Azumanga Daioh - Entrance (Vol. 1) Reviews

Based on a comic by Kiyohiko Azuma, Azumanga Daioh is the anime equivalent of a '50s girls' novel. Ten-year-old prodigy Chiyo and transfer student Osaka join the crowd at a Tokyo high school, adding to the comic misadventures. Their hard-drinking, potty-mouthed English teacher Yukari resents the popularity of the saner gym teacher Nyamo, even though they're old friends and former classmates. Azumanga lacks any sort of sustained storyline or character development; it's just a series of incidents and encounters involving the kids and the two teachers. The only recurring male character is the leering Mr. Kimura, who teaches because he likes to ogle the students. Adolescent girls may enjoy sharing the featherweight daily problems of Tomo, Yomi, Sakaki, Kaorin, Chihiro, Chiyo, and Osaka, but Azumanga Daioh isn't really about anything. (Rated 13 and older: profanity, alcohol use, minor risqué humor) --Charles Solomon