Ranked #192

Prince of Tennis

The Prince of Tennis - a sports-driven anime that debuted back in 2001, depicts the story of Echizen Ryoma and his experiences in the world of tennis. Along with Hajime no Ippo, the Prince of Tennis helped start the rave with sports-driven anime craze, and its not really a wonder why a lot of those anime use many of the elements from the Prince of Tennis - its so good that its still being animated (in OVA form) this very day.

Normally, with sports anime, you see the rise of a certain young star from not being a very good player to being the ace of their sport. The Prince of Tennis pulled something out of the ordinary and made Echizen an amazing tennis player right from the start. Now you're probably thinking, "Well, where's the fun in that?" Well, Echizen is always going up against top-notch opponents and throughout the show, you'll witness him going from a cocky, immature kid to one who actually respects his opponents (well, sort of anyway) and development of new, exciting skills. Echizen join the Seigaku high school tennis team and participates in tournaments with them. And of course, the overall theme is to aim for the top of the tennis world.

The art is pretty good. It starts off so-so, but before you know it, it gets to that level where you're impressed by it. As for the animation, you'll see a lot of repeated frames throughout the show (as usual with sports anime), but the way they animate all of the new skills and tennis matches is just so amazing, that after some of the matches, you just stare in awe at its magnificence.

The sound, I would say, is probably the weakest point of the show. Although the music presented in the Prince of Tennis does suit the mood and is pretty upbeat at times, there really isn't a score that will stand out to you, where you'll be saying, "Ah!! I need that on my computer/ipod." Nevertheless, its relatively enjoyable

Since the stories are pretty much the same throughout all sport anime (overall), in order for an anime to be amazing - especially the case with sport ones - characters and unique personalities need to be there. And Prince of Tennis does not disappoint in that category. This show unveils so many different memorable characters, that you'll undoubtedly have trouble picking your all-time favorite one from the lot because they are so unique. And the best part about it is that the creators were able to somehow give each character a unique way of playing tennis. With the amount of characters and opponents they present, you'd think that they would have to repeat somewhere. But that's definitely not the case.

With amazing tennis matches, a plethora of unique and lovable characters, and a cocky main protagonist that will get on your nerves at times but you'll respect out of necessity because of his skills, the Prince of Tennis is an amazing sport anime. The best part of this anime is that you will have a hard time knowing who will win matches. Surprisingly enough, all the main characters experience losses matches at times, which makes it interesting to see how each one responds to the agony of defeat.

If you are looking for a sport-driven anime and are in for the long haul - meaning 170+ episodes, the Prince of Tennis is exactly what you're looking for. read more

The Prince of Tennis, or テニスの王子様, is very highly rated here at MAL. It's rated so highly, in fact, that I hope to bring a bit of a fresh perspective in the midst of reviews that seem to be simply singing its praises.

Story: 5
There's really nothing exceptional to be found here. The show follows youngsters of the Japanese tennis world, specifically those of Seishun Gakuen middle school, the "Prince of Tennis" being Echizen Ryoma, a freshmen. Sure, it was a bold move in 2001 to make an anime about tennis, which is not exactly the biggest thing in Japan, but just that fact alone does not guarantee much of a show. The plot is generic, relatively predictable, and most importantly: too long. A normal one or two season show will use a three episode time-frame to put out many new plot developments and possibly character introductions, while The Prince of Tennis would use 3 episodes for a single match. This show, even though it is supposed to be about a sport, suffers from the "power spiral" complex. They label characters as a certain strength and then have them perform completely different come game time. The other real problem I had with this show is the heavily overused surprise comeback. Sure, if a match is one-sided, there's no suspense; but when an unbelievable comeback is happening almost every match, it just gets annoying and tedious. I might have seen the story in a better light if this series was closer to 30-50 episodes (And it easily could have been). At any rate, the pitfalls of this show are typical of a long shounen anime. It's hard to write an excellent story that lasts and stays engaging for almost 200 episodes.. although Prince of Tennis didn't have the change of scenery that tends to help similar shows stay refreshing. It's just 50+ hours of the tennis court. You could watch over 20 movies in that time.

