Classroom of the Elite: 2nd Season Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		0.5
Overall		3.5

Classroom of the Elite: 2nd Season Blu-ray Movie Review

Classroom of the Elite: Season 2 continues the suspense-filled thriller with more intense drama for fans of the anime series to enjoy. Created by Syougo Kinugasa, Classroom of the Elite: Season 2 features animation production by Lerche (Magical Girl Raising Project, Assassination Classroom). Produced by Akihiro Sotokawa (The Dangers in My Heart, The Most Heretical Last Boss Queen: From Villainess to Savior), Aya Iizuka (Cautious Hero: The Hero Is Overpowered but Overly Cautious, The Misfit of Demon King Academy), Hiroki Muramatsu (Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet - Far Beyond The Voyage, SoniAni: Super Sonico the Animation), Kenichi Tokumura (BOFURI: I Don't Want to Get Hurt, so I'll Max Out My Defense., Midnight Occult Civil Servants), Masahito Ikemoto (Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World-, The Asterisk War: The Academy City on the Water), Masakatsu Umeda (Date A Live V, Wandering Witch - The Journey of Elaina), Nobuhiko Kurosu (Harem in the Labyrinth of Another World, The Hidden Dungeon Only I Can Enter), Shō Tanaka (A Place Further Than the Universe, Tada Never Falls in Love), and Terushige Yoshie (High School DxD Hero, Matoi the Sacred Slayer), Classroom of the Elite: Season 2 should continue to appeal to fans of the first season outing.

Classroom of the Elite: Season 2 features theme music performances by ZAQ (opening) and Mai Fuchigami (ending). Classroom of the Elite features original character designs by Shunsaku Tomose. Executive produced by Asa Suehira (Harem in the Labyrinth of Another World, Sasaki and Peeps), Asuka Yamazaki (Bibliophile Princess, Getter Robo Arc), Daijō Kudō (Konohana Kitan, Wasteful Days of High School Girl), Fumihiko Shinozaki (Full Metal Panic! Invisible Victory, The Helpful Fox Senko-san), Haruki Satomi (Luminous Witches, Strike Witches: Road to Berlin), Seiji Mitsunobu (Moonlight Mile, Tekken: Bloodline), Shingo Kunieda (Berserk: The Golden Age Arc - Memorial Edition, Harem in the Labyrinth of Another World), Sou Yurugi (The Magical Revolution of the Reincarnated Princess, Our Dating Story: The Experienced You and The Inexperienced Me), and Yuka Sakurai (Malevolent Spirits: Mononogatari, That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime: Scarlet Bond). Classroom of the Elite: Season 2 features Japanese voice performances by Shōya Chiba, Akari Kitō, Ayana Taketatsu, Masaaki Mizunaka, and Yurika Kubo.

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji (Shōya Chiba) and Suzune Horikita (Akari Kitō) continue to make alliances as working together might yield some benefits in a competitive school environment that is more cutthroat than it seems at first glance. The Classroom of the Elite is no ordinary school. In fact, the classroom is one of competitive education – the students don’t only go to school for grades but they compete to survive. Battle of the fittest unfolds as the students must surpass expectations and use their intellect to even make it to the next grade.

At first glace, students believe the school to be a laid-back dream where the students can do as they please. In reality, the students can’t even survive to see another day if they don’t prove themselves superior. A school based on merits in theory but one that pushes students to their edge. As the new school season unfolds, Kiyotaka and Suzune are joined by Kei Karuizawa (Ayana Taketatsu), Kakeru Ryūen (Masaaki Mizunaka), and Kikyō Kushida (Yurika Kubo). Which students can rise to the top and make the grade?

Kiyotaka Ayanokōji makes for an interesting lead character with the saga exploring the darker side of education. The “survival of the fittest” aspect of the series theme is something explored within the leading characters. Kiyotaka doesn’t “play the game” (so to speak) like the other students do. The character understands the school has tricks up its sleeve and money won’t buy everything.

The character designs by Kazuaki Morita (Assassination Classroom, My Life as Inukai-san's Dog) are reasonably well done for the production. Morita is a solid character designer and the efforts here certainly add to the production quality. The lead characters are vital to the production and art is effectively showcased through the character design work.

The animation is solid and one of the strengths of Classroom of the Elite: Season 2. Though Classroom of the Elite: Season 2 might not push the envelope as far as the animation goes, the art is still reasonably engaging and solid. The art direction for Classroom of the Elite: Season 2 is by Hirofune Hane (Magical Girl Raising Project, To Your Eternity). The chief animation direction by Ippei Ichii (Puzzle & Dragons X, Valkyrie Drive: Mermaid) and Miho Ichikawa (Rumble Garanndoll, Undefeated Bahamut Chronicle) adds to the series aesthetic qualities, too. The animators provide solid background animation and line art for the series. Though Classroom of the Elite: Season 2 might not stray too far from the aesthetic of the first season, it achieves a solid aesthetic keeping the aesthetic in unison with the concept of the series.

