Should Your Teen Watch School Days?

Most anime that start with high school crushes, blushing glances, and awkward love triangles don’t end in blood. School Days does. And that’s exactly why it remains one of the most infamous—and controversial—titles in anime history.

It begins like a teen romance, but slowly, painfully, it spirals into a cautionary tale about obsession, betrayal, and the emotional cost of unchecked manipulation. For parents, this is a title that demands context, conversation, and very clear boundaries.

The story follows Makoto Itou, a seemingly shy high school boy who becomes romantically involved with two girls: Kotonoha, the quiet beauty he initially admires, and Sekai, his friend who “helps” him get close to Kotonoha—only to fall for him herself.

What begins as awkward teen drama quickly escalates into a web of lies, emotional manipulation, sexual recklessness, and jealousy. Makoto becomes emotionally detached and careless, jumping between relationships, hurting everyone around him. And when the tension finally boils over, it does so in a way no one expects—violently and irreversibly.

Makoto doesn’t just make mistakes—he spirals into selfishness. He repeatedly cheats, lies, and emotionally distances himself from the girls in his life, leaving emotional wreckage behind. The series shows how manipulation and neglect can completely unravel a person’s mental state.

The show deals with teenage sexuality in a brutally honest—but deeply unhealthy—way. Makoto uses intimacy to escape discomfort. There's no sugarcoating here: relationships in School Days are transactional, manipulative, and emotionally destructive.

By the final episodes, both Kotonoha and Sekai begin to mentally unravel. Their emotional pain and jealousy take dark turns, leading to severe consequences that are both shocking and tragic. The emotional weight in the finale is intense and disturbing.

Recommended for: 18+

The emotional and sexual maturity required to process School Days is high. Even mature teens may be caught off guard by how quickly the show shifts from romantic drama to psychological horror. The final episode is especially graphic and inappropriate for younger viewers.

Even viewers familiar with romance anime may not be ready for how abruptly and darkly School Days ends.

If anything, School Days is a cautionary tale. It brutally illustrates the consequences of emotional immaturity, selfishness, and avoidance. Makoto’s choices hurt not only himself but everyone who cared about him. The show also underlines how manipulation, jealousy, and lack of communication can spiral out of control.

It can open conversations about healthy vs. toxic relationships, boundaries, emotional responsibility, and respect—but only if the viewer is mature enough to process the emotional damage on screen.

School Days isn’t your typical teenage romance. It’s a dark, uncomfortable ride into the consequences of selfish love and emotional carelessness. While it holds value as a psychological drama and cautionary tale, it is absolutely not for children or younger teens.

If your teen is watching or curious about it, talk to them. Ask what they know. Encourage them to view it critically—not as entertainment, but as a look into how badly things can go when emotions are ignored and others are treated as disposable.

Because in School Days, love doesn’t blossom. It breaks people. And that’s a lesson best approached with caution, care, and open conversation.