- Adorkable: Haruaki. His awkward mannerism is one of the reasons fans love him. His clumsy moments highlight his adorable side, especially in his interactions with students and coworkers. Whether he’s fumbling through a conversation or caught in an embarrassing situations.
- Awesome Art: Fans of the series often rave about the stunning visuals from the manga, from the intricate character designs to the beautifully detailed illustrations by Tanaka.
- Awesome Music: The first anime opening, “Ebi Zori Turn!” performed by Four Eight 48, features a catchy, high-energy beat that perfectly captures the fun tone of the series. Enn, one of the members of Four Eight 48, shared her excitement on Twitter
, expressing how thrilled she was to contribute to the theme song for her favorite manga. - Base-Breaking Character:
- Haruaki can be rather divisive despite being the series' main protagonist. One camp loves him for his clumsy and awkward moments which make him endearing, while others find his constant screeching annoying (especially in the anime, where his screams are heard out loud) and view him as a creep who shouldn't be anywhere near a school due to his school uniform fetish.
- Ebisu is a character who divides fans, with his complex nature sparking strong opinions. Some see him as a kind older brother, trying to do what’s best for Sano, while others view him as a two-faced monster working for the gods.
- Bishōnen Jump Syndrome: The series, while primarily aimed at a male audience, undeniably features a substantial number of very handsome and attractive male characters.
- Broken Base:
- The decision to change Haruaki’s obsession with sailor uniforms in the anime adaptation, which was a major part of his character, has been quite divisive among fans. Some appreciate the change, feeling it opens up more opportunities to see Haruaki’s reactions to different uniforms, or that the idea of the protagonist being a teacher who's obsessed with sailor uniforms was already creepy and/or unfunny so the change was warranted. However, others believe it diminishes a core aspect of his personality, arguing that the fixation on sailor uniforms was integral to his quirky charm.
- The anime adaptation has stirred debate among some fans who followed the manga. While some enjoy seeing it adapted at all, others express disappointment with the art style, viewing it as a downgrade or feeling it doesn’t live up to Tanaka’s distinct and detailed illustrations from the manga, opting instead for a shinier, less detailed look. Additionally, some cuts from Episode 1 have left fans divided, such as rearranging scenes from Volume 1 and omitting key moments like Haruaki meeting Akisame and Mujina for the first time, using his powers on Mujina which gave him his afro, making Sano during his introduction seem more nicer than he initially appeared, cutting Mame’s prank, and getting rid of a significant scene where Haruaki uses his powers to stop Mame. These changes have left some fans disappointed.
- Crazy Is Cool: Akira Takahashi. He proves that being a bit unhinged and psychopathic can be both intriguing and cool.
- Creepy Cute:
- Odawara, with no face, has a sweet and gentle personality that contrasts with his eerie appearance.
- Satsuki, who constantly sports a smile, carries an unsettling yet strangely adorable vibe. Her friendly, bubbly personality makes her both creepy and cute.
- Ensemble Dark Horse:
- Akira, though he appeared briefly at first, quickly gained popularity due to his wild personality, often seen with heart eyes and a protruding tongue whenever he’s excited to examine something. His strikingly handsome design, chaotic nature, and significant role in later arcs solidified him as a beloved character. His popularity even led to him getting his moment to shine in the spinoff with his friend Yamazaki.
- Ame is well-liked by fans for being the cool, overprotective older sibling who, despite not appearing much in the story, shows a deep understanding of Haruaki’s position as a teacher, even with his youkai connections. Many fans wish he had more screen time or that his character was explored further in the story, as his brotherly instincts have made him a standout favorite.
- Kai became a fan favorite during the Time Travel Arc, winning over the audience as a sympathetic villain and a love rival to Ibara. Despite his antagonistic role, his complexity and motivations earned him a lot of love after the arc’s conclusion.
- Ranmaru has also emerged as a very popular character, despite having less screen time he leaves a lasting impression due to his comedic antics and hilarious situations he gets himself into.
- The Principal has hugely become a fan-favorite, despite his minor role. His distinct personality and his shippable moments with Ranmaru has increase in his prominence within the fandom.
- Byakko, Yamazaki, and Kurai also gained substantial popularity among fans, becoming standout characters in their own right.
- Epileptic Trees: Some fans speculate that Ame has inherited something from his ancestor Abe no Seimei, raising questions about whether he possesses a fragment of Abe no Seimei’s soul, abilities, or just his personality, especially considering that Ame is Haruaki’s identical twin.
- Fan-Preferred Couple: Some fans prefer Kuniko to end up with Yuri rather than Nyuudou, while others prefer Kashima and Beniko together instead of Hijita and Beniko.
- Friendly Fandoms: With the Toilet Bound Hanako-kun fandom, it’s hard to ignore the similarities between Haruaki and Hanako as main characters, with both even appearing together on a few cover arts. Both series have been featured in the same magazine. There was also a fun promotional collaboration, with Mame playfully perched on Nene’s head. To top it off, their anime adaptations aired in the same season.
- Gotta Ship 'Em All: With such a large and diverse cast, it’s no surprise that fans have created a plethora of ships between everyone.
