Baby Steps

[David75]

Some frames had nice tennis movement animation from head to toe in the Takuma/Araya match.
Enjoyed the ep.

[MFauli]

Some frames had nice tennis movement animation from head to toe in the Takuma/Araya match.
Enjoyed the ep.

ah, forgot to comment on that! yeah, the animation there was super sweet. looked like motion capturing. maybe they used what was used in Sakamichi no Apollon? Anyway, looked really great.

[MFauli]

episode 18 is out!
--------------------


Nice to see Ei-chan actually go the pro-route now. Although the pressure must be enormous ... he HAS to win it all or has to give up his dream because of his parents.

Excited for next week. I expect it to be similar to when Ei-chan first played Takuma ... being overwhelmed for most of it, then making a single excellent return.

[Buffalobiian]

I'm happy Natsu isn't chasing So-chan. Otherwise, Ei-chan would have to compete and win against him, which would look like Natsu was hunting only good tennis players if she ended up pairing with him later on.

The mother/father reaction was entirely predictable, though still enjoyable. Typical mother.

[Buffalobiian]

HS - Episode 19

----------------------














Rejoice MFauli, you get your Sasaki episode next week!

Meanwhile, I'm still waiting to see more Natsu tennis....

[MFauli]

Rejoice MFauli, you get your Sasaki episode next week!
.

Good episode. Lots of acknowledgment for Maruto. Taking a point from Ike Soji and having his note taking-style be affirmed by the All-Japan´s 2nd seed player.

Next episode seems a bit filler-ish. Wonder if we´ll get another time skip, since the couch said Maruo wouldn´t participate in any tournaments between now and next year´s All Japan.

[David75]

I thought it was a 2 months with no matches... not a whole year?

[Buffalobiian]

I thought it was a 2 months with no matches... not a whole year?

You're correct.

[Buffalobiian]

HS - Episode 20

-----------------------------













Too bad for Sasaki (and by extension, MFauli), this turned out to be very much a Natsu-focued cultural festival.

Go for it Ei-chan!

I also felt a little bad for Terashima since it got owned so badly. Ei-chan earned his victory though, so there's not much to be said there.

[MFauli]

Good episode. Ei-chan showing true progress in terms of tennis ability.

And wtf, this was one of the best romance scenes I´ve ever seen in anime. No sudden topic change or tsundere behavior. Just straight forward love talk between Maruo and Nat-chan. Wouldn´t have expected that much progress on this topic in a sports anime.

I´m, okay with this coupling, Buff, but it sucks that Sasaki completely turned down Maruo´s best friend. That guy really spends a lot of time with her and, from his quiet expressions, cares about her, as well. Hopefully this coupling has a chance, too.

[Buffalobiian]

HS - Episode 21

-------------------------







I've heard about Prince of Tennis, how does this compare to that? Because this is pretty damn tight. I would imagine that PoT is like the Major of baseball while this is closer to an Adachi baseball anime in presentation.

[MFauli]

HS - Episode 21

-------------------------







I've heard about Prince of Tennis, how does this compare to that? Because this is pretty damn tight. I would imagine that PoT is like the Major of baseball while this is closer to an Adachi baseball anime in presentation.

PoT is like the Dragonball/One Piece/Naruto of tennis. Really fun to watch, but not going for realism.
Baby Steps is much more of a realistic depiction of the sports (said someone who doesnt know about tennis outside of anime).

If you like shounen and tennis, definitely watch it.

[Buffalobiian]

HS - Episode 22

------------------------------









47 points. That's tough. I do hope that this match will be over within 2 episodes. Having such an omnipotent guy to play against really wears you don't, even when I'm watching. It doesn't give you any easy or obvious ways to attack either.

[MFauli]

The ending part of this episode was super hype. For a sports anime that is generally ground in reality, this "100 fields-style tennis" sounds awesomely shounen-like But unlike any unrealistic fantasy-moves, it´s a play style that´s somewhat believable.

[Munsu]

Horriblesubs 23:
http://nyaa.se/?page=download&tid=596547







Well really liked how this match ended. In any case, have always wondered why he never seems to watch the chick's game, despite him being infatuated with her. Always reasoned he was busy with his own matches, so he couldn't see her games, but this time around he was free to go watch her yet he never gave it a thought to consider watching her game. Which is odd. That said, looks like we'll get to see a game of hers in the next episode.

[MFauli]

ep 24 is out
--------------


damn, new coach, stop wasting our time with sidestuff and get back to playing tennis :>

[Buffalobiian]

I was thinking that Kageyama was such a good friend and being supportive and totally forgot his selfish motive that goes alongside it. Bring on the romance!

[Munsu]

HorribleSubs Baby Steps Episode 25

Didn't realize this was going to be the last episode, well there's going to be a second season during Spring next year.

[Buffalobiian]

There better be a conclusion to the romance by the end of all this.

[Munsu]

There better be a conclusion to the romance by the end of all this.

We should know by now that this will be dragged through the rest of the series... so yes, let's hope that at least at the end we have something to show for it.