Azumanga Daioh is considered by many to be the finest slice-of-life/coming-of-age-story-revolving-around-a-group-of-school-girls anime out there. Basically, it is regarded in some circles as the premier Moe anime. These lofty claims are justified for the most part as Azumanga Daioh, while average in many regards, has an extremely strong sense of character and humor. While not exactly intellectually stimulating by any means, it is an excellent show to just relax and enjoy for what it is, mindless entertainment.
If you want to compare popular Moe anime, it could be said that while Lucky Star is most self aware and K-On! is most sentimental, Azumanga Daioh is by far funniest. Not that the other two are not funny, but this show brings something entirely different to the table. Sure, there is the typical humor that is usually displayed in shows of this variety (back and forth banter about mundane topics resulting in resolution, judgment, or impasse) accompanied by the typical scenarios (culture festivals, trips to the summer house, athletic competitions, and a WHOLE lot of passing periods). From the casual uninvested perspective, there is nothing remarkable about Azumanga Daioh and for the first few episodes it is difficult to see what the hubbub is all about. Slowly though, the show's knack for excellent comedic exposition and timing as well as an interest in the just plain bizarre come into focus. The character Osaka, with her sleepy southern drawl, has got to be one of the best anime characters of all time. Her strange epiphanies and surreal daydreams make for many of the show's funniest moments. She is the kind of like that friend that always says the exact right thing at the exact right moment, unintentionally, that pushes the whole conversation over the edge. Magnet-for-abuse Chiyo and hyperactive Tomo are also hilarious quite frequently. The writing of the show seems to have a bit of a dark streak, which is funny given its benign context. Infact, the show's crowning moment of funny is equally parts disturbing and innocent, something that is difficult to pull off. There are also a slew of other gags worthy of being honored as some of the finest that anime has to offer. When a show has it's own chunk of YouTube real estate filled with "top 10 funniest moments" compilations, then generally, you know that it struck a chord.
And that's Azumanga Daioh in a nutshell- a run of the mill, slice of life story with some entertaining characters, peppered with just enough moments of pure comedic brilliance. While some of the gags are great, there is just as much, if not more, of the tedium that can be found in any show of this variety. You will need some patience. You will need to scratch your head at jokes that don't hit on the head. (getting repeatedly bitten by cats doesn't do it for me) Most importantly, you will need to accept the fact that very little actually happens in these shows- it is more about finding a grove in the calm, casual air that exists within them and taking comfort in it.
Make no mistake. Like its contemporaries, Azumanga Daioh is hugely entertaining. It's just plain easy to watch and it compellingly exhibits the qualities that are admirable about Moe and slice-of-life anime while expanding the envelope ever so much, to encompass a more mature observational keenness to the goofiness of everyday life. Although the conventions of this genre can grow stale quite quickly, Azumanga Daioh proves that it is all about the spin you put on it, not the actual content.
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