Episode One:
New Semester! Excited and Nervous!
Love letter challenge!
Bicycle explosion!

SUMMARY

This first episode introduces the principle players in our little saga of high school hijinks: Tsukamoto Tenma, a somewhat hopeless and scatterbrained girl who is very enthusiastic but also very prone to clumsiness and general screwing up; Harima Kenji, the school delinquent, feared and reviled for his terrible temper and tendency to beat people into a pulp--but who at heart just wants a happy fuzzy warm relationship with Tenma-chan, and is, like Tenma, very prone to clumsiness and general screwing up; and Karasuma Ouji, who...um...

Well, anyway.

So, this episode involves introductions, failed confession attempts, and the most unbelievable bicycle race in history.

ANALYSIS

I fell in love with this series immediately upon watching the first episode. I laughed so hard. I laughed even harder for the second episode. There really isn't much more I can say about it than that--if you like to laugh hard, watch School Rumble.
RATING: 10/10



I freely admit to monkeying with this screencap.
I had good reason--making an animated gif of it would have
been pointless. Anyway, School Rumble is one of those series
that likes to have fun with its mandated warning about watching
TV anime in a well lit room from a safe distance. Every episode
opens with a cute, clever delivery of the message, usually involving
something from the previous episode. It's one of the more
endearing qualities of this series.


Tenma-chan, the happy-go-lucky protagonist of the series.


And her younger sister, Yakumo, who is far more mature than Tenma, and who possesses an almost Sakaki-esque level of cool and aloofness.


Karasuma Ouji, Tenma's crush.


If only she posed like this more often. H_H


Much needed after a long hard day of being Tenma's keeper.


I guess I forgot to mention that School Rumble has quite a bit of
sex appeal to it as well. I was, understandably, distracted.


EXTREME CLOSEUP!!


Tenma channels Stewie Griffin


And auditions for Azumanga Daioh


Tenma is happy!


Tenma is pumped!


Harima Kenji. A little scary, don't you think?


Tenma, as viewed through HarimaVision(TM)


Mikoto and Eri, in case anyone cares.
...didn't think so.


I can't get enough of this guy XD


Other people could stand with a bit less of him, however.


That's what you get for wearing sunglasses all the time.


Understanding rears its ugly head...


...and confusion sets in.


Embarassment or disappointment? You decide.


She's auditioning for tentacle porn now


And now she's training for a martial arts flick


Now she's channeling Yukari. And that's REALLY scary.


Work hard, Tenma-chan!


Now she's channeling OSAKA?!


Believe me, I feel your pain.


This trick almost NEVER works.


Tenma is going for the world record for longest love letter ever written.


Now that's a love letter with STAYING POWER.


Unfortunately, she forgot to sign it.


"You DUMBASS!"


I don't know what's scarier--that Tenma filled that whole long scroll with the same thing over and over again...or that it worked.


The library: a fun place to learn, a quiet place to sleep.


Anatomy of an airhead


Digital Ditz!


Tenma wanders into the volleyball scene in Azumanga


Tenma joins the Bonkuraazu


And the Akane Brigade


"I didn't know that could go there..."


"Eep! They're out to get me!"


Poor Tenma-chan. She's just not used to all this thinking...


Auditioning for Yu Yu Hakusho...


...that, or posing for Biker Boy Quarterly...


Damn, dude, SHOWER!


"Lousy freakin' junk mail..."


Harima's a little more traditional about it than Tenma.


"Yeah, I'm a bum. Got a problem with that?"


He's pissed at being typecast as the big and stupid guy.


"I wish he'd hurry up. I'm gonna miss Naruto."


"Oh, you like Naruto too? I never miss it!"


"Dammit, I want to watch Naruto with Tenma-chan!"


"I'm not a bad guy. Actually, I'm a very happy postal employee."


Harima just realised he left the iron on.


"NOOOOO! My bowling shirt! It's RUINED!"


What the hell is this guy, the lovechild of Mr. Clean and Richard Simmons?


Moved to tears, snot, and property destruction


"I'm so happy I've turned into a freakish bald potato!"


Harima auditions for DBZ


"Don't call us, we'll call you."


"I just wanna be loooooooooooved..."


"There, there..."


"This'll hurt me more than--wait, no it won't."


"Uwaaaah...Harima-kun has a nice hog..."


I like Harima's better.


Tenma's plan


Harima's plan


Double dumbass on you!


"Why do you walk with your arms behind your head?"
"It makes my tits look bigger."


Operation Bicycle is off to a rocky start...


...because Karasuma is a master of Amazon Bike-Fu.


And the chase is on!


Dumbass #2 enters the starting gate...


...and the lead runner passes by him in a flash!


Harima hails the competition...


...and joins the race, trailing the pack.


As they enter the second leg of the race, it's clear that Karasuma is the dominant racer. But Who Will Win?


Karasuma puts on a burst of speed, and Tsukamoto nearly loses control of her bike as she's caught in the slipstream!


At this point, Harima is really wishing for his motorcycle. ...but would it even help?


The Tour de France has nothing on this!


Yes, they just passed what you think they just passed.
Yes, it WAS moving.


...I'm not even gonna GO there.


I've heard of offroad racing, but this is ridiculous.


...and why the HELL is this reminding me of Inuyasha?!


At this point, I feel it necessary to remind you, gentle reader, that these three are on their way to SCHOOL here.


And I really didn't need to see that.


...you know, Harima, usually people use their ARMS to pretend they're a bird...


We interrupt this bicycle race for a random Eri wink pose.


Word of advice: NEVER be blonde near a sudden gust of wind.


Ugh, frizz.


They need more training before they're ready to go pro.


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