Wednesday, July 11, 2018

Koro-sensei Q! (2016-2017)


Koro-sensei Q! is a net animation comprised of 12 episodes at roughly 10 minutes each.  It is a spin-off from Assassination Classroom and is a gag anime, however, the animation quality is still top notch.  The series is set in an alternate universe of an RPG-world, complete with fourth wall breaking.  It takes the RPG theme to its max including pop up dialogue boxes, hilarious status effects and of course, the costumes that the characters wear.


The characters have deformed proportions with a small body and large head.  The plot takes place in a similar setting where Koro-sensei is the Demon King of the world but becomes a teach at Kunugigaoka Junior High School.  He teaches Class 3E, which comprises some of the worst students in the school.  He teaches them skills in order to kill him.  The students are heroes in training but each has "bugs".  These are unique disadvantages (or in some cases, advantages), this is why they are weaker than others.  Bugs can include Karma's extreme bad luck, or Isogai's poorness such that he can only afford half of his armor set.


The series tend to highly exaggerate the personality traits of the characters but it is done to great effect and feels like you get the in-jokes and how it parallels the main series.  The main side characters return in similar roles, such as the Big Five becoming paladin knights, Principal Asano as the Pope and head of the school, Irina as a seductive witch and Karasuma as the Royal Knight Commander.  The humor mostly comes from slapstick comedy with frequent anime references and being more daring in its sexual references.


There are plenty of random segments with running jokes that will unceremoniously be slot between scenes that break up the pacing.  Some of the gags carry over from the main series such as Koro-sensei dressing up poorly, the Pope docking Koro-sensei's pay, Nagisa's feminine looks and body, and the Big Five being beaten by Class 3E.  Most of the events it parodies are from season 1 and there are a few spoilers for season 2.


There are a few episodes where the class is just recruiting new members in their quest.  However, the spoilers are more of an in-joke in that you would only get it and understand the subtext once you've seen season 2.  The ending is a bit of a troll moment but it suits the theme of the series really well.  Overall, Koro-sensei Q! is a bit of stupid fun.  It's fantastic for those who are suffering withdrawals after the stellar ending of the main series.  The characters are still charming here and while some of the jokes fall flat, enough works that it is enjoyable.

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