GTO

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OVA ActionShounan Junai Gumi!
MANGA ActionGTO

REVIEWS

• 

  Scientiiaa

  100/100
  “It’s my job to make school fun.” – Eikichi Onizuka

  Great Teacher Onizuka is a very popular title. Let us see why. The series focuses on the life of Onizuka Eikichi, who is an ex-bike gang leader. The man has only one goal now-- to become the greatest teacher in Japan. While doing his teaching internship as part of his studies to become a qualified teacher, he ends up not in an all-girls class as he has been dreaming for awhile, but in a delinquent class. There Onizuka learns the importance of the power and respect gained from one's students. Thanks to pure luck, or Onizuka’s shining charisma, after internship he gets a job at one of the most prestigious private schools in Japan to handle their 'problem class' that made the past few teachers quit. The problem is, however, is that the problem children have some really smart boys and gals that are able to drive even a grownup crazy. Onizuka can, indeed, solve any issue using force. He, however, wants to find the right approach to every pupil, even to the teachers that hate him. Will the most incompetent teach become the greatest teacher there is in Japan?

  The story-line is not the best part about GTO, of course. Yet, it has its appeal. It is rather slow, yet you never feel bored. The way it is built gives you one detailed explanation about everything you need to know: peoples’ backstories, their motives, desires, likes and dislikes. And the best thing about it that you will surely appreciate is the fact that it is never boring. The moment you feel it is getting too boring, the story-line will prove you how wrong you are in the same moment you felt boredom.

  Animation wise, this is the weakest part about GTO. Cannot expect too much from something that aired almost 20 years ago. However, I would not say that it is too much of a challenge: the animation still captures emotions pretty well, especially Onizuka’s priceless facial expressions. Sound wise, it is pretty good. Do not want to sound biased, but the Japanese voice actors did a much better job than the English voice actors. English dub is not always terrible, but GTO is to be seen in Japanese: the emotions the Japanese voice actors put in their characters is something to see with your own eyes. OST is also pretty enjoyable and helps you appreciate the series even more.

  Characters is, indeed, the best thing about this series. Maybe because of the work of the voice actors, maybe because of the ingenious script Tooru Fujisawa, the reason does not matter, the only thing that matters is the result, which is beyond great. While there is really only one protagonist, the series provides all characters with enough development. Even a nurse that has little to do with the story-line gets own screen time and a back-story. Anyways, with that being said, the main focus of the series is the self-proclaimed best teacher in Japan Onizuka Eikichi, who is 22. He graduated from an average university only thanks to cheating and his friends. And all he does now is peering up girls' skirts in a local mall. Well, what do you expect from a 22 years-old virgin? That is the main reason for his desire to become a teacher. This might tarnish your attitude towards Onizuka, but, in reality, it should not. Onizuka is young and, of course, the opposite sex attracts him. He is different. And you will see why by yourself. He has the idea that with the right approach you can win trust of every pupil.

  All in all, Great Teacher Onizuka somewhat reminds me of Gintama. Do not hate me for this comparison, please. They are similar in a way that they are both comedies that have some amazing drama that makes you worry about the characters, yet, it never feels to be forced and unneeded. Great Teacher Onizuka will surely make you laugh crying tears of joy and it will also make you hold Onizuka’s actions in high regard. He is the real man, he is the real teacher any person would love to see as a homeroom teacher. Many more things can be said about him, but this will only make your watch less interesting.

  With that being said, the anime series is definitely something no one would want to miss. It has all the characteristics of a great show: the scenes are exciting, the script is cleverly written, and the humor will have you chuckling nonstop. Some of the most memorable moments are simply the expressions on Onizuka's face as he goes through various emotions. It is, of course, the last thing you want to see with your kid brother, or sister, but mid and late-teens and older will surely get the message of Great Teacher Onizuka. And I must say that this message is the last thing a person watching anime can miss. Not liking the old animation is also the last excuse one can think of to avoid watching this pure gem. Do watch it! Onizuka is the greatest teacher there is.

  10/10.

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• 

  Ampere

  90/100
  A classic defined by its excellent wit and inescapable morality.

