Sakigake!! Cromartie Koukou

  • Genres: ["Comedy"]
  • Type: TV
  • Status: Finished Airing
  • Year: 2003

Summary: Takashi Kamiyama is your typical mild-mannered high school student—polite, aloof, and pacifistic, with a slightly above-average IQ. But would your average high school student really enroll himself at the infamous Cromartie High School, known as a breeding ground for the toughest delinquents out there?

Apparently so, as that is exactly what Takashi does, though for reasons he'd rather leave unmentioned. However, one thing is for sure: the "hard-boiled rabbit in a den full of hungry lions" is never going to have another dull day. And how could he, now that he's surrounded by mohawked punks, obnoxious robots, and... gorillas? And was that Freddie Mercury riding a horse down the corridor? Follow Takashi as he earnestly dedicates his new high school life to better his school's reputation while his classmates are hellbent on wreaking havoc.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]


Description

Takashi Kamiyama is your typical mild-mannered high school student—polite, aloof, and pacifistic, with a slightly above-average IQ. But would your average high school student really enroll himself at the infamous Cromartie High School, known as a breeding ground for the toughest delinquents out there?

Apparently so, as that is exactly what Takashi does, though for reasons he'd rather leave unmentioned. However, one thing is for sure: the "hard-boiled rabbit in a den full of hungry lions" is never going to have another dull day. And how could he, now that he's surrounded by mohawked punks, obnoxious robots, and... gorillas? And was that Freddie Mercury riding a horse down the corridor? Follow Takashi as he earnestly dedicates his new high school life to better his school's reputation while his classmates are hellbent on wreaking havoc.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]


Available At


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Sakigake!! Cromartie Koukou Pictures


Sakigake!! Cromartie Koukou Review

Sakigake!! Cromartie Koukou — Takashi Kamiyama is your typical mild-mannered high school student—polite, aloof, and pacifistic, with a slightly above-average IQ. This overview is intentionally spoiler-free and focuses on tone and intent rather than plot specifics.

Thematically, It sits firmly within Comedy conventions as a TV work and has garnered attention (MAL score: 7.88). This work explores character dynamics, tonal shifts, and the interplay between narrative ambition and execution. The story's pacing and tonal choices are crafted to complement the central ideas, often emphasizing atmosphere and emotional truth over explicit exposition. The show's ability to evoke a consistent mood — whether melancholic, exuberant, or contemplative — is a recurring strength, and the scenes are constructed so viewers can infer stakes without needing explicit spoilers.

Characterization is a core pillar here. Protagonists and supporting figures are written with distinct motivations and narrative roles; even when archetypal, the series invests in small behavioral details that make choices feel earned. Character arcs are handled with an eye for gradualism: development often arrives through incremental beats rather than abrupt, expository shifts. The interactions between characters create texture, and relationships are used to illuminate both personal flaws and larger thematic concerns.

On the visual front, production values play a significant role. The animation quality varies by sequence but frequently showcases thoughtful direction and composition. Background art, framing, and color palettes are used deliberately to support tone — quieter scenes favor muted palettes while action or heightened emotional beats employ brighter, more kinetic visuals. Direction choices, such as camera movement and shot selection, often elevate scenes beyond their raw script, creating moments that linger in the viewer's mind.

The soundscape — score, incidental music, and sound design — complements the visual language. Music cues are placed to maximize emotional resonance without manipulating the audience with melodrama; this restraint often leads to more authentic emotional payoff. Sound design punctuates key moments, and when the series leans on silence, those quieter moments are given weight by measured audio choices.

Pacing and structure are handled with craft. Episodes are arranged to build tension and release methodically, and the narrative rarely rushes through important emotional beats. That said, the deliberate pacing may feel slow to viewers who prefer faster plot turnover; the reward is greater nuance and an accumulation of meaning across the series. Accessibility is generally good — one can appreciate surface-level pleasures, while repeat or attentive viewing reveals additional layers.

No title is without flaws. Occasional unevenness in subplots or variable animation across episodes can be distracting. Some tonal shifts might feel abrupt if you expect uniformity; others will argue that those shifts are purposeful. These are worth noting, but they seldom undercut the larger achievements of the work.

