basketball | Animated Observations

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It took a while, but I finally managed to finish Production I.G.’s other great sports anime accomplishment: “Kuroko no Basuke.” The show has the feel of being mostly a giant tournament arc, but there were still a lot of ups and downs, especially near the end. With that said, here are some of my Final Thoughts.

“Kuroko no Basket”: Friendship is Magic

Although I have still yet to watch many sports anime, one thing that I have noticed among the ones I have seen is there tends to be a bit of weakness when it comes to thematic endings. The same seems to be true of “Kuroko no Basket.”

While the road to get to the show’s thesis was certainly exciting, and I would happily watch another season were one to be made, the series seems to suffer from the same lack of a greater overall point. At the end of the series, after beating Akashi, the takeaway seems to just be that “everything will be OK as long as you’re having fun.”

While this is not even a bad message, it does feel a little boring from a show that was otherwise action packed and pretty much always delivering in its game scenes. Speaking of the games, though…

The Games are Incredible

One of the reasons I initially did not want to watch the series was because, out of context, the scenes where characters use their special techniques look pretty dumb. However, plenty of things do not make sense out of context, so of course I ignored this and just gave the series a chance.

Even though the abilities themselves still do not make a ton of sense in context, it works enough to where there is still plenty of room for hype when Seirin faces their next opponent. Specifically, all of the games against the “Generation of Miracles” are extremely well done. There is a lot of back and forth, emphasis on the decision making and technical abilities of each of the players, and exploration of character motivation during the games.

Kuroko and Kagami

Previously, I wrote about my feelings on the similarities and differences between “Haikyuu” and “Kuroko no Basket.” While the two can definitely feel a bit one-dimensional at times, there relationship certainly stands out from the first episode.

Using the power of misdirection, Kuroko can seemingly make himself invisible. This, combined with his ability to pass incredibly fast give him the title of the “Phantom Sixth Man of the Generation of Miracles.” At the beginning of the series, Kuroko makes a promise to Kagami that he will make him number one, and will become the shadow to his light.

It is a really cool dynamic and also allows for a pretty powerful visual metaphor for their play style. Kagami likes to be flashy, often using his incredible jumping power both on defense and to score, and Kuroko works from people’s blind spots, making passes and steals with ease.

Conclusion

Exciting really only begins to describe the sports anime experience that is “Kuroko no Basket.” It combines a sport that is already pretty high energy with a storyline that, while thematically weak, creates a lot of tension among its characters, almost all of whom are fleshed out incredibly well. Fans of sports anime who somehow have not seen this show should definitely fix that immediately.

How do you all feel about Kuroko no Basket? Let me know in the comments below.

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Welcome, weebs, to Animated Observations

Ever since the third season of “Haikyuu” began airing a couple of weeks ago, my craving for sports anime has been in full effect. While thinking the fact that the show is airing weekly and I have to wait for new episodes each week, I happened to remember the other really popular sports anime made by Production I.G., and, well, here I am, my first impressions after five episodes.

For those unaware, “Kuroko no Basket” tells the story of two high school basketball players. Taiga, who spent his middle school years living in the United States, joins the basketball team at Seirin High School. There, he meets with Kuroko, who is revealed to be a phantom sixth member of a famous middle school group known as the “Generation of Miracles.” The two of them vow to help each other become the best.

Part of the reason I brought up “Haikyuu” before is because both it and “Kuroko no Basket” have a lot more in common than just their production studio. Both of them feature a main character pair that have not only a deep-seeded rivalry, but also awesome teamwork that can rival even the best, and eventually does. Alongside the main characters in both series is also the quirky cast of side characters who become much more important as the series goes on.

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Still, none of this is to say that “Kuroko” is worse than “Haikyuu.” Another quality they share is there, well, quality. Right off the bat “Kuroko no Basket” makes its characters interesting and memorable. In the first episode, after challenging and losing to Taiga in a game of basketball, Kuroko tells him that he is a shadow. As is shown later in the episode, this is a reference to Kuroko’s talent for weaving around players and passing on the court.

The animation is also incredibly on point. Already the scenes with games look incredibly stylized. One part that really stands out is the animation for the scenes where Taiga and Kuroko are passing between each other and going in for points.

The show is also pretty good musically. On top of the adrenaline pumping soundtrack, the show was also blessed with a great opening song from GRANDRODEO, a band whose fast, electro rock style makes a great fit for any sports or action intensive anime.

One thing that I do worry about moving forward is the side characters. Although the show has not given any indication of this, there is always the possibility that it will ignore its supporting cast in favor of a sole focus on Taiga and Kuroko, which would leave the series feeling a bit one dimensional, especially for a sports anime. Still, that is mainly just nitpicking at this point.

Overall, I find myself pretty invested in “Kuroko no Basket” already. It has a great set up, a long with a great studio behind it, and considering how good “Haikyuu” has also been, I would not be surprised to see the series rise to that level. Definitely worth giving a watch.

How do you all feel about “Kuroko no Basket?” Let me know in the comments.