Assassination Classroom
When I first saw the enigmatic teacher at the heart of "Assassination Classroom," his eerie grin and tentacled visage sent shivers down my spine. Little did I know that this unconventional educator would have wormed his way into my heart by the time I reached the manga's poignant conclusion.
Penned and illustrated by the brilliant Yusei Matsui, Assassination Classroom is a thrilling manga series that defies expectations at every turn. Serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump from 2012 to 2016, the story spans 21 tankobon volumes. Additionally, Studio Lerche has turned the manga into not one but two excellent anime seasons for those who prefer their assassinations animated.
Seiji Kishi directed the Studio Lerche animated series Assassination Classroom. Kazuaki Morita is the character designer, and Makoto Uezu handles the series composition. Kishi is known for directing anime such as Angel Beats!, Persona 4: The Animation, Danganronpa: The Animation, and Yuki Yuna is a Hero.
The first season, which lasted 22 episodes, aired in Japan between January 9, 2015, and June 20, 2015. A second season, Assassination Classroom Second Season, lasted 25 episodes and aired from January 7, 2016, to June 30, 2016. The anime series adapted the entire manga storyline, covering all the major arcs and ending at the same point as the original. In total, the anime ran for 47 episodes.
Other key staff members include Kana Hashimoto, the color key artist; Kazuto Shimoyama, the art director; and Shigeki Asakawa, the director of photography. Satoki Iida at Rakuonsha is in charge of the sound direction, while Naoki Sat is in charge of the music series.
The anime's first season-opening themes are "Seishun Satsubatsuron" by 3-nen E-gumi Utatan for episodes 1–17 and "Jiriki Hongan Revolution" by 3-nen E-gumi Utatan for episodes 18–22. The ending theme is "Hello, shooting star" by moumoon.
For the second season, the opening themes are "QUESTION" and "Bye Bye Yesterday, Hi," performed by Shion Miyawaki, Aya Suzaki, Nobuhiko Okamoto, Ryota Ohsaka, and Shintarō Asanuma. The ending themes are "Kaketa Tsuki" and "Mata Kimi ni Aeru Hi," both performed by Shion Miyawaki.
Funimation licenses Assassination Classroom and now Crunchyroll for streaming and home video distribution in North America. Madman Entertainment licensed the series in Australia and New Zealand, while Anime Limited licensed it for the United Kingdom. The series has been released on Blu-ray and DVD in Japan and internationally.
Plot Summary: A Thrilling Tale of Assassination and Education
Assassination Classroom is about a group of misfit students at an elite academy who are given an impossible mission: assassinate their new teacher before graduation or watch as he obliterates the earth just as he destroyed the moon. The teacher, known as "Koro-sensei," is a grinning, octopus-like creature with incredible speed and bizarre powers. He is also the best educator these downtrodden pupils have ever encountered.
The anime follows Class 3-E, a group of misfit students at Kunugigaoka Junior High, and their daily lives with Koro-sensei as their homeroom teacher. They are assigned the challenging mission of killing the teacher to save Earth. However, this task is complex as the teacher, an alien creature, possesses god-like powers and no apparent weaknesses. Well, he has almost no known weaknesses; he does fall victim to the occasional fan service trope, but I digress.
Koro-sensei has impressive powers, including the ability to fly at blinding speed, making it seem hopeless to defeat him. The plot of Assassination Classroom is engaging, and all the characters are likable. The series starts lighthearted and straightforward but evolves into a roller coaster of a story. It skillfully balances scary moments with humorous characters, making it an endearing anime.
While Assassination Classroom has a large ensemble cast of over 30 characters, the story primarily focuses on a few key individuals.
Koro-sensei is the main protagonist and the target of Class 3-E's assassination mission. He is a powerful octopus-like creature capable of destroying the moon and threatening to do the same to Earth unless his students can kill him within a year. Despite his appearance and abilities, Koro-sensei is a dedicated and skilled teacher who helps his students improve academically and personally.
Nagisa Shiota, a student in Class 3-E, is the series' secondary protagonist and narrator. He is calm, aware, and friendly, and he carefully writes down everything he sees about Koro-sensei to find a weakness. Throughout the series, Nagisa's killing skills become clear. He is one of my favorites from this series because he had a rough time with his mother, but things worked out in the end, which shows how much he changed.
