How Heavy Are the Dumbbells You Lift? The Appeal and Evaluation of the Muscle Training Anime

"How Heavy Are the Dumbbells You Lift?": The appeal of a new anime that combines muscle training and youth

"How Heavy Are the Dumbbells You Lift?", which aired in the summer of 2019, attracted many viewers as an anime themed around muscle training. It is based on the manga of the same name by Sandrovich Yabako, and animation was handled by Doga Kobo. Directed by Mitsue Yamazaki, with character design by Ai Kikuchi, it was developed as a 12-episode series. This anime is not only a fun way to learn about muscle training, but also has a story that depicts friendship and growth in the youth.

story

The story of "How Heavy Are the Dumbbells You Lift?" begins when Sakura Hibiki, a high school girl who loves to eat, is asked by a friend, "Have you gained weight again?" Determined to lose weight before summer vacation, Hibiki realizes that she cannot keep up with exercising on her own and decides to join a training gym. There she meets Soryuuin Akemi, the charismatic and beautiful student council president of the same school. Under her influence, Hibiki becomes completely immersed in the world of muscle training.

The story revolves around Hibiki and Akemi and follows their interactions with their friends and gym trainers. The show tells the story of Hibiki's weight loss and growth, as well as the deepening of their friendships, while also introducing knowledge about muscle training. Each episode realistically depicts the specific methods and effects of muscle training, as well as the characters putting it into practice, allowing viewers to learn along with them.

character

The main character, Hibiki Sakura, is a bright, cheerful and innocent girl. She loves to eat, but when a friend points out that she has recently gained weight, she decides to go on a diet. Her growth and efforts are at the heart of the story, evoking sympathy from viewers. Fairouz Ai is the voice actress, bringing out the best in Hibiki.

Soryuuin Akemi is a classmate of Hibiki who attends the same school as her and has been the student council president since her first year, a charismatic figure. Her family is extremely wealthy, and she is a perfect person with excellent grades, an all-around athlete, politeness and kindness, but at the same time she has a severe muscle fetish. Her presence highlights Hibiki's passion for muscle training and adds depth to the story. Amemiya Sora is the voice actress, and she expresses Akemi's cool and charming character.

Uehara Sayaka is Hibiki's best friend and a caring and sensible person. After school, she often goes out to eat and watches movies with Hibiki. Her presence supports Hibiki's daily life and adds warmth to the story. Her voice actress, Ishigami Shizuka, expresses Sayaka's kindness and friendship.

Gina Boyd is a second-year student at Kremlin West High School from Russia. She studies Sambo and is a skilled athlete, having placed fifth in an arm wrestling competition. She is knowledgeable about Japanese culture and speaks the language fluently, but she also has an extreme competitive streak. Her presence adds an international flavor and competitive spirit to the story. Nao Toyama is the voice actress, and she expresses Gina's strength and charm.

Satomi Tachibana is a 29-year-old single woman who teaches world history at Kouou Girls' Academy. She is intelligent and beautiful, but she is worried about her weight gain, so she joins Silverman Gym. Her secret adds mystery and tension to the story. Although the voice actress has not been announced, her character adds depth to the story.

Naruzo Machio is a trainer at the Silverman Gym where Hibiki and her friends go. He is a refreshingly handsome man in his mid-20s who has studied abroad to learn sports theory and is very knowledgeable about the human body and training. His presence adds expertise and guidance to the story. Kaito Ishikawa is the voice actor, and he expresses Naruzo's refreshing and knowledgeable nature.

Combining muscle training with youth

The greatest appeal of "How Heavy Are the Dumbbells You Lift?" is the fusion of muscle training and youth. Not only is it a fun way to learn muscle training knowledge, but the story that depicts the growth and friendship of Hibiki, Akemi, and the others draws viewers in. Each episode realistically depicts the specific methods and effects of muscle training, allowing viewers to learn along with them. In addition, the characters' daily lives, worries, and growth are depicted, making it a fascinating coming-of-age anime.

In the muscle training scenes, items such as dumbbells, protein bars, and barbells are introduced, and their usage and effects are explained in detail. Dumbbells are often used with one hand, so two are needed if you want to train both hands at the same time. There are dumbbells with fixed weights on both ends and those with disc-shaped weights on both ends, and some with adjustable weights. By holding them in your hand, you can easily train your entire body, from your pectoral muscles, back muscles, and core to your upper arms.

Protein is a type of supplement that allows you to obtain protein efficiently, and is often sold in powder form, and is often dissolved in water or milk before drinking. There are two basic variations: "whey" based on milk protein and "soy" based on soy protein, but in recent years there are many types that contain amino acids, and various types are sold not only for bodybuilders but also for athletes and babies.

A barbell is a piece of muscle training equipment that is mainly used for bench presses during training. It is an iron bar with disk-shaped weights attached to both ends. By changing the weight, it can be used with a variety of weights. It is often used for squats while placed on the shoulders. When using it at a gym, it is important to ask for assistance and use it safely.

