If you read my review of the GTO manga, then you already know my stance on this series-It's Good! The anime is a good adaptation of the manga-varying slightly. But unlike the manga, you will find yourself seeing some greatness in Onizuka, right from the beginning. The horny, third rate student teacher, sets his sights on becoming the greatest teacher in all of Japan-primarily for the benefit of one day being a 40-year-old man with a 16-year-old wife.
The anime pretty much sets up the story the same as the manga. To get the basic story of how Onizuka started on his road to greatness, check out the manga review. Those who have read the first manga, like myself, will find the first episode a little boring. But the series does get particularly interesting afterwards as we find out what happens with Nanoko and her family and see that Onizuka is somewhat forced to move onto another school. SPOILER: Onizuka was awarded the job as teacher of Class O after his miraculous, or rather violent talent in reforming the group. However, Onizuka, in his typical cocky style, oversleeps on purpose and missed the Public School Certification Exam. But thanks in part to his childhood friend Ryuji Danma (who makes a cameo appearance at the beginning of the manga series); Onizuka gets an interview at a private middle school named Holy Forest Academy. Onizuka is not exactly happy with the job because all of the girls are mere junior high school girls and not mature enough for him.
At Holy Forest Academy Onizuka meets one of his archenemies, Vice Principal Uchiyamada. Uchiyamada despises Onizuka for three reasons. First, Onizuka caught him and jacked him up for trying to feel up one of his future co-workers (and one of the series main characters), Azusa Fuyutsuki. Second, Onizuka performed a German Suplex on him after his interview; and finally Onizuka crashed up Uchiyamada's Cresta-chan or his brand new Cresta.
Uchiyamada is not Onizuka's main concern, as he is more comic relief than a real enemy. Onizuka's true test is with his class, who just happen to be the worst in the school, not for they're rude and incorrigible behavior like Class O, but because (SPOILER) their intelligence is so superior they are able to concoct the most heinous of schemes. The group's previous teachers ended up with severe mental illness.
Needless to say this series is interesting. It has everything a great comedy needs; sex, a loveable dolt, a beautiful but average woman, angst-ridden kids with no real adult figures crying out for help, a dirty old man, and a wise old woman. I particularly like how Onizuka goes about winning the kids over with his unusual approach to teaching; violence, porn trading, and immaturity. Onizuka reminds me a lot of Jack Tripper of the legendary TV show Three's Company. He is just such a damn fool, who just cannot get a break with the ladies. Heck, Vice-Principal Uchiyamada is really nothing more than a Mr. Roper/Ferley character when you get down to it, always trying to find something to pin on poor Onizuka to prove his righteousness.
The animation was great, and I was glad to see the creators of the anime used GTO's creator Tohru Fujisawa's unique and surreal facial expressions. Anyone familiar with the manga will love to see Onizuka get excited or shocked. It is one of the funniest, ugliest, and strangest things you will ever see. I was particularly interested in how the series writers gave Ryuji more of a role in the series, completely changing the character from the one seen in the first tankoubon.
My only gripe with the series was that unlike the manga it didn't build one up to that moment where you could honestly like Onizuka. It just went straight into the story and left nothing to the imagination about where the story was going. But that is the case with any adaptation.
I have to honestly say I understand why GTO is so popular. It just has that Jack Tripper charm. It is no wonder that the finale of the live action series was the most watched show in Japan ever. If you are interested in learning more about GTO, read the manga review.
Send comments and questions about this article to JenniferJ@ybfree.com.