Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei
 

Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei
http://apollo.divshare.com/s05/files...nsei01_op1.jpg
Probably the official site

From the famous and awesome animation studio SHAFT comes a brand new anime, rejuice! I mean rejoice! Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei means "Goodbye, Despair Teacher" and is a (fairly dark) comedy with a unique style and flow. It's based on the manga by the new (as far as I know) mangaka Kouji Kumeta of the same name.

The story revolves around a teacher called Nozomu Itoshiki. He is an unusual teacher. When you write the kanji of his name horizontally, and squish the "Itoshiki" together, it spells "Zetsubou", or despair--and that fits his personality to a tee. He sees everything in a negative light. His antagonist (or the other main character) is Kafuka Fura, a female student in his class who sees everything in a positive light. Here they are when they first meet:
http://www.divshare.com/img/midsize/1247539-9b2.jpg
...

I mean... Here they are when they first meet:
http://www.divshare.com/img/midsize/1247523-55e.jpg

Here are two other seemingly important characters, students of Nozomu/classmates of Kafuka, Abiru Kobushi (I think? Her name wasn't mentioned in the anime yet) and Chiri Kitsu:
http://www.divshare.com/img/midsize/1247540-08f.jpg

The school counselor Arai Chie, who likes sticking stuff in her ear apparently:
http://www.divshare.com/img/midsize/1247541-0c4.jpg

There are many other characters, and I'm not sure yet which are important, but you can see the style of the show well in these screenshots:

http://www.divshare.com/img/thumb/1247751-e8a.jpg http://www.divshare.com/img/thumb/1247819-cb3.jpg http://www.divshare.com/img/thumb/1247821-41e.jpg http://www.divshare.com/img/thumb/1247824-fd1.jpg http://www.divshare.com/img/thumb/1247827-70f.jpg http://www.divshare.com/img/thumb/1247830-13e.jpg

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This show didn't sell me in the first few minutes, but by the end of the first episode, I was really into it. It's really different, with lots of silence, pauses, very stylized "flat" art, and off-beat humour. However I think it could become really great if the chemistry between the teacher and the students works out well, which is something that I'll have to judge over the course of the show, and if they manage to keep the show light-hearted.

But so far, it seems like a really good show, I like the characters and the concept a lot, it's really funny. This may also be the best-looking show by SHAFT I ever saw, not so much because of quality but because of style. They're usually good, but I really dig this for some reason.

Plus, Kafuka keeps sticking her ass out which I think I speak for everyone when I say is super hot.
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OP and ED! The ED is especially nice.

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Episode one: Torrent (subbed by a.f.k.)

a.f.k. displays excellent taste, again.

Since the success of Pani Poni Dash, SHAFT has been big on that style in subsequent productions (like Negima!?). I'm absolutely unfamiliar with the premise of Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei, but darn it, SHAFT's style just works. Visually, the series is stunning and the constant chalkboard scribblings provide plenty of amusement. In what might have been a disappointing summer season (DOUJIN WORK WHAT HAPPENED) this is definitely a bright mark.

As an aside, I liked a.f.k.'s little explanation of the names at the end of episode 1. One of the things I dig about anime is that character naming can be so witty or interesting. You could try doing the same thing in English, but it tends to come up flat. Then again, maybe native Japanese speakers think the names are lame, but whatever.

I had thought to make a thread on this series, but thankfully, someone managed to beat me to it.

It's been awhile since I've gotten a chance to watch a series with some really dark humor and this series managed to get me hooked from the get go with the most awesome way for two characters to meet up. It feels somewhat like Pani Poni Dash mixed in with a slice of Welcome to the NHK in the topics it addresses (or will seemingly address as this series goes on). I also enjoyed the way Nozomu and Kafuka's personalities just bounce right off of each other to create a pretty good dynamic.

After watching it, there's going to be a lot of good old sarcastic humor floating around in addition to the chalkboard scribbles that are going to be a blast to catch. The reference to Pani Poni Dash with :Generic Character: was also hilarious.

Gloomy people heh? Maybe I'll like this...

Btw, is it just me or not? Somehow, the drawing style reminds me of Getsumen To Heiki MINA and Himawari...

I'm puting this show on notice here and now, they keep up with not only censorfagotry but censorfagotry that basicly shows the director having an inflated ego and this one is going stright into the recycle bin along with Hayate.

Ah... well.. ehm... okay?

I see that you haven't conquered your psychic fun-censoring trauma yet, C***n-the-*rd.

You've got like no sense of humor, dude.

If your need for gratuitous fanservice is just that pressing you may as well just watch porn.

o w8 mosaics nvm

Dood, do you call puting the censor-thing, which is the director's own freaking face for god's sake on the frickin' clock of the school normal?

The fact is I could give less a damn about fanservice, but if it's there I won't gripe about it unless it's censored in such a stupidly retarded fashion.

If they need to censor, for fucks sake do it in a mannor that doesn't look stupid. Indeed, Mosaic, lol.

It is normal - I would have done the same, because it is funny to some extend.

No comment.

The show is good, there's no denying that, but if the Director keeps this nonsence up, he will sink it for me.

