The appeal and reviews of "Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu Ni!": A new development in school comedy

Baka and Test: Summon the Beasts 2! - Summer heat and youth explosion

"Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu Ni!" is a TV anime series that aired on TV Tokyo and other networks from July 7 to September 29, 2011. It is based on a light novel by Kenji Inoue and published by Famitsu Bunko, directed by Shin Ohnuma and animated by SILVER LINK. The series is set at Fumitzuki Gakuen, an advanced preparatory school where students are strictly classified into classes based on their grades in the promotion tests, and follows the struggles of the students in Class F.

story

At Fumitzuki Academy, classes are strictly divided according to the results of the promotion test. Class A is a well-equipped class where the gifted gather, but the lowest class F is a poor environment with only worn-out tables and rotten tatami mats. The students of Class F, including Yoshii Akihisa, lead an exciting school life in a sense, taking part in the "Exam Summoning War", a battle to win their class using a system developed by the school, and participating in the "School Festival". Then, summer arrives and the days get even hotter.

cast

The voice actors for the main characters are as follows:

• Akihisa Yoshii: Hiroshi Shimono
• Himeji Mizuki: Hitomi Harada
• Minami Shimada: Kaori Mizuhashi
• Yuji Sakamoto: Tatsuhisa Suzuki
• Hideyoshi Kinoshita and Yuko Kinoshita: Emiri Kato
• Kota Tsuchiya: Yuki Miyata
• Shoko Kirishima: Tomomi Isomura
• Shimizu Miharu: Taketatsu Ayana
• Toshimitsu Kubo: Takuma Terashima
• Shimada Hazuki: Hirata Mana
• Aiko Kudo: Yoshino Nanjo
• Rei Yoshii: Kikuko Inoue
• Soichi Nishimura: Akio Otsuka
• Shin Fukuhara, Narration: Kenjiro Tsuda

Main Staff

The production staff is as follows:

• Original author: Kenji Inoue (Baka and Test: Summon the Beasts series, published by Famitsu Bunko/Enterbrain)
• Character design: Yui Haga
• Director: Shin Onuma
• Series Composition: Takayama Katsuhiko
• Character design and chief animation director: Oshima Miwa
• Color design: Miyuki Kobata
• Art Director: Azuma Koji
• Art: ST. Tulip
• Director of photography: Kosuke Nakanishi
• Photo: Asahi Productions
• Edited by: Tagumajun
• Sound Director: Toshiki Kameyama
• Sound Production: Omnibus Promotion
• Music: Nijine
• Music Production: Lantis
• Animation production: SILVER LINK.
• Production: Baka and Test: Summon the Beasts 2 Production Committee

Main Characters

The details of the main characters are as follows:

• Akihisa Yoshii : 2nd year, Class F, Fumizuki Gakuen High School. He is a member of the King of Idiots, and is under observation. Although he has a simple, impulsive, and insensitive personality, he has a warm heart and will do his best for his friends and the weak.
• Himeji Mizuki : 2nd year F class at Fumitzuki Gakuen High School. Excellent grades, good manners, beautiful appearance, and a great figure. She is overflowing with feminine charm in every aspect, but her cooking skills are the only thing she is hopeless at.
• Minami Shimada : 2nd year, F class, Fumitzuki Gakuen High School. A returnee from Germany, she is not good at reading and writing Japanese. She has a competitive and aggressive personality, and most of her fangs are directed at Akihisa, but she sometimes shows her feminine side.
• Sakamoto Yuji : 2nd year, Class F, Fumitzuki Gakuen High School. Akihisa's bad friend and the class representative of Class F. He was called a child prodigy when he was young. He's generally lazy, but when he gets serious, he uses his innate quick thinking to get things done, no matter what the means.
• Kinoshita Hideyoshi : 2nd year, F class, Fumitzuki Gakuen High School. He is a respectable man, but because of his cute appearance, he is often not seen that way (or rather, almost always). He is a member of the drama club and is very serious about acting. He is also good at voice imitations.
• Kota Tsuchiya : 2nd year, F class, Fumitzuki Gakuen High School. Nicknamed "Mutsurini (Silent Sex Expert)," he is a pervert. He has a small, toned build and good athletic ability, but he always tries to stay out of sight in order to satisfy his sexual curiosity.
• Shoko Kirishima : 2nd year A class, Fumizuki Gakuen High School. Class representative and top of the grade. A perfect superhuman, good at both academics and sports and beautiful in appearance. Usually has a quiet demeanor and even a godly air, but in times of emergency, she has had a single-minded love since childhood.
• Yuko Kinoshita : 2nd year A class at Fumitzuki Gakuen High School. Hideyoshi Kinoshita's older sister. Unlike her brother, she has excellent grades, is close to Shoko, and is a reliable presence in the A class.
• Toshimitsu Kubo : 2nd year A class at Fumitzuki Gakuen High School. Top of his class. He is a good young man who is very serious about his studies, but he also has a sincere affection for Akihisa.
• Aiko Kudo : A second-year student in class A at Fumitzuki Gakuen High School. A boyish girl who excels in health and physical education just like Mussolini. However, her knowledge is backed up by real-life experience (according to her).
• Shimizu Miharu : 2nd year, D class, Fumizuki Gakuen High School. He loves everything about Shimada Minami, and is somewhat of a problem child. He thinks of men as less than livestock, and mercilessly punishes any man who gets close to Minami.
• Hazuki Shimada : Minami Shimada's younger sister. She is cheerful and not shy around strangers, and she calls Akihisa "stupid big brother" without hesitation.
• Yoshii Rei : Yoshii Akihisa's older sister. Unlike her brother, she is a brilliant student who attended a university abroad. However, does she have problems with common sense?
• Nishimura Souichi : In charge of life guidance at Fumitzuki Gakuen High School. Nicknamed "Iron Man." He is feared by students for his strong body that can withstand Akihisa's summoned beasts and his high academic ability that is contrary to his appearance. He later becomes the homeroom teacher of the second year F class.
• Shin Fukuhara : Head teacher of the second year F class at Fumitzuki Gakuen High School. He lives life at his own pace. He is always struggling to come up with the answers to the problems he encounters. He later leaves his position as head teacher of the F class and becomes the narrator of this work.

