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.

GTO seems like another semi-hentai ecchi series for 14 year olds at first glance but it definitely is not. While this is definitely a man's show (women tend to not get it) it isn't dumb or overly crude. Onizuka is a great teacher. Beginning as just a pervert he evolves quite quickly into a radical who believes that the students shouldn't undergo the boredom and humiliation he did. While full of weird, sex driven scenarios, GTO doesn't turn into a porno and uses them for laughs rather than sick titilation. I can't express enough how much fun this series is. It's currently my favorite anime and I recommend it to all anime fans and especially the non-fans who think anime is just giant robots and fighting. (Did I mention there's a bit of fighting here too? But I digress.) 10/10

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 is actually a very good series. It follows the same line as the manga and the live action, though it drags it out a little more. Good if you want more GTO, bad if you're not so interested in all that filler.

The live action version was the most popular TV event in Japan's history, and remains so to this day. The drama it invokes when you think of this normal guy, whose life wasn't easy, who didn't become a teacher (mostly) to hit on girls in fukus, taking on these kids, and making them see that he, even if nobody else agrees, does not think they are trash.

He doesn't always assume that the adult is always on the right side of the argument, and he doesn't assume that these kids are automatically going to do wrong by him. However, he doesn't take their crap, and will not hesitate to call out his gang or dangle you over a roof to get his point across. Its a brilliantly done series, and one I VERY highly recommend.