Prince of Tennis BEST GAMES!! Inui/Kaidou vs Shishido/Ohtori, Oishi/Kikumaru vs Niou/Yagyuu - OVA Anthology #2 Review and Review

The Prince of Tennis BEST GAMES!! Inui and Kaidou vs Shishido and Otori/Oishi and Kikumaru vs Niou and Yagyu

"The Prince of Tennis BEST GAMES!! Inui and Kaidou vs Shishido and Ooishi and Kikumaru vs Niou and Yagyu" is an OVA released by Bandai Namco Arts on June 25, 2019. The work is based on the popular manga "The Prince of Tennis" by Takeshi Konomi, directed by Keiichiro Kawaguchi, and animated by MSC. It consists of one 48-minute episode and depicts the heated battles at the Kanto Tournament.

story

This OVA focuses on the matches between Seigaku, Hyotei, and Rikkai. First, in the first round of the Kanto Tournament between Seigaku and Hyotei, the Inui/Kaidou pair faces off against the Shishido/Otori pair. Inui and Kaidou team up to improve their own levels, and take on Hyotei's Shishido and Otori. Shishido has worked his way back up after being dropped from the regular lineup, and Otori plays his supporting role, fighting vigilantly. Although the Seigaku pair allows themselves to be behind by a large margin, they play a greedy game and mount a furious counterattack. What was the satisfying outcome of this match?

The story then continues after Seigaku has advanced to the Kanto Tournament finals and secured a ticket to the national tournament. In the finals, they will face off against Rikkai, the number one team in the country. Oishi has returned from injury, and his golden pair with Kikumaru will compete in the second match. As the match begins, expectations are high, but they are at the mercy of Rikkai's Yagyu's laser beams and Niou's deception. However, the golden pair remembers the day they formed the pair and fights hard. An emotional match unfolds, where the two show off the infinite possibilities of doubles.

cast

Many fascinating characters appear in this work. Kondo Takayuki plays Oishi Shuuichirou, vice-captain of Seigaku, Takahashi Hiroki plays Kikumaru Eiji, Tsuda Kenjiro plays Inui Sadaharu, and Kiyasu Kohei plays Kaido Kaoru. From Hyotei, Kusuda Toshiyuki plays Shishido Ryo and Namikawa Daisuke plays Otori Chotaro. Also, from Rikkai, Masuda Yuuo plays Niou Masaharu and Tsuda Eisuke plays Yagyu Hiroshi. Other impressive cast members include Minagawa Junko as Echizen Ryoma, Okiayu Ryutaro as Tezuka Kunimitsu, and Kaida Yuki as Fuji Shusuke.

Main Staff

The director and scriptwriter is Keiichiro Kawaguchi, the series composition is Mitsuki Hirota, the character design is Meiji Ishii, the art director is Shigeru Morimoto, the color design is Yuko Tsumori, the CG director is Norifumi Hirakawa, the director of photography is Tomomi Saito, the editor is Daisuke Hiraki, the sound director is Takuya Hiramitsu, and the music is by Cher Watanabe. MSC is in charge of animation production, and NAS is in charge of production.

Main Characters

Oishi Shuichiro is the vice-captain of the tennis club, who supports the cool captain Tezuka with his gentle personality. His doubles with Kikumaru Eiji is unrivaled in its perfection. Kikumaru Eiji is a sensitive tennis player who moves freely around the court and excels in acrobatic plays. Inui Sadaharu is the tennis club's greatest information gatherer and a theorist who thoroughly emphasizes data. Kaido Kaoru is a hard worker who shows tenacious matches with the stamina to fight every game with all his might and a tough mentality that never gives up. Shishido Ryo is a tough-minded person who works hard and paves the way in any adversity, and made a comeback as a regular player during Hyoutei's "Losers, Cut Off" system. Otori Chotaro is good at squad serves that make the most of his tall stature, and although he may seem quiet at first glance, he has a fighting spirit and ambition in his heart. Niou Masaharu is a trickster on the court who toyed with opponents with his versatile and unpredictable plays. Hiroshi Yagyu appears cool at first glance, but he has a strong obsession with winning, is noble and passionate, and has a kind heart that cares for his opponents. Ryoma Echizen is a genius tennis player who has won the American Junior Championship four times in a row, and has outstanding tennis sense and overwhelming technique. Kunimitsu Tezuka is the captain of the tennis club, and is a famous player whose name is known to everyone in the junior high school tennis world. Shusuke Fuji is a genius who hides a demon behind his elegant smile, and his skills are outstanding and his return moves are intense and brilliant. Takashi Kawamura is a quiet person, but the moment he picks up his racket, he goes into a burning state and transforms into a passionate player, and his weapon is his power play that pushes through with force. Takeshi Momoshiro was selected as a regular player at Seigaku with his dunk smash that comes from his fearsome jumping ability, and is the mood maker of the club. Keigo Atobe is the captain of the tennis club, and is a man who stands at the top of the 200 members of the club with his rare charisma and ability. Oshitari Yuji is a genius of Hyoutei who coolly fights without letting his opponents know his emotions, and is said to have a thousand techniques. Mukohi Taketo is Mr. Acrobatic, who uses his outstanding jumping power and flexible physical abilities to perform "acrobatic plays." Kabaji Takahiro is always expressionless and silent, and absolutely obeys Atobe's orders, and his obedience is the basis of his strength. Sanada Genichiro is the vice-captain of the tennis club, and is a strict iron man who never tolerates compromise or defeat. Yanagi Renji is a quiet and calm data man who supports the Rikkai tennis club from a detached position as a strategist for Rikkai. Kirihara Akaya has a belligerent personality and a humorous side, but is thoroughly ruthless towards his opponents, and his specialty is the knuckle serve.

