Azumanga Daioh X Peanuts, Some Ruminations

A "crossover" of sorts. The Azumanga Daioh bunch drawn in the style of
the Black Lagoon anime. Sorta kinda what Charles Addams would have
done had he been Japanese.

                                            Azumanga Daioh X Peanuts

                                                 Some Ruminations

                                                             by

                                                                 Jay Agan

      While spending a Saturday afternoon at Armagedicon 6/Anime Punch last April, I spent too much time at the Aardvarktees booth watching You Tube anime spoofs. The majority of them parodies of Azumanga Daioh. The semi-demented proprietor of Aardvarktees, Weatherly Hardy, remarked that Azumanga Daioh was what Charles Schulz would have done had he been Japanese (Or was it that Peanuts was what Kiyohiko Azuma would have done had he been American? Oh well.). That thought had occured to me off & on as well.

      Charles Schulz & his creations were well into "slice of life" way long before the term was even invented. With his alter ego, Charlie Brown, he explored the everday world through the eyes of his child characters giving not only laughs, but also insight into how the world & human nature interact. At times biting & even harsh, other times thoughtful or comedic. Always having one nodding ones head in knowing aknowledgement.

      It is through the characters of both works that we see the goings on of the workings of the world. It is where I have drawn a few parallels between the two franchises (I left out Yukari & Minamo as they are older versions of Tomo & Yomi respectively. The less said of  Kimura the better.).

1. Sakaki/Charlie Brown- Withdrawn, shy, at times indecisive. Things don't always go well. Both have hang-ups & passions/obsessions that lead to distraction. Cats don't like Sakaki. Charlie can't keep a kite in the air to save his life.

2. Tomo Takino/Lucy van Pelt- The seven deadly sins & then some. Meanace to one & all. Personal motto: "Head games r' fun!" Viscious, nasty, mean, cruel, spiteful, bullying, LOUD, manipulative, offensive, insulting, & at times violent. Oh yes, rotten. Insert any other negative adjective here.

3. Chiyo-chan Mihama/Linus van Pelt- Incredibly smart & insightful though quite naive. Easily manipulated off onto tangents & can be quite emotional. Both have their "refuges": Linus has his security blanket. Chiyo her detatchable pigtails (YES! It's true! They ARE detatchable. We've all seen it. Just ask Osaka. She sees every {any} thing!).

4. Koyomi "Yomi" Mizuhara/Schroeder- Contientious, studious, considerate, patient, but both have their limits. Schroeder retaliates with his piano. Yomi lashes out with an uppercut to the jaw.

5. Ayumu "Osaka" Kasuga- In her own little world (It's OK. They know her there.). Depending on what she's doing, dreaming, saying or thinking(?), she could easily be either Snoopy or (Philosophically speaking.) Pigpen.

6. Kaorin/Woodstock- A couple of messed up little birds. She has anxiety attacks & hyperventalates. He twitters & flitters.

7. Kagura/Peppermint Patty- Outgoing, friendly, energetic, & athletic. Optimistic & encouraging though bewildered by the dejection of others. Particularly of Sakakis' "otherness" or Charlies' indecisiveness.

Peanuts as teens anime style. L-R Lucy van Pelt, Linus van Pelt,
Charlie Brown.

      You can probably come up with some comparisons of your own. Have fun.

                                     Article copyright © 6-29-2011 Jay Agan

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