One cannot enjoy K-On! without having a trained mind and an eye for subtle details. On there surface, K-On! appears to be merely a comedy about adolescent life, but it is so much more than that. K-On! is filled with character development and interactions. On top of that, there is a large amount of symbolism present in K-On!. The ever-present tea and cakes in this series serve as a reminder of temptation. It is human nature to give into temptation and even Azusa, the supposed moral paragon of this tale, is never able to refuse tea and cake. Despite all of the temptation, K-On! has a hopeful message about human nature. Despite our failings, humans are still able to achieve great things, as shown by Houkago Tea Time's concerts, a metaphor for the great human achievements throughout history. K-On! also serves as a coming of age story for Yui. Yui's hair clips serve as a reminder of her immaturity. There is an episode where Yui does not wear her hair clips for a bit, representing her struggle to reach adulthood, but in the end she wears them again. K-On! portrays excellently the inner conflict experienced by teenagers during that phase between adolescence and adulthood. K-On! is, at its essence, a beautiful uplifting story about normal people and their struggles. (show less)