Theme songs and music

The theme song is "BEST GAMES!!" and is sung by Ayasa (FEEL MEE). There are two ending themes. The first is "B∀CK SHOT" and is sung by Sadaharu Inui, Kaoru Kaido, Ryo Shishido, and Chotaro Ohtori (FEEL MEE). The second is "GOOD MATCH UP" and is sung by Shuichiro Oishi, Eiji Kikumaru, Masaharu Niou, and Hiroshi Yagyu (FEEL MEE). These songs are important elements that add excitement to the match.

Ratings and Recommendations

"The Prince of Tennis BEST GAMES!! Inui/Kaidou vs Shishido/Ohtori/Oishi/Kikumaru vs Niou/Yagyu" is a work that brings out the charm of the original work to the fullest. In particular, the match between the Inui/Kaidou pair and the Shishido/Ohtori pair is worth watching, as it depicts the growth and efforts of both players. In addition, the match between the Oishi/Kikumaru pair and the Niou/Yagyu pair is an emotional match that shows the revival of the golden pair and the strength of Rikkai. The acting by the cast is also excellent, and the individuality of the characters is well expressed. Furthermore, the theme song and ending theme also liven up the atmosphere of the match, maintaining a high level of quality overall.

This work is recommended not only for fans of "The Prince of Tennis", but also for those who like sports anime and youth stories. In particular, the story of friendship, effort, and growth depicted through the sport of tennis will resonate with many people. Also, don't miss the animation that realistically reproduces the tension and excitement of the match. Be sure to watch this work and feel the passionate battles and growth of the Seishun Academy players.

Furthermore, this OVA faithfully reproduces the episodes of the original work, while incorporating new perspectives and direction, providing fresh excitement for fans of the original work. In particular, the contrast between Inui and Kaidou's data tennis and Shishido and Otori's passionate playing style is very interesting to watch. Also, the scene where the golden pair of Oishi and Kikumaru is revived and plays against Rikkai's powerful pair is not only full of tennis strategy and technique, but also has depth as a human drama.

The appeal of this work lies not only in the character growth and match development, but also in the technical aspects of tennis. Each character's unique techniques, such as Inui's data tennis, Kaidou's endurance, Shishido's indomitable spirit, Otori's squad serve, Niou's deceitful tennis, and Yagyu's laser beam, add excitement to the match. These techniques not only enhance the appeal of the original work, but also make the animation very impressive.

Music is also an important element in enhancing the appeal of this work. The theme song, "BEST GAMES!!," is a powerful song that builds up the excitement of the matches, instantly raising the tension of the viewers. The ending themes, "B∀CK SHOT" and "GOOD MATCH UP," also reflect the atmosphere of each match, allowing you to feel the characters' emotions deeply. These songs, combined with FEEL MEE's singing ability, further enhance the quality of the work as a whole.

This OVA is recommended not only for fans of the original work, but also for those who are new to "The Prince of Tennis". It is especially a must-see for those who like youth sports anime and those who are interested in tennis. Experience the growth and efforts of the Seishun Academy players, as well as the excitement of the matches. This work also combines various elements such as the personalities and techniques of the characters, and the music, so you will surely find something new no matter how many times you watch it.

Finally, I would like to touch upon the efforts and passion of the production staff of this work. Director Kawaguchi Keiichiro and the rest of the staff worked closely on every detail to bring out the best in the original work. All the elements, including character design, art, sound, and music, came together to complete this work. As a result, I believe it has been able to move not only fans of the original work, but also new viewers.

"The Prince of Tennis BEST GAMES!! Inui and Kaidou vs Shishido and Ootori/Oishi and Kikumaru vs Niou and Yagyu" is a work that can be said to be the pinnacle of youth sports anime. Please watch this work and feel the passionate battle and growth of the Seishun Academy players. And enjoy the charm of tennis and the individuality of the characters to the fullest.