Kodocha (1996–1998) User Reviews

Umm...

[bronx_w · 6 April 2000]

This show is completely bizarre, but I think it's great. It's about eleven year old Kurata Sana and her school and work (she's a popular actress). She lives with her mother, an author, and her manager, who she found homeless on the streets.

I think this show is, although totally weird, really good. If you ever get a chance to watch it, do.

Hilarious!!!

[SeanSmith · 10/10 · 5 January 2006]

When I first heard about Kodocha I had no idea what to expect. All I knew was that it was had the same director from Fruits Basket. I turned on my DVD player and that "Ultra Relax" opening song came on. I burst out laughing! Then the show was even more funny!!! Laura Bailey, the voice of Tohru Honda in Fruits Basket and Kid Trunks in Dragonball Z, gives an outstanding performance as Sana!! I was so impressed that she can sing, (Closing song in Fruits Basket and the closing song in Blue Gender) can sound like a little obnoxious super saiyan, a sweet innocent, a dark villain (Lust in Fullmetal Alchemist) and now a hyperactive eleven year old! What will this girl do next? Sana's "raps" are the best part! Every character is perfectly cast and delivers outstanding performances. Jerry Jewel portrays Akito, who is very similar to the popular Kyo Sohma in Fruits Basket. John Burgmeier is perfect as Sana's manager Rei. And then there was Colleen Clickenbeard. She was the voice of Rachel in Case Closed. She is absolutely marvelous as Mama! She acts so much like Laura Bailey that you would really believe that Sana gets her personality from her mother. All in all, this is an adorable show that will have you rolling with laughter over and over again!!!!

Sana and Akito, eventually realize the both love each other (Well Sana dose)There's just one problem.

[montenegro_castillo · 10/10 · 20 November 2006]

The problem is that Akito is dating Fuuka(She bribed him with SUSHI) He only agreed, because he heard a lot of rumors that Sana was going out with Naozumi. Sana and Akito finally have a chance but this happens they can never have a break. But the show gets even sadder Akito has to move to LA, because he got stabbed by some Yankees(In the books) and Sana has a mental breakdown(She has doll's Syndrome) and the story is sad and makes you want to cry. If you haven't seen Kodocha, I can't recommend this show enough. Also try reading Kodocha: Sana's stage because it has more detail about Sana's life. ButI must warn you these books are nearly impossible to find, but when you have them you're so happy cause this goes on to their first year of High School, after Akito has been gone for around two years.It's a touching, Sad, but is also happy at the same time But don't Trust my word for it check it out for yourself.

This is one of the most Funniest Comedies on EARTH!

[only_anime · 9/10 · 25 June 2006]

This Anime is Hilarious! When I first watched it in second grade, it was like the best! I love it.

So yeah, it's about a famous child star actress named Sana. Sana has a big wild and optimistic-kind of attitude that just makes you love her! This romantic-comedy show has many twists and surprises you don't find in your average anime. This anime may be old (I think the manga was out in 1996 in Japan), but it is one of the most awesomest ever! It is split-your-sides-because-of-laughing painful! Main characters include : Akito Hayama (a class destroyer- but he plays a big role in the show), Naozumi (another child actor that has a past with Sana), Sana's mom, Rei (Sana's used-to-be "gigolo"), and Sana's class mates play fairly important roles too. It is basically all about Sana's life. This anime is hilarious, and I suggest all comedy lovers to watch this!

Shoujo Romantic Comedy On Crack (but I mean it in a good way)

[Dot-chan · 29 January 2000]

Meet Kurata Sana, age 11, the lovely and talented star of "Kodomo no Omocha", a live television improv series. However, she is not exempt from attending school, and just so happens to share a class with Hayama Akito, any teacher's worst nightmare. Her "war" with him quickly blossoms into grudging respect, and finally to a deep, caring friendship as she draws him out of his shell.

So where does the "on crack" part come in?

Well, Sana contributes to a lot of it, talking at something like 200 words per minute and moving at speeds only attainable by consuming IMMENSE amounts of sugar. She also raps--rather badly--at some point in each episode. There's also Sana's mother, who is a bit...strange; her assortment of hats attests to that. There's Rei, Sana's "pimp" (or at least that's how the subtitles translated it) and agent. There's also Babbit, a strange but cute creature who pops up every once in a while to give explanations or commentary.

So far only available in Japanese, but I don't think any dubbing effort could do this series justice.

It's so difficult to be an "exceptional" child...

[Keiko · 11 December 1998]

Sana Kurata is 11 years old girl, cheerful and with much energy. OK, she already works... Erhem, right, she is a child TV star what doesn't mean she can escape classes! All right! She has a busy schedule, then everything is planned. And there's her manager - who she made her "boyfriend" after met him heartbroken and miserable at streets... If she doesn't care him who will do? It's a waste of time to be at school and don't even pay attention, right? Well, seems like the boys don't agree with that... Specially the leader Akito Hayama, the king of cool and unpassion. But don't understimate a girl's strength! Sana will do her best to learn SOMETHING at school, and no boy will stop her. Well I thought that was a regular show about girls versus boys. But it was much more. It's about how difficult is to be kid. To live until grow up! The characters are so lovely made, that you can feel then. They are right here in this world, everyone of them. They sorrow, they laugh, they cry or not... Nobody understand your own heart, and that's what we have here. Disguised as a show about a STAR child, Kodomo no Omocha is a tale to children and to grown ups. A tale to help everyone of us to remember how hard is to be child, how easy we forget the wrong ways of our parents and repeat that in our children, the feelings of a girl forwards an older man... every facet of human being is there, put in a way simple but yet very caring... Because everyone have to love something...

