There are
works that mark an era, and then there is Azumanga Daioh. What
started as a simple comic strip about high school girls ended up completely
shaping the industry we consume today. And I don't say it, the government
of Japan itself says it. It turns out that the Agency for Cultural
Affairs included him in its prestigious list of the 100 best multimedia works
of art in the country. Although this official selection was put together in
2006 thanks to the votes of the public, the topic has just resurfaced with
great force in the forums, sparking a debate about what it really means to be
considered art.
The
four-panel revolution
To
understand the historical impact of this little gem, you have to
look at the context. Before mangaka Kiyohiko Azuma picked up
the pencil between 1999 and 2002, the four-panel format was extremely rigid.
The golden rule dictated that you had to tell a quick joke and close with an
obligatory punchline in the last panel. Azuma sent that rule to the trash
immediately. He decided to focus on the atmosphere, absurd interactions and
surreal humor of characters that became iconic in pop culture, such as the little
genius Chiyo-chan or the eternally clueless Osaka.
Its success
was so overwhelming that it directly inspired the creation of entire magazines
dedicated to the slice of life and the stories of life
stories. Basically, veterans of the community agree that without the existence
of this manga, the immense wave of school comedies focused on tender and
relaxed interactions would never have developed. He paved the way for an entire
generation of creators.
Between
mockery and absolute respect
Interestingly,
seeing such an absurd comedy rubbing shoulders with masterpieces of traditional
literature and art left several users quite confused. In the forums, comments
were read from people questioning whether the government agency was mocking
them by elevating a manga about everyday life to the category of national
art. However, the defenders of the work jumped into the ring instantly.
They pointed out that the immense cultural legacy of the franchise is
undeniable, laying the creative foundations for the empire that the author
would achieve years later with the acclaimed manga Yotsuba&!.
Admittedly,
a list published nearly twenty years ago already feels pretty outdated by
modern standards and omits contemporary blockbusters. But this story's place in
the pantheon of Japanese entertainment remains unquestioned.
Knowing everything that influenced the anime and manga market, do you
think that Azumanga Daioh deserves to be formally cataloged as
a priceless piece of art, or do you consider that nostalgia is blinding
institutions and fans a bit?