So, what would be a method of censoring that doesn't look stupid to you? Random objects in the foreground that just happen to block the view? Girls with vacuums in their crotches so skirts remain firmly in place? Just not showing anything objectionable?

'Cuz really, you are the first person I know of to object so strongly to this sort of thing.

Also, I think the censorship in this series is inherently awesome because of the facial features. While Hayate uses a static image to do the censoring, the expressions on the censors in this one made for a good laugh because of how appropriate it was based on the parts they were trying to cover up.

I guess you could always wait for the DVD release. At least I would think they wouldn't censor that.

Lets see, use of the things at hand, yes, that would be less stupid. In the bath scene, indeed STEAM.

But failing that, a standard Censorbar or indeed Moasic would work, simple, easy done. It's obvious it's censored but it doesn't look completely ass stupid.

And there's a degree of "Ok guys, if we're not going to be able to show this, lets not waste budget doing it," cuz I swear that bath scene is NOT in the manga.

Ah, a manga reader! Explains a lot, really! Their opinions are usually quite worthless! :tpg:

Seriously though, I'm not the biggest fan of it either but I don't see how it even matters that much. You're making a big deal out of nothing. I'd already forgotten about it until you brought it up.

But feel free not to watch this show! I'm not sure any of us could care less!

Seriously, I care because it's happening in more shows that I might actualy give a damn about.

Of course, if this was happening in say, Naruto, Bleach or the latest KyoAni anime there would be an utter shitstorm but no, because it's random show XYZ it doesn't matter.

I thought the fact that anime was more adult was a point as to why people liked anime in the first instance.

I guess I was wrong.

Air Gear had some pretty wild cover crow action going on, and people duly complained about how stupid it was. Girls Bravo was frequently dubbed "Mist Bravo" because the mist (their censor of choice) was often excessive. People complained about those because they were actually blocking legitimate content that would otherwise be shown (like on the DVD releases). For series like those where fanservice is actually part of the reason why people watch, blocking that kind of content is a real downer. Plus, their method looked pretty dumb.

On the other hand, Hayate the Combat Butler hardly takes itself seriously at all, and it's the same with its 'censors'. You think you'd catch on to that fact from the constant self-references and breaking of the 4th wall. Are you really missing anything from the 'CAN'T SHOW' dude popping up every once in a while? Do you honestly want to see Tama humping Hayate? There is of course a possibility that these censors might be removed on the DVD release, but... why? It'd probably end up less funny. In Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei's case, you might get some T&A shots, but... eh.

Furthermore, I don't like anime because it's "more adult". I like it because it's entertaining, and I'm sure that's the reason why most other people watch it too.

But humor is such a fickle thing, I guess.

In other news, episode 2 is out courtesy of a.f.k.
MAKE YOURSELF TALLER NOW

The second episode was delectable, I'm definitely rewatching that tomorrow. My favourite bit was probably the 4-komi style sketch in the middle of the show, involving Chiri and cake! :cake:!

Agreed with the above. Furthermore, I'm starting to get some Welcome to the NHK vibes out of watching this. Unlike NHK though, the series doesn't put the depressing stuff out front and give humor a secondary role. In fact, it's just the complete opposite.

Also enjoyed some of the references. I believe Lucky Star might've gotten a few references, but Hidamari Sketch was definitely present, which isn't a surprise since Shaft also did the work for Hidamari.

You don't need to guess; you are most definitely wrong.

Also, show some damn respect for your dead horse.

Anyone want glue?

Anyway, episode 2; much less of the face, Real Life Cake Skit was a lol and was that a Rozen Maiden refrence I saw in the first part?

Does this mean you're going to take the show off "notice"?

As there was no Censorfagotroy, yes.

Are you going to trademark that word or what?

Yes

Anyway, the live action cake skit was the best part of episode two in my opinion, that wierd intermission thing before it was sorta just there.

Anyways...

I finally got to watching this and the dark offbeat humour hilarious. I'm tempted to say that the animation is leaning towards the minimal side and that there seem to be many Japanese inside/cultural jokes. I think they pulled off the polar opposites concept very well, without making Kafuka excessively hyper and annoying. The anime seems to be very random in a very very different way. WTF at cotton in the ear!

I'm pretty sure the popular nickname was "Girls Foggo". I never heard "Mist Bravo" until now.

Anyway, Conan definitely has no sense of humor like Saka said. I enjoy how he misses the entire point that those sequences and the director covering things up are intentional and done purely for comedy purposes. If you can't understand that, dude, then I feel sorry for you. =/

I never heard "Girls Foggo" until now.

You go away. :(

We must be twixed dimensions, Saka. Does it rain puppies where you're from too? =o

Also, no u. :mad:

Episode 3 is out. Truly some epic lulz here. I love this series already, and it's only been three episodes!

http://graf-eisen.com/upload/snapshot20070729022229.jpg

I love this series.

While I enjoyed these first three episodes I am a bit worried that there may be too many characters. Hopefully, episode 4 doesn't introduce anymore characters that way we can get to know the current characters better. I normally stay away from this type of anime because it isn't science fiction or set in the samurai Edo period because there are just so many characters that I don't care about. Thankfully, Mr. Despair's characters have been interesting so far.

