Azumanga Daioh Volume 3: Rivals! - Underland Online

• Media Source:Underland Online
• Reviewed By:Mike
• Review Date:06/27/04
• Read the original review click here

Azumanga Daioh Vol. 3 - Rivals

School may be out for the summer for some anime fans, but in the world of Azumanga Daioh, there's no such thing as a lengthy summer vacation. The girls are back again, fresh off of their second volume, and they've got more crazy antics cooked up as well as more of that side splitting humor that is making Azumanga Daioh an instant hit with fans.

It seems like just only yesterday they began their high school careers as first year students, and already they are moving into year two. This means that Chiyo can be called 'sempai' by the underclassmen, assuming she can get them to accept that she really is in a higher grade than them, and that's not easy when you're an 11-year old prodigy. This is just the tip of the iceberg for this latest outing.

For those that watched the last volume, there was a promise of a new character being added into the mix, and that's no lie. This isn't one of those teases either where just one episode centers on that character. Kagura, who competed in the school sports fest, joins with the class, and that mixes things up quite a bit. The rest of the girls stay put with their same homeroom, but bringing Kagura in adds a very nice element. To begin with, she's very competitive, and that puts her at odds (sort of) with some of the other girls. Well, maybe Kagura is the one who thinks that she's at odds, but the others don't care. She does seem to be getting on the wrong side of Sakaki however, especially with her apparent dislike of cats, but she does have some very good company when it comes to intellect, and that would be Tomo and Osaka.

The one thing that I have been appreciating about the series is despite the fact there are many main characters, each of them get their turn in the spotlight. Chiyo, Tomo, and Sakaki all have episodes that center around them for the most part, though I would like another with Osaka in the forefront (and she does give us some more of her rather interesting takes on life in this volume.) Sakaki continues to have her issues with cats, and this includes some even more hilarious instances, such as a cat blatantly head butting her in the stomach. We also see her obsession with the felines go to an even higher degree when she discovers that there is an alley where cats tend to go and met. It's just too bad they attack her all at once.

The extras that are included on the disc are very much the same thing that has been seen with the previous releases. There are production sketches as well as clean version of the open and closing animations for the show. The DVD has another collector's book included, and this volumes character of focus is Sakaki. Incidentally, she really doesn't have a first name, at least not one that anyone seems to know. There is more information on those things that are very specifically Japanese, including some information on the summer festivals that you will find throughout the country (and those fishing games really aren't as easy as what you think they might be), comments from the staff and more character artwork. Also, the disc comes with a collector's pin, something that was included with the collector's box (or so I'm told as I don't own it yet) and volume three comes with the cats from Neco Conneco, yet another thing that Sakaki is obsessed with.

Azumanga Daioh is one of those series that can make you cry. Not because it's sad, and it's isn't the result of wondering why you spent your money on the series, but it has comedic moments that are outrageous and can result in not only crying, but a side ache as well. It's a series that should come with a warning along those lines, but perhaps being blissfully unaware (if you haven't yet seen the series) is the best part. Azumanga Daioh fills in the void that the end of Excel Saga left for many of us, and it just keeps getting better.

Episode 10 - We're Second Year Students

It's seems like only yesterday that girls had started high school, and now they are moving into their second year. The real concern however isn't in starting a new school year or advancing a grade, it's who will stay with the class, and who (if anyone) will end up in a new one.

Episode 11 - Kagura and Sakaki

The classes' new student, Kagura, has decided to tag along with Sakaki, even though she sees her as a rival. However, Kagura sees Sakaki's difficulties with cats, including another attack, and decides that she will ward them off, much to Sakaki's dismay and horror.

Episode 12 - Chiyo-Chan's Day

The mood shifts to looking at what a day in the life of Chiyo is like. It's not easy being a child prodigy, and apparently, it's even more difficult being in high school when all your friends are still in grade school and getting to be children like they should be.

Episode 13 - Exams

There is a big test coming up and Tomo hasn't studied, nor has Osaka, or even Kagura. They all want to take a look at Yomi's notes, but she refuses, insisting that they work on their own. And so, the three 'knuckleheads' of the class buckle down together and try their best to prepare, but with these three, it's going to take more than a miracle for them to pass the test.

Episode 14 - The Ocean, Summer Kimono's, and a Party!

With another break before them, Chiyo decides it's the perfect time to invite everyone back to her family's summer home, but somehow their teachers have found out as well and invite themselves along. Even Kagura joins in the fun, and the girls get a rather interesting talk regarding sex from a drunken Yukari.

Posted on Sunday, June 27, 2004 (Archive on Tuesday, July 27, 2004)