Youkoso Jitsuryoku Shijou Shugi no Kyoushitsu e, also known as Classroom of the Elite, is highly anticipated for its second season as an anime adaptation of the light novel by Shougo Kinugasa. Fans love it for its unconventional storyline. However, notable differences between the anime and the light novel series may impact the franchise’s future.
While both the anime and the light novel series of Youkoso Jitsuryoku Shijou Shugi no Kyoushitsu e offer compelling narratives, each medium presents the story uniquely.
Fans of the franchise may appreciate exploring both versions to gain a comprehensive understanding of the world and characters created by Shougo Kinugasa.
1. Ayanokouji Kiyotaka’s character
The first difference is from the main character, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka. In the anime, Ayanokouji is shown as a student with an anti-social nature and personality and is not interested in making friends, instead seeing everyone as just a tool.
This is very different from the light novels. Ayanokouji is described as a student who is very sad because he has no friends, is eager to hang out with other students, is curious about love, and is jealous of famous children. Ayanokouji only shows his dark side at the end of volume 3.
2. The role of Suzune Horikita
The most significant difference between the Classroom Of The Elite anime and the light novel version is the role of Suzune Horikita. In the anime, Horikita always takes a significant role in every problem, even if she takes a role that should belong to another character.
For example, in the light novels, those who solved the problem of Sudoku’s fight with Class 1-C with fake surveillance camera tactics were Ayanokoji and Honami Ichinose. But in the anime, Ichinose’s role was replaced by Horikita. This is enough to disappoint light novel fans because the anime focuses more on the Horikita character than Ichinose’s character development.
Another example is the pool section. The originals that prevented peeping in the girls’ room by D-class boys were Ayanokouji and Karuizawa. But in the anime, Horikita replaces Karuizawa’s role. This is also very influential on the future plot, because later Karuizawa becomes an important character, even more than Horikita.
3. Number of Students per Class
The light novel reveals that the number of students in each class is 40, but it is changed to 25 students per class in the anime. This difference is very influential, especially when the voting test.
In a discussion forum, fans explained that the difference in the number of students was that when the anime was released, the novel had not yet reached the volume that made the number of students in one class clear.
4. Total Points For Each Class
In light novels, the exact number of points held by each class is not shown clearly but in anime, the number of points is always displayed at the end of each episode.
5. The Pool Arc Occurs After the Cruise Ship Trial
Anime Episode 7 adapts the novel Volume 4.5, which tells the story after the cruise ship test, while overall the story, all anime episodes only adapt until Volume 3. This means there is a change in the story and timeline, so Karuizawa’s role is replaced by Horikita.
In the pool arc, Ayanokouji and Karuizawa have established a cooperative relationship.
That’s the difference between the anime and the light novel Classroom of the Elite. What do you think about the differences above?
