Itoshiki Nozomu is always in despair! Even simple things like paying for the toll on the subway can send him to a despair so deep only attempted suicide is the answer. How Strange is it then, that he should be the teacher of a High School Class filled with students with even more emotional problems than his. This great Comedy will leave you in anything but 'Despair' as you meet each of his students and watch their wacky adventures.
~~~img(https://i.imgur.com/apcMgaa.png?1)~~~ _Goodbye, Mr. Despair_ isn’t quite what I expected. From its title, premise and opening scene in the first episode, I had expected something just a little bit more morbid. As it is, the comedy in the series still possesses the macabre tone befitting such gallows humor, but it’s far more lighthearted than I would’ve liked from its satire. Instead of pondering melancholically on its somber topics like death, suicide, stalking, social withdrawal (hikikomorism), or just plain existential crisis, it merely plays out like a (slightly) more mature version of the equally frivolous _Azumanga Daioh._ In fact, much of its humor is derived from its wordplay of these otherwise serious Japanese issues, giving them an often clever subversion. Whereas _Azumanga_ contains high school hijinks with its exaggerated slapstick, _Despair_ applies similarly dumb boisterous fun to adult subject matter like social norms and social stigma. Where one episode might be lending comedic elements to issues like western culture shock or Japanese shame-guilt complex, another might be making light of child abuse or arranged marriages. Clearly, this isn’t your typical high school slice of life exploring teenage problems. Based on the 2005 manga of the same name by Kumeta Kōji, _Goodbye, Mr. Despair_ explores the day-to-day life of the pessimistic high school teacher, Itoshiki Nozomu as he educates his fellow students about the negative aspects of Japanese life and culture. It’s not the first time an animé comedy has made fun of societal issues, but _Despair_ contains a certain level of sardonicism and cleverness in its satire that resembles _The Simpsons_ in the early ’90s and its grim mockery of American culture. Rather than just referencing such issues in their most superficial contexts like _Gintama, Despair_ instead probes a little deeper by giving a nonsensical spin to an otherwise realistic topic. Often, these topics are explored via the character quirks of Itoshiki’s students, whose personality disorders are both subversions of animé character archetypes (particularly those of the “harem” genre composed of a single male lead and multiple female love interests) and a playful representation of Japanese societal problems. ~~~img(https://i.imgur.com/8ODd2uu.png?1)~~~ Whereas most harem animé would inject their characters with a certain appeal that would attract the viewers, _Despair_ does the opposite and incorporate them with negative traits. Because they are all distinct individuals and there are so many of them, it can be a daunting task to describe them all (or for the reader to get through such a huge chunk of text), so I’m just going to briefly touch on some notable characters instead: Komori Kiri is a social recluse who ends up using various storage spaces as her new hideaway (including Itoshiki’s locker pictured above); Tsunetsuki Matoi is a stalker that clings to Itoshiki every step of the way (after getting bored of stalking a previous boy); Kitsu Chiri has OCD and demands everything to be precise and “proper” (acting like a class rep character in spite of not actually being one); Kobushi Abiru is an often bandaged student initially thought to be a victim of child abuse, but her wounds are revealed to be the result of her obsession with tugging on animal tails; and then there’s Fu’ura Kafuka, the hopelessly optimistic Pollyanna that counters Itoshiki’s pessimism with her unrealistic view that everything in the world is positive (she calls the trash bin a “treasure trove for the homeless”). Among the characters, there are total of 13 students and two teachers. That’s _a lot_ of characters, so it’s no wonder that it took almost all 12 episodes to introduce each character and their quirk in the series. To top it all off, there’s the homeroom teacher, Itoshiki himself, the eternal pessimist that’s drowning in despair over the many aspects of Japanese society (often trivial aspects). But his biggest despair is revealed to be the ridiculous marriage tradition in his hometown, where a bride is arranged via eye-contact with another individual… Notably, all of the character names are based on the wordplay of their character traits: the kanji characters of Itoshiki Nozomu spell out “_despair_” when written horizontally; Komori Kiri is a play on the Japanese word for “recluse”; Tsunetsuki Matoi plays on “always