Please Teacher (おねがい☆ティーチャー, Onegai Teacha), also known by its Japanese title Onegai Teacher, is a 2002 Japanese anime television series produced by Daume and Bandai Visual. The series premiered in Japan on January 10, 2002, and concluded on March 28, 2002, comprising 12 episodes, followed by an original video animation (OVA) episode released in October 2002. It falls under the genres of science fiction, romance, comedy, and slice of life.
The story centers on Kei Kusanagi, a high school student who suffers from a rare, life-threatening condition that causes him to occasionally lapse into a state of suspended animation. Due to this condition, he is significantly older than his classmates, having lost three years of his life. One evening, while gazing at a lake, he witnesses a spaceship crash-landing. From the craft emerges Mizuho Kazami, a beautiful alien woman who becomes his new homeroom teacher the very next day. Through a series of accidental events, Kei inadvertently reveals Mizuho's alien identity and, to prevent her deportation and protect her secret, they are forced into an arranged marriage by her family. The series then explores their unconventional life together as a married couple, navigating school, romantic interests, and the challenges of keeping Mizuho's true nature a secret from the skeptical public and their schoolmates.
Main Characters:
- Kei Kusanagi: The protagonist, a high school student with a medical condition, who unexpectedly finds himself married to his alien teacher.
- Mizuho Kazami: An alien sent to Earth for observation, who becomes a high school teacher and Kei's wife.
Production: The series was directed by Yasunori Ide, with series composition and screenplay by Yousuke Kuroda. Character designs were provided by Taraku Uon. The anime was later followed by a spin-off series titled Please Twins! (Onegai Twins!), which aired in 2003 and takes place in the same universe with new protagonists.
Other Media: In addition to the anime series, Please Teacher has been adapted into other forms of media:
- Manga: A manga adaptation illustrated by Shizuru Hayashiya was serialized in ASCII Media Works' Dengeki Daioh magazine.
- Light Novels: A series of light novels, written by Yousuke Kuroda with illustrations by Taraku Uon, were published by MediaWorks under their Dengeki Bunko imprint.
- Drama CD: Audio drama CDs have also been released.
The series gained popularity for its blend of sci-fi romance with slice-of-life elements, exploring themes of unconventional relationships, hidden identities, and the challenges of adolescence.