# Kodocha (1996)

> A gifted fifth-grade TV star sets out to tame the rowdiest boy in her class and discovers he is more complicated than he seems.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/23699

## Facts

- Seasons: 1
- Episodes: 102
- Episode runtime: 25 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: animation, comedy, drama
- Created by: Miho Obana
- Network: TV Tokyo
- Cast: Shizue Oda, Ryou Naitou, Tatsuya Nakazaki, Hana Kino, Harumi Ikoma
- TMDB rating: 7.4/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0115234/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: brisk
- Intensity: mild
- Complexity: accessible
- Violence: mild
- Tone: whimsical, breezy, joyful, wistful, comforting

## Synopsis

Kodocha (1996-1998) is a Japanese animated shoujo comedy series created by Miho Obana for TV Tokyo, produced by Gallop and Pony Canyon. Its protagonist, Sana Kurata (voiced by Shizue Oda), is a sharp, energetic fifth grader who already stars in the hit television comedy Child's Toy, and whose mother is a celebrated writer. Her main obstacle is Akito Hayama (voiced by Tatsuya Nakazaki), a tiny hellion who has turned the boys of their grade-school class into a noisy, scrappy gang. Sana's manager, chauffeur and self-styled handler Rei Sagami (voiced by Ryou Naitou) pushes her crusade to win back the classroom, and each episode is built from small schemes, school mischief, studio work and family life. Across a single run of 102 episodes, the rivalry gradually shifts as Sana looks past Akito's bluster and finds someone more fragile than he appears. The tone is buoyant and comic, with warm family moments and a wistful undercurrent about growing up too fast. Fans of Sailor Moon, Matilda and Ranma 1/2 will find resonance in its mix of spirited young heroines, comic chaos and a rivalry that turns tender. It is a single-season, self-contained shoujo classic built for affectionate, uplifting viewing.

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