following around”; Kitsu Chiri plays on “precisely”; and similarly, Kobushi Abiru plays on the Japanese expression, “to bathe in fists” that carries the connotation of domestic violence. Kafuka seems to be the only exception so far, but more might be revealed in the following season. With that said, it’s understandable for someone to be wary of a show that utilizes quirky character traits to drive the series, but fortunately, _Despair_ doesn’t really feels like a cheap parody relying on silly gags alone, particularly because much like _Simpsons_ and American culture, it uses those traits to say something witty and amusing about the often self-serious culture of Japan, whether it’s those festivals honoring the most trivial events, the public shaming of unethical individuals that influences a guilt complex on everyone, or just the exaggerated presumptions coming from both Japanese citizens towards western cultures and vice versa. It’s quite bold of the series to be that sardonic about Japan (even more so than _Gintama’s_ superficial mockery) considering that it’s a nation built on manners and customs. ~~~img(https://i.imgur.com/N20zMSs.png?1)~~~ Unfortunately, this niched critique of its home country also means that many of its references can fly over the head of western viewers, myself included. Aside from references to other animé titles, there’s also an abundance of Japanese celebrities who are name-dropped throughout the series, which is to be expected of a satire comedy comparable to _The Simpsons._ Usually, this would merely be a minor annoyance and could be largely ignored. Unlike a more allegorical show like _Revolutionary Girl Utena,_ these background texts (probably) only add flavor to the scenes rather than adding any meaningful context to the comedy. However, that’s like saying you don’t have to understand the vague references of ’70s pop culture in _The Simpsons_ to enjoy the show, when the fact is that the understanding of such references is very much required to get the joke more often than not. It also really doesn’t help that this is a production of Studio SHAFT, famous (or infamous depending on whom you ask) for their insertion of referential texts into the background that flash by so fast any viewer would undoubtedly have to pause multiple times to catch them. While I recognize _some_ of the animé references, it’s still a pain sometimes to pause every minute or so to see if there’s some interesting texts among the scenery. This is a fundamental issue of certain SHAFT titles like _Bakemonogatari,_ and with the _Monogatari_ series, the problem becomes even more apparent because they would flash by much faster than any human eye could catch. It’s probably not much of a problem to read them if you understand Japanese, but the subtitled versions of these texts can prove to be more challenging depending on the font size and type that the translator chooses. It’s just one reason I always hesitate when it comes to watching a SHAFT TV series (including _Mr. Despair_) in spite of _Madoka Magica_ being my all time #1 favorite animé. While the annoyance of reading subtitled dialogue could be resolved by watching the English dub version, the same couldn’t be said for these background text references. Alongside _Bakemonogatari,_ my enjoyment of these series has definitely been affected as the momentum of the story comes to a slow crawl. But these gripes are perhaps trivial annoyances at best because at the end of the day, what’s really driving a gag series like _Despair_ is the characters more than the gags. Even though the series deliberately chooses to give them negative traits to show how silly the idolatry of these archetypes can be (with Sekiutsu “Maria” Taro being a blatant parody of “moe” characters people feel the intense desire to protect in animé), the fanbase still manages to have their choice of favorite girl (or in animé terms, their “waifu”) from the show. It goes to show that these characters are just compelling enough beyond their flaws to really capture the heart of its audience. ~~~img(https://i.imgur.com/1x35v01.png?1)~~~ Fitting to its parodic nature, the artstyle and music both exaggerate the ridiculous context of the script. Kumeta’s aesthetic choice of fashion for the characters belongs to the Taishō era of Japan (30th July 1912 to 25th December 1926), juxtaposing against the modern elements of the story (such as cellphone and contemporary architecture and shops). The score by Hasegawa Tomoki (known for his works in _D.N.Angel, Nana_ and _Gokusen_) uses a mix of epic orchestra and wistful choir singing amidst the melodramatic musings of the characters whenever Itoshiki is in despair or whenever Matoi is stalking him. It’s a nice touch to further remind the audience how everything is a joke, and no subject matter is too