Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei

Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei
So Long, Mr. Despair

Original Creator: Koji Kumeta

Production by: SHAFT

Adapted from: an ongoing manga
OAVs: one so far
Seasons: two
Movies: none
Live-action: none

Genre: comedy, drama, harem, slice-of-life.
Number of episodes: 12

ANN's Plot Summary: " Itoshiki Nozomu is the world's most negative person. To his way of thinking, there is no hope or meaning in this existence. Even the three kanji of his name become the two-kanji word zetsubou, "despair", when compressed. What an ironic twist of fate, then, that he becomes teacher to a class containing his precise opposite, the invincibly positive-minded Fuura Kafuka."

My Ranking: 5 hoshi
My Rating: R
um.....yeah. considering the bizarre themes and mind twisting conversations I rate it R. not to mention the constant suggestiveness for no apparent reason that's there just because its a harem type anime.

Review: I'll just start out that this anime has come to be called by its fans as "a drug-fueled awesome machine!"........and I completely agree. It makes sense the writer is a self-proclaimed pot-head because it completely explains the bizarre and completely true interpretations of the most random subjects. This in itself should proclaim its coolness. If not for those who would delve into the completely unimportant we wouldn't have glow sticks to chew on now would we.

Back to the plot......wait. It doesn't have a plot! Itoshiki Sensei in his classes prefers to explain why the world is void of hope and would rather make his students see his point of view then actually put it into practice himself. For this, many have become his followers. Through the conversations he instigates with the 'zetsubou girls' (as they have come to be called) the viewer is able to go beneath the surface of the subject and see it in a completely twisted way that, dear gosh, actually makes allot of sense. Soon after this is made clear we suddenly find the ever positive Kafuka, looking back up to the surface from a backwards perspective of the previously stated conclusion, causing you to cock your head as your brain does a back flip in your skull.

The animation and art style compliment the off beat nature of the series to a T. The cool patterns and dark pallet give it a kind of eery feeling along with the random suicide attempts but in the midst of it all you can't quite help from smile at this odd looking comedy. The music is also quite cool put to the op's and ed's that have no particular attachment the actual story of the series. Just another cool thing to throw you through Zetsubou Sensei's looking glass.

This series is definitely a must watch for any anime fan. So throw aside the shonen and the shojo and jump down the rabbit hole, they have a noose waiting just for you.

Comparison: I don't know much about the manga only that it is still ongoing and it was just licensed. the anime on the other hand has not yet been licensed and it was subbed by A.F.K.

Sample Vid: this is positively the best amv ever for SZS. spoilers are not an issue for this anime because its not really what you see its what they say that really counts. btw. this vid is for both seasons one and two of SZS.