Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei (Goodbye, Mr Despair) is a 12 episode series based off the Manga of the same name by Koji Kumeta (who also brought us Katte ni Kaizou). The series aired from July 2007 until September of the same year and is known for its bizarre storylines, frank and rather dark sense of humor and of course its eccentric characters. The Manga was published in Weekly Sh?nen Magazine in 2005 and is still ongoing. While the series only lasted one season, it has spawned a number of sequels including (Zoku) Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei and Zan: Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei. All of the Anime, including the original series and the OVA’s were produced by Shaft Studios and directed by Akiyuki Shinbo
The series begins with and revolves around Nozomu Itoshiki, a young high school teacher who is about to commit suicide, the young man is unable to see any real point to life and has the uncanny ability to find meaningless and misery in everything. The morning of his suicide attempt he tries to hang himself from a Cherry Blossom tree but his attempt is thwarted by a young school girl named Kafuka Fuura, the young girl is the complete opposite to the teacher who explains to him that he should not try to kill himself on such a beautiful day in front of beautiful sakura trees. However the young girl tries to rescue the teacher by swinging from his body and pulling him down by his legs but before he has a chance to die the rope gives and Itoshiki survives and flees the girl who has now dubbed him ‘Pink Supervisor’.
Seeking refuge from the wild schoolgirl Itoshiki heads to class only to find out that the girl is actually one of his new students and upon paying him 50 yen she insists she may call him Pink Supervisor forever. His luck doesn’t improve however when he realizes that Fuura isn’t the only oddball in the class, there is Chiri Kitsu who demands everything be perfect and methodical, Abiru Koboshi a young girl who has a fetish for animal tails and is possibly the victim of a Domestic Violence, Meru Otanashi the shy quiet girl who sends abusive text messages and emails to her teachers and classmates as well as a love-sick stalker, an illegal immigrant, an agoraphobe and so many more.
Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei is as funny as it is bizarre. The pale animation is contrasted with the colourful jokes, eccentric characters and over the top stories. The series takes the piss out of everything, from Japanese culture, other Anime, relationships and philosophy. Each episode tends to focus on a particular character, with some outlandish story revolving around them, whether it is Itoshiki trying to avoid eye contact with his female students so they don’t get engaged, Fuura trying to convince her teacher that the girl who is always absent is in fact a house demon and so much more.
If you are looking for something a little silly and are in need of a laugh then you have to check out Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei.
Bad Points
It’s insane
Good Points
It’s insane and funny
Nice animation
Ridiculous but loveable and unforgettable characters
The Verdict: 8/10
