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.

A cartoon about ping pong? What? How could something like that be interesting? Yeah, no surprise if you're thinking the same. The only reason I started watching this was because the style seemed interesting and different - let me tell you, this cartoon has a lot more to offer than you would think.

Three elements that are worthy of mention: the animation, the characters and the depth of the story.

First of all, the animation is spectacular. Constantly surprising, new textures and unexpected choices in every single episode. So lovely to see a more artsy approach than your average anime - also the movements of all the characters are so fresh and playful, it really gives off the impression that the artists had real fun drawing it. Filled me with joy. Don't be afraid to watch it simply because it's not 'aesthetically pleasing' at the beginning, because it definitely has a spark that will make you really enjoy it by the time you click 'next episode'.

The characters... Beautiful. They are not the kind of characters that you wish you could be, or that you will get a crush on. They are human. They are just like you or me, and whether they are 'good' or 'bad' is entirely unimportant... You get the chance to appreciate them exactly as people, with all the grey areas in between, and make up your own mind about them. Something truly rare in this age and time - that the setting or characterisation doesn't tell you whether you should like them or not.

On top of that, I was really impressed by the fact that no character gets left behind. Even minor characters seem to have a whole life behind them, and you get glimpses of it that allow you to understand them better. I'm certain that the writers really did think of every single one of them, and what was happening in their lives before and through the duration of the series.

And last but not least, the depth of the story. There is just no way you're gonna watch this and think this is about ping pong (although, I must admit, they also do manage to make ping pong seem really cool!). This story is about humans being human, having passions and insecurities. Their friendships, their problems, the difficulties that life keeps putting in front of them, the whole 'I am not special, and yet I am because I am me' that seems to be what every character eventually transmits to you through the screen... It's beautiful. Heartwarming. Makes you wish there was more, just so you can experience the lovely warmth of that human spark.

I want more! More of this! More stories that are real, more characters with depth, more interesting animation, and more feel-good cartoons like this one!

How thoughtful and inspiring. My life has improved exponentially now that I know the universe has brought to my attention something of this standing. Hopefully you will give it a shot, watch it, and understand what I'm talking about!

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

The anime is based on a manga which I had read two years back and remember loving it, didn't remember the details so thought it was perfect time to watch the anime version. It's as good as the manga and totally faithful to it even the unique art is carried to the anime. The animation artwork is different from other shows in being more paint type, it's more cartoonist and at the same time very stylish, some may feel its low budget artwork but it's like that to add its one charm and pulls it off nicely. The artwork is beautiful and has intensity especially when the ping pong games are showcased. The use of pop up boxes and split screen adds to the charm.

The story seems simple but is in fact very deep, covers the adolescence age of the main characters, how different they are and how they cope with the world around them. There are lots of buried emotions which come pouring out as the series progress. Loved the way they drew parallels of stories between the supporting trainer characters and the main ones.

The sound and music is probably the best of its kind I have come across in an anime, the use of music for showing intensity or concentration, the intro music for Kong (the Chinese) it were all perfect, in fact they were able to make the noise of playing ping pong captivating.

The anime also has a bit humor along with the drama to keep things light. It teaches one life lesson, the importance and difference between talent, hard work & enjoyment at work. Would recommend it to any mature anime fans.

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.