Saka: the Psyche Locked had me on the floor. That and thw two Gurren Lagann references, along with the Gurren Lagann + Lucky Star double-reference.

As far as mroe characters go, I think they've covered most of the social outcast archetypes. I don't think there will be many more major characters, although I haven't read any of the manga so I can't say that for sure.

The first episode was amusing, but I was really annoyed by the constant artwork shifts and title cards repeating dialogue. I'm glad I stuck with it, because the second episode was EPIC L and the third was pretty damn funny too. ::psyche locked::

The many characters in such a short time worries me. Is this gonna count as a harem anime?

I'm a little disappointed in the development of this show as well, since the first episode left me with the impression that this was basically a show of Nozomu and Kafuka, but you barely see Nozomu at all in episode 3. Hopefully it'll revert to the episode one vibe, that was definitely my favourite so far. Their dynamic was great together, and all these other characters are pretty much lame as shit.

I guess they're about done with introducing characters if I remember correctly from the Manga wiki (which I only glanced to find out characters' names). Hopefully it means we'll no longer have to put up with this joke:

Nozomu: "she is [negative thing]"; Kafuka: "no, she is [positive, unlikely thing]".

No, they still have to introduce the girl with the bandages, the normal girl and the girl with the cellphone.

I'm glad that the show branches off with more characters. Else the whole positive/negative thing would get old very, very quickly.

They function (more or less) as Tsukkomi characters, so I don't know if they'll get a mini-storyline dedicated to them. But yeah, why not.

Sup episode 4.

Brand spanking new OP animation, now with more bondage. Conclusion? Awesome.

Now that all the characters have been properly introduced, I guess the action will be picked up a notch. I'm a little disappointed the character introductions are done, though, since I find the character name explanations at the end fascinating.

SHAFT style rulz.

Ahh, it's nice to have an opening with more imagery. Not quite fond of the bits of fanservice in the opening, but I do like the style used.

I'm curious what happens now with all the crazy characters running about. It will be interesting.

I also like the name explanations at the end to be amusing. Probably because they're educational, also because they use the music from the song "Don't Worry, Be Happy". XD

Loved episode 4 and how they showed Abiru Kubushi's weird fetish as well as pretty much ruining her dad's reputation through Nozomu's antics. Meru Otonoashi's introduction wasn't as good IMO since we already had an idea of how sarcastic she was when entering mail messages from the earlier episodes. I kind of wish they had set that aside to make it more shocking during this episode. Oh well.

Do you mean all of the main girls have been introduced? Because I don't think Harumi Fujiyoshi or Nami Hitō have had a segment that dealt with their situations. At least, I don't remember one.

Juan got me into this. I just downright love the way it's drawn.

This thread has left me in despair! :gonk:

Anime by Shaft:

Everyone loves it! ...except for fansubbers.

EVERY Shaft anime gets cursed, I SWEAR.

I watched episode 6 and I can say that you should definitely watch Guerrand while waiting for afk to get off its hiatus.

As far as the content for episode 6 goes, this time they tackle a whole new issue.



The major problem with this episode though was the barrage of movie-like promo posters that kept popping up. I'm pretty sure you have to be Japanese to even understand the references, but to people like us, it's pretty easy to get lost.

So all in all, a good episode though it might not be as good as some of the others because this one isn't quite as strange. The detox episode is still my favorite one though and I'm not sure whether they can top that anytime soon.

I didn't think an episode based on Usui, the balding class rep, would be funny, but I was glad to be proven wrong. If I ever become a luchador, I would like Vilifisaur kick to be my patented move.

loving this show the "a preview of a field trip" episode had me lol'ing hard indeed

had a gander on wiki and it only has 2 more episodes left (fansub wise) but we are getting blessed with a 2nd season starting January hopefully a.f.k subs it also.

Episode 11 was a bit of a downer. The first half was really good because it was something that people could totally relate to and they managed to achieve a pretty good gag with that bit.

As for episode 12, this one was a pretty fitting ending and you could see why they introduced those characters when they did as they're nothing more than one-trick ponies. OK, admittedly most of the characters in this show were one-trick ponies, but they at least had the ability to do variations on their own theme.



Of the two characters introduced, I definitely enjoyed the presentation for the first one the most though the second one had her moments as well. I just thought that particular gag was a bit drawn out with fewer variations to throw into the mix. But it was still good overall.

It's only a bit longer before we can expect Season 2 to start, but Season 1 ended on a very satisfying note. Despite Japan's reputation for having an export culture, it's refreshing to see a show that focuses so much on Japan's often-hidden social ills. Because of being able to take on a lot of taboo issues and handling it really well, I'd have to say that this is definitely the best comedy of the year.

Episode 1 of Season 2 was definitely a big plus. Overall, the animation quality has significantly improved since the first season. Likewise, the ambience is pretty creepy. Though I am not familiar with the manga serie (though I wish I was), the 2nd season starts a lot creepier than the first so far.
(Loved the closing credits)

awesome, now we just have to wait like 6 months for the first episode to be subbed. :(

Fortunately spoonsubs released episode 1 of season 2.