Title - "Sensei no Ojikan ~ Doki Doki School Hours"
Alternative title(s) - "Teachers Time ~ Beating School Hours"
Genre(s) - Comedy

Based on a manga by Momose Tamami-sensei (and I don't know if it's still going on), this series came out last April by J.C. Staff and ran under 13 episodes. Meet Suzuki Mika-sensei, a language teacher who can't be taken too seriously by her students. Though she's only 27, she's shorter than her students at 148 centimeters (4' 10") and it doesn't help either that she has characteristics of a child.

What are her attention-grabbing students like? You have Kobayashi Akane - the job-searching student who always wants to get a quick and who wants to keep her weight steady, Tominaga Minako - the horror movies fan who knows how to have a steady poker face and the one who has to endure so many irritating situations, Kitagawa Rio - the student who is so obsessed with Mika-sensei, Nagane Shizuka - the wise iinch who actually has a crush on Koro-chan of SNAP (which really is a parody of SMAP, the popular J-pop boy group), Nakamura Gen - the guy of the series who happens to look like an oyaji or a father and he ends up being named that way among his peers, Suetake Kenta - the athlete who isn't so bright in terms of intelligence, Seki Jji - the pretty boy who doesn't know when to stop acting like a girl, Kud Yichi - the guy who wants to have a relationship with Suetake, and Watabe Takumi - the manga maniac. Thought that was weird? Might as well add the fact that thought Watabe's khai, Nakayama Chinatsu, is a big fan of his work, she can't work well with manga at all.

Mika's parents can give her a hard time at times. Her mom wonders where her own child went wrong and she wonders why Mika can't be normal like Matsumoto Linda-sensei, a friend of Mika. Her dad may be soft on her, but this can irritate his wife.

A good amount of people will say that this series is a clone of "Azumanga". While "Azumanga's" anime came out earlier than "Sensei no Ojikan's", the manga of "Azumanga" came out after "Sensei no Ojikan's". So, in reality, "Azumanga" is a clone of "Sensei no Ojikan", not the other way around. I hope this clears matters up.

Fun - 8

Like its clone, it is full of funny skits. Like its clone, it has interesting characters. Like its clone, it has an interesting teacher. Like its clone, you have groups like J.C. Staff and King Records involved. Like its clone sadly, this is easily a love or hate series.

Unlike its clone, there's no teacher rivalry. Unlike its clone, it has a different type of humor in some cases. Unlike its clone, the attention is divided between the guys and girls. Well, while this certainly is the one big difference between "Azumanga" and "Sensei no Ojikan", sadly, it's done poorly. Quite frankly, except for Oyaji and Mika's dad, the guys just scare me. Really. I just want to bop them on the head with a pan and I'm sure Tominaga would like to do the same. I don't have to worry about Tominaga, but Iinch doesn't show her obsession with Koro-chan often, Kobayashi keeps herself calm most of the time and I guess Kitagawa's obsession is the only weird matter I can deal with.

Life - 8

Well, like I said, this is a love or hate series. In the end, I would have said that this is definitely a keeper if it wasn't for the matter of most of those guys' issues. Alas, it's just a keeper...somewhat for now.

Audio - 8

I wouldn't say that Minami Omi-san, Mika's voice actress, has revived her career yet. Well, I can say that there are a lot of seiy that you should recognize such as Kawakami Tomoko-san as Kobayashi. I would like to say that Kitagawa is now my favorite Yamazaki Wakana-san character. Ha ha ha!

The music is pretty catchy. The ending song is the perfect example. I have to say that the song, "Furare Kibun de Rock 'n Roll" ("The Rejected Feeling Becomes Rock 'n Roll") is now sung by Drops and it used to be a cover song for Tom Cat's first single back in 1984. (I never knew that. Thanks Momo.)

So, what are the reasons I had to take away a couple of points? First off, some of the talents were wasted. The other reason, which does relate to the first reason, deals with Nakayama. I'm sorry, but it does not fit at all. I nearly twitched every single time she spoke and it's a shame really, especially since it's Shimizu Kaori-san of all people.

Art - 10

The art is simple. That's a good matter, ne? Ne?

Story - N/A

Story? You want a story? Um, don't look here for a story. --'

Overall - 8

While it's funny, I have to say that "Sensei no Ojikan's" clone is better. Well, that's my opinion. Still, if you want a funny series this summer, this is one you should take note of.

+

Catchy ending song, some funny moments, a good amount of the characters are likeable such as Kitagawa...

-

and then there are other characters that make me want to knock them out after a few episodes like Seki as well as the matters of it being a love or hate show and some wasted talents.

Date of creation - 7/15/04

Last update - 8/10

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