serious to be made light of. On a personal level for me, someone who’s constantly attracted by depressing stories of death and gloom (probably due to some unresolved childhood issues), _Goodbye, Mr. Despair_ might not be what I expected, that which being a comedy counterpart to something like _Welcome to the N.H.K._ that contemplates existential dread in a less exaggerated context, but it does work on its own merit of goofy characters making jokes about the societal flaws of Japan. In terms of such silliness, I still prefer _Azumanga Daioh_ for its much more effective (and hilarious) slapstick technique or even _Nichijou’s_ balls to the wall exaggeration of utterly mundane aspects. But for what it is, it does have sufficient charm and cleverness to make me consider following its second season in the future.
~~~__For the English Version, scroll Down__~~~ ~~~__[Spoiler Free]__ # Sayonara, Zetsubou Sensei!~~~ ~~~img(https://2img.net/h/cancersub.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/sayonara_zetsubou-sensei.jpg)~~~ ~~~Zetsuboushita!~~~ "Sayonara, Zetsubou Sensei", ou como dito em português, "Adeus, Professor Desespero", é a história de um professor do ensino médio, que por conta de uma das formas que o seu nome pode ser escrito, acaba formando a palavra "desespero", assim, sendo carinhosamente apelidado pelos seus alunos de "Professor Desespero", apelido esse que caiu muito bem já que a todo momento Nozomu Itoshiki, ou melhor, Zetsubou Sensei, está desesperado. #• História A história que nós observamos durante todas as temporadas do anime é puramente baseada em contexto. Apesar de haver uma progressão, os episódios são basicamente guiados por uma questão abordada no mesmo. Melhor dizendo, a história do anime basicamente gira em torno das situações que os personagens se encontram e em como elas serão resolvidas. O anime não adapta o mangá por completo, então acho válido informar que se você por algum acaso quiser ver a conclusão da obra, os últimos 10 capítulos do mangá cobrem o "último arco" e o desfecho da história. ~~~img475(https://www.torredevigilancia.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/photo5165670292499048376.jpg)~~~ #• Personagens Apesar de serem simples, os personagens da obra são bem trabalhados e carismáticos. Cada personagem no anime possui uma característica que definirá o tipo de humor trabalhado nas cenas que eles estão presentes. O elenco é vasto e há personagens de todos os tipos (em sua maioria, personagens femininas). Exemplificando, irei falar sobre o Zetsubou Sensei e a Kafuka Fuura, os dois personagens principais da obra. - Nozomu Itoshiki ~~~img220(https://cdn.myanimelist.net/images/characters/14/36021.jpg)~~~ ~~~O professor da classe 2-F e personagem principal da obra, como o seu apelido sugere, é um professor que está a todo tempo desesperado por conta das questões que aparecem durante o Anime. Possui sua famosa fala "Zetsuboushita!" (Estou em desespero!) e a todo momento entra em mal-entendidos, assim, desenvolvendo as relações com seus alunos e pessoas ao seu redor.~~~ - Kafuka Fuura ~~~img220(https://cdn.myanimelist.net/images/characters/11/30372.jpg)~~~ ~~~Uma garota otimista que vê praticamente tudo pelo seu "lado bom". Sendo a primeira a ter contato com o professor, Kafuka leva a vida tentando enxergar o lado bom de todas as coisas e acredita que coisas mais pesadas não podem estar acontecendo na escola em que ela estuda por ser algo que "apenas se vê na televisão".~~~ #• Áudio/Visual A trilha sonora do anime se encaixa muito bem nas cenas e com o tema do anime. As openings e endings são maravilhosas, em especial para as openings que além de terem um ótimo visual, as músicas são muito boas e viciantes, facilmente entram nas minhas favoritas. Um dos motivos que me fez querer assistir o anime foi justamente o aspecto visual. O visual simples e marcante é bem utilizado, ainda mais com a técnica "Unmoving Plaid" (técnica que quando os personagens se movem, a textura de suas roupas se mantém, assim como no desenho "Chowder" ou no anime "Gankutsuou"), dando um charme a mais na obra. O estilo da Shaft de animação e direção agregaram bastante pra obra, e em minha opinião, a escolha de estúdio foi excelente para adaptar uma obra como essa. ~~~img475(https://images4.alphacoders.com/731/thumb-1920-73186.jpg)~~~ ~~~webm(https://openings.moe/video/ZanSayonaraZetsubouSensei-OP01-NCBD.webm)~~~ #• Divertimento O anime todo é bem divertido de se assistir, ainda mais quando o seu conhecimento sobre a cultura japonesa é um pouco mais aprofundado, já que boa parte do humor é feita através de referências a outros animes ou até a própria cultura nipônica. Apesar disso, ainda é possível aproveitar a obra sem pegar boa parte das referências (admito que isso aconteceu comigo algumas vezes). ~~~img350(http://bp0.blogger.com/_1jnwmByRr98/SCzzVNRyLrI/AAAAAAAAADs/sb7Y8vKuiEY/w1200-h630-p-k-no-nu/miku.JPG)~~~ ~~~img350(https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/340976923356168192/751115236307763360/image0.png)~~~ ~~~img350(https://img-9gag-fun.9cache.com/photo/aQ3bzRw_460s.jpg)~~~ #• Conclusão Se você procura um anime com um humor mais pesado, lotado de referências e com bons personagens, Sayonara, Zetsubou Sensei pode ser a escolha perfeita para você. ~~~img475(https://media.giphy.com/media/GV3yIdlN6j4o8OHl38/giphy.gif)~~~ ~~~__English Version__~~~ # ~~~Sayonara, Zetsubou Sensei!