What the heck? How is this so good?

Despite multiple recommendations, I honestly didn't expect much from this show going in. But Scorching Ping Pong Girls is an absolute blast. The characters are fun and lively without staying too locked into their archetypes. The direction is sharp, well-paced, and well-boarded. The writing is likewise well-paced, both on an individual episode level and over the course of the entire series. Kinema Citrus always delivers the goods when it comes to animation quality, and this is no different; the ping pong matches are visceral and exciting. Meanwhile, the writing makes sure the matches never get too bogged down by the exposition explaining different moves and play techniques, but still manages to make clear what's happening.

Of course, the heart of the series is the relationship between the two leads, Koyomi and Agari, and if their personalities didn't mesh well the series would be a lifeless dud, exciting ping pong matches or no. But the intensity of the feelings they have for each other—first through the most absurdly erotic and barely subtextual sporting match I've ever seen in any medium, and then through getting to know each other personally as well—gives the series an electricity that makes every moment engaging and makes you want to keep watching. The same is true of the supporting characters, as well; they're all just as fun and well-developed as our main duo. And in the grand tradition of "loftier" sports series like Chihayafuru, we also get background and flashbacks on the protagonists' opponents, making them more interesting and sympathetic than just generic sneering villains for our heroes to beat.

When you look at the show's pedigree the surprising quality starts to make sense. Kinema Citrus, of course, is the studio that would go on to make Revue Starlight and Made in Abyss, and series composition for this show was done by the guy who would also go on to do series comp for Made in Abyss, and wrote the original R.O.D. novels, to boot. Meanwhile the director made Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood, a show I've yet to see but which I hear some people like.

The only really frustrating thing about the show is that it's only 12 episodes. It doesn't try to rush and cram more story into its limited run—it lets the story unfold at a slow and natural pace (again, similar to Chihayafuru)—but it also stops just as it's getting going. Of course, one could always continue the story by reading the original manga ... if it were published in English. Which it's not. Oops. Granted, the show ends on a good stopping point for the characters and their journeys, but plot-wise it's pretty frustrating.

Scorching Ping Pong Girls, at first glance, might seem like just another lightweight, fan-service-heavy sports series, to be watched when one doesn't want to think much, and then immediately forgotten. And I'm not trying to argue that it's a masterpiece. But it is extremely good, and even though the truncated run is a little frustrating, it's still well worth your time to see.