The laugh-out-loud escapades of the Sana Kurata and her friends continues in volume 8 of Kodocha.  This disc has another four humorous shows that are a good break from the typical mecha/SF anime that I usually go for.  While they haven't started another big story arc yet, these stand along shows are still quite enjoyable.

Series recap:

Sana Kurata is 11 years old, in the 6th grade, and a TV star.  The only girl in her class with an agent, she has to balance her school work with her career.  Sana's mom is an award winning author who has taken to wearing very odd hats, lets a chipmunk live on her head, and doesn't want to turn in her latest manuscript.  The other adult in Sana's life is her agent, Rei Sagami, who is very loyal to the budding star, and she has a big crush on him.

Though her TV show is doing well, school is not so good.  She has the misfortune of being placed in the worst class in the school.  The guys are very disruptive and they are led by Akito Hayama, the toughest kid in class.  Though Akito starts off as Sana's blood enemy they eventually become friends.  And maybe a little bit more.

After having a relaxing summer break and nice vacation, Sana heads home where her mother's new book has been released.  It's a non-fiction book that details Sana's life, including the fact that she was abandoned as a newborn.  The book caused quite a sensation, but things have gotten back to normal at last.

This volume:

The first three shows on this disc are light comedy shows that are filled with laughs.  Sana's grandmother comes for a visit in the first episode, with explosive results.  She wants Mama to come back home and take over the inn that has been in their family for 300 years.  The best way to accomplish that, the way Sana's grandmother figures it at least, is to play matchmaker and hook Mama up with a man who lives near the inn.  Of course Mama will have nothing to do with that.

Rei has a tough time in the next episode when his girlfriend, a popular actress, is rumored to be dating the leading man in the movie she's staring in.  He's distracted and preoccupied with the rumors that's swirling around so Sana decides to take things into her own hands and plays detective.  She gets Akito and Tsuyoshi to come with her, and they spy on the upcoming stars, with hilarious results.

Sana gets a brush with tabloid reporting herself when it's reported that she's in love with another young actor.  A slimy photographer doesn't buy the story though, and has taken it upon himself to prove that Sana really is in love: with Akito.

The final story is a bit more serious as Tsuyoshi's estranged father gets thrown in jail for attacking three youths without cause.  The kids at school tease Tsuyoshi without mercy, and though he pretends that it doesn't effect him, it really does.  Sana starts to worry that her friend might try to kill himself and decides to cheer him up.

Every episode in this series has a lot of bizzare, off the wall humor that is really funny.  The fact that it often comes out of left field makes it all the more humorous.  When Rei crashes his car into a light pole, for example, a police officer yells at him for his reckless driving.  When Rei says "sorry" the cop snaps back with:  "Spit in one hand and sorry in the other.  Tell me which one fills up first!"  I'm not really sure what that means, but it did make me laugh.

This volume contains the next four episodes of the series in a white keepcase.  Unfortunately, FUNimation is still including trailers before the main menu that you can't skip past.  This is really irritating, and this from someone who loves to watch the trailers on anime discs.  I wish they would stop this annoying practice.

Audio:

This disc has the original stereo Japanese language track as well as an English dub in both stereo and 5.1.  I alternated between the Japanese track and the 5.1 dub while watching this show and found both of them to be equally good.  The English track has some very good talent, and Laura Bailey does an outstanding job as Sana.  The way she pronounces the phrase "monkey-boy" while insulting Akita and his pals always gets me laughing.  When she talks fast, it gets even more humorous.  Make sure you listen to her "next episode" tags at the end of each show.  Her delivery really made the English dub very entertaining.

The sound quality is very good.  The 5.1 dub makes very good use of the surround speakers as well as the front soundstage.  While the Japanese track isn't as enveloping or dynamic it too sound very good.

Video:

The full frame video looks fine.  The lines are tight and the colors are solid.  I was surprised to see a few spots on the image, but these were fairly rare.  There is very little aliasing or other digital defects.  A very good transfer.

Extras:
 
As for extras on this disc, the only one this time is a gallery of sketch art.

Final Thoughts:

Fans of comic anime shows should be following this show.  If you aren't, what are you waiting for?  Filled with wild and wacky over-the-top humor, each episode has some good laughs.  This is one of those series that I really look forward to.  Highly recommended.