Classroom of the Elite: A Thrilling Psychological Anime Series

8 min readJul 17, 2023

Introduction

If you are looking for an anime series that combines slice-of-life, drama, mystery and psychological themes, you might want to check out Classroom of the Elite. Based on the light novel series by Shōgo Kinugasa and illustrated by Shunsaku Tomose, Classroom of the Elite follows the students of Koudo Ikusei Senior High School, a prestigious institution that boasts a 100% success rate for its graduates. However, not everything is as perfect as it seems, as the school implements a ruthless merit-based system that divides the students into four classes: A, B, C and D.

The story focuses on Kiyotaka Ayanokoji, a seemingly average student who is placed in Class D, the lowest and most problematic class. He meets Suzune Horikita, a cold and ambitious girl who wants to climb up to Class A, and Kikyo Kushida, a cheerful and friendly girl who seems to get along with everyone. Together, they face various challenges and obstacles that test their abilities, morals and relationships.

Classroom of the Elite is a thrilling anime series that explores the dark side of human nature, the psychology of competition and cooperation, and the secrets behind the school’s system. The anime also features intriguing characters with hidden motives and backgrounds, such as the mysterious White Room, a facility where elite students are trained under harsh conditions.

Meet the Characters

Classroom of the Elite has a large cast of characters, each with their own personality, skills and goals. Here are some of the main characters you will encounter in the series:

Kiyotaka Ayanokoji:

The protagonist of the series. He is a quiet and reserved student who hides his true abilities and potential. He is very observant and analytical, and often manipulates others to achieve his objectives. He has a mysterious past involving the White Room, where he was subjected to rigorous training and experiments.

Suzune Horikita:

The deuteragonist of the series. She is a smart and beautiful girl who aims to reach Class A. She is very independent and aloof, and does not care about making friends or socializing. She has a strained relationship with her brother Manabu, who is the Student Council President.

Kikyo Kushida:

The tritagonist of the series. She is a bubbly and cheerful girl who is popular among her classmates. She acts as a mediator and peacemaker between different groups and individuals. However, she also has a dark side that she hides from everyone, especially from Suzune.

Ken Sudo:

A hot-headed and athletic student who is good at sports but bad at academics. He often gets into trouble with other classes and teachers. He is loyal to his friends and respects Kiyotaka for helping him out in various situations.

Honami Ichinose:

The leader of Class B. She is a kind and friendly girl who cares about her classmates and other students. She is also very intelligent and resourceful, and has a secret ability that gives her an edge over others.

Kakeru Ryuen:

The leader of Class C. He is a ruthless and cunning student who will stop at nothing to win. He is very charismatic and influential, and has many followers who obey his orders. He considers Kiyotaka his rival and enemy.

Arisu Sakayanagi:

The leader of Class A. She is a genius student who excels in everything she does. She is very confident and arrogant, and looks down on other classes. She has a keen interest in Kiyotaka and his past.

Watch the Seasons

Classroom of the Elite has two seasons so far, with the first one airing in 2017 and the second one in 2022. A third season is scheduled to premiere in January 2024.

Season 1 (2017)

The first season consists of 12 episodes that cover the first three volumes of the light novel series. It introduces the main characters and their backgrounds, as well as the school’s system and rules. The season also depicts some of the major events that happen in Kiyotaka’s first semester at Koudo Ikusei Senior High School, such as:

The introduction test that determines their class placement
The monthly point system that rewards or penalizes their behavior
The survival test on a deserted island that tests their survival skills
The class trial that exposes their secrets
The sports festival that pits them against other classes

The first season also reveals some of the mysteries behind Kiyotaka’s past, Suzune’s brother, Kikyo’s true personality, Honami’s ability, Kakeru’s mastermind, Arisu’s interest and more.

The first season was produced by Lerche, a studio known for its works such as Assassination Classroom, Danganronpa and Monster Musume. The season was directed by Seiji Kishi and Hiroyuki Hashimoto, with Aoi Akashiro as the scriptwriter, Kazuaki Morita as the character designer and Ryo Takahashi as the music composer. The opening theme song is “Caste Room” by ZAQ, and the ending theme song is “Beautiful Soldier” by Minami.

The first season is available to watch on Funimation and Crunchyroll.

Season 2 (2022)

The second season consists of 13 episodes that cover the fourth to sixth volumes of the light novel series. It continues the story of Kiyotaka and his classmates in their second semester at Koudo Ikusei Senior High School, as they face new challenges and enemies, such as:

The special exam that involves a paper shuffle
The class poll that ranks their popularity
The island exam that tests their leadership skills
The class change that allows them to switch classes
The school festival that showcases their talents

The second season also reveals more secrets and twists about Kiyotaka’s past, Suzune’s illness, Kikyo’s plan, Honami’s rival, Kakeru’s downfall, Arisu’s condition and more.

The second season was also produced by Lerche, but with some changes in the staff. The season was directed by Yoshihito Nishōji, with Kishi and Hashimoto returning as chief directors, Hayato Kazano replacing Akashiro as the scriptwriter, and Morita returning as the character designer. Masaru Yokoyama and Kana Hashiguchi replaced Takahashi as the music composers. The opening theme song is “Dance in the Game” by ZAQ, and the ending theme song is “Hito Jibai” by Mai Fuchigami.

The second season aired from July 4 to September 26, 2022.

Season 3 (2024)

The third season is scheduled to premiere in January 2024. It is expected to cover the seventh to ninth volumes of the light novel series. It will follow Kiyotaka and his classmates in their third semester at Koudo Ikusei Senior High School, as they face more dangers and threats, such as:

The special exam that involves a cruise ship
The class vote that decides their fate
The island exam that tests their loyalty
The class war that pits them against each other
The graduation exam that determines their future

The third season will also reveal more secrets and surprises about Kiyotaka’s past, Suzune’s growth, Kikyo’s redemption, Honami’s sacrifice, Kakeru’s revenge, Arisu’s challenge and more.

The third season will be produced by Lerche, with the same staff as the second season.

Join the Fans

Classroom of the Elite has gained a lot of fans since its debut in 2017. The anime has received positive reviews from critics and viewers alike, praising its plot, animation, music and voice acting. The anime has also spawned various fan works such as fan art, fan fiction, cosplay and memes.

If you want to join the fan community of Classroom of the Elite, you can visit various websites and platforms such as:

You-Zitsu Wiki: A comprehensive wiki that contains information about the series such as characters, episodes, volumes, chapters and more.
r/ClassroomOfTheElite: A subreddit dedicated to discussing and sharing anything related to Classroom of the Elite.
Anime Characters Database: A website that allows you to browse and search for your favorite characters from Classroom of the Elite.
Relaza: A website that lets you take quizzes and find out which Classroom of the Elite character you are most like.

You can also follow the official Twitter account of the anime @youkosozitsu for the latest news and updates.

If you are interested in Classroom of the Elite, you can also check out the light novel series and the manga adaptations. The light novel series has two parts: the original series that ran from May 2015 to September 2019 with 11 volumes and 3 short story collections, and the sequel series called Classroom of the Elite: Year 2 that began publishing in January 2020 with 9 volumes and 2 short story collections so far. The manga adaptations include one by Yuyu Ichino that started in January 2016 with 12 volumes so far, one by Sakagaki that focused on Suzune Horikita that ran from June.an works such as fan art, fan fiction, cosplay and memes.