Azumanga... manga

[Tenshi no Ai]

Well, after I finished my thin pack of the anime, I was interested in the manga... now I've browsed through one before and I know the the entire thing is made up of 4-panels, but my question is: how similar is it to the anime? I know getting manga AFTER anime can be fun, since in most cases the story can be quite different. I already know that the manga doesn't include Kagura (at least assume so, since she isn't even mentioned in any of the volume previews). So I'm just wondering if there's anything more to hope for from going from the anime and into the manga? (Without adding spoilers, of course^^)

[Arnobius]

many of the story arcs from the manga are in the anime, with some changes.

[Allegro]

Personally, I found Azumanga Daioh more interesting in it's four-panel "gag" format, which I guess would account for it's uniqueness aside from the anime.

There are a few subtle changes translation-wise in the manga that is quite noticable when you go back towards watching the anime, which is interesting if you like to nitpick over certain details. Aside from the story arcs included from manga to anime, there are scenarios not found in the anime that are notably funny.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

Yup, Azumanga Daioh is put in a 4-Panel Western-style type of comic. But it fits great. There are the same story arcs, but since it's an anime, it's much shorter. But it still gives you lots of laughs definately worth the 40 bucks!

By the way: Kagura is in the Manga. She gets a lot of screen (or should I say paper?) time as well.

[Mangafanatic]

Kagura enters the story in volume three, I believe, when classses are reassigned. Personally, I liked the manga better than the anime. I thought it was much more funny. If you liked the anime, I'd give the manga a try. I'm pretty sure there will be atleast a fair amount of material which wasn't in the anime.

[Gypsy]

Azumanga is the only thing I've ever read that made me laugh so hard that I fell off the chair I was sitting on. I always thought that was an expression, and while there was no rolling, it was as close to a real-live ROFLM*B*O (heh *b*, get it?) experience as I bet I'll ever get. I think it had to do with Miss Yukari and Osaka. Mr. SmartyPants is right - they are well worth the money.

[Steeltemplar]

One thing I found odd in the manga was the way that they translated the stereotypical Osakan catchphrase ("Nandeyane"). In the manga they said "fuggedaboutit" in the New York style. The anime subtitle was "What the heck?". Not that either made that much sense to me, but the anime version seemed less incongruous as it was not taken from American culture.

[termyt]

There were many instances in the manga that physically forced me to stop reading the book for several minutes while I stopped laughing and wiped the tears from my eyes so I could read again. It's that good.

[Tenshi no Ai]

Wow... maybe I will look into it... last time I saw them was on the clearance side of this one comic store. Hopefully they'll still be there :/

[Lynx]

it is very similar to the anime tho. there is some differences, but dont expect something complete different. it's good tho!

[Arnobius]

One thing I found odd in the manga was the way that they translated the stereotypical Osakan catchphrase ("Nandeyane"). In the manga they said "fuggedaboutit" in the New York style. The anime subtitle was "What the heck?". Not that either made that much sense to me, but the anime version seemed less incongruous as it was not taken from American culture.

It was regrettable that the first half of volume one of the manga they totally Americanized the comics, changing cultural items and references and in some cases rewriting jokes entirely (the comic "Fuggeddaboudit" on p 29 of volume 1 is a travesty and would be better read as follows:

(Basically Tomo has a very stereotyped view of the Kansai region of Japan, and expects everyone to act like Manzai comedy performers) [which can be viewed in Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi]

This was a case where having the Japanese version was a must have. Lines in English are rewritten to be Spanish or German in this volume and Yukari is recast as a Spanish teacher.

Approximately half way through volume 1, the quality improves though.

[Neko Niisan]

I agree, the book is an absolute riot and if you like the anime then the books are definetly worth reading. Mant of the story lines are much the same but the book follows in a more chronologically order (each book being a school year for the girls in high school). You also get a lot more into the girls outside of school as well as some hilarious gags that wouldn't work on screen.

This is one of the few mangas that made me laugh out loud and if you knew me, you'd know that that doesn't happen very often.

[meboeck]

If you read the manga, you will regognize a lot of the storylines, but since the manga is in four-panel format, they can do a lot of unique things with it. I personally think many of the gags are pulled off better in the manga than in the anime, so even if you regognize a scene from the anime, it certainly won't lose its touch. As far as funny manga goes, Azumanga Daioh is definitely my favorite.

[Allegro]

Approximately half way through volume 1, the quality improves though.

The localization in volume 1 is very noticable, but the remaining volumes were pretty consistent. I was a bit surprised at some of the swearing in this volume; I am pretty certain that it was a translation decision to include those, and not Mr. Azuma's.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

There were many instances in the manga that physically forced me to stop reading the book for several minutes while I stopped laughing and wiped the tears from my eyes so I could read again. It's that good.

I feel ya there buddy! Same applies with Yotsubato!

[Arnobius]

[quote="Allegro"]The localization in volume 1 is very noticable, but the remaining volumes were pretty consistent. I was a bit surprised at some of the swearing in this volume]
"Well, in some of the panels it depended on how the translation was handled. The Japanese word itself is not allowed on CAA (or so a mod once told me ), but that word in the manga is one of the translations of it.

[Tenshi no Ai]

I feel ya there buddy! Same applies with Yotsubato!

I know that manga's made by the same author and all... can someone maybe give me a short summary on what it's about? ^^ Oh and who is it licensed by (cause I'm pretty sure it is...)

"Well, in some of the panels it depended on how the translation was handled. The Japanese word itself is not allowed on CAA (or so a mod once told me ), but that word in the manga is one of the translations of it.

When it comes to swearing and stuff, I wouldn't be surprised^^ Even though things can translate from things like "shoot" and "darn" to... worst :/ Depends on the way it's used.

[Allegro]

"Well, in some of the panels it depended on how the translation was handled. The Japanese word itself is not allowed on CAA (or so a mod once told me ), but that word in the manga is one of the translations of it.

My guess is that you're referring to the Japanese word that sounds sort of similiar to "lie" in Japanese?

I guess I haven't really looked up the original version in kanji to know for sure. Volumes 2-4 had less of the more "major" English swear words than in the first, which I guess meant that they changed their decision over how they were to translate it.. But it's been a while since I've read the manga, so I'll have to review that.

Though I have heard the word mentioned in the anime, but translated in a "lighter" English reference.

[termyt]

I know that manga's made by the same author and all... can someone maybe give me a short summary on what it's about? ^^ Oh and who is it licensed by (cause I'm pretty sure it is...)

Sure. Check out this thread:
http://www.christiananime.net/showthread.php?t=21597