[Anime] Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei

Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei

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:

...

I mean... Here they are when they first meet:


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:


The school counselor Arai Chie, who likes sticking stuff in her ear apparently:


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:



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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.)

How ya doing, buddy?

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.

How ya doing, buddy?

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.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

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 am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

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.

How ya doing, buddy?

Originally Posted by Conan-the-3rd

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.

Most amazing jew boots

Originally Posted by Conan-the-3rd

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.

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

FELIPE NO

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.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Originally Posted by Conan-the-3rd

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?

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

Jam it back in, in the dark.

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.

How ya doing, buddy?

Originally Posted by Conan-the-3rd

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

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.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Originally Posted by Sakabadger

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

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 am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

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

I was speaking idiomatically.

Originally Posted by Sakabadger

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.

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.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

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

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!

How ya doing, buddy?

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.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

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

How ya doing, buddy?

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! !

There's nowhere I can't reach.

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.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Originally Posted by Conan-the-3rd

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.

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

Also, show some damn respect for your dead horse.

How ya doing, buddy?

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?

I was speaking idiomatically.

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

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

As there was no Censorfagotroy, yes.

How ya doing, buddy?

Are you going to trademark that word or what?

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

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.

Jam it back in, in the dark.