The recent pickup of Azumanga Daioh from Sentai Filmworks has definitely been a big positive for fans looking to experience the series again and share it with others. While we’ve got a bit to go ahead of the May release, Sentai is also bringing the series out for streaming with the complete run now available on Hulu in its original Japanese language form with English subtitles. Those that sbscribe to Hulu can watch this show on your TV and mobile devices.
The series will be released under the Sentai Selects banner where it’ll be priced at $49.98 for the twenty-six episode run, which is being spread across five discs. Extras are currently listed as production sketches, clean opening and clean closing sequences. The release will also have a reversible cover which will likely feature very different artwork and no large Sentai Selects banner, which is how they’ve done other recent releases under this banner.
The show originally aired in Japan back in 2002 and was directed by Hiroshi Nishikiori (Trinity Seven, I’m Gonna be an Angel!, GAD GUARD), with Ichiro Okouchi (Negima!, CODE GEASS: Lelouch of Rebellion ) in charge of series composition. Production was handled by J.C.Staff (Honey and Clover, Nodame Cantabile, Detective Opera Milky Holmes).
Plot concept: or the members of Miss Yukari’s English Class, a typical day may be just a little unusual. Part of that’s due to Miss Yukari herself, whose teaching style (and personal ethics) tend to be odd, improvisational and spontaneous, but her students are just as unconventional: There’s 10-year-old Chiyo, still at the top of her class after skipping five grades, and her opposite Ayumu “Osaka” Kasuga, whose poor grades are surpassed only by her horrific skill at sports. Then there’s Tomo, a competitive slacker who puts excessive energy into doing very little, and Koyomi, whose surprising maturity is compromised by a malevolent sense of humor. Tall, statuesque Sakaki’s athletic exterior hides both unexpected shyness and a most unfortunate obsession with cats, while tiny Kaori’s heart is mainly obsessed with Sakaki. They may all seem like perfectly normal girls on the outside, but even their most mundane activities magically become the most extraordinary adventures as they learn all about life, the universe and affairs of the heart in AZUMANGA DAIOH!
