On Lucky Star: Reprised @ Episode 3
This screencap simply doesn’t do this line any justice.
So after 3 episodes, let’s once again talk about what I think of Lucky Star. It has improved significantly after the first episode, but considering the pathetic waste of time that was Lucky Star 01, that’s not much of an achievement.
Lucky Star is, at best, a mediocre show. At worst, it’s a horribly dry, un-involving show with characters that make me look funny.
The characters are simply boring. They’re just like any of the other millions of boring people without a personality that fills this world, the people whose conversation are so uninteresting that I would rather look at a block of ice melt then listen to what they have to say. With the exception of Konata, all three other characters are about as interesting as the shits I take. Actually, that would be an insult to my shit, because my shits are awesome, like that Thinking Man I sculpted with my anus the other night (I’m, literally, resorting to shit jokes now. See what I mean about Lucky Star making me look funny?).
The jokes are few and far between, and most jokes aren’t funny, due to a number of reasons. One would probably be the cultural problem (remember, I’m writing in an English blog targeted at an English audience. If you tell me that I fail because the show is targeted at a Japanese audience, I WILL delete your comment. You have been warned). A lot of the jokes are lost in translation (the rage ward joke, for example), or simply doesn’t make sense because we do not understand the context in which they are told. There are gems in the mud though, such as the PPD and Cromartie High scenes, which had my laughing out loud.
This image cannot convey the amount of pure distilled funny that is the TOMOSAKA.
The other reason why the jokes aren’t funny is because the delivery is poor. Half the time I’m not even sure where there is a joke or not. Once again it comes down to the characters. The reason why Azumanga Daioh is so funny is because it’s full of characters who stand out and are filled with personality. Every few seconds we’ll either have an Osaka Moment of have either Yukari-sensei or Tomo do something insane. All the Lucky Star cast does is sit there and talk about really normal, everyday things without much of anything, least of all humour. Imagine an episode of Friends where Joey doesn’t do anything stupid or Chandler ceases to be sarcastic, but instead they just talked about how they would eat a steak.
Another area in which Azumanga Daioh succeeds but Lucky Star fails is sound. Azumanga is filled with little sound effects that accompany the characters’ actions, and each scene has a matching song that compliments what’s going on at the moment perfectly. Lucky Star, however, has nothing that particularly stands out. Neither the sound effects nor the BGM do anything for the show. One might even say that the sound department of Lucky Star is as uninspiring as its characters.
I suggest that KyoAni begin to include laugh tracks starting episode 4. Two birds with one stone! I’m a genius.
What I want to say is that Lucky Star is boring because the characters, as well as their interaction, are boring. I will always compare it to other shows like Friends and Azumanga Daioh and I will continue to find Lucky Star’s characters lacking. But I will still watch it anyway because, regardless of what I’ve said, I find it an easy watch with just enough laughs. That and because I’m a massive Kyoto Animation fanboy.
P.S. Anyone else disappointed by a lack of Fumoffu reference in the ponytail discussion? I was hoping beyond hope that there would be a Pony doll in the background or one of the characters would make a passing reference to it. Tsukasa is really cute with the ponytail though…
P.P.S. Unless my opinion of Lucky Star changes in the future, this should be my last Lucky Star post. I’m really hoping that it won’t be the last post I ever make about this show.
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You know, it’s too early for me to say this, but “Lucky Star” is not the new “Azumanga”. Sure, it has its funny moments, but for some reason, “Azumanga” had me laughing quicker than you can say “Quick Man”. Maybe if the show has more old school seiyuu, I’d be enjoying it more.
personally i find it funnier than azumanga daioh. i guess i pick up on the jokes a lot quicker, perfectly in time for the ‘poor’ delivery to take effect. but thats just me.
I will defend Konata to my last bleeding entrail!
The rest of them can jump off a cliff for all I care, though.
“The characters are simply boring. They’re just like any of the other millions of boring people without a personality that fills this world, the people whose conversation are so uninteresting that I would rather look at a block of ice melt then listen to what they have to say.”
Well, damn. That’s just not your cup of tea then.
I personally like seeing things like this, because while my friends talk about more exciting stuff than the Lucky Star girls do, it’s still funny in a “Hey, I can see myself doing this” sort of way. But tastes are subjective, and that’s why I can stand stuff like YKK while others can’t. And for me, I feel that the characters are filled with personality, but they’re just normal. Normality might not be exciting/special, but it’s not a bad thing.
“The jokes are few and far between, and most jokes aren’t funny, due to a number of reasons. One would probably be the cultural problem. A lot of the jokes are lost in translation (the rage ward joke, for example), or simply doesn’t make sense because we do not understand the context in which they are told.”
Interesting you put it this way, as you can say the same thing about Azumanga Daioh. That show also had a lot of cultural references, certain jokes were left in translation and there were enough time at which the jokes were just too far apart.
