The appeal and reviews of "Ro-Kyu-Bu!": Rediscovering the excitement of basketball and youth

The appeal and reviews of Ro-Kyu-Bu!

■ Public Media

TV anime series

■ Original Media

Light novel

■ Broadcast period

July 1, 2011 - September 23, 2011

■Broadcasting station

AT-X, tvk, Chiba TV, Sun TV, KBS Kyoto, TOKYO MX, Teletama, TV Aichi, Niconico Channel, MovieGate, ShowTime, Bandai Channel

■Frequencies

half an hour

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 12

■Original Story

Sag Cangshan

■ Director

Keizo Kusakawa

■ Production

・Animation production: project No.9, + Studio Blanc
Produced by TEAM RO-KYU-BU! (Warner Home Video, ASCII Media Works, AT-X, Clockworks)

■Works

©Sagu Aoyama/ASCII Media Works/TEAM RO-KYU-BU!

■ Story

Subaru Hasegawa, who was admitted to Nanashiba High School on a sports recommendation for basketball, joins the boys' basketball club he has always admired. However, the club is suspended after the club captain, a senior student whom he respects, is suspected of being a lolicon.

With nowhere to go, Subaru was spending his days feeling lost, but at the insistent invitation of his aunt, Takamura Mihoshi, he ends up taking on the role of temporary coach for the girls' basketball team at the elementary school where she is the advisor.

Subaru reluctantly visits the coaching center, but is greeted by five girls dressed in maid outfits!

"Welcome home, master."

Although it is called a basketball club, there are only five members, and only one of them has any proper basketball experience. On top of that, Subaru is confused by the unfamiliar environment of the elementary school girls he is playing against, but after learning about the circumstances they are facing, he begins to seriously face them as their coach.

This is a rolling sports comedy that depicts the youthful years of one high school boy and five elementary school girls as they devote themselves to basketball.

■Cast

・Tomoka Minato/Kana Hanazawa/Maho Misawa/Yuka Iguchi/Saki Nagatsuka/Yoko Hikasa/Airi Kashii/Rina Hidaka/Hinata Hakamada/Yui Ogura/Subaru Hasegawa/Yuki Kaji/Mihoshi Takamura/Shizuka Ito/Tanabata Hasegawa/Mamiko Noto/Aoi Hagiyama/Kanae Ito

■ Main staff

・Original work: Sagu Aoyama (Dengeki Bunko/ASCII Media Works)
・Character design by Tinkle ・Director by Keizo Kusakawa ・Assistant director by Taizo Yoshida ・Series composition by Michiko Ito ・Character design by Takayuki Noguchi ・Prop design by Takahiro Sasaki ・Art director by Goshi Sato ・Color design by Keiko Kai ・Director of photography by Yuji Sato ・Editor by Hiromi Komine ・Sound director by Jin Aketagawa ・Music by Tsuyoshi Watanabe ・Animation producer by Burnham Studios ・Animation production by Project No.9+studio Blanc

■ Main Characters

・Minato Tomoka
Due to certain circumstances, she transferred to Keishin Academy and is the ace of the basketball team, the only one with experience. Her mother is a Japanese dance teacher and her father is a tea ceremony teacher, so she is always polite and serious, but when it comes to basketball...!?
・Subaru Hasegawa
When he was feeling down about the basketball club at Nanashiba High School, where he entered on a sports recommendation, being suspended, he was persuaded by his aunt, Misaki, and for some reason ended up coaching the girls' basketball team, including Tomoka and the others...
・Maho Misawa
She's the mood maker of the basketball club, but she's also a cheerful and energetic girl who hates to lose and can be a troublemaker at times.
・Saki Nagatsuka
As a class representative, she is a reliable person who is the leader of the club. Although she is always keeping an eye on her childhood friend Maho, she sometimes feels a sense of rivalry when she is provoked by her. Her family owns a famous okonomiyaki restaurant.
・Airi Kashii
Perhaps because she has a complex about her height, she has a shy and withdrawn personality... Everyone in the club is also careful about making jokes about her height. She is growing stronger little by little!
・Hinata Hakamada
A petite girl who is a little naive and goes at her own pace. As her nickname "innocent charm" suggests, she often heals those around her with her innocent smile! She also often engages in innocent body contact!
・Takamura Mihoshi
Subaru's aunt, commonly known as Miho-nee. After considering the situation of Subaru, who was feeling down, and the girls' mini-basketball club, for which she is the advisor, she has come to the present.