- Ho Yay:
- Miki and Haruaki. The two shares a strong bond and are each other's first loves, unaware of their shared past.
- Fuji and Ogoso's relationship is often interpreted by fans as romantic, largely due to the significant amount of Ship Tease they receive.
- Hatanaka and Miki share a notable moment in the spinoff where they first meet:
- In which a teenage Hatanaka, mistaking Miki for a girl, spots him sleeping on a bed and blushes as he gently moves Miki’s hair out of the way, with their faces being really close to each other. Until Miki wakes up and slaps him.
- Principal and Ranmaru has tons of moments in which their interactions comes off Like an Old Married Couple.
- Launcher of a Thousand Ships:
- Haruaki, the All-Loving Hero, is so universally liked that fans ship him with almost everyone, including unlikely characters like the Principal. His warm, empathetic nature makes him a fan-favorite for romantic pairings.
- Sano is frequently shipped with everyone—from his classmates like Mame and Hijita to even the teachers. His unpredictable mix of hot and cold emotions makes him a peculiar favorite among fan-fiction writers and shippers.
- Les Yay: Yuri and Kuniko shares a close relationship that ventures into Les Yay territory, particularly as it's confirmed that Yuri harbors a secret crush on Kuniko.
- LGBT Fanbase: The series has garnered a number of LGBT+ fans, thanks to its portrayal of close male bonds that sometimes verge on being bromance, Yuri’s crush on Kuniko, Byakko’s love for Abe no Seimei, crossdressing, and especially after Kai’s reveals himself as gay.
- Moe: Quite a few characters:
- Kuniko, with her cute appearance, big blue eyes, and a large red polka-dotted ribbon.
- Momoyama with her big pink twintails.
- Mame, in his chibi form, adds to the cuteness as well.
- Even the Big Bad, Shutendouji, despite her evil nature, exudes moe in her child form.
- No Yay: The shipping between Sano and Haruaki is seen as problematic by some fans due to Haruaki being his teacher.
- Obscure Popularity: The series has a somewhat obscure popularity, being well-known among Japanese fans but having a smaller, niche following outside of Japan. It wasn’t until the anime adaptation that it gained a bit more recognition in the West, gradually increasing in popularity.
- Obvious Judas: A few readers were suspicious of Kurahashi long before the reveal that he was the spy, particularly due to his interactions with Ebisu.
- One True Pairing: Ibara and Hatanaka, especially after the Time Travel Arc, where fans witnessed just how far Hatanaka is willing to go for her.
- One True Threesome: Miki, Haruaki, and Hatanaka stands out because they not only share a strong bond but also demonstrate a healthy and supportive friendship.
- Ships That Pass in the Night: The pairing of Ebisu and Ame, despite their limited interactions, gained a following among fans for being both olders brothers and having a brother complex.
- Spiritual Adaptation: The manga can be seen as the Japanese equivalent to Scooby-Doo and the Ghoul School given the male Cowardly Lion teacher being thrust into a school full of monsters but eventually warms up to them.
- They Changed It, Now It Sucks!: Some fans expressed disappointment over the change in Haruaki’s character from having a fascination with sailor uniforms to a more general interest in all uniforms in the anime adaptation. This modification is speculated by fans to have been motivated by concerns over potential backlash, particularly regarding the perception that Haruaki's specific obsession might carry inappropriate or sexual undertones.
- Too Cool to Live: Abe no Seimei, with his legendary status and brief but impactful appearance during the Kyoto arc. His powerful abilities, mysterious aura, and air of unapproachable coolness make him a character many fans wish to see more of.
- Unpopular Popular Character: Hijita has unexpectedly won over the fandom with his role as the comic relief and the quintessential buttmonkey of the series.The way he frequently finds himself in embarrassing or disadvantageous positions—only to bounce back with good humor—has made him a beloved figure of the fandom.
- Viewer Gender Confusion: Fuji and especially Byakko can easily be mistaken for female at first glance. Tanaka, who was frequently asked about Byakko’s gender, clarified in an extra that Byakko is actually male.
- What Do You Mean, It's for Kids?: The manga runs in the shonen magazine Monthly GFantasy, and at first glance the series appears to be lighthearted due to its vibrant, colorful art style and comedic moments. However, beneath the surface, it explores deep and often dark themes, including trauma, death, and complex emotional struggles.
- The Woobie:
- Miki, despite his strong and independent persona, is quite sensitive and burdened by the emotional weight of his past, particularly related to his mother and Haruaki.
- Sano presents a stoic and tough exterior, often coming across as cold or unfeeling. However, deep down, he harbors a well of emotions. While he usually suppresses these feelings, brief moments where his past are hinted at reveal a more vulnerable side.
- Nyuudou fits the “woobie” trope despite his intimidating appearance. Beneath his tough exterior, he’s often portrayed as a gentle and caring student who suffers from a painful past, particularly with his mother’s death and the emotional struggles surrounding his identity. Fans sympathize deeply with him, especially after having a whole arc to himself, where he is saved by his classmates after being taken away from school by his father.
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Ymmv/ATerrifiedTeacherAtGhoulSchool
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