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Av: How's it?
NK: Going pretty well. Just going through my anime list right now, making sure it's all in order. It's been a while since I've maintained it.
Av: Thanks to school, eh? Find anything interesting?
NK: Yes, actually. It's fun to see when I've watched anime. I have three or four series during the semester, then during breaks there's just series after series.

Av: Speaking of, you watched Soul Eater last summer, right?
NK: Yeah. Took a while to get through, but we did.
Av: You like it?
NK: Well, let's see. I have a wall scroll with the main characters on it, ... a messenger bag and an Excalibur plush, and also the DVD cover signed by Travis, Vic and Colleen. You tell me.

Av: Revising question, then. What'd you rate it?
NK: 9 out of 10.
Av: No 10?
NK: Nope. It was promising for a while. The series was incredible. Then either the director forgot he only had a few episodes left, or they decided to have Disney write the script. I've never seen so much stuff piled in to that small a space, and you've seen my room. Add in that little speech Maka gives at the end of the final episode, and the series just feels like it builds up to a fat disappointment.

Av: So, another case of "Oh, crap, the series is ending, but the manga's not close to finished," eh?
NK: I really wish anime producers would stop that. Either come up with a plan for the anime adaptation all at once, or wait for the series to be near finished. Wasn't Negima! enough evidence of how not to end an anime adaptation of a continuous manga?
Av: Very true.
NK: At least most of the characters were intact at the end of the series.
Av: There was one that wasn't?
NK: Kind of. I though Death the Kid started acting a bit strange in the last few episodes, but that's probably me just being nit-picky. It was still a really fun series to watch.

Av: Well, the characters must have been good for you to nit-pick like that.
NK: Oh, yeah. Even the characters I hated were done well. Even Naruto's long lost brother.
Av: Who?
NK: Black Star. He does tend to grow on you at the end, but he's still really annoying. I really feel bad for Tsubaki. Then there's Medusa, who is designed to be hated. She is really an amazing character, though.
Av: Should I brace myself for a dub lecture? I know you've harped on many a dub.
NK: This was a really great dub, actually. Granted, I was a little concerned with Monica Rial playing Tsubaki at first, but her voice is so soft, it's hard to believe it at first, especially comparing her voice to Coopa's or Renge's.

Av: Well, that's about it. Obviously I shouldn't be asking about art or music. You have the OST and all, plus the wall scroll and messenger bag.
NK: What? Don't like the sarcasm being thrown back at you?
Av: Shut it. Just get to your recommendations.

NK: There's enough action to keep that part of the shounen crowd busy, as you're well aware of.
Av: Not that much.
NK: That's because there's *gasp* character development! I was honestly surprised, seeing as how it's listed as a shounen anime. Those, like me, who actually care about the characters more than anything else will find a lot to like here.
Av: So...that pretty much covers every one.
NK: Except the pervs, yeah.
Av: Not many anime you can say that for, eh?
NK: Unfortunately. Though anyone else should brace themselves for the ending. It feels kinda flat compared to the rest of the series.

Av: Well, now that you've watched your one shounen anime for the year, what's next? Air?
NK: K-ON!, of course. Air comes during winter break.
Av: Good lord. You really need to stop finding these Slice of Life anime.
NK: Correction: I need to find series not made by the same people.
Av: You have fun with that.

A few notes before this review begins. This is a LONG review, so please read at a very convenient time. Also, this involves every single character I've used in my reviews.

I would suggest you go to my user panel and read about how I rate anime and how I do my reviews before reading this review. Thank you. Now, back to our feature film.

T: It looks like he's watched almost a month's worth of anime.
Av: You serious?
T: Yeah.
Ak: How many series has he completed?
T: 25, plus 14 movies and OVAs. He's rewatched a few of them, though.
Ak: Like ... what?
T: Azumanga Daioh, Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu, Negima!...
Av: And they were all rated...?
T: 9. He has 11 different things here rated 9.
Ak: How many are tens?
T: One.
Av: Only one?! Which one? Death Note? Lucky Star?
T: Cardcaptor Sakura.
Av: WHAT?!
Ak: How come?
T: Not sure. I'm going to guess Sakura has something to do with it. That is his favorite character, after all.

