An entertaining series with an intriguing plot and likable characters, Assassination Classroom quickly gained notoriety for capturing audiences with a light and comedic tone before sending them into a whirlwind of emotions. Becoming a gateway for many newcomers and a treat for long-time anime fans, this science-fiction comedy series is now a staple in the anime community, with Koro-sensei being one of the most recognizable characters ever with his iconic yellow octopus design.
Assassination Classroom's success has risen so high that it's received several awards and nominations, including taking second place on Media Factory and Da Vinci Magazine's Book of the Year list. It's also garnered two live-action films and two Nintendo 3DS games. While obviously a notable franchise, here's how to watch and read the anime and manga.
The Plot of Assassination Classroom
The story begins when a powerful octopus-like creature destroys 70% of the moon with a single explosion. After showing off his superhuman abilities, the creature threatens to inflict the same catastrophe onto Earth in exactly one year's time if no one can kill him. However, the creature then makes the peculiar demand to be appointed a teacher at the prestigious Kunugigaoka Junior High School. To keep the creature in one place, the government agrees to this demand and places him in charge of Class 3-E also known as the End Class.
Kunugigaoka's education system operates on a hierarchy, with Class 3-E at the very bottom. The class consists of a group of students who either struggle to obtain decent grades or have a habit of breaking school rules. Obtaining a spot in 3-E is seen as punishment, as the students are cast aside by teachers and peers alike for being "inadequate" in comparison to Kunugigaoka's standards. Now, these students find themselves at the forefront of an impossible mission to assassinate a seemingly invincible creature -- dubbed Koro-sensei -- who has the ability to move and fly at Mach 20 speed. Surprisingly, Koro-sensei is an amazing teacher, effectively raising the morale of his students and teaching them well in academia, assassination and life skills.
Where to Read the Assassination Classroom Manga
Written and illustrated by Yusei Matsui, Assassination Classroom was published in Weekly Shonen Jump from July 2012 to March 2016. During its run, the manga garnered a total of 21 volumes and 180 chapters with five extras. All 21 volumes have been translated to English via Viz Media, and due to its prominence, the manga is fairly easy to come by even after years since its completion. Digital copies are available to read through Viz Media, Kindle and Comixology. Physical books are available to purchase individually or collectively as an entire box set. These can be found on Amazon and through local retailers such as Wal-Mart, Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million.
There is also a spin-off manga called Koro-sensei Quest, which consists of four volumes and 17.5 chapters. Written by Kizuku Watanabe and illustrated by Jo Aoto, it features a similar storyline to the main series but is set in an alternate universe. The students from Class 3-E are in an RPG world where they must grow stronger to eventually face off against the Demon King, a.k.a. Koro-sensei. Ironically, the Demon King decides to train them so they can one day kill him. The spin-off is much harder to find, but physical copies are available on Amazon.
Where to Watch the Assassination Classroom Anime
The franchise generated two anime, both of which were adapted by Studio Lerche. Season 1 began airing in winter 2015 and produced 22 episodes, while Season 2 aired in winter 2016 with 25 episodes. Like most series, Assassination Classroom has its anime adaptation to thank for its boost in popularity and manga sales. Both seasons are available to stream on Funimation and Hulu. They can also be purchased digitally through iTunes, Amazon Video and Google Play. DVDs and Blu-rays can be found on Amazon and at Wal-Mart.
Meanwhile, Koro-sensei Quest has one season of 12 episodes and can be streamed on Funimation, Crunchyroll and VRV. It can also be purchased digitally through iTunes and Amazon Video. DVD and Blu-ray versions are for sale on Amazon and at Wal-Mart.
