Ansatsu Kyoushitsu

As this was the first manga I've read in years, I didn't really expect anything. The premise of a monster teaching his students to assassinate him sounded ridiculous enough to give it a try.

And then it got more crazy. I loved to see how the characters matured over the chapters, how their relationships evolved as well as their skills got sharpened.

I liked the backstories of the students, but after seeing Koro-sensei's backstory I got moved a bit too much. Suddenly I didn't want this story to end. I didn't want to see if students will succeed in their task.

But I have. And I am content. This story was too easy to spoil or make it too cheesy, but the author has succeeded to deliver a great tale.

Also: Koro-sensei is a great character. When I grow up, I wanna be like him.

When I began reading this, I knew I couldn't stop at the beginning! I read all of Assassination Classroom happy and anxious to see what came next in the story. I was even waiting for the English volumes to release at bookstores and online. With the story, it was AMAZING! The places they went, the ways the characters developed and how they've grown physically and mentally. The characters were scary and enjoyable at times. The only unrealistic character that wouldn't make sense in a realistic type setting would be Karma. He was willing to commit suicide in front of his teacher because he doubted Koro Sensei's abilities. He is too much of a rebel sometimes and it just takes away from the story at times, but nonetheless, he is a great counterpart to Nagisa, one of the most important characters in the manga. I also think some of the enemies take away from the story as well, especially at the end. For instance, they practically brain wash everyone and the characters we've grown to love are useless against these villains, except Koro Sensei. I really enjoyed this and felt deep emotions that made me connect with these characters. With the ending, it was heart warming and realistic, I like where most of these characters ended up at the end too, it was really really nice to see them one last time. All I can say is that I enjoyed this because of how relatable it can be and how human everyone sees, even Koro Sensei.

I finished this in a few days, it was quite a good read I must say.

Story
An supersonic octopus became the teacher for Class E, the worst class in a prestigious junior high school. The story is surprisingly fluent, there is little boring moments in the manga, like say in 1 chapter the teacher say he is going to prepare the students in their exam, the next chapter the exam is already finished. Unlike some manga where the fillers comes in and frustrate the heck out of the readers. The manga also take an insight in education with assassionation, how teachers can affect or influence his/her students, I have to say after reading this manga, I actually wants to be an educator in the future, really inspiring, kuro sensei(I read this manga in chinese, hope the name is correct) really deliver a valuable lessons even to the readers!

Art
Art is okay overall, some parts do look a bit weird but nonetheless, very readable and enjoyable.

Characters
With a class roaster of 28 students, I expected the author to not differentiate most of the characters. Oh boy was I wrong. Yes I do admit that some characters are more focused in terms of character development, but every single character is different from one another, and frankly speaking, in the later chapters I actually remembered their differences.

Enjoyment
Definitely a 10 considering I finished the manga in less than a week.

Overall
10/10 I loved it, would recommend to anyone.

Assassination Classroom (affectionately referred to as 'AssClass' by some) is probably one of the more notable shōnen manga of the 2010's, and for good reason. With a strong narrative supported by strong character development and a consistent quality of art, Assassination Classroom has made its mark in the market.

[Story - 9]

The premise alone is rather unique: A follow-the-class-through-the-school-year story with a covert-operation-to-kill-the-superhuman twist, the 2 concepts surprisingly blend together well and boost each other up when needed. While the beginning is admittedly slow + the presence of some occasional filler in the first half, the pace is rather consistent, with each arc having some form of tension/payoff/consequence that is emotionally satisfying in their own way. The ending arc is /extremely/ fulfilling, yet bittersweet, and was worth the investment of time.

The themes are naturally school-related, such as the 'right' way to educate and the bond between classmates, but also have a mix of action themes (the lives of many vs. the lives of one + the impact of a life in violence). There is plenty of shōnen-type comedy (slapstick + ecchi) found in the manga (right up to the end!), but the comedy also serves to frame the melodramatic moments in a fitting light. All, if not almost all, of the questions the reader may have are answered with a satisfying explanation, and have enough foreshadowing to warrant a re-read to see the cleverness.

