Assassination Classroom: Graduation
Story continues with the students' own conflicts, Koro Sensei’s identity and the fate of the world. The time limit for assassination is approaching.
The film earned $31.4M at the global box office.
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Assassination Classroom: Graduation (2016) exemplifies deliberately positioned story structure, characteristic of Eiichiro Hasumi's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 56 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.4, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Nagisa Shiota
Koro-sensei
Karma Akabane
Kaede Kayano
Tadaomi Karasuma
Irina Jelavić
Gakuho Asano
Main Cast & Characters
Nagisa Shiota
Played by Ryosuke Yamada
A perceptive student who becomes the emotional heart of Class 3-E, secretly harboring deadly assassination skills beneath his gentle demeanor.
Koro-sensei
Played by Kazunari Ninomiya
The powerful alien teacher who threatens to destroy Earth, yet dedicates himself to educating his students with genuine care and wisdom.
Karma Akabane
Played by Masaki Suda
A brilliant and rebellious student with natural combat instincts who forms a deep rivalry and friendship with Nagisa.
Kaede Kayano
Played by Kang Ji-young
A cheerful girl who befriends Nagisa, concealing a vengeful secret tied to her sister's death and Koro-sensei's past.
Tadaomi Karasuma
Played by Seishuu Uragami
The serious government agent who serves as physical education teacher and tactical instructor for the assassination classroom.
Irina Jelavić
Played by Marika Matsumoto
A seductive professional assassin hired as English teacher who gradually develops genuine care for her students.
Gakuho Asano
Played by Kippei Shiina
The ruthless principal who uses Class 3-E as a tool to motivate other students through fear and humiliation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Class 3-E students continue their daily routine of assassination attempts against Koro-sensei while preparing for high school entrance exams, showing the strange normalcy they've achieved.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when The government presents the students with an ultimatum and massive financial incentive (10 billion yen per student) to kill Koro-sensei before graduation, forcing them to confront their conflicting feelings.. At 11% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 28 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to The class unanimously decides they will kill Koro-sensei themselves on their own terms, rejecting the government's manipulation and choosing to face their responsibility as his students and assassins., moving from reaction to action.
At 57 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 49% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat Koro-sensei reveals the truth about his past as the Reaper, his transformation, and why he must die - his cells are destabilizing and he will destroy Earth in March regardless. The fun and games end; this is now inevitable., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 85 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Koro-sensei is captured and restrained by the government's final trap. The class realizes they are about to lose him not on their terms but to cold military execution, representing the death of their agency and final lesson., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 92 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Koro-sensei tells them this is their final lesson: accepting inevitable loss while choosing how to face it. The students realize killing him with love and gratitude is the greatest gift they can give their teacher., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Assassination Classroom: Graduation's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping Assassination Classroom: Graduation against these established plot points, we can identify how Eiichiro Hasumi utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Assassination Classroom: Graduation within the science fiction genre.
Eiichiro Hasumi's Structural Approach
Among the 2 Eiichiro Hasumi films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.3, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Assassination Classroom: Graduation represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Eiichiro Hasumi filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional science fiction films include Lake Placid, The Postman and Oblivion. For more Eiichiro Hasumi analyses, see Assassination Classroom.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Class 3-E students continue their daily routine of assassination attempts against Koro-sensei while preparing for high school entrance exams, showing the strange normalcy they've achieved.
Theme
Koro-sensei tells the students that true strength comes not from killing, but from protecting what matters most and choosing your own path forward.
Worldbuilding
Establishment of the final semester timeline, graduation approaching in March, the looming moon destruction deadline, relationships between students and teacher, and the government's increasing pressure to eliminate Koro-sensei.
Disruption
The government presents the students with an ultimatum and massive financial incentive (10 billion yen per student) to kill Koro-sensei before graduation, forcing them to confront their conflicting feelings.
Resistance
Students debate their moral dilemma: kill their beloved teacher for money and save Earth, or find another way. Class becomes divided. Flashbacks show Koro-sensei's impact on their growth and self-worth.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
The class unanimously decides they will kill Koro-sensei themselves on their own terms, rejecting the government's manipulation and choosing to face their responsibility as his students and assassins.
Mirror World
Nagisa emerges as the emotional center, embodying the students' love for their teacher while accepting the necessity of his death - representing the theme of loving something enough to let it go.
Premise
Students execute elaborate assassination attempts using everything Koro-sensei taught them, each plan more creative and emotionally resonant. Montages of final lessons, memories, and preparation for graduation and the final mission.
Midpoint
Koro-sensei reveals the truth about his past as the Reaper, his transformation, and why he must die - his cells are destabilizing and he will destroy Earth in March regardless. The fun and games end; this is now inevitable.
Opposition
The government and other forces intensify pressure. Students struggle emotionally with the approaching deadline. Former adversaries (including Asano and his father) respect Class 3-E's growth. Time runs out as graduation day arrives.
Collapse
Koro-sensei is captured and restrained by the government's final trap. The class realizes they are about to lose him not on their terms but to cold military execution, representing the death of their agency and final lesson.
Crisis
Students fight through military forces to reach Koro-sensei, emotionally devastated but determined. They grapple with the unfairness of losing their teacher who saved them all from their own darkness.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Koro-sensei tells them this is their final lesson: accepting inevitable loss while choosing how to face it. The students realize killing him with love and gratitude is the greatest gift they can give their teacher.
Synthesis
Students take attendance one final time. Each student says goodbye and expresses what Koro-sensei meant to them. Nagisa approaches with the knife. Together, the class performs the assassination, ending Koro-sensei's life with tears and gratitude.
Transformation
Class 3-E students graduate and move forward to their futures, transformed from society's rejects into confident individuals. They carry Koro-sensei's lessons forever, having learned that killing can be an act of love and letting go is strength.