  Introduction

  As a newly inducted member of the anime fandom, it can be hard to adjust to the unique nature of the medium. As hard as it may be for some of us to remember, there was a time when subtitles, OPs and EDs, and even animation itself may have been strange new territory.

  If you're here reading this, it means you took the dive and are probably enjoying yourself because of it. But are you brave enough to try something brand new in a more serious, life-altering capacity than entertainment? Could you step outside your comfort zone and embrace a totally new career, family, or even way of life?

  "GTO" is a show that I discovered and decided to watch in its entirety after seeing a clip from the first episode on YouTube. I have no idea why it was recommended to me, but I was so transfixed by what I had seen that I knew I had to know where the story went from there. What followed was a different show, in art, in genre, in age, than anything I had seen before. But I'm glad I took the dive.

  Synopsis

  The first we see of Eikichi Onizuka, bachelor, 22 years old, is him staring at the panties of a high school girl at the mall. The next thing we see him do is apply for a teaching position. After retiring as a legendary biker gang leader, he claims he is seeking to meet hot young girls as a high school teacher. However, we learn early on that his true motivation is much more sincere.

  According to Onizuka, the education system of Japan is a failure. Teachers have forgotten that the true goal of their sacred profession is to guide students, in education and in life. Even the most prestigious schools are riddled with perversion, bullying, and all sorts of malpractice. Onizuka, although academically one of the worst performing citizens in the country, feels it is his calling to correct the system that wronged him and so many others in his generation.

  After acquiring his teaching license, Onizuka gains a position at the reputable Holy Forest Academy, to the disgust of almost all of the existing elitist faculty. In an effort to put him in an unwinnable situation, he is assigned to be the homeroom teacher of the infamous Class 3-4, which has driven several past teachers to depression and inflicted trauma bad enough to keep them out of the teaching industry forever.

  Onizuka, though, rises to the challenge and shows Class 3-4 that he is nothing like any teacher who has come before. Using methods both legal and illegal, socially acceptable and unspeakable, he begins to win over the students one by one. Some may prove more difficult than others, and the wounds of the class run deep. But if he fails now, the students may retain their hatred for teachers for the rest of their lives.

  Strengths

  There are many things "GTO" does well, but only one it does better than perhaps any other anime of its time. The soundtrack to "GTO" is unlike anything you've heard before. Wailing saxophones punctuate the night air every time Onizuka is delivering a lesson in moral justice, and the same sax winds down to a soft cry accompanied by somber strings for more serious emotional beats. The instrumentation here is executed perfectly and is inseparable from the series and its main character.

  The plot, like many shounen of its time, is episodic and sequential. However, no episode ever feels formulaic. The series follows a natural progression of Onizuka winning over the members of Class 3-4 one at a time, with every few episodes being a self-contained story about his relationship with a particular student. At the end of these subplots, the student is added to Onizuka's crew of mischievous henchmen, but none of them ever become irrelevant. Despite having a wide cast, each character, after their introduction, continues to appear regularly through the end of the series.

  The titular character is what carries "GTO" from good to great. Onizuka deftly switches between a drunkard with a perverted sense of humor and an iron-willed beacon of justice and morality. His wild array of facial expressions are animated with great detail, ending bits of situational comedy with an artistic flourish. There are many laugh-out-loud moments to be found in "GTO," often times multiple per episode. These are interwoven deftly with scenes of gut-wrenching suspense, teary-eyed confessions, and incredibly satisfying deliveries of just reward and punishment for just about every character.

  Weaknesses

  If you haven't figured it out already, I enjoyed "GTO" quite a bit. It is not without its faults, but they are admittedly few. The most glaring issue is probably the artwork. Even while airing, the animation was nothing special, and twenty years later it appears obviously dated. Aside from funny faces to end a good joke, the characters and backgrounds are often plain and sometimes reused.

  Additionally, although I found them to be enjoyable, there are a half-dozen filler episodes within "GTO." These episodes, usually appearing in pairs, seem to be leading somewhere with a new character or addition to the plot, but after the end of the arc it becomes clear that it has no real impact on the ongoing development of the show. These side adventures are great additions for fans who want more, but if you aren't as into the series, they can be skipped with little consequence.

