Warning: Contains spoilers for Yotsuba&! chapter #114.Azumanga Daioh, one of the best anime from the 2000s, is officially back, and it returned in a way no one expected. Azumanga Daioh is an iconic comedy anime from the 2000s that’s often seen as the series that built the foundations of the “cute girls doing cute things” genre, and even after over 20 years, the series is still held in high regard by fans and critics alike.
is one of the best anime a person can watch, and it’s just made a surprising and unexpected return. In the many years since Azumanga Daioh’s conclusion, series creator Kiyohiko Azuma has been writing the equally iconic slice-of-life manga Yotsuba&!, and in a surprise twist, Yotsuba&!’s latest chapter featured a cameo from an adult Osaka, revealing the two stories to take place in the same universe. This is the first time anything has been done with Azumanga Daioh since its anniversary chapters in 2009, and overall, it was great to see.
Yotsuba&! Brought Back Azumanga Daioh’s Best Character In The Perfect Way
What Made Azumanga Daioh's Return So Great
Osaka was the only Azumanga Daioh character to appear in Yotsuba&! chapter #114, and her return was handled perfectly. For starters, Osaka was always the biggest source of comedic relief in Azumanga Daioh, especially in the anime adaptation, and sure enough, Osaka had perfect chemistry with Yotsuba in Yotsuba&! chapter #114 as the two perfectly played off each other with their unique brands of comedy and silliness. It was a perfect blend of both stories’ styles, and overall, it showed just how timeless Azumanga Daioh’s writing is.
More than that, of course, is what Osaka’s cameo did for her as a character. Osaka was always treated as someone who wasn’t just a weirdo, but someone who was genuinely stupid and would probably be in trouble after high school, so Yotsuba&! revealing that Osaka managed to become something respectable like a teacher shows that she succeeded in making something of her life, despite her eccentricities. The fact that her becoming a teacher plays off a random joke makes it even better, and it further cements how great her return was.
Will More Azumanga Daioh Characters Have Cameos In Yotsuba&!?
Just How Far Will Yotsuba&!'s Azumanga Daioh Crossover Go?
Osaka’s cameo in Yotsuba&! was great to see, and it begs the question of whether more Azumanga Daioh cameos can be expected. With Osaka being a teacher at Ena and Miura’s school, there’s plenty of room for her to become a recurring character, and that, in turn, could invite plenty of cameos from the other characters like Chiyo, Tomo, Sakaki, and Yukari. That being said, too many cameos would probably detract from the main story, so while there’s plenty of room for more Azumanga Daioh cameos in Yotsuba&!, it probably won’t happen so the story won’t get overcrowded.
Of course, even if things play out like that, that doesn’t make this cameo appearance any less meaningful. Between how great Osaka’s comedy was, how much her character has evolved, and the simple joy there is in seeing her again after so many years, Yotsuba&! gave people the perfect crossover with Azumanga Daioh, and it would make sense to leave things where they are so as not to tarnish that. There was no better way to bring back Azumanga Daioh after all this time, and fans old and new are sure to be plenty satisfied.
Azumanga Daioh
- Release Date
- April 9, 2002
Cast
Tomoko KanedaChiyo Mihama-
Yuki MatsuokaAyumu Kasuga
- Main Genre
- Animation
- Seasons
- 1
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