Classroom of the Elite Season 4 has been Officially Announced

 The highly anticipated fourth season of Classroom of the Elite has been officially announced during the MF Bunko J Summer School Festival 2024 livestream event on September 1, 2024. The announcement was accompanied by a captivating teaser visual that gives fans a glimpse of what's to come. The visual prominently features Kiyotaka Ayanokoji, the series' enigmatic protagonist, now entering his second year at the Advanced Nurturing High School. Surrounding him is a new cast of first-year students, hinting at the fresh challenges and dynamics that will unfold in the upcoming season.

Classroom of the Elite Season 4 – Teaser Visual (Image courtesy of Kadokawa) © Shogo Kinugasa, KADOKAWA / Welcome to the Classroom of Elite Supremacy Production Committee

The fourth season will adapt the first-semester arc of Classroom of the Elite: Year 2 (Yōkoso Jitsuryoku Shijō Shugi no Kyōshitsu e 2-nen Sei Hen), the sequel to the original light novel series by Shogo Kinugasa, illustrated by Tomose Shunsaku. Fans of the franchise are already familiar with Ayanokoji's calculated approach to navigating the cutthroat environment of the Advanced Nurturing High School, and the new season promises to escalate the stakes as he begins his second year. The Year 2 arc picks up where the third season left off, introducing a fresh batch of unique first-year students and a new set of exams that will test the resolve and intelligence of Ayanokoji and his classmates.

The Classroom of the Elite anime first premiered in July 2017, with Studio Lerche at the helm. The first season garnered attention for its psychological depth and complex characters, though it deviated from the source material. The second and third seasons, which aired in July 2022 and January 2024 respectively, returned to faithfully adapting the light novels, covering the entirety of the first-year arc. These seasons were streamed on Crunchyroll, with Funimation providing an English dub for the first season. The third season, in particular, concluded the first-year storyline, paving the way for the much-anticipated second year.

Season 4 will delve into the first semester of Year 2, adapting volumes 1 through 4.5 of the sequel light novels. As Ayanokoji and his classmates face a new set of exams, they are paired with the incoming first-year students on a written test, with the second-years facing expulsion if their team performs poorly. Adding to the tension is the presence of a new first-year student who hails from the mysterious White Room, Ayanokoji's secretive and formidable past. The stakes are higher than ever as Ayanokoji must navigate this treacherous landscape while keeping his true abilities hidden.

The Classroom of the Elite franchise, which began with the original light novel series in May 2015, has become a significant force in the anime and manga world. The novels, published by Kadokawa, have been a commercial success, with over 9.5 million copies in circulation, including digital formats. Seven Seas Entertainment has been responsible for bringing both the original light novels and their manga adaptations to English-speaking audiences. The Year 2 light novels, which began serialization in January 2020, continue the saga, with 12 main volumes released as of August 2024.

While details about the production studio, cast, and release date for Season 4 have not yet been revealed, the return of Ayanokoji and the continuation of his story is more than enough to excite fans. The previous seasons saw notable talents such as Shoya Chiba (Kiyotaka Ayanokoji), Akari Kito (Suzune Horikita), and Ayana Taketatsu (Kei Karuizawa) bringing these complex characters to life. Whether Studio Lerche will return to produce the fourth season remains to be seen, but the anticipation is already building.

As fans await more details, one thing is certain: the next chapter of Classroom of the Elite promises to bring even more psychological thrills, strategic maneuvers, and intense character dynamics as Ayanokoji's journey through the elite school system continues. Stay tuned for more updates as we move closer to the release of Classroom of the Elite Season 4.