“Top student Hikari competes with Kei in elite Special A class, unaware of his love for her.”
Special A (S.A)
スペシャル・エー
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AI-powered analysis tailored to your taste
Based on your preference for character-driven stories with layered emotional arcs, this title's exploration of identity and belonging would deeply resonate. The pacing mirrors series you've rated highly, and its thematic depth aligns with your appreciation for nuanced storytelling...
However, the slow initial episodes might test your patience given your history of dropping shows that don't hook you early. The art style shift in the middle arc could also be a concern...
Synopsis
Top student Hikari competes with Kei in elite Special A class, unaware of his love for her.
Hikari Hanazono has always been able to do things that normal people cannot. As a child, she assumed no one could beat her—until she met Kei Takishima. Thinking she would win, Hikari challenged him to a match. But things didn’t go as planned; she lost not once but each time she rechallenged him. From that point on, she has sworn to best Kei at everything, ranging from academics to athletics. To achieve her goal, Hikari enrolls in the same school as Kei—Hakusenkan, a prestigious institute for the wealthy. As a pair, they hold the top two rankings in school and are among seven of the academy's best students in a class known as Special A. While Hikari treats Kei as a rival, she is completely oblivious that he harbors hidden feelings for her. Together, the members of Special A deal with competition, friendship, and just a bit of love.
What people say
Community consensus
Derived from 80 sampled reviews
What 80 viewers settled on.
Polarized
σ 1.99 · split reception
5.1 pts
Recommenders 8.8 · others 3.7
↓ 2.14
Running avg · May 2008 → Jan 2025
- 9 “This anime delivers plenty of laughs and a sweet romantic storyline that makes it a must-watch for fans of school-life romance series. There are no real drawbacks mentioned—just pure enjoyment from...”
- 8 “The comedy, romance, school-life, and friendship elements blend perfectly, and the hilarious main characters carry the show. I only wish there were more episodes and that the ending leaned a bit...”
- 10 “my friend told me about this anime.I staraed watching it on saturday the 1st of November and finshed it on the 9th of November.It was an outstanding anime one of the best I've seen in ages.I gave...”
Watch Order & Related
Explore the Special A (S.A) universe
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See all credits →Production slate
- Format 24 × 24′ eps × min
- Total runtime 9h 36m all episodes
- Aired Apr 2008 – Sep 2008 Spring 2008
- Source Tv media type
- Rated PG 13 - Teens 13 or older
- Ref. BS-3052 catalog
Produced by
- Showgate Producer
Licensed by
- Sentai Filmworks Licensor