The appeal and reviews of Major (2nd Season): Experience the excitement of baseball again

The appeal and evaluation of "MAJOR (2nd Season)"

"MAJOR (2nd Season)" is the second season of the TV anime series based on the popular manga "MAJOR" by Takuya Mitsuda. It was broadcast on NHK Educational TV from December 10, 2005 to June 10, 2006, entertaining viewers with a volume of 26 episodes. In this season, the story begins with the protagonist Goro Shigeno, who is now in his third year of junior high school and returns to Mifune Town for the first time in four years. The story depicts Goro's growth and the bonds he forms with his friends, movingly depicting him enjoying his youth through baseball.

Story Development

When Goro returns to Mifune Town, he is reunited with his teammates from his Little League days, Komori and the others. However, Goro learns that the softball club at Mifune East Junior High School, where he has transferred, is in danger of being disbanded. Despite seeing Komori, the captain of the baseball club, struggling, for some reason Goro decides to join the soccer club instead of the baseball club. The reason for this choice shows his rebellious spirit and desire to take on new challenges, giving viewers a fresh surprise. However, he ends up playing baseball with Komori and the others, and is reunited with his childhood friend, Sato Toshiya. The story unfolds around his confrontation with Toshiya, and after graduating from junior high school, the two go on to attend Kaido High School, a prestigious baseball school. The story depicts Goro's encounters with new friends at Kaido High School and his journey to compete in Koshien, realistically depicting the brilliance and setbacks of youth.

Character Appeal

Goro's character is inspiring as he overcomes an injury to his right shoulder and makes a comeback as a left-handed pitcher. His rebellious spirit and strong will give courage to the viewers. The character of Toshiya is also appealing, and it is inspiring to see him overcome the disappearance of his parents and aim to become a professional baseball player in order to repay his grandparents. The two form a long-awaited battery at Kaido High School, and grow together while competing with each other. The characters surrounding Goro, such as Shimizu Kaoru, Shigeno Hideki, and Komori Daisuke, are also unique and add excitement to the story. In particular, the backgrounds and feelings of each character, such as Saotome Shizuka's insistence on manual baseball and Egashira Tetsufumi's ambition, are depicted in depth, drawing the viewers in.

Production and staff

The anime was animated by Studio Hibari, co-produced with NHK Enterprises, and produced and written by NHK and Shogakukan Shueisha Productions. It was directed by Kasai Kenichi, with series composition by Tsuchiya Rikei. The screenplay was written by Tsuchiya Rikei, Shizuya Isao, Yoshioka Takao, and Nakamura Yoshiko, and character designs were by Onuki Kenichi and Usami Koichi. Art direction was Tokuda Toshiyuki, cinematography by Sato Taro, music by Asakura Noriyuki, and sound direction by Takakuwa Hajime. The cooperation of these staff members resulted in an anime that brought out the best of the original work.

Theme songs and music

The opening theme is "Saraba Aoki Mengake" (Goodbye, Blue Face), sung by Lord of Major. The song was written and composed by Kenichi Kitagawa, and arranged by Lord of Major. There are two ending themes: "WONDERLAND" (from episodes 1 to 16), with lyrics by Yuho Iwasato, Asa Karlsson, and Stefan Aberg, and composed and arranged by Stefan Aberg; and "Don't Make a Sad Face, Baby" (from episodes 17 to 26), with lyrics, composition, and arrangement by Takeshi Nagata. These songs are important elements that add to the atmosphere of the story.

Ratings and Recommendations

"MAJOR (2nd Season)" faithfully reproduces the charm of the original work while drawing viewers in with the expressiveness that only anime can offer. Goro's growth, his bond with his teammates, and the brilliance of youth through baseball are depicted movingly, giving courage and inspiration to viewers. In addition, the personalities and backgrounds of each character are deeply depicted, adding depth to the story. In particular, the growth of the battery of Goro and Toshiya and their new challenges at Kaido High School are not to be missed. This work is recommended not only for baseball fans, but also for those who like youth dramas and moving stories. Please watch it and feel its charm.

Related Titles

"MAJOR (2nd Season)" is produced as part of a series, so you can enjoy it together with other seasons and related works. There are 1st to 6th seasons, each of which depicts Goro's growth and passion for baseball. There is also the movie "MAJOR: A Ball of Friendship", the OVA "MAJOR: Message", and "MAJOR: World Series: To the Moment of Dreams", which allow you to learn more about Goro's story. By watching these works in order, you will be able to feel Goro's growth and passion for baseball even more.

Subtitles and episodes

The subtitles of each episode symbolize Goro's growth and the development of the story. From episode 1, "I'm Back..." to episode 26, "Goodbye!", Goro's journey and the bonds he forms with his friends are depicted. In particular, episodes such as episode 4, "Rivals Reunited," episode 11, "The Narrow Gate to Kaido," and episode 20, "Goro vs. Manual Baseball," are important turning points in the story. By paying close attention to these episodes while watching, you can gain a deeper understanding of Goro's growth and passion for baseball.

cast

The acting of the cast, including Morikubo Shoutaro as Goro and Morita Masakazu as Toshiya, is also superb, expressing the emotions of the characters realistically. In particular, the acting that conveys Goro's rebellious spirit and Toshiya's past suffering deeply moves the viewer. In addition, other characters such as Sasamoto Yuko as Shimizu Kaoru and Sakino Shunsuke as Shigeno Hideki also add to the story with their unique acting. The acting of these cast members further enhances the charm of the characters.

Conclusion

"Major (2nd Season)" is a moving work that depicts Goro's growth and passion for baseball. While faithfully recreating the charm of the original work, it is a work that combines many elements, such as the story development that draws viewers in with the expressiveness unique to anime, the charm of the characters, the high-quality production by the staff's cooperation, and the excitement of the theme song and music. This work is recommended not only for baseball fans, but also for those who like youth dramas and moving stories. Please watch it and feel its charm. You can also understand Goro's story more deeply by enjoying other seasons and related works. "Major (2nd Season)" is a wonderful work that gives courage and inspiration to viewers.