[Art - 8]

The art may appear rather simplistic at first, but upon further reading, brings out more enjoyment in the story. The various background details (typically tongue-in-cheek) and shading palettes are appealing enough, but character design reigns here.

The design of Korosensei (the protagonist and mascot) alone is enough, but Matsui takes it further by showcasing the various facial expressions, colours, and shapes he can take on (whether for comedy, melodrama, or both). The 3 'star' students (Nagisa, Karma, Kaede), the various other teachers (Karasuma, Irina), the major antagonists, and /some/ of the supporting cast in the classroom all have their own distinctive designs; Unfortunately, the rest do not sport such qualities and are typically adorned in the private school's uniform. The rest of the characters (such as the various assassins) have typically realistic designs, with not much to be said there.

[Character - 7]

While there is one (but noticeable) flaw in some characters, it can be outweighed by the sheer uniqueness of the rest. Korosensei easily takes the cake here, with an endearing 'cheerily intelligent pervert' (for lack of a stronger description) characterization that hides a lot more depth (which is shown at a crucial point). He is easily likeable, between the various antics he is involved in and the heartwarming amount of love he has for his students.

The 3 'star' students each shine in their own way which, to avoid spoilers, can be summed up as this: Nagisa hides a darker self behind a meek-cute mask while searching for purpose, Karma's ambition comes into conflict with his chaotic behaviour, and Kaede's conflict....well, that has to be seen in the manga. Karasuma and Irina contrast each other nicely, and are able to stand alone (though Irina has more of these moments). While they may not be as relevant to the plot as Korosensei and the kids, they are definitely major players and deserve recognition for what they contribute (especially in the 'God of Death/Shinigami' arc).

The 4 (initially 5, but you shall see why) antagonists are captivating: Chairman Asano demands the best from everyone possible and can stand his own same ground against Karasuma and Korosensei, Shiro is a man cloaked both physically and contextually but always comes prepared, Takaoka is hellbent on revenge after causing his own downfall, and the 'God of Death/Shinigami' is easily the most physically distinctive (and terrifying) of the 4. The 'lost fifth' antagonist appears rather early on, and while does not have much development devoted to them outside of having the lead role in an arc, is rather intriguing to both see and read.

The flaw mentioned at the beginning, however, did hamper some of the experience. It was the extensive cast: with 28 students in the class, 3 full-time teachers, a whole
campus of teachers and students, and various other figures, it was natural for some to be underdeveloped. However, when it comes to some of the classmates in Class-E, it is most noticeable. Outside of an occasional 'character-of-the-week' chapter in the first half of the manga, they tend to just fill in panel space or serve as comedic actors. The main campus teachers and students (save for several in Class-A) are typical 'we-hate-them-because-they-suck-despite-actually-being-talented' types. and the various assassins are edgy goons. This flaw, however, is partially remedied by the collective development of the class as a whole group. This is most noticeable after a schism occurs in the class (and is addressed in a fitting all-out battle), and ties back into the theme of 'classmate bonding'.

[Enjoyment/Overall - 8]

Despite some nitpicking, I found this manga to be rather enjoyable! It had just the right blend of comedy and drama, solid pacing despite a rough beginning, and unique characterization and design to make this a rather fun read. While I wouldn't call this a favourite, it's not because its flaw(s), but rather just a 'personal thing' and I appreciate having fully read it. I highly recommend it if you want a subversive school shōnen with plenty of action and laughs, but with the capacity for rumination and melodrama.

Ansatsu Kyoushitsu aka Assassination Classroom aka AssClass (my personal abbreviation) is one of the most unique shonen series that I've ever read/seen.

Not many long-running series have the courage to be so short and STAY short. Many stories suffer under the rule that they have to be strecthed out as far as possible but AssClass shows that the short stories can be just enough and still impactful.

As a person who gets easily attracted to stories with a random synopsis I was immediately hooked with this. I mean where do you find a story about a octopus teacher who runs a class of assasins who have to kill him. But later I saw the bigger picture behind the tentacle jokes and random premise.

