Lucky Star

Lucky Star (らき☆すた) is a 24 episode slice of life comedy based on the manga of the sane name by Yoshimizu Kagami.  The series originally aired over the Spring and Fall seasons of 2007.

     Lucky Star follows the daily lives of four high school students as they wander aimlessly through life. Konata; the intelligent and athletically gifted slacker otaku, Kagami; the older twin who is the normal, sane member, Tsukasa; the younger twin who is scatter brained and Miyuki; the cute, smart and rich shy girl. The series is based on the 4 panel manga by the same name and follows a segmented approach to the anime, even with events that are related, much like Azumanga Daioh. Common themes include food, video games, otaku, laziness and other such general observations.

 Konata is the most colorful and prominent member of the core group.  Even though she is gifted in school she barely applies herself and focuses all of her energy in being a massive otaku. She frequently stays up all night playing RPG’s or watching late night anime. Konata lives alone with her otaku father, which explains all of her hobbies. Kagami and Tsukasa are twins but appearance is the only thing common with them. Kagami works hard and takes pride in her school efforts.  While she is friends with Konata she continuously harps on her for her lack of effort and obsession with anime/manga/video games. Tsukasa on the other hand is air headed, struggles at school and is unreliable. Miyuki is the epitome of moe, according to Konata; she is quiet, soft spoken, well mannered, wears glasses, is perfect at school and all around desirable to the typical otaku in every way possible.  Konata frequently comments on how every thing she does expels feelings of moe.

 

  

There is no over all plot, the series ambles on and some events continue on through out, such as one of Konata’s cousins moving in with her and her father, but ultimately there is no definitive end or order to the series. The only thing that really marks the progression of the show is a small end bit after each episode called Lucky Channel that is like a commentary spot featuring two of the minor characters in the show. The characters/voice actors are Akira Kogame and Minoru Shiraishi. They start out, usually, talking about the episode but quickly Akiras rage boils over and changes from happy go lucky to abrupt and disgruntled, continuously complaining about her voice acting contract, her role as a minor character, etc, etc. All while the grateful Minoru tries to continue the facade of the show and appease Akira. They talk about what episode of the series just aired and how many are left, which is the only real indicator of continuity in the series. The end credits in the first half for the series has the four main characters doing karaoke, many of the songs are anime themes, such as the Doraemon theme. The ending credits for the second half of the series are live action videos of Minoru Shiraishi poorly singing a variety of songs and eventually incorporating bad live action TV series effects into the process. The opening theme has a video sequence of the main characters doing there own version of the Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuutsu dance.

     This series is funny, goofy and makes fun of Japanese pop culture and general otaku tendencies. From beginning to end you will be laughing. It was done by Kyoto animation which shamelessly plugs its other productions in the show, most prominently being Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuutsu. The feel of the entire series is warm hearted and easy going, with only Lucky Channel being sarcastic and aggressive. All of the characters are goof balls and they  produce plenty of laughs. This is a series aimed at otaku with a firm grasp of different anime and manga titles. Many times through out the series a conversation will mention an anime, but due to licensing issues and general comedic delivery, part of the name will be bleeped out. As the series goes the bleeps migrate to different parts of the name and even change in sound. This is pretty much a gag in it’s self.  The studio takes great liberty in abusing its own property as well.

 

    The manga is currently being released in America and the anime is right around the corner. Out of all of the similar titles this is the best that has come out, so pass up Pani Poni Dash, Sayonara Zetsubo Sensei or Hidamari Sketch if you are tight on funds or time and watch this series first, you won’t be disappointed by it.

UPDATE: The anime was released in North America on DVD by Bandai Entertainment.