Classroom of the Elite (TV series)
Anime adaptation of the light novel series by Shōgo Kinugasa.
Classroom of the Elite (Japanese: ようこそ実力至上主義の教室へ, Hepburn: Yōkoso Jitsuryoku Shijōshugi no Kyōshitsu e) is a Japanese anime television series based on the light novel series of the same name written by Shōgo Kinugasa and illustrated by Shunsaku Tomose. The series premiered in July 2017 and, as of 2024, has completed three television seasons, with no official announcement of a fourth or fifth season as of the present date.
- Seasons
- 3 (as of 2024)
Lore & Background
The anime is set at the Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School, a government-run institution where students are divided into four ranked classes (A through D) and earn Private Points based on class merit. Class D begins with zero points after failing to adhere to school regulations. The first season follows Kiyotaka Ayanokōji, Suzune Horikita, and Kikyō Kushida as they navigate exams, a deserted island survival test, and an assault accusation against classmate Ken Sudō. The second season introduces the Zodiac Test, a sports festival, and the Paper Shuffle exam, culminating in Kakeru Ryūen's interrogation of Kei Karuizawa and Ayanokōji's physical confrontation with Ryūen. The third season includes a Mixed Training Camp, a Class Poll that results in three expulsions, and the Event Selection Exam where Ayanokōji faces Arisu Sakayanagi in chess.
Reader's Guide
Classroom of the Elite stands out in the anime landscape for its cynical take on high school power dynamics and its focus on psychological warfare rather than physical combat. The series subverts typical school anime tropes by emphasizing strategic manipulation, class competition, and the moral ambiguity of its protagonist. Its complex 'S-System' and layered plotlines have drawn critical acclaim for sharp writing and darker themes. The multi-year hiatus between the first and second seasons, followed by the production of two seasons to complete the 'First Year' arc, demonstrates the series' enduring popularity. As of 2026, the anime continues to adapt the light novel's 'Second Year' arc, with a fifth season announced, ensuring its legacy as a notable entry in psychological anime.
Did You Know?
- The series is abbreviated as Yōjitsu (よう実) in Japan.
- The second and third seasons were produced after a multi-year hiatus to complete the adaptation of the 'First Year' arc.
- The third season aired from January to March 2024.
- Crunchyroll streamed the series and Funimation streamed the English dub.
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