Comparing Lucky Star to Azumanga Daioh is inane. Sure, they both have the same settings, but they target completely different crowds. Based on the three episodes, I’d say that Lucky Star is for otakus (or people who think they’re one). It makes me laugh my ass off because I can see myself doing some of the things they do, or I have friends who are of the same wavelength as Konata. That’s the thing. It’s either a love-it-or-hate-it thing. If you’re an otaku, you’ll get the jokes. But it’s no Azumanga, and I bet that it’s not trying to be one, either.
Lucky Star is one of the two or three best shows of this season. For me, it is funnier than Azumanga. Maybe as funny as Ichigo Mashimaro, which for me is the funniest, but even more subtle and almost as humane. I watch each episode several times and find it rewarding every time. It took me a week to get into the show’s rhythm, but since then it has wormed its way right into my bones. I don’t get most of the references, but the show is still funny. And the characters are wonderful. For me, Lucky Star is shaping into a unique classic with tremendous rewatch value. Different strokes.
Azu didn’t have a Dragon Quest reference. Lucky Star FTW.
I hate to say this Lupus, but this post makes you look really ignorant. It’s like saying, “This i dont understand the jokes, therefore this anime is teh suck”. While I can not I completely understand all of its jokes, I still find Lucky Star highly entertaining because it provides me with a different cultural perspective. Think of it as observing 2 foreign friends debating about something regarding their cultural. Sure you won’t understand, but hey it is interesting and refreshing to watch. And at the end of it, you might even learn something about of it.
For me, I guess it’s a whole concept about cultural jokes, and due to my lack of knowledge about any form of Japanese culture, I am finding it equally dull. I will believe that it is the same instance why I never find Genshiken that amusing compared to most who think that it’s absolutely funny. I just don’t get the references.
Yet, as what Tsubaki had said, the fact is that it is based on a really foreign concept and it’s perhaps the barriers of entry in the cultural sense that does not allow us to understand or appreciate it. It’s not really ignorance by Lupus in my opinion, but more like the very fact that the inside cultural jokes can be a bit too acquired by the common viewer.
Still, I find it to be completely different to Azumanga Daioh. My impressiong with Azumanga is more of a school life portrayal of slightly wacky yet realistic school, while Lucky Star is a parody of the japanese otaku + life culture. They suggest different things and will be problematic to lump together. It’s like lumping School rumble with Lucky star, won’t be fair but more blatant in its differences.
Still, I cannot agree with Hashihime that it’s one of the best series in this spring season. That is my opinion and I personally believe that other series have left me with a huge impression, and Lucky star’s subtleness does not deem it worthy of great praise, but a small pat on the shoulders is nevertheless due.
Bata-kun: I agree, Azumanga owns the crap out of every other comedy ever.
Danny: Different strokes for different blokes I guess.
Adalmin: Konata is the saving grace of this show. If it wasn’t for Konata, I would’ve dropped this after episode 1. Akira is the only other redeeming feature, but I wouldn’t watch a show for its last 2 minutes.
BigN: I guess it isn’t.
PSGel: I find the jokes in Azumanga Daioh far more accessible. I have Aussie friends, who don’t get anime and Japanese culture at all, laughing at Azumanga Daioh. You don’t need to get Japanese culture to laugh at Tomo or Yukari’s insanity, nor do you need cultural references to understand that Sakaki’s relationship with cats is humorous.
As to the timing between jokes, yeah, Azumanga Daioh has its dull moments. But those dull moments are much fewer and further in between jokes.
Ganaesh: So I can’t compare two different shows with very similar themes in the same medium because they target different audiences? So what CAN I compare Lucky Star to? Lucky Star shares far more with Azu than Kanon, which is also aimed at the ‘moe’ crowd. Now comparing Kanon to Lucky Star would be inane.
Hashihime: Different strokes for different blokes.
Knurek: Lucky Star doesn’t have Osaka. Osaka = instant win.
Tsubaki: I don’t know how it makes me ignorant. Maybe it makes me a bigot, but I don’t see where ignorance comes in. If I don’t understand a joke and thus don’t find it funny, then it’s a bad joke, since it fails at what jokes are supposed to do - make me laugh. If I have to acquaint myself with an entire culture’s worth of information in order to understand a few jokes, then fuck it, I’m not going to bother.
As for providing different cultural perspective: that’s not what I want in an anime kthx.
I think Lucky-Channel fansubs are better as they give more info on the jokes & comments made in the show. It takes an otaku to understand the humour behind every joke made. In fact, I laughed at most of the jokes, except for the first episode about the food, though Konata’s caterpillar reference was quite amusing to me.