NK: I hear people talking about Sakura-chan.
Av: Sakura..."chan"?
NK: Yes. Sakura-chan. Did I stutter?
T: Sorry. We were going through your anime list and noticed something.
Ak: Why is Cardcaptor Sakura your favorite?
NK: That is a very long answer.
T: You have a lot rated 9, but this is the only one rated 10.
NK; Yep. Kanon and Azumanga Daioh came fairly close, but there's no 9.5 rating, so I had to give them 9s Consider them the highest 9s.
Av: Wait wait wait. You honestly believe Cardcaptor Sakura is the best anime?
NK: That I've seen, yes.
Av: This is too much. I gotta leave.

T: Let's break this down, then. Simple stuff first. Art, music and voice acting.
NK: We need to hold off on the voice acting for now. Remind me to bring it up later.
T: Okay, then. How is the art in Cardcaptor Sakura?
NK: For its age, I think CCS is very well animated. The final episode aired in Japan over ten years ago. The cards all have fitting art and the action scenes are a lot of fun to watch. The facial expressions are good, too.
Ak: Don't forget the costumes!
NK: Ah, yes. Sakura-chan's costumes. Forgive me if I sound a little creepy, there.
T: Not a problem. I know you have the best of intentions with this anime.
NK: Some of her costumes are a bit...out there. Not quite sure what to think of them. Many of them are well designed, and there are a few that I like.
Ak: Which ones are your favorites?
NK: The one she wears sneaking into the museum was a good costume, and her costume for the school play was really good, too. My favorite is the one she wears at the Tokyo Tower Showdown, the one that constantly appears in her dreams.

T: All right. What about the music?
NK: For the most part, I'd call the music average. Granted, some of the action scenes have great music and the first opening is a really good song, but everything else seems a bit average.

T: How about the story?
NK: Uh...geez. Where do I start?
Ak: Favorite episodes - go!
NK: Let's see... The episode where Syaoran first arrives at the school is a good one, and the episode with the play is good, too. I also liked the episode where Sakura-chan was sick and still went out to capture a card. The best one, though, is near the end, when...gah! I don't want to give too much away!
T: There's got to be something there you can tell us.
NK: Ah! It involves the Balloon Card. Suffice it to say, the Balloon Card is extremely important in that episode.
T: What about the story in general? Is it too long?
NK: Not at all. No episode really feels pointless, though it may seem a couple get close. The ending is fantastic, in my opinion. It ends at just the right point, exactly how it should have.
Ak: Why don't any feel pointless? Isn't it long?
NK: Every episode has at least an accomplishment for Sakura-chan and the others, and usually each episode shows us something new about the characters. Either it's something we haven't seen yet, or it's part of the character's development.

T: Which leads us to your favorite topic, the characters.
NK: The main reason to watch the series.
T: How come?
NK: I'm going to be honest, here. The story, though very well written, can feel a bit repetitive to some and may seem like a standard magical girl story. It won't capture every audience. The true charm to Cardcaptor Sakura is the character design. How the characters act feels very natural despite the magic in the series, and their development throughout the series is amazing.
T: Your favorite character is Sakura, obviously.
NK: Absolutely. She's a very easy character to connect with, and I just attached to her in an instant. She's not the best character, though.
Ak: How come?
T: I think the better question is: who is?
NK: Tomoyo. She makes a drastic change very quickly that still feels very natural.
T: And that change would be?
NK: A bit of a spoiler, in my opinion. It's very obvious that she sees Sakura-chan as more than just a friend. Yet, when Syaoran appears...well, let's just say that her character description as being very selfless in regards to Sakura-chan really shows light here.

T: That's about it, then-
Ak: Not yet. Voice acting!
T: Oh, right! Why did you save it?
NK: I watched the series in Japanese. When I first was exposed to it, I watched the dub.
T: I take it the voice acting was bad.
NK: If that was it, I wouldn't be so upset. I can understand a difficulty in finding good voice actors, especially for children, when it comes to anime. I can also understand that some things may need to be changed due to the vast difference between the Japanese and English languages. Names, though, are not one of them. That's one gripe, but not my biggest issue.