Art: 7
I don't have any real complaints here. The art is far from spectacular, but there's nothing particularly wrong with it.

Sound: 7
The same could be said for the sound as the art. The voice acting was pretty typical, the music was fine.

Character: 7
The characters in Prince of Tennis were many, all of them with their own backgrounds and styles. I felt that there was almost too much character development here, because with every new character came a story that contributed to making this show too long.

Enjoyment: 3
I really don't understand how people could find much of an enjoyment factor in Prince of Tennis. Every ~10 episodes is basically a copy of the last ~10 episodes, but in a new tournament against a new school. It gets extremely repetitive, and I found myself skimming through the matches later in the series, eventually dropping it at episode 162. There are a lot of special moves that are used to spice up the matches; but they're just ridiculously unrealistic and don't really serve the purpose of making things interesting. The use of injury to create drama gets old, as if they're trying to pass tennis off as a contact sport.

In the end, I can't see myself giving this show anything higher than a 5. I recommend watching the first set of matches, and then dropping the show, because there's not really anything new to see after that point. For a show given such a high rating, it really was a disappointment. read more

I just finished the whole series (not totally though, there are still nationals awating ^^), so i decided to write my first review for one of the most outstanding tv series I have ever watched...

------->Story<-------
First of all, id like to correct a general mistake about the plot this anime has, ok i accept the fact that most of the the parts of the anime focus on ,the protagonist, Ryoma Echizen, nonetheless; it is not just a one-man show. I will mention about the characters lengthily in its section anyway, so for the plot i can say that it doesn't have a complex or complicated stroyline, starting with a shounen's dream of beating his once-a-world's best dad in tennis but then, it turns out to be the goal of Seigaku tennis club's being the best in Japan. This can be said as the main plot, and for the side dishes, every single player has some goals they want to fulfill... Additionally, some episodes(not much though) are composed of the chibi forms of the players and their lives as a family or something similar to that, and i warn you, they are extremely cute and way too funny ^^ Plot; absolutely not bad but not good enough either, so; the result: 7/10...

------->Art & Visuals<-------
If we take the timeline of the broadcast of the series into consideration, it has pretty damn good visuals, and towards the end, it gets better and better. However, sometimes it might tire your eyes and even hurt^^. Character drawings are one of the best aspects of the series as well. Every character's movements and the way their limbs move is quite realistic. It becomes clear when two players start to play a tennis match; it gives you the feeling that the players consist of flesh and bone like in reality, hence, this series never fails to meet the expectations regarding arts and visual effects. I believe that they also made a very good job in character designs, it is pretty important to me, because a number of anime fails to create characters which can overlap with their traits... The result: 9/10

------->Sound & Seiyuu<-------
One of the weakest parts of PoT is the music it has. Most of the sound you hear when a tennis match is being held is very realistic, so there is no problem in it... But I can say that, excluding one or two Opening songs, PoT lacks good music, same goes for the music it has in an episode... On the other hand, Seiyuus are just great, for Ryoma, Kikimaru or any other player, well, it doesn't have to be a player though, all of the characters are done amazingly by the seiyuus, so we can say that the producers made some very good choices... The result: 8/10...

------->Characters<-------
It consists of many unique characters that you will encounter throughout the series, and i can easily claim that you will most likely be addicted to them, fond of them, and obsessed with them =] PoT has a variety of players, and serves at least one character you will feel close to. There is not much to say, since it is the best in the diversity and uniqueness of characters among the ones I have seen so far... The result: 10/10

------->Enjoyment<-------
Ahh... Here is another gorgeous point PoT has. I can easily say that, there are a wad of series which can entertain you, have you spend enjoyable times, but PoT offers some unforgettable moments which will definitely crack you up. I don't even mention about the "chibi" episodes out there, the show itself is a great fun even if you don't like to watch tennis, don't just give up on this series just because it's about a kind of sports you dislike,,, keep watching, i believe you will also have a great time! In conclusion, be ready for the utterly hilarious show, that being said, the result is just way too obvious.. 10/10

