Zoku Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei

-Details-
Genre: Comedy/Parody/High School
Company: Shaft
Format: 13 Episodes
Date: Jan 6, 2008– Mar 30, 2008

-Visuals- 8.7/10
If you were a fan of the first series, Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei, then you are in luck. The animation style has not changed one bit, except that if anything, it has gotten even crazier (I know, hard to believe isn't it?). Still frames are still common, though we see some nice action scenes, such as the Neon Genesis Evangelion/Dynasty Warriors/3 other shows parody. The reason I rate it higher than the first series is for these actiony scenes and the insane changes in animation that occur. Also episode 7 deserves special mention as it switches animation styles at least 5 times and also manages to throw in a magical girl parody. If you watch a lot of anime, pay close attention to the chalkboard in the classroom, as well as the actual dialogue, and you will be rewarded with some awesome jabs at other animes.





-Sound- 9.7/10
Once again, the opening and the endings are brilliant, more so than the first series. As for the actual voice acting, not much has changed. The voice actors/actresses own their roles, and this time, the voice actors themselves become the jokes, such as in one episode where everyone voices a different character than usual, with no warning at all.

-Characters- 9/10
Nothing has changed here. The characters are still insane and eccentric to put it lightly. We do have one new character, Manami, who is a married high school student. But with the amount of off the wall characters in this show from the first season, she almost feels like a wasted character. Though don't expect to see any characters if they aren't needed for the joke. Again, fans of the first series will be pleased with the characters.



-Story-9/10
Nozomu Itoshki is a sales man trying to run a get rich quick scheme who somehow gets caught up in a secret religious cult that dances in circles on the beach while peeing on a person in the middle of the circle. Hamasho, as the cult is called, tries recruiting Nozomu who insults the group. Quickly, Nozomu finds out that the entire city is controlled by Hamasho who is now out to kill him, so he flee's the city. Unfortunately he ends up at Hamasho's secret base, and discovers that mutant humans run the cult. Our poor hero jumps into the sea to escape and is captured by pirates and fights a sea monster. He washes ashore finally and is found by Kafuka who takes him to her school where he becomes a teacher. The class proves too much to handle so Nozomu decides to end it all and jump into the sea again. This time he is stopped by Kafuka who tells him that he must marry Chiri, who is from the Nosebleed Empire.

All of that is just the first half of episode one, and also a summary of the first series (I'm just as confused as you are). That being said, the show goes above and beyond the jokes of the first series making situations that are even more outlandish and random. The comedy also becomes smarter in a sense as the social commentaries/jokes become more well defined as well as more in depth. Again, fans of the original series will love the style. The pacing is faster now as well. Episodes are cut into three stories instead of two as it previously was. This allows for more jokes and more despair.

-Overall- 9.3/10
Zoku Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei is definitely the high point of the Zetsubou Sensei Saga. The jokes are funnier, more outlandish and smarter. The visuals see a minor improvement and the episodes move even faster. Once again, the humor is not for everyone. Suicide is joked about, murder becomes a running gag, and the animation is quirky and strange. The quality is better, but if you did not enjoy the original series, or thought it too weird, this is not the show for you. If you enjoyed the first series, watch this now, as it's even better.