"Short: Azumanga Daioh THE ANIMATION" was released on December 22, 2001, as a five-minute short film in the Toei Western Film series. Titled "Winter's Kadokawa Anime," it was screened simultaneously with three other works: "Sakura Wars: The Movie," "Slayers Premium," and "Di Gi Charat: Journey to the Star." The staff is largely the same as the later TV version, but the character design was handled by Hiromi Kato. The cast is identical to that of the subsequent TV anime series. The DVD was sold through a mail-order offer in the June 2002 issue of "Dengeki Daioh" magazine, and included a bonus soundtrack CD featuring seven songs.