Not as badly mangled as some anime has been, but still edited...

[okami36 · 7 March 2006]

Having read the manga and having fan-subs for the first 40-odd episodes, I was rather disappointed by this version. The VAs did well enough, but the translators screwed with it too much...

The opening should be the 1st season "Jyuukyuu no News" (7 o'clock News) opening, and the guy she runs into in the hall is a member of the band Tokio (not Tokyo), who did the song.

Listening to the Japanese track, they CUT the entire conversation with the band member. Maybe its just a flaw on my disc, maybe they figured someone who speaks Japanese would notice their change. They also cut her voice-over of the preview for the next episode.

Rei is her PIMP! That's why everyone is so shocked when Sana introduces him. She doesn't say boyfriend or agent or manager. She calls him her pimp.

Likewise, he takes her picture for a scrapbook or something. I'm not really remember why, but I do know it had nothing to do with a website.

Gone are all the cool little cultural references that Sana screws up. At the beginning of each of my fansub tapes, these get explained.

And this is just from the first episode...

While I intend to get the rest of the DVDs to support the VAs, Obana-san (the manga's author), and the import of anime in general, but they really need to learn how to stop editing the product.

IF YOU WORK IN THE ANIME IMPORTING INDUSTRY, PLEASE STOP EDITING OR "UPDATING" OUR MUCH-LOVED SHOWS!

Excellent series!!

[Andorion · 11 July 2002]

Kodomo no omocha (Child's Toy) might be one of the best Anime TV series I've seen. As far as I know, there are no official subs of the episodes, but fansubs exist, and they're done extremely well. The animation quality, character development and story elements are top notch, but what really sells the series is the animation style. Nearly the ENTIRE series is completely serious - that is, the premise is serious... there are no spaceships, lasers, monsters, or anything unrealistic. The presentation, however, is nearly drug-induced, but for good reason. It's presented through the eyes of a twelve year old - the way a story might be retold, with super-dramatic moment, excessive exaggeration, and a constant onslaught of information with short pauses for breath.

Brain Deadening

[TheCheshiresSaw · 18 February 2006]

This anime should not be watched unless you want to lose every braincell you have. Funny for the first few episodes, but soon becomes repetitive, and quite frankly, ANNOYING AS HELL. After being forced to watch 12 episodes (even though it was over the course of a few weeks) I was tempted to commit suicide. The main character, Sana, is the most annoying thing I've ever had the misfortune to watch. She is a child actress who is hyperactive to the point she should be locked up for our sanity. She has an obsession for a man, Rei, thats probably about 20 something years old, and her obsession is the basis of many an episode. The second character, Akito, has no emotion, but I think I would much rather watch him then Sana. I STRONGLY suggest that you only watch this if it is spread over the course of months. Even then, Your brain may be in danger of exploding from the utter stupidity and annoying factors of this anime.

Available on DVD!

[aarond12 · 25 September 2005]

The series is now available on DVD -- or at least the first two discs as of today. This is the animé that many said would never get translated into English (see previous review) because of some of the strange premises. For the most part, this is a straight forward shôjo (girl- oriented/relationship) animé, but that doesn't mean guys won't enjoy it too.

As the story develops, love interests form and break as in many other shôjo, but this one's different: Starting from the first episode (no spoilers), Sana's self-proclaimed boyfriend, manager, and "pimp" is Rei, who is obviously much older than she is, if only by the fact he can drive and she's 11. Rei lives with Sana and her mother and has a seemingly somewhat- too-friendly relationship with Sana. It's a little creepy at the beginning but things normalize as the animé progresses.

With the exception of Rei, this is a fairly normal animé, and is relatively tame with no "fan service" and very little harsh language. (A few "damn" and "hell" and one "pissed", but that's it.)

Sana is the world's most hyperactive girl, easily speaking over 200 words per minute, but she has obviously been around adults for most of her life because she has wisdom beyond her 11 years. Unlike many Japanese, Sana is very outspoken and has no problem telling people -- adults included -- how she feels about them.

To some, Sana might seem overly pushy, nosy, and annoying, but her intentions are always honorable. Sana occasionally breaks into song or a rap to explain her feelings during the show which helps the plot along nicely.

There are very few lulls in the action (or Sana's dialog!) and the English dub is very nicely done. Hats off to Laura Bailey for voicing Sana! There is no way that was an easy read... even for Laura's skill!

This is one of the last in a generation of cel-based animé. There are no sweeping CG landscapes or flythroughs. This is old-school animation and it's wonderful. This animation is smooth and no cels were spared. The artwork is bright and colorful and loads of fun.

If you enjoy "Marmalade Boy" or other shôjo animé, you're in for a treat with Kodocha.

Kodocha

[Hellern111 · 15 February 2007]

Does anyone know a site where I can watch the Kodocha series with English subtitles? Almost all the episodes are deleted from www.youtube.com! Only number 1 and 2 are left! Please, anyone, answer! And if anyone know about any funny anime series, please tell me! I'm a anime fan=) Wohoo! I'm bored.. Please answer! I'm in a hurrrry! Must... Watch... Kodocha... NOW!... Just kidding:P But oblivious I have to write at least 10 lines of text, so I'm just messin' around. Sorry.. Don't read all of this... You really don't need to bother... I'm from Norway by the way! There's almost no manga here. All I've seen is Inuyasha and Love Hina... And some others I can't really remember... Thanks anyway.. Please answer about the 'where to watch anime series, especially Kodocha', or whatever I wrote :P Byebye