~~~ ~~~img(https://2img.net/h/cancersub.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/sayonara_zetsubou-sensei.jpg)~~~ ~~~Zetsuboushita!~~~ "Sayonara, Zetsubou Sensei", or in english, "Goodbye, Mr. Despair", is a story about a highschool teacher, and because of a way that his name can be written, the word "Despair" is formed, that said, his students starts to call him by the nickname "Mr. Despair", nickname that fitted well as Nozomu Itoshiki is always in despair. #• Story The story that follows all seasons of the anime is purely based in context. Besides it having little progression, the episodes are basically guided by a question that appears in the chapter. In other words, the story is oriented in the situation a character is in and how they will solve it. The anime doesn't adapt all of the manga, so it is valid to state that if you want the ending of the story, you should read the last 10 chapters of the manga. ~~~img475(https://www.torredevigilancia.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/photo5165670292499048376.jpg)~~~ #• Characters Although the characters are simple, they are really well worked and charismatic. Each character has their own characteristic that defines the type of comedy that will be presented in the scene they are on. The cast is big and has characters of every type (in its majority female). Exemplifying, I will talk about Zetsubou Sensei and Kafufa Fuura, the main characters of the show. - Nozomu Itoshiki ~~~img220(https://cdn.myanimelist.net/images/characters/14/36021.jpg)~~~ ~~~The teacher of class 2-F and main character of the show, as his nickname suggests, is a teacher that is always in despair because of the issues that appear throughout the anime. He has his famous speech "Zetsuboushita!" (Im in despair!) and all the time is involved in misunderstandings that shape the relationship with his students and people arround him.~~~ - Kafuka Fuura ~~~img220(https://cdn.myanimelist.net/images/characters/11/30372.jpg)~~~ ~~~An optimist girl that sees pretty much everything on its "good side". Being the first to make contact with the teacher, Kafuka lives trying to see the good side of everything and believes that heavy themes can't be happening on the same school as she studies because those things "only happens on TV".~~~ #• Audio/Visual The anime soundtrack fits well in the scenes and with the main theme. The openings and endings are wonderful, in special the openings that have such nice visuals and the songs are really good and catchy, being some of my favorites. One of the reasons that made me start watching the show was its visual aspect. The simple and remarking visual is really well used, further more with the "Unmoving Plaid" technique (technique that when a character moves, the texture of its clothing remain still, like on the cartoon "Chowder" or "Gankutsuou" anime), giving the show a bit more charm. Shaft's animation and direction style added a lot to the anime, and in my opinion, the studio choice was excellent to adapt this work. ~~~img475(https://images4.alphacoders.com/731/thumb-1920-73186.jpg)~~~ ~~~webm(https://openings.moe/video/ZanSayonaraZetsubouSensei-OP01-NCBD.webm)~~~ #• Enjoyment The anime is really fun to watch, adding more to the experience if your knowledge of japanese culture is a little more in-depth, as a great part of the comedy is made through references to other anime or the japanese culture itself. Nevertheless, it is possible to enjoy the show without getting all the references (I admit that this happened to me a few times). ~~~img350(http://bp0.blogger.com/_1jnwmByRr98/SCzzVNRyLrI/AAAAAAAAADs/sb7Y8vKuiEY/w1200-h630-p-k-no-nu/miku.JPG)~~~ ~~~img350(https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/340976923356168192/751115236307763360/image0.png)~~~ ~~~img350(https://img-9gag-fun.9cache.com/photo/aQ3bzRw_460s.jpg)~~~ #• Conclusion If you're looking for an anime with dark humor, full of references and with great characters, Sayonara, Zetsubou Sensei may be the perfect choice for you. ~~~img475(https://media.giphy.com/media/GV3yIdlN6j4o8OHl38/giphy.gif)~~~
