Classroom of the Elite

School anime are a major genre, fans love it and it allows them to relate to the story in a way that most other series cannot. Everyone has experienced school life in one form or another and have countless stories to tell stemming from that. These tales are timeless and are part of the best times of one’s life. An anime, be it Fantasy or Slice of Life, that brings their vivid experiences to life is a sure-fire way to stay entertained.

Classroom of the Elite, also known as “Youkoso Jitsuryoku Shijou Shugi no Kyoushitsu e” or “Welcome to the Classroom of the Elite” is a Psychological, Drama and School genre TV anime series. It began airing on July 12th, spanned a total of 12 episodes and ended on September 27th.

This Summer 2017 anime is based on the Light Novel consisting 14 volumes by Artist Tomose Shunsaku and Author Kinugasa Shougo in 2015. In addition, one Special episode of the same title was released as a promotional video in 2015.

There are a multitude of Producers behind this series; Studio Hibari, Lantis, Media Factory, AT-X, Sony Music Communications, Toranoana, Kadokawa Media House and AKABEiSOFT2. The series was licensed by Funimation and brought to life by Studio Lerche. The anime is rated PG-13 for Teens 13 years of age or older.

The main minds behind the series consist of Director Kishi Seiji, Director Hashimoto Hiroyuki, Sound Director Iida Satoki and Episode Director Itou Fumio.

The story focuses on the Koudo Ikusei Senior High School, which on the surface is seemingly like an utopia. The students of this institute enjoy an unparalleled amount of freedom, not only that the school itself ranks quite highly within Japan.

However the reality is much grimmer, quite less than ideal. The main reason is the segregation system within it; students are split into four classes titled A, B, C and D. These are ranked in the order of the school’s merit system, and only the top classes are entitled to receive proper favorable treatment.

Protagonist Kiyotaka Ayanokouji is a student who ended up in Class D, at the lower end of the School’s food chain. This class is the one where the school dumps its worst in. There he has a fateful meeting with the unsociable girl Suzune Horikita. She strongly believes that she was placed in the lower Class D by sheer mistake and is determined to climb all the way up to the prestigious Class A. He also crosses paths with the seemingly amicable class idol Kikyou Kushida, whose innocent aim is to make as many friends as she possibly can.

The class membership is permanent but class rankings are not. Due to this setup, students in lower ranked classes may rise up in rankings if they score better than those in the top classes. There is another catch for the Students in Class D, there are quite literally no bars or limitations on the methods and means that they can use to get ahead in the school status quo.

This is essentially a cutthroat school, where whether these Class D students can prevail against the odds or not is the ultimate battle ready to unfold. Can they reach the top? Only one way to find out and they won’t know if they don’t try!

When an anime fan thinks of a School genre series, the things that immediately pop to mind are probably books, lectures, exams, romances, rivalry, clubs and careers. Schools are supposed to ready their students for the future after all, giving them the necessary skills and knowledge along the way.

Something like this, however, is not to be expected of Koudo Ikusei Senior High School, which is a school that tests their students beyond the general academic level. Youkoso Jitsuryoku Shijou Shugi no Kyoushitsu e takes a more unique take on school, it explores how survival in the outside world depends on much more than just everyday academic skills.

One of the major impressions this series leaves is how it deconstructs the educational system everyone is so used to, in a way that makes it stand out from other Light Novel adaptations. Japan itself already has a tough educational system, so the idea of deconstructing it feels very unique and refreshing. The very essence of the series relies on exploring how the fictional High School takes the initiative at preparing its students to survive in the brutal real world.

The school has a budget system granted to it by the government where students are supplied with 100 000 points every month. These points actually translate to real world money and students are advised to use them wisely and responsibly. But of course there is a tail, the classes will only receive points based on their performance. It basically exposes the seemingly irresponsible teens of the school to the idea of responsibility and what's at stake, as they steadily realize what they’re in for.

The story and characters itself are decent. From the onset, it introduces the main cast and protagonist clearly. He has a dry outlook on life itself and tries to avoid drawing attention. His isolated personality doesn’t make him stand out as a character but he becomes more interesting when his thoughts about others surface, which are unique takes no less. His poor social skills make it difficult for him to make friends, hindering his social progress.

But he is no stereotype protagonist, that's for sure. As the episodes progress, he becomes very relatable, which is a plus point. Suzune on the other hand, is a cold and unfriendly beauty that gets involved with him from the same class. She too comes off as unsociable and even purposely tries to avoid making friends. Her mindset is that of “friends are unnecessary and will only hold her back”.

In comparison, Kikyou is the polar opposite, bubbly, social and outgoing. She has a natural knack for communicating with others and a friendly personality to go with it. As a trope in anime, girls like this are generally hiding something, so this budding personality is only masking her true image. Regardless, all the main characters have the same objectives, surprisingly enough, and that’s to survive at their brutal yet prestigious school.

Despite being slighter higher than average, the characters are the highlight of the series. Class D’s students are the most prominent compared to all the others and the series essentially revolves around them. Class D is often looked down upon by the rest because of their grades and performance but the series emphasizes how they adapt with the school’s points system. Some characters resort to managing their resources well while others carelessly use it to meet their own ends. Also the Class seems to always get involved in some kind of drama from the onset. Viewers see incidents ranging from stalkers to class jokers risking expulsion from the school.

The drama is shown in a way that is relatable and can possibly happen in real life. The school later resorts to even testing its students with actual survival tests that really brings out the reality of what it takes to survive. This is the true potential of this anime. The capabilities of the main cast are really brought to life and their influence on others are portrayed well. The downside is that the series isn't fully complete, not fully fledged out. There are also so many unexplored territories as well, which is another major weakness.

Be prepared for a lot of drama in the Classroom of the Elite. If drama isn’t your cup of tea, then this isn’t the best anime for you. Many social issues like isolation, fear of anxiety, identity issues and fear of rejection are explored very well. Even simpler concepts like trust are put to the test later on. Added to this are the dark intentions the series had in store for its characters. There is also lighthearted comedy popping up every now and then. But be prepared for panty jokes, swimsuit fan service and generic anime misunderstandings. And don't expect much from romance either.

When it comes to Art and Animation, the visual quality really stood out. The art is vibrant, colorful and smooth. Even the character designs match what they are trying to portray well. Character expressions and body language ate a stunning highlight as well, as it is discreetly shown how characters behave. The setting is appealing and visually impressive for an upper class community. There is also a fair share of faneservie which no anime of this type can seem to escape from.

The sounds and music of the anime are decent to good. Character voice mannerisms are emphasized in the main cast. Like Kiyotaka lacking emotions from the way he speaks and Horikita’s cold personality reflected by her tough voice and attitude. The opening theme is “Caste Room” by ZAQ and it has a typical J-pop style that is pretty stylish in its own right. The ending theme is “Beautiful Soldier" by Minami. The OSTs are either eerie or lighthearted, depending on the situation.

Classroom of the Elite can be a hit or miss depending on the viewer. But generally speaking, it is a good anime overall for its themes, particularly the deconstruction of the school system. The importance of non academic skills in the real world are brought to light. The story and main characters are quite attractive, but the supporting cast are lacking. The story is incomplete as well. Regardless, the anime’s style and way of portraying its society is something to behold. Overall, this is a recommended anime.