"Tekyu" review: A perfect mix of tennis and comedy

"Tekyu" - 5 minutes of laughter and healing depicting the daily lives of eccentric tennis club members

"Tekyu" is a 12-episode short anime that aired in 2012 and is based on the manga of the same name by Roots. It aired from October 7 to December 23, 2012, and was available on various media outlets such as TOKYO MX, AT-X, YouTube, Niconico Video, Animate TV, and ShowTime. This anime is a comedy that depicts the daily lives of the unique members of the Kameido High School tennis club, and each episode is only five minutes long, providing laughter and healing.

Overview

Although "Teekyu" is set in a tennis club, it focuses on the eccentric characters and conversations of the club members rather than tennis itself. The work is a testament to the unique style of director, scriptwriter, director, and character designer Itagaki Shin, and animation is handled by MAPPA. Sound production is handled by Dax Production, and the cast includes talented voice actors such as Mimori Suzuko, Watanabe Yui, Narumi Kyoko, and Hanazawa Kana.

Main Characters

The charm of "Tekyu" lies in its unique characters. The main characters are introduced below.

Kanae Shinjo

Height: 145cm
Weight: 38kg
Although she is a member of the second-year tennis club, she is a dementia machine who can barely play tennis. She is small and friendly, and her hobby is watching movies. The subtitles of each episode are based on the title of the movie Kanae saw the day before. Her innocent actions and remarks create a contrast with the other club members, and invite laughter.

Yuri Oshimoto

Height: 162cm
Weight: 53kg
The only first-year student in the Kameido High School tennis club. Although she is pushed around by the idiot seniors, she plays the role of the straight man. Her hobby is collecting shonen manga, and it is impressive to see her use her knowledge to point out the eccentricities of her seniors. It is no exaggeration to say that without Yuri's straight-up comments, the humor of "Teekyu" would not exist.

Takamiya Nasu

Height: 153cm
Weight: 55kg
A mysterious, air-headed young lady who tries to solve everything with money. She thinks she keeps a step back from the other three, but she always ends up getting dragged into their affairs. She seems to be fairly good at tennis, but her airheadedness creates a contrast with the other club members and provides laughs. Nasuno's innocence and the way of thinking that only a rich person can have enrich the world of "Tekyu."

Marimo Bando

Height: 169cm
Weight: 58kg
She is a cheerful, pretty, and kind second-year student, but her favorite food is underwear, making her a total pervert. She is pressured by the idea that "people who speak Kansai dialect have to say funny things," and worries about her height. Marimo's Kansai dialect and perverted character further enhance the humorous elements of "Tekyu."

Story and subtitle

Each episode of "Tekyu" has a subtitle based on the title of a movie Kanae saw the previous day. Below are the subtitles for each episode.

• Page 1: A once-in-a-lifetime encounter with a senior
• Second page: Senpai and the Caribbean
• Third page: Seniors and the Gold Rush
• 4th Stage/Senpai and the Goonies
• Page 5 / Senpai and DENGEKI
• 6th Stage / Senpai and Water World
• Page 7 / From Russia with love and senpai
• Page 8: Born on July 4th with my senior
• Stage 9: Dinner Rush with Senpai
• Episode 10: Having fun with the seniors
• Page 11: Senpai and Nacho Libre
• Page 12: Senpai and the Sixth Sense

These subtitles not only symbolize the content of each episode, but also emphasize Kanae's character as a movie lover. The stories of each episode depict the daily lives of the tennis club members, focusing more on the members' personalities and conversations than on tennis itself. For example, there are many scenes in which Kanae behaves eccentrically due to the influence of movies, Yuri comments on the jokes of her seniors, Nasu tries to solve problems with money, and Marimo displays her perverted character. These scenes form the humorous elements of "Tekyu."

Theme songs and music

The opening theme of "Tekyu" is "Tekyu for Fallen Aristocrats", with lyrics by Roots, music by Watanabe Hakkai, and vocals by Watanabe Yui. The song features humorous lyrics and a melody that symbolizes the worldview of "Tekyu", making viewers laugh. In addition, a short animation depicting the daily lives of the characters is inserted at the end of each episode, providing healing to viewers.

Related Titles

"Teekyu" gained even more fans with the second and third seasons. The second season aired from July to September 2013, and the third season from October to December 2014. These sequels continue to depict the unique daily lives of the tennis club members, providing laughter and healing. The original manga is also serialized in the monthly Comic Earth Star, so fans can enjoy the manga as well as the anime.

Ratings and Recommendations

"Tekyu" is a comedy that takes advantage of the short animation format, and is full of laughs and healing moments depicting the daily lives of unique characters. In particular, each character's personality stands out, such as Kanae's love of movies, Yuri's tsukkomi (comedian), Nasuno's airheadedness, and Marimo's perverted personality, so viewers will not get bored. Also, the subtitles of each episode are unique and related to the titles of the movies, which draws the viewers' interest.

