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GTO (Great Teacher Onizuka) Volume 1

Now here’s a pleasant departure from the norm. An anime with a fresh approach to its art and a far more adult theme (definitely not for the kiddies), Great Teacher Onizuka (GTO) is a series that is worth checking out regardless of whether you just need a break from your regiment of Tenchi Muyo or if you are just getting into anime to begin with, though don’t expect this to be a universal representation of the medium. The first four episodes in the series found on this DVD do a great job of introducing the cast and setting the stage for the episodes to come. This is definitely a DVD to check out.

The story follows a chap by the name of Eikichi Onizuka, former leader of one of the more notorious biker gangs of Tokyo, who must now look into finding a career, as he has become too old to do the biker thing anymore (he’s 22 years old). So, after some soul searching and realizing he’d very much like to spend his time with young, impressionable lasses in private school uniforms he decides to become a teach. Of course things aren’t as simple as he had it planned out in his head and he actually

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has to behave himself and become a responsible teacher. When it comes to dealing with the young ladies he succeeds, but when he has to deal with the troublesome lads in his classes Akichi’s violent tendencies often emerge, and liberal beatings ensue as his personality molding tool of choice.

The four episodes on this DVD follow how Eikichi eventually gets a steady job at one of the local private schools and the

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trials and tribulations that got him there, not to mention his early days there trying to get used to a job with so much more responsibility than he’s used to. As was touched upon earlier, Eikichi’s character is very two-sided in how he conducts himself. One minute he’s accepting he has to grow up and act his age, but the next he is ready to indulge himself in all manner of inappropriate behavior, and it is this convulsing see saw battle that makes him so interesting. Just the way he conducts himself it isn’t hard to root for the guy every now and then, and have a little chuckle when his horribly construed notions of “how great” the future looks all crumbles around him. At the end of the day he’s just a likeable guy. The supporting cast is hardly seen in these four episodes, so it’s hard to really develop an opinion of them until they have more of a presence, which will undoubtedly happen in the volumes to come. It’s easy to suspect that the young female teach that starts at the school at the same time as Onizuka will likely be the woman he pursues for the duration of the series, and the vice principal is destined to be his arch nemesis for the entirety of Eikichi’s time at Holy Forest Academy.

When looking at the art style of the show though it’s interesting the mix of more traditional anime with some unique styles used for when characters get stressed or all worked up over something. Their appearance still goes into a humorously contorted shape, but just the way their muscles are all clenched up and they look like an old prune is a refreshing change from the norm in this area. The animation as a while is very well done with lots of detail to the environments, a smooth flow to the action scenes coupled with still frames to emphasize key points in the sequence. It’s all very nice to see with good pacing to keep viewers’ interest.

Voice acting in the show is actually pretty good. While there are the occasional lapses in quality, overall what is found here is pretty good. Eickichi’s English voice is provided by the same guy who did Spike on Cowboy Bebop, David Lucas. While the two characters have their own personalities, sometimes it’s hard to differentiate the two in how the English voice acting is done because just the way Eickichi is performed in English he sometimes comes off a little too much like Spike. The other main characters, particularly the vice principal are also well done on the whole and add the right feel and personality to their roles.

GTO is definitely not for everybody, as the subject matter can get real racy, real fast, but for those looking for a fun, somewhat unique ride, this is a DVD worth checking out.

- Mr. Nash

(May 24, 2002)