Dense, uncanny dialogue, quirky characters and a bewildering chain of events. This string of words is the bread and butter, the hymn, the law and order to Studio SHAFT and Kouji Kumeta. After the darkly wacky gem known as Sayonara, Zetsubou Sensei, these two eccentric entities once again tag-teamed to spawn another devilishly delicious classic. Although it's among SHAFT's lesser-known works, Katte ni Kaizou still carries a strong waft of the very string of words mentioned at the very start of this review.
Testuswan Kaizou
If eccentricity is SHAFT's main dish, then perhaps school comedies are its occasional appetizers. SHAFT tends to veer on two extremes of a spectrum when it comes to school comedy. On the normalcy pole, you'll find Nisekoi and Hidamari Sketch, and there's Maria Holic, Sayonara, Zetsubou Sensei and Katte ni Kaizou on the far opposite end. Just like its two uncanny peers, the epitome of Katte ni Kaizou is defined by its abnormal characters and questionable humor. And when it comes to Kouji Kumeta, he takes no stabs at a serious narrative. What comes as a result, is a school-club-only-in-name unable to evade Danganronpa Super-High-School-Level rejects and the queerest events that transpire out of their battles.
And if Sayonara, Zetsubou Sensei is a sardonic, wisecracking doomer, then perhaps Katte ni Kaizou is its 14 year-old younger brother. That is, the blatant, unapologetic juvenile humor that seeps heavily in the form of sex, dick and anal penetration jokes. Calling them "trashy" would be slightly short of an insult, however. Kouji Kumeta has a great knack for abnormal humor. Playing out touchy and dark matters straight only incudes eye-rolls, if not a few dry chuckles out of the sheer novelty, and Kouji Kumeta always manages to add an eccentric spin that gives these otherwise lame jokes colorful, very much still juvenile, enjoyment. In the case of this series, dick jokes turn into a miniature jet engine accidentally caught in Chitan's swimming trunks so that it appears that he's madly chasing around girls with a boner in the swimming pool. Anal penetration jokes turn into three guys in the public bath house accidentally slipping into each anuses in a human centipede-esque manner commentated by soccer penalty puns.
Juvenility aside, the humor additionally extends to cultural references, a staple in Kouji's humor. Parallelly to Sayonara, Zetsubou Sensei and even the Monogatari series, Katte ni Kaizou also hinges on sometimes obscure jokes connecting to popular media and Japanese culture. Listing some of them as examples would require a bit too lengthy explanations of the nuances and such, so I'd rather just state that though they may somewhat alienating at times, you'll either get the gist or your enjoyment won't be hindered if you don't.
And when it comes to characters, they're Kouji Kumeta's main force leading the humor. In Katte ni Kaizou's case, Kumeta achieves a strange equilibrium of normalcy and eccentricity in regards to them. Barring Kaizou, the other main characters tend to lie on the spectrum of normalcy, but drastically veer to eccentricity once Kaizou and his enemies are brought into light. Once their eccentricity is brought out, you'll be bared to the amusing and wacky consequences and outcomes of their encounters. Not to mention, the character design is great. Great in the technical regard, with their simplistic charm and pop of color, and great in a comical regard. That is, Kouji Kumeta's love for deadpan, blank expressions, sometimes streaked by dry surprise of slightly agape mouths, dry dread of several vertical lines by their forehead, etc. The humor works so well, and a contributor is the simplicity in character design. And let's not sideline the formidable assemblage of their voice actors, Yui Horie, Takahiro Sakurai, Eri Kitamura and Chiwa Saitou headline for the Monogatari series and it's apparent why in their work here.
Conclusion
Kouji Kumeta is a comedic anomaly. His repertoire ranges from eccentric characters to cleverly ridiculous situations, and it's made clear even within this 6-episode OVA. Perhaps the juvenile jokes aren't for anyone, but it's certainly a green light for anyone who does a little trolling. You'll be hard-pressed to find that same cleverly satirical, social commentary humor from Sayonara, Zetsubou Sensei found in this series. Going in with a desire for quick, in-your-face juvenility is your best bet for maximum enjoyment.
Juvenile as the story and humor may be, the visuals are nothing to scoff at. Clean, simple character designs and surprisingly fluid animation on occasions pervade the screen while the ridiculous situations and wacky conversations let loose.
There's nothing substantially notable about Katte ni Kaizou, barring the ridiculous comedy. However, it's a shame for it to elude the attention of anyone who adores Kouji Kumeta's eccentric humor. Or just dick jokes.