Kaede Kayano is another student and close friend of Nagisa who supports Class 3-E's assassination mission. While initially portrayed as a kind and passive girl, there is more to Kaede's character than meets the eye.
Karma Akabane is an intelligent but violent student who was suspended before the start of the series. He is a cunning trickster who excels at psychological warfare and enjoys provoking others. Karma has a sadistic streak, but he also deeply cares for his classmates.
The supporting characters in Assassination Classroom are very different from one another. They give the story more depth, humor, and mystery. Tadaomi Karasuma, a straightforward government agent, becomes the physical education teacher for the outcasts of Class 3-E. This strict, serious man trains his students in combat and assassination to prepare them for their difficult mission. Despite his tough exterior, Karasuma genuinely worries about his students' welfare and development.
Irina Jelavić, also known as "Professor Bitch" ("Karma Akabane was the first to call her Bitch-sensei, which came from mispronouncing the vić in her surname Jelavic"), is an expert assassin. She is hired to teach English to a class, but her crude personality and disdain for the students immediately cause friction.
Itona Horibe is a new student with a grudge against Class 3-E initially. He acts as a rival assassin. Itona is a real threat because she has powerful tentacles resembling Koro-sensei's. Itona joins the class and discovers how crucial it is to collaborate and make friends once Shiro, his cruel master, is no longer in control of him.
Gakuhō Asano, the principal of Kunugigaoka Junior High. This strict and analytical educator dismisses Class 3-E and their unorthodox assassination classroom. He sees their mission as a means to bolster the school's reputation, putting immense pressure on the students to succeed. Gakushū, Asano's son, is the highest-achieving student in the school and initially holds the same contempt for the "End Class" as his father.
Class 3-E is filled with diverse, memorable students. The class representatives, Yūma Isogai and Meg Kataoka, keep their classmates in line with their leadership skills and level-headedness. Tomohito Sugino's boundless enthusiasm for baseball and unwavering loyalty make him a beloved figure, while Yukiko Kanzaki's gentle demeanor and diligence earn her the admiration of her peers. And let's not forget the AI student Ritsu, whose 2D screen presence belies her invaluable role as a strategic mastermind and supportive friend.
While Assassination Classroom is, first and foremost, an action-packed comedy, it doesn't shy away from exploring romantic subplots and hints of budding relationships. Nagisa and Kaede share a close bond that occasionally toes the line between friendship and something more, though it's never explicitly confirmed. Kaede harbors feelings for Nagisa but chooses to keep them under wraps.
Fans also enjoy shipping the mischievous Karma with the poison-loving Okuda, as he admires her chemical prowess, but their relationship remains mainly in the background. There's also the palpable tension between Irina, Karasuma, and Taiga Okajima's crush on Hayami.
Other minor romantic pairings are hinted at throughout the series, such as the stoic snipers Chiba and Hayami, the playful duo Maehara and Okano, and Sugino's unrequited affection for the lovely Kanzaki. However, these relationships take a backseat to the main plot of assassinating Koro-sensei and the students' personal growth.
In the end, while Assassination Classroom sprinkles in some light romantic elements, it remains focused on the heartwarming and hilarious journey of Koro-sensei and his pupils as they navigate the challenges of adolescence and the art of assassination.
How the Story Unfolds
The series has a personality. Koro teaches much more than academics in class; he also teaches everyday life lessons. At times, he is seen connecting with characters personally. Seeing him mentor his students, I wished for a teacher like that, minus the face (because I am not very fond of his expressive face). The comedy is refreshing. You can find a few touches of a slice of life here and there.
A large part of the series involves the characters. All characters have unique personalities and play a significant role in the story. The students try different methods to kill their teacher but fail every time. Koro Sensei is aware of their motivations, yet he continues to be a good teacher. The students also go on occasional field trips.
Did I mention that Class E is referred to as the garbage class? The students in this class are troublemakers and the lowest-scoring. These students are kept from achieving anything. Even the school’s principal thinks these students shouldn’t be encouraged to succeed or do as well as other students.