■Subtitle

Episode 1: "Elementary school students are coming! Yaa! Yaa! Yaa!"
・Episode 2: "A Little Girl's Wish"
Episode 3: "A Path to Tomorrow"
・Episode 4: "A Wish Upon Taka"
Episode 5: "Light a Fire in the Hard"
Episode 6: "Iron Plate Metal Master"
Episode 7: "I'm in love with your buds"
・Episode 8: "The Stairway to Reincarnation"
Episode 9: "Running Alongside Freedom"
Episode 10: "The Tragedy of the Beautiful Star"
・Episode 11: "The Bridge of Five People"
Episode 12: "My Dream is Your Dream"

■ Theme songs and music

・OP1
・"SHOOT!"
・Song: RO-KYU-BU!
・ED1
・"Party Love~I want to grow bigger~"
・Song: RO-KYU-BU!

The appeal and reviews of Ro-Kyu-Bu!

Ro-Kyu-Bu! is a TV anime series that aired in 2011 and is based on a light novel by Sagu Aoyama. This work is a basketball-themed sports comedy that depicts the youth of high school boys and elementary school girls. Below, we will explain in detail the appeal and evaluation of this work.

The appeal of the story

The story of Ro-Kyu-Bu! begins when Hasegawa Subaru, who entered Nanashiba High School on a sports recommendation for basketball, is forced to suspend the boys' basketball club due to allegations that the club captain is a pedophile. With nowhere to go, Subaru is persuaded by his aunt, Takamura Mihoshi, to take on the role of temporary coach of the girls' basketball club at the elementary school where she is the advisor. There, he meets five elementary school girls dressed in maid outfits. The story depicts his growth as he plays basketball with the girls.

The appeal of this work lies above all in its humor and the individuality of its characters. When Subaru visits the girls' basketball club for the first time, the scene where the girls dressed in maid outfits greet him with "Welcome home, master" leaves a strong impression on the viewer. The unique characters of the basketball club members are also part of the charm. Each character enriches the story: Minato Tomoka's seriousness and passion for basketball, Misawa Maho's lively personality and trouble-making side, Nagatsuka Saki's reliable role, Kashii Airi's shy personality, and Hakamada Hinata's easygoing and innocent charm.

Character Appeal

The characters in Ro-Kyu-Bu! have many unique and attractive aspects. The main character, Subaru Hasegawa, is a character who combines passion for basketball with kindness towards elementary school girls. His growth and the deepening of his bond with the girls on the basketball team are at the heart of the story.

Minato Tomoka is the ace of the basketball club and the only one with experience. Her politeness and seriousness, contrasted with her passion for basketball, leaves a strong impression on the viewer. Misawa Maho is the mood maker of the basketball club, but also a troublemaker at times. Her energy and competitive spirit liven up the story. Nagatsuka Saki is a reliable member of the club, and is portrayed as keeping an eye on her childhood friend Maho, but also burning with rivalry. Kashii Airi is a shy girl who has a complex about her height, but her gradual growth is charming. Hakamada Hinata is a laid-back and natural character, and her innocent smile heals those around her. Her innocent body contact also adds humor to the story.

Subaru's aunt, Takamura Mihoshi, is the one who got Subaru to become the coach of the girls' basketball team, and her forcefulness and kindness drive the story. Her presence plays an important role in supporting the growth of Subaru and the girls' basketball team members.

Animation and Music

Ro-Kyu-Bu!'s animation is produced by project No.9 and Studio Blanc, with character design by Takayuki Noguchi. The animation is visually appealing with its adorable designs that make the most of the characters' personalities and realistic depictions of basketball movements. Additionally, the backgrounds by art director Goshi Sato and the colors by color designer Keiko Kai also enrich the atmosphere of the story.

The music is by Tsuyoshi Watanabe, and the opening theme "SHOOT!" and the ending theme "Party Love ~Okki Naritai~" are sung by RO-KYU-BU!. These songs play an important role in enhancing the tempo and atmosphere of the story and eliciting emotions from the viewer.

Ratings and Recommendations

Ro-Kyu-Bu! has been highly praised as a sports comedy. In particular, the characters' personalities and humor have been well received by viewers, and the story of youth depicted through the sport of basketball has attracted many fans. The original light novel is also popular, and its appeal has spread even further since it was made into an anime.

This work is recommended not only for those who are interested in basketball, but also for those who like youth stories and comedies. In particular, the story that depicts the growth of the characters and the deepening of the bonds will provide viewers with emotion and laughter. In addition, the humorous scenes of the girls wearing maid uniforms will give viewers a fresh surprise.

Furthermore, Ro-Kyu-Bu! has been expanded into various media mixes such as character songs and drama CDs, which adds to the enjoyment for fans. By enjoying not only the main anime but also these related works, you can experience the world of Ro-Kyu-Bu! more deeply.

Overall, Ro-Kyu-Bu! is a fascinating work that combines sports, youth, and humor, and this is why it is loved by so many viewers. You can enjoy the basketball game scenes and character development while laughing and feeling moved, so be sure to check it out.