There are two reasons as to why I started watching Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei 1. The creator of the series: [Kouji Kumeta](https://anilist.co/staff/97662/Kouji-Kumeta) 2. The voice actor of [Nozomu Itoshiki](https://anilist.co/character/3169/Nozomu-Itoshiki) : [Hiroshi Kamiya](https://anilist.co/staff/95118/Hiroshi-Kamiya). As to why, it is because I just finished [Kakushigoto](https://anilist.co/anime/113311/Kakushigoto/) and I got to know that, Kumeta-San has more gag manga written and Kamiya-San has also played as the VA for [Kakushi Gotou](https://anilist.co/character/120482/Kakushi-Gotou). Of course they do not have to be relatable, but I was more curious and I started this anime. __Starting with OST.__ __OP:__ "[Hito toshite Jiku ga Bureteiru](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAivUh5DclM)" by Kenji Ohtsuki feat. Ai Nonaka, Marina Inoue, Yu Kobayashi, Miyuki Sawashiro & Ryoko Shintani The video of this song was too _unique_ for me. Like that video had no influence on the anime at all. Honestly, I was getting weirded out whenever I watch it expect for the part where Itoshki's face is zoomed. I even found it disturbing at some places, though I liked the song when I only heard the audio ans did not watch the video. There is a second OP for episodes 10 and 11: "[Gouin ni Mai Yeah~](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuuvODmD7KM&t=9s)" by Ai Nonaka, Marina Inoue, Yu Kobayashi, Miyuki Sawashiro & Ryoko Shintani I like this OP more. It gives me the vibes and the video is also really good with a splash of colours to my taste. __ED:__ "[Zessei Bijin](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmySjmpx1Fg)" by Ai Nonaka, Marina Inoue, Yu Kobayashi & Ryoko Shintani Even though the video is a bit not to my preference, it is actually a nice song and I like how they show the females in Kimonos. __Remaining OSTs:__ The music is timely and is very suitable to the anime. It isn't very strong music to dominate the anime. It is subtle _(though at places like where Itoshki falls into despair, it becomes a little intense)_, and matches the pace of the anime. [Tomoki Hasegawa](https://anilist.co/staff/103342/Tomoki-Hasegawa) has done a really great job. I haven't watched any other anime which include his works and because of which I cannot talk about his style, but this anime has a really nice music which doesn't make you feel any heavy-hearted moments. Just the right touch needed for anime on humour. __Character Development__ There are 15 students along with two staff who are focus of this anime. Each character is given ample screen time with some parts dedicated to themselves. This impressed me a lot, because usually side characters do no have a lot of development. Each character has a _quality(?) quirk(?) trait(?) (trait sounds better)_ trait. Like Itoshki is always in despair. Every smallest thing in this world sends him into the abyss of despair. And to counter with his pessimistic nature, [Kafuka Fuura](https://anilist.co/character/3170/Kafuka-Fuura) an extremely optimistic and strange character is the other lead. Each character has their own traits and they are reflected in their names. Nozomu Itoshiki when written horizontally means "Despair". And many characters have names like that. Each character is messed up, though not possible to exist, it is evident they are designed to portray a flaw with as much pun as possible. By the end of twelve episodes, the viewers will be familiar with the students. __Animation__ The animation tries an old-ish style but pulls it off great. [Hideyuki Morioka](https://anilist.co/staff/101526/Hideyuki-Morioka) has done a great job on the animation and character design. He is a staff on various amazing anime like [D.Grey-Man](https://anilist.co/anime/1482/DGrayman/), [Enen no Shouboutai](https://anilist.co/anime/105310/Enen-no-Shouboutai/) and many more of them. __Episodes__ Each episode covers one of the problem of the society, but blends it with such humour that it doesn't look dark or hypocritical. Just as what we expect from a well-written satire. The first episode introduces Itoshki, Kafuka and other main characters. The second episode shows us a Hikkikomori and a stalker. The third episode focuses on attitudes of foreigners and Japanese; and immigrants too. The fourth episode focuses on apparent Domestic Vlioence, animal rights; and people who can't talk but be abusive on mails. Each episode has it's own topic(s) and is very funny even if one is spoiled. __Plot__ It is a simple plot compiling the daily life of Itoshki Sensei and his students while covering various topics day-to-day and Itoshki falling into despair. __My Overall View__ It is one underrated anime which needs more attention. And I loved it and enjoyed thoroughly. __HIGHLY RECOMMENDED TO WATCH__ ~~_My only problem is Usui. [Usui](https://anilist.co/character/14523/Takumi-Usui) from [Maid-Sama](https://anilist.co/anime/7054/Kaichou-wa-Maidsama/) is my husbando whom I'm planning to marry, but [Usui](https://anilist.co/character/9222/Kagerou-Usui) from this anime ruins my Usui. REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE_~~
