Should You Dive Into Classmates?#
If you are looking for a tender story about connection and music, Classmates (also known as Dōkyūsei) is a compelling choice. The story follows Hikaru Kusakabe, a male student who discovers that the reserved honor student Rihito Sajo has been practicing singing alone in the classroom after school. What begins as a simple interaction in music class evolves into a poignant drama centered on romance and self-discovery.
If you’re considering watching the anime, you can watch the anime on Prime Video to experience this beautiful story.
Is the Anime Really Finished?#
Whether Classmates is “finished” depends entirely on how much of the story you want to experience. The anime adaptation, Doukyusei -Classmates-, released in 2016, provides a focused look at the characters’ initial bond. However, it is an adaptation of a much larger written work.
If you watch only the anime, you will get a glimpse of the relationship, but you will miss a significant amount of character development and plot progression. The original manga has a sprawling narrative that extends far beyond the scope of the film. For those who want the full story, including the characters’ growth over the years, continuing with the source material is essential. You can buy the Classmates manga to see where the journey goes after the anime ends.
Themes and Audience Appeal#
Classmates is primarily a romance and drama with yaoi themes. It is best suited for audiences who enjoy “slice of life” stories that focus on emotional intimacy, the awkwardness of youth, and the courage it takes to be oneself. The appeal lies in its gentle pacing and the authentic chemistry between Hikaru and Rihito.
If you enjoy the aesthetic and emotional weight of the series, you might also want to buy Classmates merchandise to show your support for the series.
Recommended Watch and Read Order#
Because of the way the series is structured, the order in which you consume the media changes depending on your goals. Please refer to the relationship tree below this article for a visual guide to the sequels.
For the Casual Viewer#
If you are just testing the waters, start with the Doukyusei -Classmates- anime film. It is the most accessible entry point into the series.
For the Completionist#
If you want to experience every single moment of this universe, the best path is to follow the chronological order of the written works:
- Classmates (Manga)
- Sotsugyōsei -Fuyu- (Manga)
- Sotsugyōsei -Haru- (Manga)
- O.B. (Manga)
- blanc (Manga)
- home (Manga)
For Those Who Don’t Mind Mixing Media#
You can certainly start with the anime and then jump into the manga. If you do this, we recommend starting with the original Classmates manga to ensure you don’t miss any nuances before moving into the subsequent sequels like O.B. or blanc.
Additionally, there is a spinoff manga titled Sora & Hara for those who want even more content from this world. All of these can be found by searching for Asumiko Nakamura’s manga.
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Classmates • manga • 2006-07-24 to 2007-07-27 (serialized in Opera, vols. 3 - 7)
└─(sequel)→ Sotsugyōsei -Fuyu- • manga • 2010-01-28
└─(sequel)→ Sotsugyōsei -Haru- • manga • 2010-01-28
└─(sequel)→ O.B. • manga • 2012-04-27 to 2013-12-27 (serialized in Opera, vols. 32 - 42)
└─(sequel)→ blanc • manga • 2018-02-28 to 2020-09-16 (serialized in Opera, vols. 67 - 77)
└─(sequel)→ home • manga • 2020-12-28 to 2022-06-30 (serialized in Opera, vols. 78 - 84)
└─(adaptation)→ Doukyusei -Classmates- • anime • 2016-02-20
└─(spinoff)→ Sora & Hara • manga • 2009-12-26 to 2011-12-24 (serialized in Opera, vols. 18 - 30)
