At this point, pretty much every anime fan has heard of Ping Pong The Animation one way or another. It gained as much infamy as it did fame because of its divisive art style, but it is considered one of the best sports anime out there. Just because it's well-received doesn't mean it's not underrated. Despite being universally recognized, few people actually watched it Ping pongand even fewer understand what makes it such a unique anime.
The reason for all the fan outcry is simple: Ping pong is a masterful story with an unconventional take on sports shōnen that has a truly singular message - although not everyone agrees with it. While many sports shonen aspire to be stories about dedication generating excellence, Ping pong is an introspective look at natural talent. Value your defeats as much as your victories. Despite its divisive qualities, Ping pong is a must-see for all anime fans, and there's no doubt about that.
Ping Pong: The animation's controversial artistic style shouldn't keep you away from its brilliant story
Ping pong It has a divisive art style, but it's a must-watch
The anime was directed by Masaaki Yuasa, also responsible for works such as Kaibaand adapts the main manga by Taiyou Matsumoto. For the most part, every aspect of the work has been acclaimed: from the sound design to the narrative, the anime is a perfect adaptation of an already incredible work. It was even considered one of the best seinen anime adaptations of all time. There's just one problem: Ping pongIts artistic style has been immensely divisive and will not be for everyone. However, that shouldn't stop potential viewers from trying out the series.
Ping pong revolves around two childhood friends and ping pong prodigies, Smile and Peco. Smile has an innate talent for ping pong, but also a tendency to hold back against others; Meanwhile, Peco wants to be the best ping pong player in the world, but he doesn't take his goals seriously and is constantly at odds with those he plays with and against. With this premise, the show follows the ups and downs of Peco and Smile, who emphatically put their bodies on the line as they become indispensable to each other.
It became a vital blueprint for modern sports shōnen, completely upending the genre. It seems conventional at first glance, but the story is surprisingly fresh and the breathtaking animation brings it to life. Ping pongis the best. Once it is observed Ping pongit will become abundantly clear how and why his influence permeates the entire genre today. Occasionally scary visuals aside, the unimposing sport of ping pong offers fertile ground that has impacted stories ranging from volleyball to football, and all because of how Ping pong flips the sports shonen script.
Ping Pong turns the entire Shonen sports genre upside down
Few series tackle themes as heavy as Ping pong
In most sports shōnen, there is an overbearing emphasis on hard work, dedication, and the power of cooperation. Ping pong is a remarkably human rebuttal to this set of clichés, with a brooding realism that permeates Peco and Smile's stories. They both have very real flaws and the series doesn't try to cover them up.
In the end, one of the most incredible things Ping pong does is undermine the idea that hard work and dedication are what makes a difference. Ping pongthe dark underlying message, instead, is that sometimes natural talent really is what makes all the difference - and sometimes it represents an unbridgeable gulf between two individuals. Smile's tendency to hold back against others out of kindness prevents him from surpassing Peco at first - but after his potential is realized by his trainer, Smile slowly comes out of his shell as his innate talent is realized.
Ping Pong's take on sports may be depressing to some, but it's completely original
You don't have to agree with Ping pong To find it valuable
This premise is anathema to most sports shonen. Natural talent is something that has become more or less taboo in shonen storytelling, in part because it inevitably leads to a defeatist perspective. If some people will always be better just because they are better– what’s the point in trying? Ping pong however, it does not present a full defense of the innate ability; instead, it addresses a question that is always present in everyone's mind.
No matter how confident someone is, there is always a doubt that someone can be betterthreatening, in turn, to overtake all the progress and effort one has invested. After all, without effort - like Smile's own efforts to overcome his psychological block that prevents him from realizing his full potential - innate ability is meaningless. Ping pong it may appear on the surface to lean more into innate ability, but the reality is that it just meditates on it in a way that few other anime are able to do.
In this way, Ping pong is one of the most refreshing sports anime anyone can watch. It's completely realistic and is a surprisingly serious investigation into the relationships people have with others, how their own problems can get in the way of relationships with others and with themselves, and how greatness is always a struggle. You don't have to agree with Ping Pong The Animationpremise of considering it immensely valuable.