I’m the strange one in anime community that thinks Azumanga is frustrating, but I’m enjoying Lucky star far more for various reasons. I see the show as being dedicated to Konata’s uniqueness while other characters take the sideline, so their dry personalities don’t bother me as much. All they do is do what their archetypes are supposed to and let Konata’s character shine from their interaction. As for matters in their conversation, I find Lucky star more interesting than what I see as retardness in Azumanga, but I think that goes back to ‘different strokes for different blokes’. Although it’s been years since I’ve seen Azumanga (didn’t even complete it because it was too much for me to take) so I might watch that again sometime, I might develop more appreciation for it. Another thing I would disagree is the fact that you compare Lucky star and Azumanga so closely, since like Impz said, what they’re trying to hit ultimately are different catering to different audience (where I suppose Lucky star is more limited one). But I think you did a good job explaining why Lucky star isn’t for you (more like lucky star blows).
[...] This was a parody of this post in case you didn’t realise. Few points to keep in mind though: I really hate Azumanga for not [...]
I still don’t see what’s the problem with comparing Lucky Star to Azumanga Daioh. You’re all telling me that I shouldn’t because they’re targeted at different audience, but as far as I see that’s one of their only two differences, the other being that Azumanga have gags as well as ‘talk’ jokes you find in Lucky Star, not to mention that, as far as I’m concerned, that’s not even a valid reason to NOT compare two things anyway. Let me list their similarities:
Next you’re going to tell me that it’s stupid to compare Spyro: A Hero’s Tail and Jak and Daxter because OMG THEY’RE TARGETED AT DIFFERENT AUDIENCES (if you don’t get that reference, both Jak and Spyro are 3D platformers, but while Jak is targeted a more mature audience with plenty of crude jokes etc. Spyro’s squarely targeted at kids. Jak [90.2%@gamerankings.com] is far superior to Spyro [64.6%@gamerankings.com] in terms of gameplay. Again, that is my opinion so I guess it makes me, and every games publication whose scores are taken into account by gamerankings.com, ignorant and illogical, since they all agree with me that Jak is better than Spyro.).
Anyway here’s some opinion from #animeblogger@irc.irchighway.net:
For comparing:
[00:14] < +Guncannon> They are the same genre IMO.
[00:17] < +DrmChsr0> After all, both are similar in content, and delivery.
Against comparing:
[00:13] < @kur0gan3> different target audience
Everyone else ignored me so meh.
Lupus does have a point. The only times I laughed was when Konata and Kagami interact. Other than that, it was Lucky Channel.
And I was genuinely shocked when they slipped in the Getter Robo Reference. Getter Robo is serious business, darnit >_
“Everyone else ignored me so meh.”
I think it is you who are ignoring those who think Azumanga and Lucky star can’t be compared that simple. Try to at least appreciate their viewpoints. You say you still can’t see why you can’t compare those two simply because they are targeted at different audience (and that immediately tells me you were unable to take in Impz’s 3rd paragraph).
You say characters in azumanga are hilarious but in lucky star they’re boring, therefore most jokes made in azumanga are delivered funny while the ones in lucky star blow. Azumanga is about hilarious and touching moments stemming from character interactions in high school setting. Yes Lucky star is comedy but the moments that shine in Lucky star are nothing like Azumanga and I don’t think they’re even trying to be. Yes Lucky star is too set in high school but no it’s not nearly as much focused on school life as Azumanga is. It’s focus is instead on various japanese (un)popular culture and embodying that is Konata. Azumanga gives spotlight to many characters but Konata is the star (pun not intended). She shines the most when she talks about popular culture with others, like when she teaches Kagami about her philosophy on TV prizes. Also when her knowledge randomly sparks during the most normal conversations, like when she imagines a drill mecha while the other ‘normal’ girls are talking about drills at dentists. They all make fun from the culture and it only demands sassy character from Konata, while other girls only need to fufil their typical roles (one with common sense, totally obnoxious one, perfect moe one but bit slow) to let the star shine. And that instantly separates Lucky star from Azumanga in a way that their purposes are different and therefore their focuses are different because Lucky star demands that one must be interested in the things talked about in conversation. I’m not saying you’re wrong to not compare but I hope you stop this ‘o no everyone is ignoring me meh’ and have some respect left for netizens other than yourself to at least appreciate where they’re coming from.
Huh… no I mean literally everyone else ignored me. I asked a question on the channel, and those 3 are the only ones who replied, and as such they’re the only other opinions that I could gather.
And I have been very respectful of everyone’s opinion until I was personally attacked. I understand that there are differing opinions, and I can understand that sometimes I won’t understand where you are coming from even if you explained it to me, which is why I don’t personally attack anyone, regardless of how their opinion differs from mine, unless provoked. For example I never called anyone stupid or ignorant for disagreeing with me. I would pay the shit out of Lucky Star because I don’t like it, and I gave my reasons for doing so. When told that I shouldn’t compare the two, I give my reasons for comparing the two. The ones who are disrespectful are the ones who tell me that I can’t compare the two and then insult me by calling me ignorant and illogical.