Subtitles and episodes

The subtitles of each episode reflect the theme of muscle training and dieting. Episode 1, "Want to try muscle training?", explains why Hibiki started going to the gym and introduces basic knowledge of muscle training. Episode 2, "Want to try protein?", explains the types and effects of protein in detail and shows Hibiki trying protein. Episode 3, "Should the teacher go on a diet too?", reveals Tachibana Satomi's diet worries and secrets and depicts her growth.

Episode 4, "Did anything good happen during summer vacation?", depicts Hibiki and Akemi's summer vacation episodes and their deepening friendship. Episode 5, "Which sports festival will you participate in?", depicts Hibiki and Akemi's competitive spirit and friendship at the school sports festival. Episode 6, "Do you want a new rival?", introduces Gina Boyd and begins a competition with Hibiki and the others. Episode 7, "Do you want to be an idol?", depicts Hibiki's dream of becoming an idol and the gap between her dream and reality.

Episode 8, "What would you do if you were lost?", depicts Hibiki and Akemi getting lost at sea, putting their friendship and bond to the test. Episode 9, "Have you seen God?", depicts an episode where Hibiki sees the god of weight training, and shows her growth and hard work. Episode 10, "Do you like Christmas?", depicts the friendship and bond between Hibiki and Akemi, set against the backdrop of Christmas. Episode 11, "What are you doing for New Year's?", depicts the friendship and bond between Hibiki and Akemi, set against the backdrop of New Year's. Episode 12, "How Much Can You Lift?", depicts Hibiki's growth and hard work, and the results of her diet are revealed.

Theme songs and music

The opening theme "Onegai Muscle" is sung by Fairouz Ai and Ishikawa Kaito, and gives a sense of the fun of muscle training and the energy of youth. The lyrics were written by Side Chest Karasuya, the music was composed by Side Chest Karasuya and Six Pack Shinozaki, and the arrangement was done by Six Pack Shinozaki. The ending theme "Macho A Name?" is sung by Ishikawa Kaito, and gives a sense of love and passion for muscles. The lyrics were written by Side Chest Karasuya, the music was composed by Side Chest Karasuya and Six Pack Shinozaki, and the arrangement was done by Six Pack Shinozaki. The insert song "Snow Globe" is sung by tea, and gives a sense of Hibiki's growth and friendship. The lyrics, music and arrangement were done by tea.

Production Staff

The production staff of "How Heavy Are the Dumbbells You Lift?" are Sandrovich Yabako and MAAM (artist), director Mitsue Yamazaki, sound director Mitsue Yamazaki, series composition and scriptwriter Fumihiko Shimo, character designer Ai Kikuchi, prop designer Chiaki Nakajima and Megumi Matsumoto, art director Takeyuki Takahashi, art director Miho Sugiura, color designer Genta Makabe, cinematographer Kunihiko Ito, editor Mutsumi Takemiya, music by Yukari Hashimoto, music by KADOKAWA, music producer Go Wakabayashi, producers Norifumi Kikushima, Reiko Sasaki, Aya Iizuka, Toyokazu Nakahigashi, Yuji Sato, Mitsuhiro Ogata, production producers Hajime Kamata and Shingo Saito, animation by Doga Kobo, and production by Silverman Gym. These staff members worked together to create a wonderful anime that depicts the fusion of muscle training and youth.

Viewer reactions and ratings

"How Heavy Are the Dumbbells You Lift?" was highly praised by many viewers as an anime themed around muscle training. In particular, it was well received for its fun way to learn about muscle training, and for the story that depicts the growth and friendship of Hibiki, Akemi, and the others. The appeal of the characters and the performances of the voice actors were also highly praised, and it garnered a lot of support from viewers.

Many viewers responded with comments such as, "I'm glad I was able to learn about muscle training in a fun way," "The friendship between Hibiki and Akemi was touching," and "The characters were charming and fun to watch." Many viewers also started muscle training, with comments such as, "I started muscle training after watching this anime," and "I could really feel the effects of muscle training."

Recommendations and related works

"How Heavy Are the Dumbbells You Lift?" is recommended for people who are interested in muscle training and for those who like youth anime. It is also recommended for those who like stories that depict character growth and friendship. Related works include "ONE PUNCH MAN," which also has the theme of muscle training, and "Sound! Euphonium," a youth anime. These works also have appealing stories that depict character growth and friendship, and have touched many viewers.

"How Heavy Are the Dumbbells You Lift?" is a work that will make you feel the charm of a new anime created by the fusion of muscle training and youth. Not only can you learn muscle training knowledge in a fun way, but the story of Hibiki, Akemi and the others' growth and friendship will attract viewers. Please watch this wonderful anime and feel the charm of muscle training and youth.