Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei

Wikia Says!
Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei (さよなら 絶望先生, Sayonara Zetsubō Sensei?, literally Goodbye, Mr. Despair) is a Japanese manga by Kōji Kumeta, serialized in Weekly Shōnen Magazine. It is a comedy about a teacher who takes all aspects of life, language and culture in the most negative light possible. It satirizes politics, media, and Japanese society. In 2007, the manga received the thirty-first Kodansha Manga Award in the shōnen category,[1] and was adapted into a twelve-episode anime series. Weekly Shōnen Magazine announced that a second season, titled (Zoku) Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei (【俗・】さよなら絶望先生?, literally (Vulgar) Goodbye, Mr. Despair) would be made;[2] it aired between January and March 2008. A set of three OVAs titled Goku: Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei (獄・さよなら絶望先生?, literally Prison: Goodbye, Mr. Despair) were produced between October 2008 and February 2009. The first and third volume were bundled with the limited edition of volume fifteen and sixteen of the manga and second volume released separately.[3] A third TV anime series, Zan: Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei (懺・さよなら 絶望先生?, literally Repent: Goodbye, Mr. Despair), began airing in Japan in July 2009.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sayonara,_Zetsubou-Sensei

So what is it all about?
The third son of a age old family becomes a teacher. Suffering from bouts of chronic depression, he attempts to off himself. However, his troupe of sexy and able bodied school girls are there to save him. Each episode is based on one particular gag that is in turn based on a satirical Japanese topic. The anime itself is highly intertextual and I would not recommend it for people unfamiliar with Japan, Japanese Gags, Wordplay, and other Pop-Anime series. While the art itself is visually provocative, it's simply less enjoyable when the jokes lack a punchline. Anyway, the students, whom each has their own problems and idiosyncrasies interact with the teacher, and have to deal with his bouts of psychosis and mania regarding the problems faced by contemporary Japan.


Plot 6/10
Ironically, one of the biggest gripes with Zetsubou Sensei from western censors seems to be that it has no plot. Well, there is a plot, except that the plot does not revolve so much as around climaxes and arcs as it does the gags. The Gag Manga genre has long since been a running field in Manga, albeit made less popular by the fact that the jokes are only funny if the readers 'get' it, and often are highly contextual and secular.

Note: For actual gag genre, see Sexy Commando Gaiden: Sugoiyo!! Masaru-san, and Pyū to Fuku! Jaguar by Kyosuke Usuta



Art 9/10
The art of Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei is amazing. Rather than rendered animation, it rather uses a ultra simplistic style based on the original author's collage silhouettes. Characters are unique and easily identifiable, with segment dedicated to each of the idiosyncrasies. Most shots are dependent on angle and editing, with strong focus on line. Still animation is widely employed in place of fluid animation, with the result that the viewer feels like they are watching a presentation rather than an anime. The show itself has plenty of fan service, up to the explicit level of nipple pinching and a plethora of panty flashing. If you are used to watching One Piece, Gundam, or Macross Frontier, you may find this art style and animation lacking, but give it some time and it will grow on you. I consider this particular animation style to be at the pinnacle of the ethos "less is more and more is less".



Quality Control 10/10
I have not since the 90s seen a anime where the quality DOES NOT fluctuates widely between episodes. Given the simple style of Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei, it has become one of the rare gems that can for various reason convenient or otherwise escaped this calumny. The quality remains the same throughout the series, and the occasional artistic gem fills you with satisfaction at the artistic merit makers Shaft have put into the series.

Thoughts 8/10
I have to admit, as much as I read Japanese news and lots of blog related to Japan like Danny Choos' http://www.dannychoo.com/ and Sansaku Complex http://www.sankakucomplex.com/ among others http://www.japanprobe.com/ for example - I still have no idea what half the jokes in the show are about, particularly famous Japanese personalities and sports stars.



I do however, love the word play (on Kanji) as well as references to texts such as Franz Kafka and Murakami (Kafka on the Shore). This is definitely an intelligent anime for the punter. Go get a copy and have a watch if you want to see what the fuss is all about!

So currently the anime is in its third season. The manga is up to Vol 17 and still going strong even if some of the gags are getting a bit old. However, as you watch more of the anime the familarity you develop with the protagonists (the girls) will ensure that the jokes become more accessible and humurous.