Story:
The story of assasination shows that every story can be a good story no matter how weird it may sound. This is a manga that you shouldn't judge by its manga cover. Not only does the beginning show exactly what the story is about, it also stays with it and doesn't write itself into a corner to end up like a 600 chapter manga with plotholes as big as the moon. No, AssClass knows what the end goal is and keeps working towards that goal.

Art:
The art in AssClass is in most moments okay. When not much is going on the art isn't really something to talk about but when important come about, then it's when the art shines! The mangaka was able to make boring moments like: 'making a test' fascinating for the reader by depicting it like a big gladiator fight or something like that. Or make someone look very intimidating by making him/her look like a terrifying monster. It is this approach of drawing visuals that makes the art something else from other shonen manga.

Character:
This series centers around a class and this class has many different students. 28 to be exact. For any story, especially a story this short you could think that it is very hard to give all of these characters the characterization and develop that they need, but AssClass shows that it is not afraid to try it. Of course some character get more attention then others but at the end you can know the names, talents and characteristics of all students if you want to. Also Koro-sensei is one of the best characters in the show and makes you wish teachers in real life could become big yellow octopuses

Overall, this manga is a shonen that, after not even a year has won my heart. The story is mostly a comedy but knows when to grab at your heart strings. The foreshadowing in the plot is insane and really shows that the creator knew the story that he wanted to tell in his head. Also the ending is the most fitting kind of ending for a coming-of-age story like this. It couldn't be any better in my opinion.

Pros
- Linear storyline with unique concept. It's hard to comprehend the story at the beginning, it's getting exciting around the middle with so many events happening around, and it's heartwarming in the end. It's also unpredictable and contain so many good morale message
- This manga has so many characters yet none of them are disposable. Instead of having one godlike character who can do everything, you will see each character developing and helping each other with their own unique skills. So it's not about one man army, but a group of people who become strong together, and it's beautiful
- Long enough to captivate your interest, short enough to stay on track
- Funny

Cons
- In the beginning, you might need some time to grasp the concept because it's quite unique and everything just happen instantly

The manga's ability to use science fiction and comedy to convey a story about growing up into a better person is not only refreshing but empowering. At a first glance, it seems like an underdog story and in a way it could be viewed as such. The characters have to face many challenges big and small, and whether they succeed or not depends on their own personal growth. The way science fiction is applied to the manga is well done--no matter how extreme the scenarios may be, it doesn't disrupt my immersion. The artwork is also very nice. It has the balance of cuteness and humor. It also brings weight to the emotional and action moments as well.

I really enjoy the manga, and I fully recommend it!

How do you describe Assassination Classroom? It's a story that's simple, but also unique. It's goofy but also serious. I suppose the best word to describe it would be is enjoyable.
Right off the bat, the reader is sent a handful of mixed signals. The moon was destroyed... by a cartoonish octopus character that can move at Mach 20? And it has to be killed by a classroom of middle schoolers?
If I'm being honest, the first volume is the weakest, the characters are fairly bland, you aren't given any investment into the world, it's alright at best.
But as the series progresses, it's hard not to get immersed into the world and characters of the Assassination Classroom.

In terms of the Story, it's fairly simple but also unique. Which is fine, that's all you need for a manga like this, there's a clear deadline for when the manga is going to end (one full school year), there's practically no filler and the manga progresses in an extremely fluid and constant rate which is friendly to those who marathon.

I love the Art in Assassination Classroom. Sure it's quite simple most of the time, but where I feel the artwork shines best is in facial expressions and atmosphere. The manga is FANTASTIC at making most of the people in the school outside of Class E look absolutely hideous, they have the ugliest expressions and it helps you sympathize with Class E's situation, it's perfect. There's a lot of nature imagery in this manga, animals like snakes and scorpions are used constantly throughout that really adds to the visualization of what's happening, often times this is used to symbolize how the children are moving in their attempts to kill Koro Sensei, but it's used to represent the characteristics of people quite effectively as well. Action scenes are beautifully drawn as well, there were times that I just lingered on a page because of how good it was. These pages are few and far between which makes you savor the ones that you get.