This work is especially recommended for those who like short anime and comedy anime. Also, while it uses a tennis club setting, it is refreshing in that it focuses on the characters' personalities and conversations rather than tennis itself, providing viewers with a new source of humor. Another appeal is that it provides laughter and healing in the short five-minute episodes.

"Teekyu" is a comedy that takes advantage of the short animation format, and is full of laughter and healing, depicting the daily lives of unique characters. In particular, the individuality of each character stands out, such as Kanae's love of movies, Yuri's tsukkomi, Nasuno's natural airheadedness, and Marimo's perverted character, so viewers will not get bored. Also, the fact that the subtitles of each episode are based on the titles of movies is unique and attracts viewers' interest. This work is especially recommended for people who like short animations and comedy anime. In addition, while using the setting of a tennis club, it is refreshing that it focuses on the personalities and conversations of the characters rather than tennis itself, providing viewers with a new element of laughter. Another attractive feature is that it provides laughter and healing in the short 5-minute episodes.

"Teekyu" is a comedy that takes advantage of the short animation format, and is full of laughter and healing, depicting the daily lives of unique characters. In particular, the individuality of each character stands out, such as Kanae's love of movies, Yuri's tsukkomi, Nasuno's natural airheadedness, and Marimo's perverted character, so viewers will not get bored. Also, the fact that the subtitles of each episode are based on the titles of movies is unique and attracts viewers' interest. This work is especially recommended for people who like short animations and comedy anime. In addition, while using the setting of a tennis club, it is refreshing that it focuses on the personalities and conversations of the characters rather than tennis itself, providing viewers with a new element of laughter. Another attractive feature is that it provides laughter and healing in the short 5-minute episodes.

"Teekyu" is a comedy that takes advantage of the short animation format, and is full of laughter and healing, depicting the daily lives of unique characters. In particular, the individuality of each character stands out, such as Kanae's love of movies, Yuri's tsukkomi, Nasuno's natural airheadedness, and Marimo's perverted character, so viewers will not get bored. Also, the fact that the subtitles of each episode are based on the titles of movies is unique and attracts viewers' interest. This work is especially recommended for people who like short animations and comedy anime. In addition, while using the setting of a tennis club, it is refreshing that it focuses on the personalities and conversations of the characters rather than tennis itself, providing viewers with a new element of laughter. Another attractive feature is that it provides laughter and healing in the short 5-minute episodes.

"Teekyu" is a comedy that takes advantage of the short animation format, and is full of laughter and healing, depicting the daily lives of unique characters. In particular, the individuality of each character stands out, such as Kanae's love of movies, Yuri's tsukkomi, Nasuno's natural airheadedness, and Marimo's perverted character, so viewers will not get bored. Also, the fact that the subtitles of each episode are based on the titles of movies is unique and attracts viewers' interest. This work is especially recommended for people who like short animations and comedy anime. In addition, while using the setting of a tennis club, it is refreshing that it focuses on the personalities and conversations of the characters rather than tennis itself, providing viewers with a new element of laughter. Another attractive feature is that it provides laughter and healing in the short 5-minute episodes.

"Teekyu" is a comedy that takes advantage of the short animation format, and is full of laughter and healing, depicting the daily lives of unique characters. In particular, the individuality of each character stands out, such as Kanae's love of movies, Yuri's tsukkomi, Nasuno's natural airheadedness, and Marimo's perverted character, so viewers will not get bored. Also, the fact that the subtitles of each episode are based on the titles of movies is unique and attracts viewers' interest. This work is especially recommended for people who like short animations and comedy anime. In addition, while using the setting of a tennis club, it is refreshing that it focuses on the personalities and conversations of the characters rather than tennis itself, providing viewers with a new element of laughter. Another attractive feature is that it provides laughter and healing in the short 5-minute episodes.

"Teekyu" is a comedy that takes advantage of the short animation format, and is full of laughter and healing, depicting the daily lives of unique characters. In particular, the individuality of each character stands out, such as Kanae's love of movies, Yuri's tsukkomi, Nasuno's natural airheadedness, and Marimo's perverted character, so viewers will not get bored. Also, the fact that the subtitles of each episode are based on the titles of movies is unique and attracts viewers' interest. This work is especially recommended for people who like short animations and comedy anime. In addition, while using the setting of a tennis club, it is refreshing that it focuses on the personalities and conversations of the characters rather than tennis itself, providing viewers with a new element of laughter. Another attractive feature is that it provides laughter and healing in the short 5-minute episodes.

"Teekyu" is a comedy that takes advantage of the short animation format, and is full of laughter and healing, depicting the daily lives of unique characters. In particular, the individuality of each character stands out, such as Kanae's love of movies, Yuri's tsukkomi, Nasuno's natural airheadedness, and Marimo's perverted character, so viewers will not get bored. Also, the fact that the subtitles of each episode are based on the titles of movies is unique and attracts viewers' interest. This work is especially recommended for people who like short animations and comedy anime. In addition, while using the setting of a tennis club, it is refreshing that it focuses on the personalities and conversations of the characters rather than tennis itself, providing viewers with a new element of laughter. Another attractive feature is that it provides laughter and healing in the short 5-minute episodes.