~~~__Introduction__~~~ _It's one of the few shows in the industry that isn't focused on delivering us the good old comedy we've been used to till now with funny moments, laughs, etc. This one however will keep you on the seat, not just for the characters that are iconic in their own way, but for their thoughts and views about daily situations, habits, politics, traditions, and so on. And then we have ( some may relate in real life) the most negative teacher of all time, seeing absolutely everything in despair._ ~~~__Characters__~~~ ~~~__Kafuka Fuura - the superoptimistic one__ img420(https://i.imgur.com/yJ2wGDD.gif)~~~ _It is said worldwide "don't judge a book by its cover". Well, it couldn't be more truth in that when we discuss her. Being the only one of the other students that's sees everything in bright light, no matter how bad the odds are. It's almost like where we could just find someone like her in real life where even the death of somebody is interpreted as "previewing the afterlife" or "he wanted to get taller; that's why he used a rope".Come on:) Don't let that fool you, because sometimes the most generous ones are the most affected ones. The girl has a background with mind blows that unfortunately are found only in the manga. Nevertheless, it remains one of my favorites characters in anime, being also the complete opposite of Nozomu._ ~~~__Nozomu Itoshiki - the all-time despaired one img420(https://i.imgur.com/IA7uHLJ.gif)__~~~ _Ahh, and now to the extremes! Many people might recognize the voice actor for this, being the same behind Monogatari Series. Being annoyed by Kafuka and other students that either interprets something wrong or they show some hopes in their actions. He argues about everything that "attacked him" including the daily activities, society, concepts, and people's looks (or something alike). In all this "chaos" that surrounds him, the best possible way to get out of it is to end your life. Well, life has other plans for him so every attempt fails. Throughout the show, he'll begin to change, but not drastically._ ~~~__Chiri Kitsu - the perfectionist__ img420(https://i.imgur.com/LF8r8P5.gif)~~~ _Let's be honest for a second: we all had someone in either school, family, job, etc. that wanted that PERFECTION feeling no matter what, and I mean perfection in damn everything. Apart from that, there isn't much else to talk bout her...umm...oh wait...that part. Seems like being a perfectionist isn't enough, when you can, you know, make others be the same as you, BY USING VIOLENCE. (not exactly tho) She has her own ways of dealing with things, some unorthodox ways might say._ ~~~__Kiri Komori - the "always stays indoors" one__ img420(https://i.imgur.com/nTh0Roq.gif)~~~ _I think we can ~~all~~ most of agreeing on finding ourselves in her. What is her purpose? To be comfy, cute, and watch anime. OH MY GAD! Even when the teacher wants her out of the house, she ends up in school, but just there for the rest of the show. (and in some disturbing places). Keep in mind that hikikomori is still an issue not only in Japan but other countries as well, with even older people. I get it, it keeps us away from all that bs called society and responsibility but we can also miss so many things we would want to do like sports activities, camping, etc. (k I said enough)_ There are many other characters I can just write them down here but u get the idea and it's best to discover them yourselves. Not mentioning their name but rather the traits there are still the stalker one, the _only mobile phone_ one, the _bandaged_one (Evangelion ref), the exchange student one, the always sorry one, and yes there is also a normal student there, being teased for her normality by the others :)) like who would have known. ~~~__Animation__ img420(https://i.imgur.com/erdlbSs.gif)~~~ Again there isn't too much to say about this. It's Shaft ffs like you can expect kinda the same quality as the Monogatari series. It's a little bit lower bcz if I include the movies, Monogatari wins per total. Effects are also good, considering that year. Yea I know, there's been better animation way behind when Ghost in the Shell and Akira premiered, but take into consideration the concept that they are movies, more money invested and not everything was profit-oriented and deadline like nowadays. ~~~__Music__ img420(https://i.imgur.com/gw9vtkO.png)~~~ _Unfortunately, we can't expect something as good and breathtaking as idk Death Note, Kaiji, One Outs, u name it, but it's okay-ish overall. I mean we have some russian/french/venetian accordion-like songs that are pretty good, reminded me of some Madoka ones_ ~~~__Conclusion and final thoughts__ img420(https://i.imgur.com/lCCCH7X.gif)~~~ _Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei remains an amazing series that stands out from the other comedy-related shows with its concept and characters. It holds a dear place on my list and I would literally recommend it to anyone even if not into those genres/tags. The show doesn't really have a linear plot like after the first season it's oriented towards characters or other daily events to criticize em. If you want to just enjoy the show, give it time bcz I wasn't fully into it after the first season. The real ending and spoiler u'll need the manga for that. Thank you all for reading._