T: They changed something else, I take it?
NK: When you go as far as to change a fundamental characteristic of a character, it changes the entire series. But the dub didn't stop there. They removed all context involving what I guess they considered "bad" relationships to show children. Tomoyo had so much of her dialogue manipulated that her obsession with Sakura-chan is just reduced to friendship. Meilin is also changed so much that her protection of Syaoran is just out of concern instead of her true intentions. These are extremely important to the way these characters develop, yet they're ripped away because of unnecessary censorship.
T: Harsh words.
NK: Harsh reality. The Cardcaptor Sakura dub is one of the worst dubs in my opinion.

T: So, summary time, then. Characters?
NK: Amazing.
T: Story?
NK: Great.
T: Art and Sound?
NK: Great and great.
T: Who should watch it?
NK: Everyone, but that's not going to happen. If you like any of CLAMP's stuff, especially Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle, watch Cardcaptor Sakura. If you're even slightly interested, watch Cardcaptor Sakura. It may seem long at 70 episodes, but it's worth it. For your sake, though, WATCH IT IN JAPANESE. I cannot stress how bad the dub is.

Ak: So, do ya think this'll be your only 10 ever?
NK: I hope not. Like I said, Kanon and Azumanga Daioh were close. There's gotta be another series out there worthy of a 10 from me, but I just haven't found it yet.

T: Watching Haruhi, I see. The first season again?
NK: I'm trying to forget that the second season exists.
T: It couldn't have been that bad. What went wrong?
NK: They made a second season.

T: Come on. A little more detail would be nice.
NK: That is the true mistake, though. The first season of Suzumiya Haruhi was enough. The characters were designed well, the stories were all the right length and really helped show how the characters developed over the course of the series. It ended on a very good note and nothing needed to be added.
T: The ending was open, though. ... It would make sense to add more after the events after the first season.
NK: Yes it would. They didn't.
T: Wait, do you mean that the second season takes place during the first season?
NK: Correct. And there were only three stories. 14 episodes. Not quite as concise as the first season.

T: What were the stories, dare I ask...
NK: A one episode trip back in time for Kyon. That was actually good. Then the Endless Eight began.
T: The...Endless Eight?
NK: Eight episodes that repeated the same two weeks of summer vacation because Haruhi didn't do her homework. I just summarized over half of the second season for you.
T: Um...spoiler warning?
NK: Why bother? You're wasting time by watching the same thing eight frickin' times. I figured I'd remove curiosity for that part of the story for everyone.
T: And the final story?
NK: The other 5 episodes were about the making of the movie that acted as the prequel episode to season one.
T: That's it?
NK: That's it. No further character development, no captivating plot, nothing. Just a 14 episode time sink.

T: There had to be something good, right?
NK: I have two good things to say about the second season. First, the characters were intact. They weren't acting in a way that would surprise you despite the obvious cash-in that this season was supposed to be. Second, the opening was actually enjoyable despite the how bad the season was. It makes me wish that it was the opening for the first season.

T: So...no recommendation.
NK: If you've watched the first season, this is entirely pointless. If you haven't, you can actually find the broadcast order for when the episodes were aired in chronological order with season one. That might be a bit better context-wise, but you're better off just watching season one. Hopefully, the movie is better. The first season deserves such a better follow up than this.

*While sorting out video games*
Ak: Hm...? Hey! I found a PS2 game in here!
NK: Thanks, Akyn. That needs to be over here.
Ak: I didn't know you used to like Naruto!
NK: You found Ultimate Ninja, didn't you?

Ak: Yep! Hey, why'd you stop watching Naruto, anyway?
NK: Well, I was reading the manga at the same time, and I got tired of all the filler episodes. Of course, I didn't read all of it, either. Stopped shortly after the Shippuden switch.
Ak: Oh...why'd you start watching it?
NK: Because it had ninja in it. Why wouldn't I start watching it?
Ak: Do you watch everything with ... ninjas in it?
NK: Not much anymore. I used to be obsessed with ninja, though.

Ak: So, do you like Naruto?
NK: Still? A little bit. It had some funny moments, and some of the characters weren't half bad.
Ak: Like who?
NK: Hinata and Kiba were a couple of my favorites when I watched it, and I still like Kakashi.
Ak: How come?
NK: He's such a serious leader in tight spots, but he has a good sense of humor, as well.

