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; lit. 'Welcome to the Classroom of Real Ability Supremacism'), abbreviated as Yōjitsu (よう実) in Japan, is a Japanese anime television series based on the light novel series Classroom of the Elite written by Shōgo Kinugasa and illustrated by Shunsaku Tomose.
The anime premiered in July 2017. Following a multi-year hiatus, the second and third season were produced to complete the adaptation of the original light novel's "First Year" arc. As of 2026, the series has completed four television seasons, and is currently adapting the "Second Year" arc. A fifth season has been announced.
Plot
The Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School is a government-run institution where students are divided into four ranked classes (A through D). The school uses the "S-System," which awards "Private Points" based on class merit. Class D begins the series with zero points after failing to adhere to school regulations.
Season 1
Kiyotaka Ayanokōji enrolls in Class D and meets Suzune Horikita and Kikyō Kushida. The class discovers that their monthly point allowance is tied to their collective behavior and academic performance. After the class fails their midterms, Ayanokōji and Horikita use points to "buy" the passing grades of several students to prevent their expulsion. Class D student Ken Sudō is accused of assaulting three students from Class C. A hearing is held before the Student Council to determine his expulsion. Ayanokōji and Horikita set up a security camera trap to coerce the Class C students into withdrawing their complaint, resulting in Sudō remaining in school. The school conducts a Special Test on a deserted island. Each class is given 300 points to survive for a week; remaining points are added to their class total. Classes must designate a secret "leader." Despite internal sabotage and the theft of Horikita's keycard, Class D wins the exam after Ayanokōji correctly identifies the leaders of Class A and Class C while successfully hiding Class D's leader.
Season 2
Students are divided into 12 groups based on the Western zodiac for the "Zodiac Test." One "VIP" is hidden in each group. The objective is to identify the VIP through group discussions. During the exam, Ayanokōji discovers Kei Karuizawa's history of being bullied and forms a pact to protect her in exchange for her cooperation in his future plans. The school holds a sports festival where Class D is paired with Class A against Class B and Class C. Kakeru Ryūen of Class C uses a traitor within Class D to sabotage their efforts. Despite the internal interference, Ayanokōji wins a relay race against Student Council President Manabu Horikita, though Class D finishes last in the overall standings. The students take the "Paper Shuffle" exam, where classes design test questions for their rivals. Class D is paired against Class C. Horikita manages the class's study groups, while Ayanokōji prevents Kushida from sabotaging the class's exam papers. Ryūen kidnaps and interrogates Kei Karuizawa at a construction site to force the "mastermind" of Class D into the open. Ayanokōji arrives and physically defeats Ryūen and his associates. Ryūen takes responsibility for the incident and steps down as Class C's leader, and Class D is subsequently promoted to Class C.
Season 3
Students are sent to a mountain facility for a "Mixed Training Camp." They are divided into groups by gender and grade level, requiring cooperation between rival classes. The exam focuses on traditional arts, physical endurance, and a final written test. The school introduces an emergency exam: the "Class Poll." Each student must cast three "praise" votes and three "censure" votes for their own classmates. The student with the most censure votes in each class is expelled. This results in the expulsion of Shiho Manabe from Class C, Yahiko Totsuka from Class A, and Yamauchi Haruki from the original Class D. The final exam of the year is the "Event Selection Exam." Class leaders choose seven specific events (such as chess, basketball, or written tests) to compete in. Ayanokōji faces Arisu Sakayanagi of Class A in a chess match. Although Ayanokōji’s move is winning, Acting Director Tsukishiro uses the school's computer system to change the move, leading to a Class A victory. The school year ends with Class C (formerly D) moving toward the second year.
