Is Assassination Classroom any good? – A Complete Review

Assassination Classroom (Ansatsu Kyōshitsu) is a Japanese science fiction comedy manga series written and illustrated by Yūsei Matsui.

The series follows the daily lives of an extremely powerful tentacled-alien creature working as a junior high homeroom teacher, and his students who are dedicated to the task of assassinating him to prevent Earth from being eliminated.

An anime television series based on the manga began airing on Fuji TV from January 9, 2015, and ran for 22 episodes. The second season of the anime began airing on January 7, 2016, and ran for 25 episodes.

1. Quick Review

Assassination Classroom revolves around a mysterious creature that permanently chops the moon down to a crescent. 

The students of class 3-E of Kunugigaoka Middle School are in an unusual situation when they learn that this moon-altering monster was going to be their homeroom teacher. These students are faced with a near-impossible task: assassinate the creature responsible for the crescent-shaped disaster before Earth suffers a similar fate.

The monster, given the name Koro-sensei, is able to fly at blinding speeds, making it seem hopeless to try and defeat him. In a rather comedic turn of events, the misfits of 3-E soon find that this monster they are dealing with is not only unbeatable, but also the best teacher they have ever had!

The show tells the story of these junior high kids as they hone their assassination skills in order to confront their own life problems, the oppressive school system, and one day – the un-defeatable Koro-sensei.

Assassination Classroom has a very engaging plot and the characters are very likable. This series starts out with being lighthearted and simple but becomes a rollercoaster of emotions as the story unfolds.

2. Info Card

3. Is it Worth Watching?

Assassination Classroom has a beautiful balance between not being too serious but also has its tear-jerking moments. It finds an endearing route between dreadful scenarios and humorous characters.

Assassination Classroom - Official Trailer

You’ll possibly find yourself getting attached to a creature who actually destroyed the moon and seems ready to do the same to the Earth.

For those who want action and a bit of tension without being stuck in a whirlwind of blood, this is a dark comedy that’s certainly worth the watch.

I. Plot

The series follows the daily lives of an extremely powerful octopus-like being working as a junior high homeroom teacher.

His students are dedicated to the task of assassinating him to prevent Earth from being destroyed. The students are considered “misfits” in their school and are taught in a separate building; the class he teaches is called 3-E.

Assassination Classroom takes you on an interesting journey from start to finish. The plot is solid, and there is also great consistency with character development and growth over the course of the show.

II. Characters

Koro-sensei is the main protagonist and anti-hero of the series. He is described as being responsible for the explosion of the Moon, which has left it permanently in a crescent shape.

He offered governments all over the world, a chance to kill him under the condition that he is allowed to be the homeroom teacher of Class 3-E until the end of the year when he will destroy the Earth by self-explosion unless he is killed.

Our anti-hero is introduced as someone who is generally kind to others and can switch from being silly and childish to serious in a moments’ notice. Eccentric almost. According to Nagisa, Koro-sensei was also was unintentionally petty at times and loved gossip. Both these traits are prominent throughout the series.

Nagisa Shiota is a student in Korosensei’s Class 3-E and the main protagonist and narrator of Assassination Classroom. Nagisa is a calm, collected, and friendly individual who is exceptionally observant of his surroundings.

He tends to pay strict attention to Korosensei in hopes to understand the motives of the mysterious being and compiles the information he has gathered in his notes for reference.

Kaede Kayano is one of Nagisa Shiota’s best friends. She is portrayed as one of the more light-hearted, kind, and passive members of the class. She frequently acts as support in assassination attempts with her ability to assess the situation and adapt herself to them.

Another one of Nagisa’s closest friends is Karma Akabane who had been suspended from school due to his violent behavior. He is quite cunning, mischievous, and somewhat sadistic. He is seen usually playing foul and at times manipulating, tricking, and fighting others.  

III. Setting

The story takes place at Kunugigaoka Junior High School’s Class 3-E. The students are considered “misfits” in their school and are taught in a separate building; the class is called 3-E. Assassination Classroom is a unique mix between science fiction and comedy.

IV. Theme Songs

The catchy opening and ending songs have a goofy yet effective style to give viewers an insight into what they can expect throughout the show.

The first opening theme is “Seishun Satsubatsu-ron” (The Theory of Savage Youth) performed by 3-nen E-gumi Utatan. The song is an upbeat K-pop song that resonated with the concept of most of the main characters being students of junior high and the feelings of youth.

The second opening theme is “Jiriki Hongan Revolution” ( Self-reliance Revolution) also performed by 3-nen E-gumi Utatan. The visuals in the song appear as though the class of 3-E is dancing but funny enough they are actually practicing how to stab their teacher with a knife. The music is fun to listen to and head-nod worthy.

The closing track is “Hello, shooting star” by Moumoon. The song has an emotional tone to it and is a complete contrast from the two opening songs we see in the first season.

The third opening theme is “QUESTION” and the fourth is “Bye Bye YESTERDAY” by 3-nen E-gumi Utatan. Both opening songs are extremely upbeat and catchy.

They aptly set the tone for the second season. These two songs describe the journey and emotions of the show accurately.

The second ending theme is “Kaketa Tsuki” (Waning Moon). The music and lyrics have a bitter-sweet ring to them. The song truly sounds angelic and tugs at your heartstrings.

 The third ending theme is “Mata kimi ni aeru hi” (Until the day we can see you again) by Shion Miyawaki. This song brings back feelings of nostalgia and a whole mix of emotions as you think about the journey this anime took you through.

V. Action Sequence

Most of the action in this series showcases our anti-hero’s bizarre powers and super strength.

The students of 3-E who have been assigned the task of assassinating him continue to work hard to better their skills and ultimately defeat their alien tentacled homeroom teacher before he destroys the planet.

4. Grade

5. Final Thoughts

Assassination Classroom can be comedic yet dark and intense, which is a tricky combination to achieve. There’s enough action, suspense, and intriguing plot twists to keep you glued to the screen until the very end. The art style, storyline and emotional attachment created for the characters make this an unforgettable show for the viewer.