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This may be the first and last review I ever write.

Kodocha was the very first anime series I watched from start to finish. Yes, this show was definitely worth finishing. Overall, this anime is a 10, even though outward appearances don't suggest so. Never judge a show solely on its art.

My friend referred me to Kodocha, saying I'll definitely like it, but at the time I wasn't interested in anime, so I wasn't sure.

I was curious enough to watch it. Admittedly, I was really not impressed with the beginning of the show (Beginning as in, the first five minutes. I guess I saw the ... pastel colors, so I was a little put off). Quite frankly, I don't know why I didn't drop the show within those five minutes, but I'm glad I didn't.

After the first episode, I was hooked. I don't know about other watchers, but I was up until the darkest hours of the night watching one episode after another. Each episode ends with a little cliffhanger (sometimes you're blindsided by a shocking event at the end of an episode), and it's enough to make you want more.

The story was interesting enough to create an addict out of me. There are a lot of interesting plot points. I suppose there is no singular plot, but there are little "plotlets" that somehow connect in a weird way. In other words, when one problem is resolved, another one forms. It may seem like another cutesy shojo anime, but there are a lot of serious moments as well.

The Art...fair, at best. My standards are high when it comes to artwork (think Satoshi Kon or Makoto Shinkai). The pastel was off-putting for me because the characters and backgrounds seemed washed out. Yes, I am well-aware that this anime was made in 1996, so the art is definitely impressive for its time.

I liked the sound. I really did. Especially the english dub, because Sana's voice was spot-on. Many people say that Akito's voice sounded too old in the dub, but I thought it suited the character just fine. His was my favorite voice in the dub. I also enjoyed the zany music (especially the "Kodocha Mambo" and all of Sana's raps) and the appropriate (not cheesy) music was played during the sad and/or touching moments.

The characters are cute and lovable or wacky, yet endearing. Each character is very different, and I think you can find something to love or hate (good character development means that nobody's perfect) about each of them. Sana is amazing. She runs by the high of life (and the occasional energy drink) and she has the bubbly personality that everyone likes. But Akito is by far my favorite character. He's he strong, silent type that seems rough on the outside, but you can tell he has a good heart. If he were real, I would definitely pursue him.

I enjoyed the entire show from start to finish. The funny moments made me laugh out loud, some of the sad moments made me cry (and I don't cry easily), and the overall crack-craziness of the show was enough to make my entire week.

This was the show that led me into the world of otaku. Good or bad, I'm not sure. I've watched a lot more anime since then, but no other series or movie can quite compare with Kodocha. Some have come very close, but they barely missed the mark that Kodocha set. This show will always be number one in my book.