subtitle

The subtitles for each episode are as follows:

• Question 1: "Swimming in the sea with me and everyone!"
• Question 2: "Me, yukata, and festival fun!"
• Question 3: "Me, that girl, and a stuffed animal!"
• Question 4: "Me, my true feelings, and the dignity of a man!"
• Question 5: "Me, Peeping, and Training Camp!"
• Question 6: "Me, Peeping, and Male Friendship!"
• Question 7: "Me, Peeping, and the Faraway Shangri-La!"
• Question 8: "My home, Japan, and unknown words"
• Question 9: "Me, Love, and Negotiations!"
• Question 10: "Me, the Road to Love, and the Art of Love!"
• Question 11: "Yuji, Shoko, and childhood memories"
• Question 12: "A fool, a clown and a requiem!"
• Question 13: Baka and Test and Summon the Beasts!

Related Titles

"Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu Ni!" is part of a series, and includes the following related works:

• Baka and Test and the Summoned Beasts (first season)
• Baka and Test and Summoning Beast Festival (volumes 1 and 2)

Theme songs and music

The theme songs and insert songs are as follows:

• OP1: "You + Mystery + Me JUMP!!"
• Lyricist: Aki Hata
• Composer: Kazuya Takase
• Arrangement: Kazuya Takase
• Sung by: Larval Stage Planning
• ED1: "Eureka Baby"
• Lyricist: Aki Hata
• Composer: Kenichi Maeyamada
• Arrangement: Kenichi Maeyamada
• Vocals: Natsuko Aso
• Insert song: "Hi-Ho!!"
• Lyricist: bamboo
• Composer: Ichibanboshi☆Hikari
• Arrangement: Kyoichi Miyazaki
• Sung by: milktub

Evaluation and Impressions

"Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu Ni!" is a work that depicts the heat of summer and the explosion of youth, providing viewers with a sense of exhilaration and laughter. In particular, the struggles of the students of Class F will make viewers sympathize with and root for them. In addition, the characters are rich in personality, and it is fun to watch their growth and changes in relationships. The characteristics of the characters, such as Yoshii Akihisa's simple and straightforward personality and Himeji Mizuki's cooking skills, stand out.

The animation quality is also high, and SILVER LINK's production skills shine through. In particular, the summoned beast battle scenes and the depiction of the school festival are worth watching. The music also adds to the atmosphere of the work, and the opening and ending songs are sure to stay in the viewers' hearts.

This work is not only praised as a youth comedy, but also as a work that depicts the importance of friendship, love, and hard work. In particular, the way the students of Class F unite to overcome difficulties is inspiring to viewers. In addition, the tension of the conflict with Class A and the test summoning war also enhance the appeal of the work.

Recommended points

The reasons why we recommend "Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu Ni!" are as follows:

• The heat of youth : A story that combines the heat of summer with the heat of youth will give viewers a refreshing feeling.
• Unique Characters : There are many unique characters, such as Akihisa Yoshii, Mizuki Himeji, and Minami Shimada, which will entertain viewers.
• Laugh and be moved : The comedy and emotional scenes are well balanced to keep viewers entertained.
• High-quality animation : The animation, which highlights SILVER LINK's production skills, is a visual treat.
• The appeal of the music : The opening and ending songs enhance the atmosphere of the work and stay in the viewers' minds.

"Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu Ni!" is highly recommended for viewers who enjoy a youth comedy and who are looking for unique characters and a story. If you want to feel the heat of summer and the explosion of youth, be sure to watch this work.