts in sports and school. The story covers three years of tests, culture festivals, and athletic events at school, after-school life at the nearby shopping district, at Chiyo’s large house, vacations spent at Chiyo’s summer home on the beach and at Magic Land, a theme park. It is generally realistic in tone, marked by occasional bursts of surrealism and absurdity, such as Osaka’s bizarre imaginings and an episode featuring the characters’ New Year’s dreams.

The manga and anime follow the same story line, though there are differences in small details. Some jokes could not be dramatized as written and were either changed or excised completely. In the first manga volume, Osaka’s appearance is noticeably different from in the anime and succeeding manga volumes. In the same vein, Sakaki’s initial unapproachable demeanor in the manga is downplayed in the anime.

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