Impz’s paragraph and your reply outlines their differences, but I still don’t understand how that’s sufficient reasons to not compare them. All I need for comparison are a) same genre (in this case comedy, or character-centric slice-of-life comedy if you really want to thin-slice it) and b) same medium. If, as you say, “Lucky star demands that one must be interested in the things talked about in conversation.” then it’s a downfall of the show in my opinion, because something that only targets a narrow and small audience isn’t going to be as well received and well-liked as a show that has universal appeal.
“I’m not saying you’re wrong to not compare but I hope you stop this ‘o no everyone is ignoring me meh’ and have some respect left for netizens other than yourself to at least appreciate where they’re coming from.”
I personally feel that Lupus merely means that there is not enough addressing of the issue rather than disrespecting anyone.
Just a point of note of course, but what Lupus talks about in his last few lines about Lucky Star is spot on: It is targeting a narrow and small audience.
Didn’t know about the personal attack but ok. No I’m not saying you can’t compare at all. In fact, there are similarities between them that are too apparent and in my opinion, comparison is inevitable. I think you did that very well in your blog. What I was trying to say instead is that you seemed to be comparing them like, what they both trying to do are completely same, and Azumanga is better than Lucky star. I was merely saying that isn’t necessarily true if you look at those two shows in different viewpoints. I was hoping at least you could appreciate the difference, sadly that didn’t happen and I won’t bother trying again. And you’re right, it is catered to very limited audience like I’ve said, but still looking at somewhat well-received responses from the anime community, I think there’s still more to it than what you can see.
The fact that I can’t see it means that I’m not in that limited audience. And that means Lucky Star will never be a show for me, and I’ll never see what is so good about it.
Anyway, the argument has gone past whether Lucky Star is good or not the moment I got told off for comparing it to Azumanga Daioh.
I’ve time and again said different strokes, meaning that if you like it, that’s cool, I’m not going to say anything if you like it. All I’m going to say is that I don’t like it and explain why that is so.
Can I appreciate that there is a different perspective, in which one would find Lucky Star to be good? Sure, which is why I kept repeating what I was repeating. However I don’t think it’s fair to say that the two can’t be compared, and then throw personal insults at me.
Lupus, you seem to be one of those people who expected something entirely different from the Lucky Star anime, and ultimately ended up disappointed.
I find the anime pretty good so far, and it mostly stays true to the original 4komas. You say the jokes are lost in translation (some are), but it’s mostly not the case. If they sound lame, well… it’s because they weren’t so good to begin with. Did you read the manga? All these jokes and word plays you’re complaining about are, for the most part, straight out of volume 1.
Obviously, Lucky Star doesn’t cater to everyone, and some people will not like its style and humor. But this is what Lucky Star IS, both in 4koma and anime form. I don’t think you should say the anime is crap, just because it stays true to the original. Maybe you don’t like it, but in your case it seems more like a critic of Lucky Star’s genre (or sub-genre, what have you) than of its execution.
The main problem of Lucky Star IMO is the hype about it, and the dissonance it creates: between what it leads people to expect, and the actuality of what Lucky Star is. Had you read the 4komas before, you may not like Lucky Star anymore than you do now, but I think you wouldn’t have such a negative view of the anime.
On a side note, while you can compare anything to anything, I don’t find Azumanga Daioh and Lucky Star too similar, except on the surface. They both have similar premise, but a school themed comedy is really… generic. They’re both originally 4komas, that’s about it.
Where they differ alot, IMO, is in their respective anime executions. I think the Azumanga Daioh anime deviates quite a bit from the manga in the presentation; although the content is basically the same, it’s heavily reinterpreted for the anime medium. On the other hand, so far Lucky Star anime stayed much closer to the original 4koma style, with its deliberately disjointed realisation and endless chain of small jokes.
You may or may not like either, I think both have merits.
Disclaimer: Yea, I like Lucky Star.
[...] first reading about the numerous negative comments on blogs about the first few episodes of Lucky Star, when I watched it I actually found it [...]
um azumanga daioh is SO BORING and there are so many funnier animes out there and the BMG was so annoying. these two animes are so voerrated so please stop tlaking about them.
well i personaly think that azumanga is crap and lucky star just don t work (i stll dont know how they pass the frst 5 epsodes). the only plus that lucky star has is the concept of “show were nothing happends” a la Seinfeld, but of course it fails in the practice, so in the end i preffer Lucky star because at least have materal for the hentai/loli pervs, but then i m not one of them so i mus say the show s worthless.
conclusion: both shows sucks
azumanga daioh is not the funniest anime ever, it’s no where near top 10 funniest anime ever so please stop being a newb and watch some readl comedy anime.
Luckystar trys to much to be azumanga