I think the characters are the weakest part of Assassination Classroom. It's not that their bad per say, but it's hard to grow attached to every character (especially when some only have a couple of lines in the entire series). The main cast is quite well done, you're given a good amount of their specific thought processes throughout the manga and there's a good amount of development that occurs across the span of the manga. Some characters just exist for the sake of existing though, especially near the end. While one of the main points of Class E is that each student has his or her specialties, it's a bit hard to keep track of who's good at what or who's doing what, but that might just be me.

In terms of overall enjoyment, I don't think that there was a simple chapter that I didn't enjoy. Even when the students have to take tests it's made exciting and tense. In a bit of a contrast to what I said earlier, I do think that Class E is filled with really enjoyable characters. There's witty dialogue constantly, which is paired with atmospheric art which gives the reader a good time. Despite the warning at the beginning that the world will end if they don't kill this unkillable teacher, the mood is extremely light-hearted. Every chapter, no matter what the class is doing, was highly enjoyable to read through and I think this is the shining factor for the manga. It's just a class coming together, having a good time, improving their academic abilities while trying to also kill their teacher. The action sequences are tense and cleaver, the classroom parts are silly and cartoonish, and I think that the manga finds a strong balance between serious and the "everyday stuff" that works phenomenally.

Scores:
Story: 8/10, simple, but unique, flows well throughout the manga, there's a set deadline and it doesn't overstay it's welcome.

Art: 9.5/10 Very good atmospheric and expressive artwork, action pages are very nice to look at, everyday art is a little average and plain (nothing bad about it but nothing particularly great)

Character: 8/10: most of Class E has good chemistry but some individuals can be forgotten, some characters nearing the end seem to exist for the sake of existing

Enjoyment: 10/10 There wasn't a simple chapter I didn't find myself not enjoying to some degree, there's plenty of serious and comical moments, finds a good balance between these two and I loved every second of it.

Overall: 9/10
The premise is unique, the story flows at a consistent pace throughout it's run. The main cast of characters are very fun and you're given a good view of their specific thought processes. The art is enjoyable, especially on character expressions and atmosphere. Aside from a couple of moments around the end, I don't have any problems with this manga. I highly recommend it if you're looking for a fun, surprisingly emotional story to read. Once you get past the first volume it picks up fast.

I love this manga because is original and innovative.
I like Matsui's art style and the reading is really fluently.
I love Korosensei and all the students of the 'Class E, and, in the manga, you can find more information about them and also some extra chapters.
Korosensei is the best teacher of all time!
This story should be horror, but it's really funny to read, It's true that there are some dramatic moments, but one returns to school life without suffering.
In Italy have been published also the 'Charas book' and 'Graduation' and are really well done and the color images are amazing.
By reading them you can understand the relationships between the charas and find more information about the school.
Recently 'Assassination Classroom' had a room for the exhibition of '00 for the '50th anniversary of Weekly Shonen JUmp' and it's among the best 25 series manga of the last 50 years of Shueisha.

I must say, for someone who usually hates heavily comedic stories I absolutely loved this.
This is one of the those stories that hides so much meaning and darkness under the cute characters and the genre assumptions.

Story: 10
It can say definitely that is starts of ambiguous making you utterly confused about practically everything. But invest enough and the story will become one of the richest ones you've ever read. Story is extremely unique in nature and full of surprises.

Art: 7
Unfortunately, I am not a big style of the face placement and sometimes strangely jointed characters. The overall style wasn't terrible, but not something I particularly didn't enjoy. When it comes to making some scenes really intense though, art definitely pulls through.

Character : 10
I cannot express enough how amazing these characters were. It definitely takes some time to get used to, but each character comes a long way and are unique in every aspect. Despite having so many students, each character is fleshed out amazingly. They all truly grew on me and I've never rooted for characters as much.

Enjoyment: 10
Plainly honest, I usually hate comedy and things that have the cute adorable anime cliche. Philosophical ,complex, and inspiring, this experience was definitely something I thoroughly enjoyed.

Overall: 9
Do not be fooled by the style or first bit. It holds so much more value than you may think and managed to make a gruff like me enjoy it. A mix of surprising heavy themes, increasing in magnitude as the story progresses ,dimensional characters and comedy form a masterpiece unique above most I've seen.