Introduction
Going to say it straight up, I adore this manga. There is always a weird, preconceived notion of sports manga-anime. As it revolves around, I don’t particularly enjoy watching this sport, so there is no point in experiencing it. It’s so weird because in most cases it does not matter in the slightest. These artists are fully aware that the readers aren't interested in the subject matter whatsoever. So, they frame the story in a certain light that is both compelling to the fans of the sport and people who aren't acquainted with it. I know people criticise the structure of this type of series, but one aspect that I love is that it gives me a new perspective on something I never thought about. An Example is the anime, Major. I generally don’t like watching baseball, despite the subject matter of Major being baseball I adore it and more importantly makes me respect the sport. It provides a perspective you would never get otherwise. The same can be applied to Hajime no Ippo, what it takes to be a pro boxer, and the sacrifices a person would make. The reason I recall this story is because this is the same experience, I felt reading this manga. I will never get out of my way to watch this sport, but I have a deep sense of respect that I would never have otherwise, if I didn’t read this brilliant piece of art.
Firstly, the sport is a character. It’s not like Ashita no Joe or REAL where the sport is a backdrop to facilitate psychological trauma or drama. It’s similar to Ippo or Baby Steps in that vein, but with less detail. I always found it interesting to explore why do people become an athlete or partake in a sport. I ain’t talking about surface-level observations but something more poignant. Seeing so many perspectives on one sport gives you that appreciation for it. Compared to any other genre, when this is executed well, it's just beautiful. We learn about Ballroom Dancing with Tatara and our conception of it grows as we continue reading the series.
__Story
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So, what is this story about? Honestly, I don’t want to talk about that aspect, as it's not that important. The general setup of a sports manga is pretty similar because it’s a structure that works. What is arguably more important is the execution. This is what I think the author nails. It's not super predictable, but there’re aspects you would anticipate (however it’s earned). You never groan about "oh they're doing this cliché “ etc. You will be so immersed it doesn’t matter. In terms of progression, it achieves this quite well. The main character has a certain goal he is achieving and character-wise and plot-wise he is advancing towards it. But of course, there going to be those downtimes for reflection and slice of life which is excellent. Honestly pretty impressive thinking back upon Tatara's journey from chapter 1 to the latest (chapter 63 for me). The amount he learns throughout the journey is part of the reason I love this genre. Because the framing of the narrative compliments that very well.
Characters
Beyond representing the sports correctly with respect, characters are the most important aspect of a sports manga. If you do not connect with the characters, what’s the point? I adore most of the characters and all of them have their own personal demons, reasons why they practice the sport or do not. In general, I think characters are very nuanced and not given enough credit. One of my fav characters is Chinatsu, at the offset she is just a tsundere. But once you understand the character from subtle details or the flashbacks you understand all her actions. Honestly, she is an incredibly realistic person and a fascinating individual. Even characters like Hanaoka could be perceived as a typical romantic interest, though the author doesn’t focus on her too heavily, you notice she isn’t one-note. Some characters treat her as such, but she calls out certain behaviours and welcomes certain challenges. Almost every character here has characteristics that can be perceived as one-note (or archetypal) but Tomo goes the extra mile giving that added level of complexity. Even random side characters that are one-off, characters rarely feel disposable.
Art
How do you describe the art beyond just saying it's breathtaking. Well, yes, it's bloody breathtaking, stunning, and gorgeous. There are so many adjectives to describe it, that I might not do it justice. I will try to articulate why it’s those adjectives, firstly you will notice the eyes. Tomo Takeuchi understands what makes a piece of art just so vivid and alive. You will first notice the eye slashes and then you will see the pupils and then it strikes you. There is a specific technique she employs that’s very different from the rest of her peers. Specific linework that makes her art style so distinct. If you’re a well-read reader of manga, there is a specific character design for male protagonists that’s very standard (and honestly interchangeable) this does not employ that at all. Everyone has a unique character design and evokes something about their character from subtle details. Because this is about Ballroom Dancing, posture and showcasing backs are something you must capture correctly and she does it. At times, some drawings will make you awestruck. So, she captures the human anatomy pretty well, at least I have nothing to complain about on that front. I guess people complain about the necks, which I didn’t find to be an issue. The anime is jarring but that’s mainly because it's an art style best suited to its medium (manga). Her art style honestly feels somewhat incompatible with anime it’s tough to convey because of the unique aspects of her style specifically. So, the final thing about the art I will talk about is the shading. The movement that is conveyed is incredible because of the beautiful shading. On her Twitter, she does break-downs of her storyboards to the final piece and it's glorious.
p.s. The clothing are stunning and very accurate, you can just tell the author had a blast. The attention to detail for this aspect hasn’t gone out unnoticed.
Panel Work
Like the art, as she has been drawing this manga for over a decade. This fundamental component improves significantly over time. Even from the offset, the panel work never felt cluttered, certain drawings have a great sense of flow. For sports manga, understanding how to convey movement and good panel work are key and yeah, she accomplishes it very well. A lot of moments would lose that impact if it wasn’t framed in a certain light. The exposition never felt clunky, just the right number of doses. A lot of the drawings-panel work adds to characterisation. The amount of personality that can be conveyed through the languages of the eyes is more than you would think. Overall, this is an aspect that just gets better the more you read. One of my favourite examples of how to use this medium.
__Conclusion
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This is one of my favourite series in general. At the offset, it can be perceived as a very generic beat by beat sports series, but once you dive deeper you understand it's not that at all. If you are into fantastic characters that seem archetypal at first but you realise have a lot of depth. Exploring a sport in depth and coming to appreciate it and a fantastic coming of age of sorts plus just something beautiful to look upon. If the aspects of my review sound intriguing definitely give it a shot, it's well worth the ride.
Thank You for reading this Review.
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