Pani Poni Dash! Complete Collection

The high school comedy Pani Poni Dash! is barely able to contain the constant onslaught of gags, weirdness, and relentless parody that ensue when an 11-year-old MIT graduate, Rebecca Miyamoto, comes to Momotsuki (Peach Moon) High School to begin teaching. While the show lacks depth, obvious care has been taken in crafting each episode, with production values that are consistently high. The frenzied pacing and comedic style will please fans of Excel Saga, but all the sound and fury may prove too much for those who prefer a gentler series, such as Azumanga Daioh. As it is, the show makes fun of every anime convention under the sun, although some of the humor and references may be too particular to Japanese culture for English-speaking audiences to parse. Compiling all 26 original episodes from 2005, this dual-language four-disc boxed set, suitable for 13-up, is recommended. Aud: P. (L. Martincik)