First Step

First Step is the initial episode of the 2017 anime adaptation of Classroom of the Elite, produced by the animation studio Lerche. The series is based on the light novel project written by Shogo Kinugasa and illustrated by Shunsaku Tomose. This opening entry was crafted to establish the premise of the Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing School, a government-funded institution designed to foster the next generation of Japan's leaders, where students are granted immense freedom but are ranked strictly based on merit and performance.

The animation direction for this series sought to contrast the seemingly idyllic, high-tech campus environment with the underlying cynicism and intense psychological competition inherent in the source material. Upon its broadcast, the series attracted attention for its distinct visual style and the enigmatic nature of its protagonist, Kiyotaka Ayanokoji. The first episode served to hook audiences by presenting a high-stakes social hierarchy that challenges conventional portrayals of school life.