Ak: Even though there was a lotta filler, did you still like the story?
NK: Yeah, it was pretty interesting.
Ak: Any part you liked best?
NK: The Chuunin Exam was my favorite arc, especially the individual fights. Those were really well animated.
Ak: Any scene in particular?
NK: Hmm...my favorite scene was actually before the Chuunin Exam. It was the Water Dragon Jutsu clash between Kakashi and Zabuza. I used to have the hand seals memorized for that.
Ak: Wow!
NK: Just wasted time, really.

Ak: So, you're not gonna watch the rest?
NK: Nope. The story got really complicated even without the filler, plus there's only so much bad voice acting one can take.
Ak: You think others should watch it?
NK: It's a good beginner anime that covers all different types of characters, so those who don't know much about anime could start with Naruto. I wouldn't recommend watching the entire series, though.
Ak: 'Kay!
NK: All right, next drawer.

T: Hey, there...Ah, I see girls in school uniforms again. Another Slice of Life anime, I take it?
NK: Oh, hey, Takame. You'd be correct.
T: Which one is it this time. Hold on a sec. I recognize the art. It's...Lucky Star, right?
NK: You are correct.
T: I thought your sister said to avoid it like the plague.
NK: Bah, I decided to watch it anyway. Good thing I did.

T: I take it you like the series, then.
NK: Very much so. I'd even go as far as to place it in my top 10, if not my top 5.
T: Wow. You're ... getting a bit crowded in your top 10, aren't you?
NK: Unfortunately.

T: So, Slice of Life. Basically, take real life, add a twist and proceed, right?
NK: Mostly.
T: So, what's the twist in this one, then?
NK: Hmm...I think the most it does outside of real life is parody video games and anime. That's about it.
T: No child skipping an abnormal amount of grades? No student who turns out to be god? No transfer student having to remember his past while juggling a bunch of girls who are tied to that past?
NK: Nope, though the anime you're thinking of in that last comment is referenced twice in the series, and the second one you brought up is referenced in every other episode, it seems.
T: That seems a bit...plain...
NK: It is. Though I think it's part of the reason I like it.
T: How come?
NK: Well, the characters are easier to relate to, as are the situations. It's basically two years of high school crammed in to 24 episodes.

T: Well, you do always like to mention characters first. How are they in Lucky Star? Do they develop in drastic ways?
NK: I wouldn't really call it developing. More like we just find out more about them in each episode. The series really focuses on Konata and Kagami, though Tsukasa does see a fair share of screen time thanks to her sister, and Miyuki is talked about a lot.
T: So, it's kind of like how you learn more about your friends as you see them more often.
NK: Right.

T: Interesting. So, who's your favorite? I'm going to guess Konata, since she's supposed to be the otaku.
NK: Supposed to be? She is an otaku, and it seems like she's proud of the title. Oh, and you're wrong. She is not my favorite.
T: Really? I couldn't imagine Kagami being it, either. Oh, dear...it's Tsukasa, isn't it?
NK: How'd you guess?
T: The big eyes, the ribbon in the hair. She sort of stands out as the cute one.
NK: Yeah, she's my favorite character. She's a bit of an airhead, so I think that's part of it.

T: I swear...anyway, you said "high school", right?
NK: I sure did.
T: They look a lot younger than that.
NK: Tricked me at first, too. It's a bit strange, I'll grant you that, but I actually found it really interesting to make the characters look younger than they were.
T: It makes it harder to take the series seriously that way.
NK: I didn't know you were supposed to take the series seriously.

T: Good point. How about the music? I noticed it was a bit bland when I came in.
NK: That pretty much describes half of the background music. The music they play during conversations isn't really supposed to grab your attention. They save the good music for Konata's video games and the really funny scenes.
T: You have the soundtrack, I take it.
NK: Well, about half of the BGM collection...yes.

T: Anyway, I think I'm going to head out. Oh, almost forgot. Language?
NK: Japanese, for me. That's what I first watched it in. The English isn't bad, but I'm just used to the Japanese.
T: You think others would like it?
NK: If you understand otaku culture, it's easy to figure out what's going on. There are enough different characters that almost any person watching the series can attach to someone. The only reason someone wouldn't like it is because there's really not a lot going on. It's pretty low key for an anime.