Koro-sensei disagrees. He believes these students are intelligent, capable, and talented. He is here to make the lives of these students better. He has to train the students to kill him before the deadline. New students continue to join the classroom. Koro might be a squid or an octopus. When he walks, she makes squishing noises. He can regenerate his tentacles, clone, change forms, shed skin, travel fast, and much more, making it impossible for the students to kill him.
As the story progresses, much more about Koro Sensei, his connection with the school, and the real reason students must kill him before graduation is revealed. This morbid curiosity will retain your interest. You will develop a deep connection with the characters and the story. I know I did. You might even start tearing up in the final episodes. The series' ending leaves zero room for error.
The Good and the Bad
Everything positive about Assassination Classroom has already been discussed. The series shines with its unique premise, lovable characters, heartfelt moments, and surprising depth. Fans praise Koro-sensei as the heart of the show—a comic relief character who genuinely cares for his misfit students and helps them grow. The series also handles its large ensemble cast remarkably well, giving each student time to develop and letting their distinct personalities shine.
Although there are other main characters, Koro is the series' star. This comic relief character truly cares about his students. Then, many questions surround this character, especially since he confirms that he is not an alien. If you stick around to watch this anime, it will probably be because of Koro-sensei.
However, some aspects didn't quite hit the mark for me or other viewers. With so many characters, a few inevitably get sidelined or fail to leave a lasting impression. Kaede hangs around Nagisa but doesn't add much to the story. The students' assassination attempts can also get repetitive and predictable at times, since we know Koro-sensei will survive until the end.
While the students address Koro as sensei, other teachers address him as Mr. and, in some cases, Ms. (very strange). That was just to keep the pun alive.
Somebody apparently wrote the adaptation of Assassination Classroom for a general audience. Some Japanese phrases weren’t wholly translated into English. For instance, the audience wouldn’t understand “Shiro’s name pun unless they knew it meant “white.” I concluded that it was an anime dub. Whether it’s good or bad, I will let you decide.
Assassination Classroom does shine in its narrative. The dialogues are excellent. There are a handful of nostalgia-inducing lines—the timing and emotions around each line that are supposed to deliver a message sum things up beautifully.
The only main characters are Koro-sensei and Nagisa (I am sure I have mentioned that quite a few times). All other characters get individual development. Expect twists.
Eventually, the series gets complicated as other assassins, such as the Reaper, join to kill Koro, some for covetous rewards while others for personal reasons. As the story unfolds, students learn many secrets about Koro, the moon’s destruction, his ties with the previous teacher, and the real reason he must be killed.
Don’t take Nagisa for granted; he may look weak, but he is one of the most skilled of them all. He creates a strategy to kill Koro by listing his weaknesses. Watch the anime to find out if he succeeds.
The art is good but not the most substantial aspect of the series. The characters don’t stand apart from each other. Action scenes are well crafted, though. These battles are short, but they transition very smoothly. The character designs are not great, but the artists and designers have done an excellent job in other aspects.
I would like to take a moment to appreciate the multiple faces of Koro-sensei. All the emotions of this character are represented effortlessly.
The background music is catchy. I enjoyed every bit of it. It’s not just the music that’s on point, but the characters' voices, primarily Koro-Sensei. For instance, his cheeky and naughty nature is highlighted through his unique laugh (nuhuhuhu).
The Tragic Ending
The death of Koro Sensei was highly emotional. The bond between the students and the teacher progressed so much that they couldn’t see him as a monster. But they had to kill him to save the world. It’s best to discover the death of Koro-Sensei for yourself, in case you haven’t watched Assassination Classroom.
Is Assassination Classroom Worth Watching?
Absolutely! I recommend this anime if you are bored and want to watch a new series. It’s more than just a good time. It’s comic, sci-fi, a slice of life, and everything good. Like me, you would wish to have a teacher like Koro-Sensei. Beyond the action and comedy, Assassination Classroom ends with a powerful lesson: the role of a teacher/mentor in shaping our lives. This series deserves to be on everyone’s watchlist. Trust me; you won’t regret it.
Originally published on 3/9/2021. Updated on 5/20/24.
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