Before graduating, the delinquent class 3-E has one mission left: assassinate Koro-Sensei, their instructor! This is not an easy assignment when the instructor is a yellow octopus extraterrestrial with incredible strength, god-like speed, and seemingly no weaknesses. If they fall short, Koro-sensei will destroy Earth like he devastated the Moon.
Yūsei Matsui is the author and illustrator of the Japanese science fiction comedy manga series Assassination Classroom (Ansatsu Kyshitsu).
The show centers on the daily activities of a highly capable alien with tentacles who teaches junior high homeroom and the pupils who are determined to kill him to save Earth from extinction.
A Unique Curriculum: Turning Assassination into Empathy
Assassination Classroom is a unique and thought-provoking anime series that cleverly blends humor, action, and life lessons. In each episode, the show’s central character, Koro-sensei, takes on the role of both a mentor and a formidable adversary to his students, who are tasked with assassinating him to save the world. However, beneath the surface, the series offers insightful commentary on the demanding and competitive education system in Japan.
While the premise might seem humorous, the show subtly explores the pressures and challenges faced by students in the country, highlighting the emotional toll it can take on them. Koro-sensei’s dedication to teaching and guiding his students, despite the impending threat to humanity, adds depth to his character and resonates with viewers. Through humor and action, Assassination Classroom manages to evoke empathy and compassion for its cast of delinquent students who find an unexpected chance at redemption and personal growth under Koro-sensei’s unconventional tutelage.
Did You Know This About Assassination Classroom?
- A play on the words “korosenai” (meaning “unkillable”) and “sensei” (meaning “teacher”), Koro-sensei’s name was created.
- The main character of the manga series The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. appears very briefly at 18:01 in Season 2 Episode 10 “School Festival Time” as people are lined up. Kusuo Saiki is spotted standing by.
- The main character of the anime, Nagisa Shiota, is frequently made fun of by the other characters for having an androgynous appearance; ironically, three of his four-voice actresses are female. Nagisa is exclusively spoken by an actor who is his actual gender in the French dub; both his Japanese and English voices are provided by women.
- The manga series was also taken out of some US school libraries due to repeated complaints about its content from Moral Guardians.
- Assassination Classroom is frequently shortened to “AssClass”. Ironically, even though fanservice and harem themes are scarce in this series, the nickname has been claimed to have those associations.
Koro-Sensei’s Teachings: Where ‘Killing’ Meets ‘Caring’
At the heart of this extraordinary tale stands Koro-sensei, our enigmatic protagonist and unconventional anti-hero. His very existence is linked to a cataclysmic event—the moon’s transformation into a permanent crescent, an incident attributed to him.
Yet, Koro-sensei isn’t your typical antagonist. He is introduced as a figure with an inherent kindness toward others, capable of effortlessly oscillating between moments of childish folly and unwavering seriousness, almost bordering on eccentricity. Nagisa, one of his students, astutely observes that Koro-sensei occasionally displays unintentional pettiness and even indulges in gossip. These intriguing traits remain integral to his character throughout the entire series.
In the classroom led by Koro-sensei, we delve deep into the intricacies of life’s lessons, where the notions of ‘killing’ are fused with ‘caring,’ creating a narrative tapestry that challenges our perceptions and leaves an indelible mark on our hearts.
Lessons in Humanity: When Hitmen Become Heartfelt
To better prepare the pupils to kill Koro before the deadline, Koro is joined by extra faculty members who have been appointed by the school or the government. Additionally, new students enter the classroom. Under Koro’s direction, they all get along and start to enjoy their time at school.
There is a lot of silly humor, and the setting and visuals nearly give the impression that this is a small child’s narrative. In the beginning, Koro-sensei is usually jovial and humorous. However, the story’s grim theme—killing a teacher and becoming assassins—includes several unsettling psychological elements, such as Nagisa’s attempt to give his life as a sacrifice and Karma’s psychopathic tendencies.
Beyond the class’s assassination attempts and Koro-sensei’s mentoring, Kunigigaoka and Class E itself are the subject of another tale. In order to retain the school’s reputation, the principal wants to keep Class E in the category of underachievers.
The principal’s attempts to preserve the status quo are the focus of the second section of the narrative. To keep the school running smoothly, he needs Class E to continue to be a class of failures. With Koro-sensei’s successful instruction, Class E begins to advance, resulting in a confrontation of teaching philosophies between two professors with various worldviews.
Even though both strategies are severe, they both have advantages since they reflect the actual world, where favoritism and neglect in the classroom can happen frequently. Although these aspects are exaggerated in Assassination Classroom, the real world can be far worse.
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