Av: Um...what's with the wiffle bat?
NK: Hm? Oh, hey Avon. Just practicing my kendo swing. I just finished watching Bamboo Blade

Av: Oh...right. How was it?
NK: Fantastic. Though it was informative, kinda like Hikaru no Go, it was really enjoyable because of the characters.

Av: Take it that's what you liked best, then.
NK: Yeah. The plot was pretty good, and the music was good too. The characters really define the series, though.

Av: From the looks of it, it's all female.
NK: Nope. Though the series is focused on the girls' kendo team, male characters are present and are actually pretty ... important to the series.
Av: How so?
NK: Well, the main kendo instructors are all male. Then there're the two seniors who play as antagonists in a couple ways. Plus, the two freshmen boys who join the club actually have a bit of character development themselves, and one of them acts as both a supporting character and a protagonist.

Av: I take it one of the females is your favorite, though.
NK: Yeah. For a while, Tama-chan was my favorite character: the hero for justice and all that. In retrospect, though, I've chosen Kirino. She's described in the series as being "the pillar of the kendo club", and she could probably be described as the pillar of the series, too. A lot of the humor involves her, and a good amount of the suspense is placed on her shoulders as well. It's difficult to find a character like that that still has a great supporting cast.
Av: Why don't you give a dissertation next time?
NK: Sorry, I just haven't found a character like that in a long time...

Av: Anyway, think I should take a look at it?
NK: Definitely. Granted, there are some cutesy parts...
Av: I'll be sure to have a bucket handy.
NK: It's not that bad. Just girls being girls, like any slice-of-life anime out there. If you're interested in kendo, Bamboo Blade is a great starting point. I think you'd like it because you like traditional japanese swordplay. Kendo was used as training in the feudal age, if I recall correctly.

Av: Right. Well, I'll let you get back to...whatever it was you were-
*smack* *pop*
NK: Aw, curses...that was the light bulb, wasn't it?
Av: Yup. Good thing that bat's plastic, huh?

Av: Yo! How goes it?
NK: One sec. Gotta finish kicking Frieza's ass. There we go.

Av: Holy crap, Burst Limit? Are you determined to stay 13 years old?
NK: You know I still like DBZ despite its age.

Av: Why did you like it in the first place?
NK: It was something different. There wasn't a heck of a lot of anime out in the US back then. It had humor, action, suspense (though sometimes too much suspense). Plus, it didn't hurt that the characters were memorable.

Av: You're kidding, right? The characters?
NK: I like a lot of DBZ's characters. Kid ... Gohan, Vegeta, Nappa and Krillin all stand out in my mind no matter how much anime I watch.

Av: Sounds like the character list for half the Saiyan Saga.
NK: That's not a coincidence. The Saiyan Saga was my favorite saga, with the Frieza Saga being a close second.

Av: Any particular scenes you remember?
NK: The clash between Vegeta's Gallic Gun and Goku's Kamehameha is definitly my favorite. I also enjoyed Nappa's death.

Av: You try watching it in Japanese?
NK: Dear God, no. Every time I've tried using the Japanese voices in the DBZ games, I've changed it back to English moments later. I'm so used to the English voices that the Japanese voices are just...strange.

Av: Plan on buying any of the series? You did watch it on TV.
NK: Eventually. I really wish to give my support to FUNimation for the series, but it's just so damn expensive for each box set. When I do, I'll at least get all of the Saiyan Saga. At most, I'll get all of the series through the Cell Saga.

Av: Just through the Cell Saga?
NK: That seems like the more logical ending than the Majin Buu saga. Too much changes after the Cell Saga. Plus, everything just comes together with Cell's defeat. Goku can't be revived again via the Dragon Balls, Gohan finally understands his power, and Vegeta was willing to sacrifice himself so Gohan could finish Cell off. It just makes sense.

Av: Right. Well, I'll let you return to your game then.
NK: Alrighty, then. Who's next...

Ak: Hey! Wait, issat xxxHolic? I thought you already watched it?
NK: Yep. We're watching it in anime club now.

Ak: Is it good?
NK: I enjoyed it the first time around. Now that I'm rewatching it, I'm noticing some parts are still pretty funny, and others aren't as funny as I remember them.

Ak: But, this is in Japanese, right?
NK: Yeah. The first time I watched it in English, so it's interesting to compare the two.

