Ping Pong - The Animation

A wonderful story that's about much more than ping pong, with well developed characters, gorgeous art (that more than makes up for some of the dips in animation quality), and fantastic music.

I've gone back and rewatched the series twice and I'm completely captivated every time. Do not pass this up.

First of all, if you're the type of person who doesn't like the style, well, I won't be able to entice you, I'm sure. But I personally adore the animation style. It is so dynamic and interesting. Movement looks incredible and i like that it's sort of like watching many styles come together.

Story wise, though, this is unbeatable for me. What is so great about a well crafted story is often it's specificity. People sometimes make the mistake of trying to tell a very generic story; one where they are very obviously trying to make a character a blank slate and allow for a vicarious experience of sorts.

But the more specific a story is, the more a person will connect to it simply be virtue that at the heart of every person, we are similar. I've never played ping pong. I don't know anything about the game. And while this story is about the game-more so, about interrogating "game" itself-its also about what makes an impression on you when you're young.

It's about remembering who you are through the eyes of someone else. Its about joy being indomitable, but often discarded as lesser than emotion by society.

It's about growing up and finding some kind of agency in the world. Wether by connections to people, or the associations you've made along the way that ground you in the person you are today.

So like all good stories, in its specificity, we find that it is about many things. Almost certainly you will find something moving here.

I had almost given up on anime when I found this little pearl hidden in the land of unknown anime. I dig serious, artistic, slightly philosophical anime- there aren't many of those. But Ping Pong: the Animation was a grande surprise for me.

First of all, I never thought I'd appreciate an 11 episode anime dedicated to Ping Pong. In general I do not like sports anime, but this anime made me want to grab a racket and play some table tennis. Maybe then I'd have those soul splitting experiences the protagonists have, or see my movements as gravity-free dances.

Storyline At first I thought it'd be one of those anime where someone wants to be the best and has to face all these obstacles (other super good players) in order to finally get the girl. Not here- in this anime we follow several talented Ping Pong players who all have different reasons to love/participate in the sports. It's encompassing, extremely realistic and evokes sympathy.

Visuals MAN WHAT VISUALS! It looks rotoscoped (still haven't found out whether this is the case or not) but doesn't feel as 'not there yet' as for example Aku no Hana. It reminds one of mixing comics with animation, more than a classical anime look. Most of the times they were stunning, especially during matches, and could easily be categorised as experimental.

Soundtrack Just one mention: that hero song (!)

Starting Ping Pong, I was a bit unnerved by the unorthodox animation and scene portrayal. Not that it was bad by any means, but more so that it was just so different as compared to almost any other anime.

The show follows the journey of 5 distinct high school ping pong players each having their own struggles inside and outside of the game. The most fascinating part of the storytelling is that it does not really have a "main character", and with that the anime doesn't really have a central theme. Via the eyes of Sakama it can be seen as a tragedy of the loss of love for a sport; whereas through Smile's eyes it is an antihero's journey. Through Kong a humbling journey of self realization, through Kazama tragic downfall, and finally through Peco a heroic triumph. Sympathy can be drawn for every character at all parts of the show, including ones not aforementioned such as Egami and Sanada. The show does not cut any corners when it comes to realistic life challenges and obstacles, and portrays them in as human a way as possible.

Along with the incredible storytelling comes the animation and action sequences. Because of the art style of the show, complex emotions can be difficult to portray on the faces of our characters; as a result the show resolves to prevalent use of symbolism and music to further the plot-line. Intense matches often dissolve into abstract symbols (most notably the "hero") and intense music beating in the background. The music is so intelligently used at times of heightened emotion that as the track is repeated it evokes that same feelings on top of what is happening currently. From the "Heroes Theme" to "China" and even to "Peco", the soundtrack for the show is absolutely pristine and in my opinion one of the most beautiful OST's ever created.

Altogether, the show is a representation of coming of age and the harsh realities that come with adulthood. Dreams that once were, innocence that once was, and hopes that might be all dissolve with the inevitable responsibilities of age.

Ping Pong the Animation is my favorite show/movie of all time, and if you are in any way shape or form someone who enjoys a heartfelt and real story, I implore you to give it a chance.

Favorite Character / OST Track : Kong / China

Ping Pong The Animation is a relatable, realistic embodiment of the sometimes torturous nature of professional sport, and how some athletes lose sight of why they started playing in the first place. A wonderful coming of age story with an incredibly unique, refreshing, and ultimately mesmerizing animation style.