GTO: Great Teacher Onizuka

When I first saw the cover of this anime I thought it was some kind of action/adventure type anime, and the "GTO" title definitely threw me off. It is in fact a comedy, about a reformed gangster turned school teacher Onizuka. The story basically revolves around Onizuka's early career as a school teacher and how he manages to overcome obstacles given to him by students and faculty members. I'd say its a light-hearted anime, with a few dirty jokes and sexual innuendos here and there. I definitely recommend it to any anime fan who wants to take a break from sci-fi (or hentai, whatever you watch more often) and is looking for a good laugh. I give this one a 10/10.

This TV-series was based on a very popular anime and manga series in Japan. I've been learning Japanese for two years now and I'm not very interested in anime because you'd think there'd be robots or something, but not at all. Eikichi Onizuka was a trouble maker in his school days, he was in a biker gang (Japanese bikers aren't at all like the stereotypical American bikers) and was always getting into fights. (The prequel to GTO featuring Onizuka in his youth is called "Bad Company") Onizuka got kicked out of school and ever since, he's realized how awesome school was. He just wished that he hadn't been kicked out and he's always wanted to become a teacher. One day he finally gets his chance at a private school because the head of the school is a very nice lady who believes in Onizuka. He's appointed to teach for the infamous class 2-4, a class so bad that's been going through teachers very quickly. Onizuka wins them over and shows he's more than just a teacher. He's a great teacher and a great person. This series is SO funny. I loved the anime and I love this show. It's out with subtitles and I suggest you look into finding some copies, if you ever watch any anime or any Japanese show, I suggest you watch this. If this was shown in America I'm sure it would be EXTREMELY popular. The last episode of Great Teacher Onizuka (the live action series, not the anime) was the most viewed show in Japan. Onizuka is one class act and no matter who you are or what you're into, you just can't not like this show.

The story of a man who took seven years to graduate from a third year college with high aspirations of teaching is not only going to grab you, but it will literally steal you away for twelve hours as the characters endear themselves to you.

As a manga story, the characters are comical, to say the least. The lead, Onizuka Eikichi (masterfully played by Sorimachi Takashi), applies at Musashi Seirin Academy only to be rebuked by the Head Teacher Uchiyamada. After an altercation with students that result in Onizuka physically attacking the Head Teacher, does he impress the school's Chairman, Sakurai Akira (played by Shirakawa Yumi), enough to be hired on as the homeroom teacher of Year 2-Class 4 (considered to be the worst of the worst). On his first day he meets the "Madonna-sensei" of the Academy, Fuyutsuki Azusa (played wonderfully by Matsushima Nanako), and the romantic angle is set into place. A condition of his employment at the Academy is that he must carry with him at all times, a written letter of resignation, to be submitted should he cause trouble or break any rules.

The tightrope-without-a-net plot makes for some very interesting episodes. But as you watch each episode and gain an insight into Onizuka-sensei, you cannot help but smile, laugh, gasp, and live vicariously through him. Watch and bond as he wins over his class, one student at a time. This is a highly recommended series!

If you enjoyed this, check out "OverTime" with Sorimachi along with "Syomu ni" alum Esumi Makiko.

This series is based on the Japanese manga, "GTO" aka "Great Teacher Onikuza". I must say the TV series certainly did the manga justice and Sorimachi brought the lead character of Onizuka to life. The series is immensely funny and it is filled with many examples of Japanese school life.

Onizuka who has been a deliquent all his life is suddenly thrusted into the role of a teacher which is his lifetime dream. The concept of a gangster type person being a teacher is already comical. Though it is funny, GTO has some serious moments as well. When he first started out as a teacher, the class he was in charge of were all against him but slowly as the series progressed, he came to earn their trust and teach them valuable lessons on life they would never have learnt in the classroom. For anyone who's after a good laugh and a peek into the Japanese student culture, I recommend watching this great series.

Unbelievably good series starring Takashi Sorimachi as Eikichi Onizuka, a guy who was a former biker gang leader became a teacher because he had no other job offers. His future wife Nanako Matsushima also stars in this series as Fuyutsuki Azusa an English teacher in the same school.

Students in his class are outcasts in one way or another, and in the beginning sees him as another teacher who only cares about rules and formalities and tries to kick him out. Actually, Onizuka is far more "out there" than any of the students, and starts to win their respect one by one.

Romance between Onizuka and Fuyutsuki starts to form, as Fuyutsuki begins to realize that Onozuka is a truly unpretentious character that she couldn't find amongst posers that she used to date. What's interesting is we're probably seeing a real life romance between them unfold before our eyes, as they will be married in real life 3 years later.

Takashi Sorimachi and Nanako Matsushima looks great in the beginning, but as the episodes wears on, you can see them getting tired, and it starts to affect, fun of watching the series. Also, the heroics of Onizuka starts to become cliché, as they starts to run out of fresh ideas.

Based on a comic GTO by Tooru Fujisawa, the series does good job translating the characters and episodes from the comic that inspired it.

Although not well known in the U.S., this is one gem of a TV series that's worth seeing.