Ak: Whaddya think of the voices so far?
NK: Hmm...I liked a lot of the English voices better because they brought out more of the character. Yuuko's especially. ... The lines in the Japanese version seem to be a bit funnier, though.

Ak: Did that change your favorite character?
NK: Nope. I never really had a single favorite character to begin with. The interactions between the characters is better than each character individually. Mokona and Yuuko especially.

Ak: You like the art?
NK: I'm not especially fond of the art. The characters look...strange, to say the least. Even Mokona looks weird when it opens its eyes. Kinda creepy, actually.

Ak: What about the music?
NK: Never really paid attention to the music the first time. It's actually pretty good. I like the theme now that I've listened to it a few times.

Ak: You think I would like it?
NK: Not sure. It has a lot of dark moments amongst the funny ones, being a story about the supernatural and all. Plus, it explains a lot of things in a very strange way that just leaves more questions unanswered. It's still a good series, and even if you watch it for the funny moments, there's enough there to keep you humored.

Ak: Wait, why'd you watch it in the first place? It doesn't sound like something you'd normally watch...
NK: The story's by CLAMP, the same group that did Cardcaptor Sakura, Chobits, Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle. It's a pretty long story as to why I actually started watching it, but I'm sure I'll explain it to you eventually.

Ak: If it's CLAMP, then why doesn't it look the same?
NK: That's because xxxHolic has a different artist, even though it's the same group of people. The interesting thing is that there are a lot of objects littered throughout Yuuko's shop from other CLAMP series. Fai's staff makes an appearance, and I believe you see Kinomoto Sakura's staff at one point as well. The headphones Watanuki uses in episode 3 should also look quite familiar to CLAMP fans.

Ak: Should I watch those other series then?
NK: You don't have to, though technically xxxHolic runs parallel to Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle. It never directly references TRC, though. Just a few random objects here and there.

Ak: Where do you rank it? Is it your favorite?
NK: Not by a long shot. I enjoyed it, but not on the level of a 9 or a 10. It's one of those good-not-great series. Some people will like it, some people won't. I'm one of the ones that does like it.

Av: Interesting looking box art there
NK: Ah, right. New anime I got a couple weeks back. It’s called “Tower of Druaga - The Aegis of Uruk.”

Av: That’s a mouthful. Wait, “Tower of Druaga?” I’ve heard that somewhere before…
NK: Tower of Druaga is an old video game by Namco. I played it a bit when I was a kid. That’s the reason I took a look at the anime.

Av: How’s the anime?
NK: Pretty good. Sure, it doesn’t follow the plot of the game, putting the events of the game at 80 years in the past, but it still has ... references to a lot of the game. King Gilgamesh, all the monsters. Heck, the main group actually goes to the old tower during one episode.

Av: Sounds…interesting. What did they do there?
NK: It’s actually an important plot point as to why they were there, so I won’t divulge all the details. Basically, Jil charges into the tower to find something, when it turns out he has to be controlled by someone outside. Hilarity, and the most direct reference to Tower of Druaga, ensues.

Av: I take it that’s your favorite episode?
NK: No. Episode 5 is. The party comes across a fork in the road, one side saying “shortcut.” They decide to take the shortcut, which turns out to be covered in traps.

Av: That doesn’t sound good…
NK: The traps are hilarious, though. They change the entire party magically whenever someone steps on one. For example, at the beginning of the episode, everything turns 8-bit. It’s great.

Av: Right. What about the characters?
NK: I like most of the characters in the series. The main party is easy to get attached to, though some are your stereotypical heroes. Jil, for example, is your typical, likeable goof, though he does get pretty serious when he needs to. Kaaya is, well, there’s a lot of important details to her. She’s an oracle, a user of defensive magic…she comes across as cute an naive at first, but...well...that’s all I’ll say about her. Ahmey is a very serious character among all of the chaos in the party, so she stays pretty quiet until there’s trouble. Melt is from a noble family, so he’s really picky and complains about a lot of stuff. Plus, he uses his magic with rods that he swings like golf clubs. His assistant, Coopa, is the craziest of the group, being about 12 years old, though she acts much more mature than Melt. It‘s funny watching them argue. I really can’t go into too much detail about the party, though I will say it’s one of my favorite casts of characters.

