The previous reviews of this series do a good job of summing up its appeal (and its flaws). Overall I come down on the positive side of the spectrum and greatly enjoy the show for its originality and offbeat flair. However, I feel there is one important aspect of it that hasn't really been discussed yet that deserves to be.
That is the "social satire" bit. Basically, Zetsubou Sensei is a vehicle for skewering Japanese society. This is significant because unlike Western society (comparatively), Japan is a very repressed country, and despite its many problems, people rarely like to talk about them. It hides its crippling shortcomings underneath a veneer of politeness and ritual. But the savvy folks at Studio Shaft peel away this layer and giggle at the nation's inherent absurdity.
The characters are simple and basically just excuses to mock society. Sensei is a parody of Japan's continuing obsession with suicide and sadness. Kiri represents Japan's scarcely noticed Hikikomori problem. Kafuka basically satirizes some Japanese people's relentless cheeriness and optimism. Chiri is a reflection of the whole country's OCD. And so on.
More than that the episodes themselves often focus on a few different aspects of Japanese society rarely discussed in the mainstream. Illegal immigration, excessive apologizing, the mass media's obsessive if fleeting worship of pop "idols," and even obscure topics like how second-best things are criminally overlooked come under Zetsubou Senseis lens. Although some of its topics are general social problems, familiarity with Japan and its quirks will give the show much more depth.
It's true that after the deeper stuff, focusing on harem tropes might seem like a step down, but you could also think of it as a necessary "breather." Overall I recommend this show to anyone with an interest in anime, Japanese society, or even animation in general (because of the creative art). Just be warned that it does get stale/repetitive after a while.
Sly, dark, subversive, original
The previous reviews of this series do a good job of summing up its appeal (and its flaws). Overall I come down on the positive side of the spectrum and greatly enjoy the show for its originality and offbeat flair. However, I feel there is one important aspect of it that hasn't really been discussed yet that deserves to be.
That is the "social satire" bit. Basically, Zetsubou Sensei is a vehicle for skewering Japanese society. This is significant because unlike Western society (comparatively), Japan is a very repressed country, and despite its many problems, people rarely like to talk about them. It hides its crippling shortcomings underneath a veneer of politeness and ritual. But the savvy folks at Studio Shaft peel away this layer and giggle at the nation's inherent absurdity.
The characters are simple and basically just excuses to mock society. Sensei is a parody of Japan's continuing obsession with suicide and sadness. Kiri represents Japan's scarcely noticed Hikikomori problem. Kafuka basically satirizes some Japanese people's relentless cheeriness and optimism. Chiri is a reflection of the whole country's OCD. And so on.
More than that the episodes themselves often focus on a few different aspects of Japanese society rarely discussed in the mainstream. Illegal immigration, excessive apologizing, the mass media's obsessive if fleeting worship of pop "idols," and even obscure topics like how second-best things are criminally overlooked come under Zetsubou Senseis lens. Although some of its topics are general social problems, familiarity with Japan and its quirks will give the show much more depth.
It's true that after the deeper stuff, focusing on harem tropes might seem like a step down, but you could also think of it as a necessary "breather." Overall I recommend this show to anyone with an interest in anime, Japanese society, or even animation in general (because of the creative art). Just be warned that it does get stale/repetitive after a while.