Season 4
Series overview
Cast and characters
| Character | Japanese | English |
|---|---|---|
| Kiyotaka Ayanokōji (綾小路 清隆, Ayanokōji Kiyotaka) | Shōya Chiba | Justin Briner |
| Suzune Horikita (堀北 鈴音, Horikita Suzune) | Akari Kitō | Felecia Angelle |
| Kikyō Kushida (櫛田 桔梗, Kushida Kikyō) | Yurika Kubo | Sarah Wiedenheft |
| Kei Karuizawa (軽井沢 恵, Karuizawa Kei) | Ayana Taketatsu | Bryn Apprill |
| Airi Sakura (佐倉 愛里, Sakura Airi) | M.A.O | Leah Clark |
| Ken Sudō (須藤 健, Sudō Ken) | Eiji Takeuchi | Brandon McInnis |
| Yōsuke Hirata (平田 洋介, Hirata Yōsuke) | Ryōta Ōsaka | Dallas Reid |
| Kakeru Ryūen (龍園 翔, Ryūen Kakeru) | Masaaki Mizunaka | Eric Vale |
| Mio Ibuki (伊吹 澪, Ibuki Mio) | Mikako Komatsu | Jamie Marchi |
| Honami Ichinose (一之瀬 帆波, Ichinose Honami) | Nao Tōyama | Kristi Rothrock |
| Arisu Sakayanagi (坂柳 有栖, Sakayanagi Arisu) | Rina Hidaka | Trina Nishimura |
| Kohei Katsuragi (葛城 康平, Katsuragi Kōhei) | Satoshi Hino | Jarrod Greene |
| Manabu Horikita (堀北 学, Horikita Manabu) | Yūichirō Umehara | Ian Sinclair |
| Akane Tachibana (橘 茜, Tachibana Akane) | Konomi Kohara | Apphia Yu |
| Sae Chabashira (茶柱 佐枝, Chabashira Sae) | Rina Satō | Jennifer Alyx |
| Chie Hoshinomiya (星之宮 知恵, Hoshinomiya Chie) | Hisako Kanemoto | Sara Ragsdale |
| Hiyori Shiina (椎名 ひより, Shiina Hiyori) | Rie Takahashi | Jill Harris |
| Miyabi Nagumo (南雲 雅, Nagumo Miyabi) | Soma Saito | Stephen Fu |
Production and release
An anime television series adaptation aired from July 12 to September 27, 2017, on AT-X and other networks. Seiji Kishi and Hiroyuki Hashimoto directed the series at Lerche, Aoi Akashiro handled the series composition, Kazuaki Morita designed the characters, and Ryo Takahashi composed the music. The opening theme song is "Caste Room", performed by ZAQ, while the ending theme song is "Beautiful Soldier", performed by Minami.
On February 21, 2022, it was announced that a sequel was in production, which was later revealed to have two seasons, with Lerche returning as the studio. The second season is directed by Yoshihito Nishōji, with Kishi and Hashimoto serving as chief directors, Hayato Kazano replacing Akashiro as screenwriter, and Morita returning as character designer. Masaru Yokoyama and Kana Hashiguchi replaced Takahashi, and served as music composers. The second season aired from July 4 to September 26, 2022. The opening theme song is "Dance in the Game", performed by ZAQ, while the ending theme song is "Hito Shibai" (人芝居), performed by Mai Fuchigami. The third season was originally scheduled for 2023, but was delayed, and eventually aired from January 3 to March 27, 2024. The third season's opening theme song is "Minor Piece", performed by ZAQ, while the ending theme song is "Konsei Dai Kakumei" (今世大革命; "The Great Revolution of this World"), performed by Yui Ninomiya.
A fourth season, covering the first semester of the Year 2 sequel light novel series, was announced during the "MF Bunko J Natsu no Gakuensai 2024" livestream event on September 1, 2024. It is produced by Lerche and directed by Noriyuki Nomata, with the rest of the staff and cast reprising their roles. The fourth season aired from April 1 to June 24, 2026. The fourth season's opening theme song is "Monster", performed by Eir Aoi, while the ending theme song is "Liar Veil" (ライアーヴェール), performed by ZAQ.
After the airing of the final episode of the fourth season, a fifth season was announced.
Overseas release and distribution
Crunchyroll streamed the series and Funimation streamed the English dub. iQIYI added the series onto its platform, Q3, and the Thai dub in 2022.
Music
The music for the series was composed by Ryō Takahashi.
Theme songs
| Season | Type | Title | Performer(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | Opening | "Caste Room" | ZAQ |
| Season 1 | Ending | "Beautiful Soldier" | Minami Kuribayashi |
| Season 2 | Opening | "Dance in the Game" | ZAQ |
| Season 2 | Ending | "Hito Shibai" | Mai Fuchigami |
| Season 3 | Opening | "Minor Piece" | ZAQ |
| Season 3 | Ending | "The Great Revolution of This World" | Yui Ninomiya |
| Season 4 | Opening | "Monster" | Eir Aoi |
| Season 4 | Ending | "Liar Veil" | ZAQ |
Reception
The series has received critical acclaim, with praise for its writing, darker topics and subversion of typical high school anime tropes. Theron Martin of Anime News Network noted that the series' strength lies in its "cynical take on the high school power fantasy," specifically highlighting the protagonist's detached nature and the complex "S-System" that drives the plot. In a review of the first season's conclusion, Martin commented on the "sharp writing" regarding the island survival arc.
Writing for IGN Southeast Asia, Dale Bashir noted that the series stood out by focusing on psychological warfare over physical combat. He highlighted that the second season successfully expanded on the high stakes introduced in the first season.