The cinematography by Naoki Serizawa (Konohana Kitan, Seven Senses of the Reunion) is well-done and a nice highlight of the production. Serizawa blends together art that showcases both lighter and darker elements for the series. Serizawa is a talented cinematographer and provides both crisp and light visual cinematography for some scenes and darker tones to the cinematographic style during daker moments – aiding the storytelling.

The score composed by Kana Hashiguchi (Trapped in a Dating Sim: The World of Otome Games is Tough for Mobs, A3! Season Spring & Summer) and Masaru Yokoyama (Arakawa Under the Bridge, Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches) is decent and adds to the background. The score is reasonably solid as an element of the production – enhancing the thriller and suspense elements with music highlighting dramatics, too.

Written by Hayato Kazano (Killing Bites, Rumble Garanndoll), Classroom of the Elite: Season 2 has fun with the school concept and the darker elements at play with the series. The battle of the wits and survival elements are essential to the story. Kazano continues to explore these ideas for the series.

Directed by Hiroyuki Hashimoto (Magical Girl Raising Project, Slow Start), Seiji Kishi (Assassination Classroom, Yuki Yuna Is a Hero), and Yoshihito Nishōji (Seven Senses of the Reunion, Solty Rei), Classroom of the Elite: Season 2 will appeal to fans of the first season. A continuation of the school drama and its competitive nature – who can survive to another year? For the fanbase seeking more drama and suspense, Classroom of the Elite: Season 2 picks up the saga by continuing the journey for the students and fans will want to check it out to see what happens next.

Classroom of the Elite: 2nd Season Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Released on Blu-ray by Crunchyroll, Classroom of the Elite: Season 2 is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high-definition in the original television broadcast aspect ratio of 1.78:1 widescreen. Color reproduction is excellent on the release. The clarity and detail on the presentation is excellent. An impressive high-definition encode by Crunchyroll.

The Blu-ray release provides a solid presentation benefiting by the quality the format has to offer audiences. The physical media format continues to provide superior video encoding compared to streaming video platforms. Streaming services tend to offer streaming video with lower video bit-rates. For home theater enthusiasts seeking the absolute best presentation quality possible, Blu-ray achieves a higher encode data-rate and more solid compression compared to streaming – which is not only limited by the data being sent by the streaming provider but also by other variables, too (the quality of data as well as how many family members or friends may be connected to various services in your household). Enthusiasts have always appreciated these quality attributes of the Blu-ray format and continue to do so in an era of streaming options.

Classroom of the Elite: 2nd Season Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release includes a selection of lossless audio options: English Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround sound and Japanese Dolby TrueHD 2.0 (with English subtitles). The release capably presents the sound direction by Satoki Iida (Assassination Classroom, Yuki Yuna Is a Hero). Dialogue is well reproduced and preserved on the release. The soundtrack and score are well highlighted and sounds clear on the release – adding to the series sound quality.

The English dub option does offer a somewhat more expansive surround soundstage with 5.1 surround audio while the Japanese language option is limited to 2.0 stereo. However, audio purists and enthusiasts who prefer to opt for the original language version will be pleased by the lossless encoding for the Japanese language audio selection. The English subtitles are well done and are free from egregious spelling or grammatical errors.

One of the hallmarks of the Blu-ray disc format is lossless audio encoding. In an era of streaming options, it remains nice to see the lossless audio provided by the physical media format. Blu-ray continues to appeal to home theater enthusiasts and audiophiles seeking the best possible audio presentation quality.  

Classroom of the Elite: 2nd Season Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The first print run of the Blu-ray release includes a nicely designed o-card slipcover. The slipcover features distinct and unique art. The art on the slipcover is different from the artwork featured underneath the slipcover. These design elements add to the collectability of the Blu- ray packaging. A nicely designed package by Crunchyroll.

On disc supplements include:

Promo Videos (HD, 3:16)

Commercials (HD, 1:04)

Textless Opening Song (HD, 1:33)

Textless Closing Song (HD, 1:33)

Classroom of the Elite: 2nd Season Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Classroom of the Elite: Season 2 continues the drama and suspense of the thriller exploring the survival-of-the-fittest competitive nature of the school. The anime series features nice animation and production values. The Blu-ray release provides a solid high-definition presentation and lossless audio encoding. The first print run of the release also comes with a well-designed o-card slipcover with unique artwork. Recommended.