Av: Figures as much. Take it Coopa’s your favorite? You do tend to like the younger characters.
NK: Actually, no. Melt is my favorite character in the series. The introduction to him casts him in a bad light, seeing as how he’s completely drunk, but he’s actually a likeable character once you reach the end of the series.

Av: You watch it in Japanese, as usual?
NK: I actually watched it in English, though I did watch the first few episodes in Japanese. Part of the reason I bought the series was the voice actors in it. Jil is played by Todd Haberkorn, who also played Hikaru in Ouran and Watanuki in xxxHolic. He does a good job playing the goofy hero. Melt is voiced by Chuck Huber, the same guy who voiced Hiei *snicker*. It’s a pretty interesting voice cast. Oh, just warning you now, Coopa’s played by Monica Rial.

Av: Oh, joy…
NK: It really isn’t that bad. Though she does sound a lot like Renge.

Av: That’s what I was afraid of. So, I take it I should watch this?
NK: Definitely. Even if you haven’t played Tower of Druaga before, I’m pretty sure you’ll enjoy it. Oh, before I forget, this is the first season. There’s a second season I’ve yet to watch subtitled “The Sword of Uruk.” The ending is pretty weird because of that, just warning you.

Av: You’ll be getting that one too, huh?
NK: Yep. Though it comes out in February…It’s going to be a long wait.

T: I've been meaning to ask you...
NK: Yeah? What is it?

T: You've watched Azumanga Daioh a few times. How much do you like it?
NK: I like the series a lot. It has a charm to it that drives me to rewatch it every so often.

T: Japanese or English?
NK: Japanese. The English voice acting is far below par, especially Osaka's voice. Can't stand it.

T: Is there really a plot? I've never noticed one...
NK: There is one, despite it being sort of hidden. It's really just a story of growth in strange surroundings, for example, Chiyo-chan being in a high ... school. Each character seems to have their own mini-plot, though it's really about how the group grows together as a whole. The friendships they form.

T: Speaking of characters, who's your favorite?
NK: Oy...They're all so well done it's sometimes hard for me to choose. I usually choose Sakaki-san as my favorite in the series, though Tomo and Osaka are both viable choices for me.

T: Any particular reason why you choose Sakaki-san?
NK: Her story intrigued me the most. The fact that she obsesses over cute things even though everyone else views her as an adult is quite funny at times, especially when she tries to hide it.

T: Why not the other two? Is there something wrong with them?
NK: I wouldn't say something was wrong with them, no. Tomo's just your average hyper character. She never really changes during the entire series. Osaka doesn't change much either, though she is a funnier character than Tomo, as her airheadedness constantly creates interesting conversations. In fact, I could probably say that Osaka and Sakaki-san are tied.

T: And the other characters?
NK: Don't get me wrong, I like all of the characters in the series, including Yukari-sensei, Nyamo and Kaorin. I wasn't drawn to them quite as much, though.

T: Any favorite episodes?
NK: Is all of them a choice?

T: Um...no.
NK: Drat. All right. Hmm...Episode 2, the episode where Osaka gets the hiccups, is pretty funny, though the scenes may seem a bit drawn out. Episodes 4 and 5 are also pretty funny, giving us a better look at Yukari-sensei and Nyamo's friendship. 5 is also the first episode with the Yukari-mobile, a constant running joke in the series. The two episodes depicting the cultural festival, 7 and 16, are also pretty good, as well as the final sports festival, episode 23. Episode 24 would probably be my favorite if I could only pick one, though I won't explain why. That would be giving away a spoiler, in my opinion.

T: I see. What about the music?
NK: The themes aren't too impressive, though the opening theme is somewhat catchy. My favorite song from the series, "Saa, Hajimari You", is heard a lot during the series. It has sort of a marching beat to it. Sticks in my head every once in a while.

T: What about the art style?
NK: I don't usually make a big fuss over art, but I feel like Azumanga Daioh has some of the best art in an anime. It's cute, especially when Chiyo-chan gets excited about something, and all of the expressions are done so well, you could probably watch without subtitles and still figure out what's going on. I also love the way cats are drawn in the series. Just saying.

T: So, would you recommend this anime?
NK: Yes. I think most people who watch anime would enjoy this one. If you're one of those people who searches for a good plot, look elsewhere, as that's not the point here. Anyone looking for good characters or a good slice of life anime, search no further.