Azumanga Daioh Vol 5 : 4 of 5

Oh, how I love this series, and it's so hard to explain why. The stories are so simple, yet I totally burst out laughing at this show more than any other right now, and usually get some nice lumps in my throat, too. The girls are now seniors (which means a new school uniform), and by this time you really know all the characters - they all seem like old friends, and their personalities are really developed. When the school year starts, poor Kaorin has been put in a different class - now she's stuck with Mr. Kimura, the semi-perverted teacher who always has his mouth open, and he starts grossing her out right away. They girls go on a big senior trip to Okinawa, and there are some cute scenes of them sightseeing, scuba diving, souvenir shopping, and even speaking Okinawan dialect. The best thing that happens is that Sakaki, who loves cats to death but always gets bitten, makes friends with a wildcat kitten - when she gets to hug that kitty it's like her whole life has new meaning! When they leave the island, she waves goodbye on the boat with tears in her eyes. Finally, the final sports fest makes for a fun episode, complete with fun events like a bread-eating contest (where the bread is hung from a string) and even a "costume race". I can't believe there's only one DVD left for me to rent! (Of course, I'm planning on buying the set and watching the whole thing again!)