As a teacher, Nozomu is addressed as "Zetsubou-sensei", a sobriquet which ironically shows respect for his profession while inauspiciously corrupting the kanji writing of his name so that it is read as "despair".
True to this name, Zetsubou-sensei views many aspects of life fatalistically, carrying a resigned attitude that undermines both his authority and work ethic.
He habitually interrupts lessons to make various defeatist arguments, which he proceeds to validate by threatening suicide, or by leading the class off on tangents, whether in or outside of the classroom.
While Zetsubou-sensei's students are unimpressed with his demeanor, they generally play along in group discussions that contribute many examples supporting the topics of his rants.
Zetsubou-sensei's torment at the hands of the class is often orchestrated by Kafuka, who underhandedly pulls strings to inflame the other girls' passions and jealousy, inviting disastrous results.
These in-depth, off-kilter analyses (along with the reactions of the students according to their own personality quirks) are usually brought to a head with a punchline based on the overall premise, or more rarely, a non-sequitur gag or piece of fan service.
This is exemplified by Nozomu and Matoi consistently wearing a kimono and hakama (an obsolete style of Japanese school uniforms in the late 1800s), but is also evident in stylistic choices such as the anachronistic appearance of architecture, vehicles, and technology indicative of the Taishō period.
[12] The first opening theme is "Hito Toshite Jiku ga Bureteiru" (人として軸がぶれている, "As a Human, I'm Quite Warped"), performed by Kenji Ohtsuki featuring Ai Nonaka, Marina Inoue, Yū Kobayashi, Miyuki Sawashiro and Ryōko Shintani.
The second opening theme is "Gōin ni Mai Yeah" (強引niマイYeah～), performed by Ai Nonaka, Marina Inoue, Yū Kobayashi, Miyuki Sawashiro and Ryōko Shintani.
The ending theme is "Zessei Bijin" (絶世美人, "Absolute Beauty"), performed by Ai Nonaka, Marina Inoue, Yū Kobayashi and Ryōko Shintani.
[13] A special 50-minute DVD summary episode titled Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei Jo: Zetsubō Shōjo Senshū (さよなら絶望先生 序〜絶望少女撰集, lit.
[25][26] In North America, Media Blasters licensed the first Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei anime series in February 2010 and was going to release the first English-subtitled DVD volumes in May 2010.
Goodbye Despair Broadcast), produced by Frontier Works organized by Hirotaka Tahara and directed by Futoshi Satō, began airing on August 28, 2007 on Animate TV.
The show is co-hosted by Hiroshi Kamiya and Ryōko Shintani who played Nozomu Itoshiki and Nami Hitō respectively in the anime.
The first one was aired on November 27, 2007 titled Tokimeki Nāmin Night (ときめきナーミンナイト (TMNN)) which acts as if Ryōko Shintani is a sole host with Hiroshi Kamiya as a guest.
The second and third were aired as the second and third season breakthrough commemoration on February 26, 2008 and May 27, 2008 which respectively titled Sayonara Zetsubō Hōsō Senshū: Nyo (さよなら絶望放送撰集・如) and Let's Lilycure Radio (Let's リリキュラジオ!
The fourth special broadcast titled Toki wo Kakeru Radio (時をかけるラジオ) was aired on November 24, 2008 and featured several still image of the in-show character, Sanosuke, marathoning from Kodansha office to the recording studio.
A special radio event titled Zoku Sayonara Zetsubō Hōsō: SZBH Kaizokuban (賊・さよなら絶望放送～SZBH海賊盤) was held on March 18, 2008 featuring Yū Kobayashi, who plays Kaere Kimura, with Kenji Ōtsuki and Narasaki as guests.