We all scream for ice cream!!
I continue my blog series on Kyoto Animation with one of 2007’s most popular anime Lucky Star. It is a slice of life anime that follows the lives of four girls. The main character is named Konata Izumi, a high school girl who is a gifted athlete, but only wants to spend her time watching anime, reading manga, or playing video games and MMORPG’s. She attends school with her three friends Kagami Hiiragi, Tsukasa Hiiragi, and Miyuki Takara. Like The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya it has a cult following. Often I wonder which show has the biggest following because the fandom for both shows is just ridiculous.
The animation in Lucky Star is top notch, while the art style and direction seems to be more on a cartoony design it does not cause the animation to falter at all. Yes, these girls are in high school even though they look like they should be eight years old. This is the power of the loli’s, I don’t know if this is one of the reasons why this show was so popular. The show is considered a slice of life comedy, and there will definitely be laughs along the way.
Thumbs up from Konata? 1000 points!
The story in Lucky Star is non-existant, but it’s supposed to be that way. Each episode can be watched seperately without seeing the others, now obviously when they make references back to other episodes every now and then you won’t get it, but if you watched this series out of order you wouldn’t be completely in the dark for every episode. While to some this may seem like a real negative point, I see it as a positive, because it’s a light entertaining show with no huge complex storyline it makes the show much easier and entertaining to watch.
Haruhi in a commercial in Lucky Star
Lucky Star wasn’t called the anime for the otaku for no reason. It makes TONS of references back to other anime from making slight jokes, to openly talking about it. Some shows that get reference points in Lucky Star that I can remember off the top of my head are: The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Kanon, Gundam Wing, Strawberry Panic!, Shuffle!, Initial D, Maria-sama Ga Miteru, and ToHeart to name a few. Not to mention all of the background references to other shows for instance since Konata is an otaku she has the typical otaku merchandise in her room such as manga that has the actual covers of the manga they are portraying, figurines of other popular anime character, to having a Bonta-kun stuffed animal in her room. (Bonta-kun is the mascot character from Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu, another show by Kyoto Animation.) The appearance of many references to other shows is a great input not only does it give it a “sense” of realism having an anime world with so many other references to anime in it, but it makes it fun for the viewers to see all the references and name as many as they can.
I say "Dance, Dance!!"
This show is either a hit or miss with people and for many people it’s going to land into the miss category before the OP even finishes playing. Picture this a teenage to young adult guy or girl is already a little sketchy on watching this show after they have seen a few screenshots because to many the whole super loli character designs will turn them off from the show immediately. If they get past the loli characters and decide to give it a shot they hear the OP which for many will already set their mind and they will hate it no matter what, or not even finish the song and turn it off. Don’t get me wrong I don’t mind the OP at all but for anyone who sees the show they can definitely see someone not liking the OP and that ruining the entire show for them.
Loli's in maid costumes? Otakus rejoice!!
The show is good for easy watching. I highly recommend it to anyone who watches anime regularly, if you are just a casual watcher you’ll probably miss out on a lot of references to other shows, but that doesn’t mean you won’t enjoy the show. If you are looking for a show that has a storyline then you’ll want to pass. If you can pull yourself past the whole extreme loli and you know what kind of show you are getting into you will probably like it. This wraps up my post on Lucky Star tomorrow I will write about the latest show from Kyoto Animation here’s a hint.
More moe looking girls....
Seito Academy 