LogFAQs > #968084726

(I havent watched the second season for this yet, but that was by choice. Since Ill be doing a spoiler-filled write-up for a character from it, I didnt want to include anything from a season thats currently airing. Not everyone watches new seasons right away. I didnt want people whod only seen S1 to skip the write-up to avoid getting spoiled.)

138. Classroom of the Elite
https://myanimelist.net/anime/35507/Youkoso_Jitsuryoku_Shijou_Shugi_no_Kyoushitsu_e
Summer 2017 (12 episodes) Summer 2022 (0 episodes, still airing)
My Score: 5/10, MAL Score: 7.86/10 S1,
Best Character: Ayanokouji Kiyotaka

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsfBOwAIhOw

Premise: Ayanokouji Kiyotaka is starting at a prestigious high school that ranks classes based on points. Hes put into the lowest, Class D, and now they must struggle to climb the ranks.

The Good: Classroom of the Elite is a school anime where a class of rejects need to work together. It has lots of people with powerful personalities scheming and maneuvering to come out on top in challenges where the rules arent always clear. I absolutely love that premise, it turns high school into a battle of wits. The protagonist, Ayanokouji, is a great perspective into that. Ill talk about him more below, but Im a huge fan of characters where youre never sure how much they know, what theyre planning, or if theyll be able to get out of their latest jam. Horikita is his primary sidekick, and I like her a lot too. Shes abrasive and not as intelligent as she thinks, but thats what makes her work next to Ayanokouji. Lots of other students have over-the-top personalities too. Its fun watching them scheme against each other.

The Bad: Classroom of the Elite comes off as pretentious at times with episodes opening with philosophical quotes and whatnot. I wish the whole story took itself as seriously as it pretends to. Its stupid that a major conflict in an otherwise interesting test involved stolen panties. Its stupid that a whole episode was dedicated to the boys trying to install cameras in the girls locker room. Classroom of the Elite should be smarter than that, and Id like it a lot more if it was.

Overall: I enjoy the battles of wits in Classroom of the Elite. Sometimes the plot has elements that are stupid and bring it down, but for the most part the scheming kept me watching. I also loved Ayanokouji, which Ill cover more in the write-up below (which will have S1 spoilers only)

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/9/4/3/AAcDcBAADrlP.jpg

CHARACTER: Ayanokouji Kiyotaka (Classroom of the Elite)
https://myanimelist.net/character/128909/Kiyotaka_Ayanokouji
Voiced by: Hanae Natsuki
TOP 100 RANK: 68th

SPOILERS FOR CLASSROOM OF THE ELITE (SEASON ONE ONLY)

VIDEO LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neZjdPl4bHA

Classroom of the Elite introduces Ayanokouji Kiyotaka as just one of many students who refuse to give up their seat for an old lady on the bus. He isnt a hero or a paragon of virtue. However, he is observant. He glances around, noting the faces of his future schoolmates, including Horikita.

Ayanokouji likes to hang around in the background whenever possible and isnt emotive about much. Hes mostly nonplussed, for example, when Class D falls to zero points due to their poor behavior. He starts helping Horikita behind the scenes with things like organizing study sessions to ensure no one fails or proving a classmate's innocence in a fight. Ayanokouji doesnt seem too bothered by any of it, however.

There are hints to his background and character throughout the season. Flashbacks to being raised in a mysterious white room, the fact that he got exactly average on every test (which is extremely unlikely unless it was deliberate), and he reveals his real physical prowess whenever hes forced to. Eventually his teacher, who also wants Class D to rise, tells Ayanokouji that the people who raised him have found him and want him back. Shell expel him unless he starts taking things seriously, which forces Ayanokouji to agree. It appears this is the one thing he actually cares about.

The last arc of season one is their wilderness survival test. Ayanokouji manages some impressive tricks, maneuvering Horikita into a leadership position before orchestrating her downfall to throw off their rivals. Class D, despite a stupid stolen panties subplot, comes out on top against all odds. And Ayanokouji does it while remaining in the background, successfully attributing his contributions to others. The leader of Class C is angry at Horikita and barely knows Ayanokouji exists. I love characters like this, its like even the viewer is struggling to get ahead of his actual schemes.

Still, the best part of Classroom of the Elite comes at the very end of the season (see the video I linked above). Horikita, in her shy tsundere way, is acknowledging Ayanokouji as an ally and we finally get to see his honest thoughts. He doesnt see her as an ally, or anyone else. He sees them all as tools in a sociopathic sense, just things that only matter if they serve his goals.

That one moment put all of his actions throughout the season into a new light, and it solidified Ayanokouji as one of my top 100 characters. Lots of anime have brilliant characters or overpowered characters who always win. It's much rarer to have one who actually delves into the mindset of someone who seemingly doesn't care about anyone. I chose not to watch the second season while it was airing mostly because I wanted to binge it. I want to see Ayanokouji's schemes come together all at once, and I really hope he lives up to the promise the first season ended on.