This is one of the most underrated anime . Don't go by the name. It is less about Ping Pong and more about life as you get older. The character development was very unique. Most of the people avoid this masterpiece because of it's unappealing animation. For me, even the animation was more like sketches brought to life. The animation works perfectly for the Ping Pong action and our imagination.While some of you may be turned off by the animation, I challenge you to give it a try nevertheless. It would be a shame to miss out on an anime as well done as this just because of artistic reasons. The music was excellent too, specially the ending song. I assure you that you will be surprised after finishing this chef-d'oeuvre.
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abscottbrad109517 September 2015
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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 (!) -
natashagougeon29 April 2016A 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! -
Jamejarrs20 January 2020A 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. -
duboreedas30 August 2016This anime is not just for anime lovers. Anybody can and should watch it. It is an education. And a funny, heartwarming sort that won't leave you soon.
Ping Pong is something my kids would be forced to watch. It doesn't bleat about ambition or success. Instead, it humanizes growing up and living life - through the lens of four ping pong players. And no matter that you don't play the sport or know anything about it. It more about life than about Ping Pong.
This is also a story with one of the best endings I have ever watched. It isn't pseudo intellectual but it is also not predictable. It makes you wonder about choices you have made/will make - and that is one of the greatest things art does. A new state of awareness.
For the anime lovers reading this, note that it is another collaborative effort by Masaaki Yuasa and Taiyo Matsumoto so it is genius. -
mayank098761 August 2016The 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. -
Hoshino is a ping pong player from childhood alongside his friend smile who compete in the tournament after Kong from China defeats Peco in match they get challenged. Peco is an expert ping pong player while his friend smile is just playing it for fun. Things begin to change massively as the show progresses.
It is a really good anime with a good plot, this is especially good for people who are getting into anime or are into sport anime. It is not too violent or intense for anime starters if that is what you are looking for.
I admit the animation might not be the best but the show itself is good with excellent music and voice acting, while I think the Japanese version in terms of voice acting were a bit more polished as they used child voice actors to do all of the boy. While Funimation (if you want to call it that anymore before they went downhill with the Vic, drama) just used women to put on boy voices. The dub was good and the women who did the boy were not bad, mind you some of them sounded girly in pitch but they did fine.
It kinda feels like Bruce Lee as some of the designs look like him and Filthy Frank created their own anime but with Ping Pong.
I admit myself I did not know much about ping pong before this anime.
Overall pretty good -
ehaveric29 September 2018Starting 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 -
fraser-simons23 June 2021First 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. -
NoneOfYourDamnBeeswax14 August 2023Don't overthink it, it's simply great. Worth to be considered a classic anime that ought to be watched.
It is one of the most virtuosic and polished exercises in creation that this visual medium that is anime has ever offered. 11 fast-paced chapters that cover so many aspects of people's lives, their dispositions, emotions and so on, that you would do yourself a disservice not to devote the little time you need to watch it.
It is so universally acclaimed for a reason.
At the character and storytelling level there are hardly any flaws, so all that remains is the animation and your degree of liking for it, I confess that I find it a draw and one of its best facets. -
invisibleunicornninja18 September 2018I couldn't get much farther than episode one. I really like the animation and the ideas present, but its way too boring for me to keep watching.
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fletcherpayne5 January 2021Ping 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.
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imadalamaddin4 November 2021I started watching this with high expectation as I like sports anime and I expected something that could be like haikyuu, but boy wasn't I disappointed.
The anime is full of poorly executed tropes, your typical "friendship flashback makes you win". It's too focused on "natural talent" (the bloodline technique equivalent).
The animation is ... Different, and not in a good way, at all...
The character development makes absolutely no sense, they change their personality in a blink with no much reasoning and in a very short time. -
rohillaraj12 January 2020This is a must watch anime for anime fans,its animation can be a bit unothodox for the newer fans but with time you will realize the animations fluidity and the amazing visuals that its able to create.
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coles_notes28 November 2022Adapted from the 1996 manga of the same name by Taiyo Matsumoto, Ping Pong the Animation follows a young highschool student Smile and his many competitors in the world of elite ping pong as they all strive to become the best in Japan. Originally starting this series for the unique animation style alone, which was gorgeous, I stayed for a compelling character driven plot, with very human connections and misunderstandings, and the many explorations of work, goals, existence, and ultimately life's purpose. I didn't think a show about ping pong would have me questioning how I structure the frameworks of personal values, but it did, and I could not be happier for it. A short single 11 episode season, it ends beautifully and if you can get your hands on this series I could not recommend it more. Whether you're a fan of anime alone, ping pong, or neither, this series had me questioning if my kitchen table was really needed in my life and perhaps a ping pong table would get better use.
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albertrwz11 August 2019This anime is not really about ping pong. It is about the players that play the sports of ping pong.
Animation 10 Sound 9 Story 10 Overall 9.5 -
mrpicky22 October 2022How dare you give it anything less then 10 out of 10? It's perfect in every way possible. Deep and funny at the same time. Unique style, so much heart and over the top animation. So much work went into it, you can't even imagine. From the point of storytelling and pace -also perfect. It is clearly for mature audience as it has philosophic look at life and not everyone is into existentialism for sure. But for what it is it's amazing. Even secondary characters are all delightful and interesting. Masaaki Yuasa has amazing talent producing not only high quality animation but also putting in a young heart inspirational spirit in every work. It is an adult masterpiece about growing up and life in pro sport. My only beef is they could have couple of matches drawn in full 24 frames.
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barannalbant29 April 2023Although I was uncomfortable with the drawing style at first, I got used to it over time.
The characters are not black or white i liked the fact that the opponents are not shown as enemies and it was a nice touch to see scenes from the life of each opponent or hear their inner thoughts.
We have characters each one divided like a puzzle, some of the traits required on the way to success are split character by character, these are enjoyment, work, ability and desire.
I think it is a production that can change your perspective on success.
My favorite character is the one who thinks during the competition whether I want to hit a ball for the rest of my life and wants to be on the beach. -
williamxbones26 September 2023This show is so great at depicting the love for a sport, it makes so much great memories come up. The characters are really well developed with every important one having a solid backstory and interesting personality. The characters are so great that seeing them going through victory and defeat is really captivating.
The animation is really simple because it's not a show about spectacle but about life, it's about having fun. With that said, the visuals might not be complex but the unique style grows on you and style offers amazing aspects. The split screen effects are a really cool way to pay homage to the medium of manga and the ping pong itself looks amazing with beautiful and dynamic motion.
The music is really enjoyable and perfect for the youthful spirit of the show with the song in the final episode crafting a beautiful moment.