Azumanga Daioh Is a Cutesy, Calming, Cozy Classic

JC Staff

Regardless of who you are, where you live, or what you believe, we can all agree that 2020 has been a train wreck of a year. The global outbreak of COVID-19, the Australian bush fires, and the widespread civil unrest are just a few examples of the difficulties we’ve experienced this year. In times such as these, it is more essential than ever for us to keep tabs on our mental health. Thankfully, anime can provide a great distraction from what troubles us.

I can’t tell others how to unwind after a tough day, but, if you like watching anime, I can recommend choosing one that is cute and upbeat yet laid back, low stakes, and even surreal at some points.

To that effect, JC Staff’s 2002 slice-of-life classic Azumanga Daioh is my go-to series for days where nothing seems to go right. And why wouldn’t it be? There’s nothing big and grand that needs to be saved, no high-octane adventures, and generally very little content that even the most concerned parents would find objectionable. There are six main characters in Azumanga Daioh; the child genius Chiyo Mihama (aka Chiyo-chan), the oddball Osaka, the energetic imp Tomo, the brainiac Yomi, the cool softie Miss Sakaki, and the goodhearted athlete Kagura. Together, our leading ladies must work their way through high school and all the challenges that come with it.

Admittedly, the concept of Azumanga Daioh is nothing original; plenty of anime before and since have done almost the exact same thing with only their casts of characters to make them stand out from each other. To review this anime as something unique in its genre means, for me, removing the rose-tinted glasses and acknowledging that others have done what Azumanga Daioh sets out to do and, dare I say, better. But let’s be honest: very few people watch anime for the sole purpose of experiencing something new and original every single time a new show comes out. If that was the only reason to watch anime, the industry would have died out decades ago.

In my opinion, it’s the chemistry among the main six, as well as between the main six and the supporting characters, that make this anime as enjoyably iconic as it is. What I most enjoy about Azumanga Daioh is how it doesn’t rely on cliched pop culture references, shameless sexuality, or overblown slapstick humor in order to get a laugh out of the audience, unlike other anime such as Aho-Girl. Couple this with a good dose of wholesome cuteness sprinkled throughout, and you’ve got yourself a viewing experience that’s calming and endearing, as opposed to one that’s needlessly exciting. Plus, having the occasional fever dream sequence in between all the school activities and group beach vacations certainly doesn’t hurt, either.

For me, it wasn’t easy talking about this anime through an objective lens because it’s one of my all-time personal favorites. But, if you’re in the market for a show that will help you slow your roll after everything 2020 has thrown at you, Azumanga Daioh is at the top of the list of anime that I recommend.