  Conclusion

  "GTO" is a show, like I mentioned in the introduction, about taking the dive. It may not be as packed with action or as beautifully animated as half the anime that released this season, but it definitely has a lot more heart. Fortunately for those with a tight schedule, the first episode (which is a special double-feature) perfectly encapsulates the entire rest of the show. Give the premier a watch and you will know if the rest of it is worth your time.

  If I had to describe this show to an anime fan with only a few words, I would say it is an improved version of "Assassination Classroom." Both feature a delinquent class with an episodic structure where an influential teacher brings them together to realize the finer points of life. The difference, however, is in the characters. Where "Assassination Classroom" had forgettable archetypes that got shelved after their debut, "GTO" has memorable characters that return consistently to drive the new arrivals forward.

  Of course, the truly phenomenal part of the series is its main character and soundtrack. The scene of Onizuka on the roof of the school, cigarette in hand, gazing out towards the sea after his latest life-changing adventure while saxophones blaze through the night air is not one I will soon forget.

  Best Girl
  Tomoko Nomura

  
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• 

  ValiQuez

  87/100
  Chalkboard Chronicles: The Wild Ride of an Ex-Yakuza Turned Legendary Teacher.

  >“We cannot go back to the past, no matter how hard we try. No matter how wonderful it was. The past is nothing but the past.” – Eikichi Onizuka Onizuka Eikichi a 22-year-old. Even though Japan continues to produce more new anime, there are still plenty of excellent older shows available. This is true, particularly for those who may have only recently become interested in anime. Although it's hard to imagine, GTO will turn 10 in June. However, the age of an anime has nothing to do with how good it is. I have therefore been working on this series for the past few days The first episode serves to illustrate the basic if slightly cracked out, premise. Onizuka, a former Yakuza, always wanted to be a teacher and the best there has ever been. Naturally, he ends up selecting, to put it mildly, the class that may have the most volatile students. This starts a 42-episode journey in which he gradually wins over every student in his class while also solving their problems. Finally, the student who has undoubtedly experienced the greatest amount of trauma speaks out about the incident that completely upended the class. You already know that Onizuka will prevail in the end; if you need to ask why then you still don't fully grasp the premise. What matters is the journey, how he will succeed, and where he will make mistakes along the way. When you realize that the class is actively plotting against his efforts, what initially seems simple quickly becomes complicated. A group of teenagers, they're quite intelligent. The vice-principal is very hostile toward the former gang member and also has a very negative opinion of him. Additionally, Onizuka is a wonderfully flawed character; he is not a model citizen. He is a womanizer, a drinker, a smoker, vulgar, and completely irrational in his behavior. Despite this, I promise you'll still adore him. The show's supporting cast of characters, which is large and susceptible to flaws, is equally significant. By the end of the series, even for those who have been present since step one, if you're anything like me, you won't be able to recall the majority of their names. But at some point in the story, each of these characters gets to carry the spotlight, and most of them even have their moment of supreme awesomeness. Under the guidance of their teacher, they have all developed significantly by the end. When you can switch all of these characters around without leaving anyone behind, that is a sign of a successful series.

  The absurd situations that are created and Onizuka's capacity to come up with equally absurd solutions and endure comically high levels of punishment are a large part of the appeal of the series. It continues to provide elsewhere. This show has the power to move you, and if you aren't moved by the dramatic soliloquy in episode 11 by that point, you're probably dead inside. By the time the series conclusion, if you haven't managed to learn anything, I sincerely wonder if we were watching the same show. The great teacher also specializes in life lessons. This naturally lends itself to examining how the educational system is undermining its students' readiness for the real world by prioritizing test scores above all else and failing to adequately prepare them for it. This show only loses any of its impact when it deviates from the main plot for a one-off episode, and even those don't feel too out of place and serve as supplemental character development. The animation isn't nearly as flawless as modern technology permits. The facial expressions in particular are well executed, and it's still entertaining to watch. In some sequences, there is a lot of action going on, but there isn't a significant animation break or loss of what is happening. The music doesn't offer a lot of variety; it simply sets the scene's mood before fading away, leaving the characters to speak for themselves. Onizuka is expertly portrayed by Steven Blum, and I generally enjoy the voice work of the other characters as well. There were a few minor characters I didn't particularly care for, but in this series, a minor character is essentially someone who gets three lines and then disappears for a while.
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