In sum, Sakigake!! Cromartie Koukou offers a rich experience for viewers who value character-driven storytelling, considered visual design, and a soundtrack that supports rather than overwhelms. For fans of Comedy, this is an especially rewarding watch. It's recommended for those who appreciate layered narratives and artistry in animation, and best approached with patience and attention to nuance.


Characters & Voice Actors

Freddie

Freddie

Main

Hayashida, Shinjirou

Hayashida, Shinjirou

Main

Guardiola, Illich
Guardiola, Illich
English
Hayashida, Shinjirou

Hayashida, Shinjirou

Main

Suzuki, Takuma
Suzuki, Takuma
Japanese
Hayashida, Shinjirou

Hayashida, Shinjirou

Main

O, In Seong
O, In Seong
Korean
Kamiyama, Takashi

Kamiyama, Takashi

Main

Sakurai, Takahiro
Sakurai, Takahiro
Japanese
Kamiyama, Takashi

Kamiyama, Takashi

Main

Pronsky, Ben
Pronsky, Ben
English
Kamiyama, Takashi

Kamiyama, Takashi

Main

Seong, Wan Gyeong
Seong, Wan Gyeong
Korean
Maeda, Akira

Maeda, Akira

Main

McAvin, Andy
McAvin, Andy
English
Maeda, Akira

Maeda, Akira

Main

Inada, Tetsu
Inada, Tetsu
Japanese
Mechazawa, Shinichi

Mechazawa, Shinichi

Main

Wakamoto, Norio
Wakamoto, Norio
Japanese
Mechazawa, Shinichi

Mechazawa, Shinichi

Main

Hickman, Jay
Hickman, Jay
English
Di Gi Charat

Di Gi Charat

Supporting

Sanada, Asami
Sanada, Asami
Japanese
Di Gi Charat

Di Gi Charat

Supporting

George, Jessica Gee
George, Jessica Gee
English
Fujimoto, Kiichi

Fujimoto, Kiichi

Supporting

Shimura, Tomoyuki
Shimura, Tomoyuki
Japanese
Fujimoto, Kiichi

Fujimoto, Kiichi

Supporting

Kringe, Chris
Kringe, Chris
English
Gerotan

Gerotan

Supporting

Christian, Luci
Christian, Luci
English
Gerotan

Gerotan

Supporting

Saitou, Ayaka
Saitou, Ayaka
Japanese
Go, Hiromi

Go, Hiromi

Supporting

Hirai, Ken

Hirai, Ken

Supporting

Kikuchi, Masami
Kikuchi, Masami
Japanese
Hirai, Ken

Hirai, Ken

Supporting

Jones, Adam
Jones, Adam
English

Staff

Kobayashi, Noriko

Kobayashi, Noriko

Producer

Nishizawa, Masatomo

Nishizawa, Masatomo

Producer

Sakurai, Hiroaki

Sakurai, Hiroaki

Director, Storyboard

Moriwaki, Makoto

Moriwaki, Makoto

Episode Director

Imaishi, Hiroyuki

Imaishi, Hiroyuki

Storyboard

Kaneko, Shingo

Kaneko, Shingo

Storyboard

Kugimiya, Hiroshi

Kugimiya, Hiroshi

Storyboard

Nasukawa, Mitsuru

Nasukawa, Mitsuru

Storyboard, Animation Director

Nishikiori, Hiroshi

Nishikiori, Hiroshi

Storyboard

Ogura, Nobutoshi

Ogura, Nobutoshi

Storyboard

Yamakawa, Yoshiki

Yamakawa, Yoshiki

Storyboard

Sunplaza Nakano-kun

Sunplaza Nakano-kun

Theme Song Performance

Doi, Kazu

Doi, Kazu

Color Design

Douge, Shintarou

Douge, Shintarou

In-Between Animation

Foster, Steven

Foster, Steven

ADR Director

Hamauzu, Taeko

Hamauzu, Taeko

Editing

Hirasawa, Akihiro

Hirasawa, Akihiro

Background Art

Ishii, Akiharu

Ishii, Akiharu

Animation Director

Ishikawa, Mitsuhisa

Ishikawa, Mitsuhisa

Planning

Kamoshida, Nao

Kamoshida, Nao

In-Between Animation