____Spoiler Warning____ I'm someone who is often drawn to things that have dark comedy, so when a friend recommended this I added it the list. Let me also state before we get into this proper, this review is solely based on the first season, as of right now I'm not sure if I'll be reviewing the others or not. Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei or "Goodbye Mr. Despair" is one of the most interesting and unique anime viewing experiences I've had over the years, granted I consider myself to be a "filthy casual", or "normie" when it comes to anime. I'm going to give my best attempt at giving a brief summary, and the delve a little deeper into some aspects of the some like genres and tags for lack of a better term. ____Story____ Nozomu Itoshiki is a high school teacher who is pessimistic and paranoid, but not jut a little, like over the top He is also in constant "Despair" and is constantly trying to un-alive himself although its not always intended to be serious. He teaches a group of students that all have mental, emotional or physical health issues. Some others also have fetishes or insecurities. The Main genre for this is comedy, and even though this is technically true, it has various sub-genres of comedy, such as satire, parody and surreal humor. The satire portion is done almost too well, in the sense where it honestly could almost be a social commentary. There are also a TON of references, to anime, celebrates and Japanese culture. And here, in my opinion is where it tends to lose me a bit, its mainly episodic in nature, playing off of both Nozomu and his students problems to be the main focus of most of the episodes. For a third of its episodes, I found a lot of it to be hilarious, then unfortunately it started it wane on me as the episodes would end up becoming quite formulaic. The surreal humor bits just didn't really grab me, I understand they strived to have a deeper meaning, but when they would occur out of nowhere in an episode, I would just get confused and it would lose me completely. ____Characters____ One of the gags in itself is that characters names, when spelled in kanji in a horizontal line, are a play on words for their actual name. Most of the time the students are one note jokes constantly being whatever their one trait is but times 1000. Nozomu is the standout with the most development which makes sense considering hes the MC. There is one moment in particular when lecturing the class about how mistakes can be found everywhere in life, he claims that one of his biggest ones, was teaching the same class. He says this specifically because he considers himself a failure for only trying to instill despair in their lives. ____Visuals and Audio____ I put these two categories together, mainly because I feel they fit so well together, and really elevate the series to a higher quality. The animation is a solid quality that changes depending on a certain gag, or slapstick humor that came into play and these are very strong elements. There is quite a bit of text in the backgrounds that fly by which can be jarring, some of which reference things which clearly weren't meant for a western audience, while others had a ton of anime and manga references. The editing also is a plus, as it matches the chaotic nature of the series and helps play up the comedy. The voice acting in this is stellar, I honestly feel that the cadence and ways the lines are delivered make a lot of these jokes land way harder than they normally would. Not to mention the OP and ED and had some strong lyrical and and visual symbolisms ____Overall____ I really enjoyed the comedy in the first half, everything was landing, by the second the formulaic and episodic approach was slowly draining my enthusiasm, but do to the solid voice acting and editing work It still managed to get some chuckles form me throughout. Nomzomu is a highlight which by the way I just realized he's the same VA for Levi which is pretty dope. I wanted to like the other characters more, but they become one note very quick and I start to lose track as we get introduced to more.