------->Overall<-------
I strongly suggest you watch this series even if you dont like tennis, or anime whose genres are sports. As it happened with me, you will also want to have more of it even though it is already 178 episodes. In a nutshell, in its genre, POT IS SECOND TO NONE ^^
The ultimate result: 9/10 ^^ read more

Story - 10
The story is very original, where the protagonist comes from America to Japan as a well-developed tennis player. His father has him enroll in Seigaku Tennis Club, where he plays opponents who can challenge his skill, while the team seeks to reach the National Tournament. Although the story sounds simple, there are many episodes that get more in depth by revealing more of the characters and the storyline, which I would rather not spoil.

Art - 9
The art in this anime is spectacular! However, it is a long series, so some frames are repeated throughout games, yet it is still well done to the point where it will not bother. There is a large cast of characters, and each of the players have there very own original moves, yet the art is detailed so well it is easy to distinguish between all characters. Even the comedic and chibi episodes were truly amazing and had detailed art.

Sound - 8
The sound in the anime was mediocre. The opening and ending themes sounded like karaoke songs, and they were not real catchy... However, some of them were really good, in my opinion. The sound effects throughout the anime were fine, however, so the music does not really take away from it overall.

Character - 10
This is one aspect of the anime that truly made it one of my favorites. There is a huge amount of characters in the anime, and all of them are original and well-designed of course. There will definitely be many characters you can connect to, as there are many types of personalities amongst them. The characters also develop throughout the anime, so a character you may not have liked may become your favorite. Amazing set of characters in this anime!

Enjoyment - 10
I most certainly enjoyed this anime, as anyone else who's seen it has. The great plot, good art and characters play a great part in this animes success. Everything from the action packed episodes to the comedic chibi episodes were truly enjoyable!

Overall- 10
This anime will not disappoint! read more

Story: The Prince of Tennis has a very unique plot but logical with a few "suprise" episodes along the way (eg. Tenipuri). I enjoyed watching the Prince of Tennis but once you watch it a few times over, it will eventually get really boring.

Art: For me, the art is quite average. What makes it seem so exciting is the background, Fuji (wuhoo) does one of his special moves and there's this dark swirly background and some bright lights on the end of the raquet so that's an extra point or it will be a 7. But that just makes the bishies even hotter. (fangirl squeal).

Sound: Not the best songs though, I can't remember but some are really really really good, like wonderful days. Esp. when in one episode when 8 bishies acually SING it. I'm not sure what to do for sound? Where there are Sound effects at the right moments (woosh, thud, nya) but some are overexagerated (Bang, Kaboom, woah...).

Character: I HAVE to give a 10 for this one. I mean, ther are SO MANY cute bishonen. All of the characters are boys excluding a few girls, so far I think four , excluding sisters, women and a couple in the background. Everyone has unique personalities and signiture moves. Takeshi Konomi must have spend a LOT of time create each of them, I mean around 11 teams/schools and 8 per team, that is a LOT of characters. That guy must have one heck of an imagination. Oh, and I gave it 10 coz THERE'S JUST SO MANY BISHIES!

Enjoyment: I fell in loved with it in the very first episode I watched, the suspense, drama...etc. But because I loved it so much, I rewatched it and I wish I didn't as I knew watch is going to happen next and that ruined the whole show and experience. The best part of the Prince of Tennis is the tension, who is goin to win that match, what will he do next, what does to opponent have up his sleeve? It's that that makes it so enjoyable but once you know, it's not that good.

I love that show, man, however much silly and kiddish that sounds, I love it. Humor, Suspense, action, that show has it all (even some violence too! Bashing up with tennis balls) . Here's a tip, only rewatch an episode a couple months after you last seen it. read more

Prince of Tennis, in my opinion, is like .. superpower tennis. Not in a bad way, but that's what makes this show enjoyable. Ryoma is your typical tennis prodigy who overcomes players more skilled then he is. Story overall was good, with some bumps and twists along the way. The episodes that contain side-stories and stories where the characters are chibis are hilarious. Best I thought was bowling and Snow White.

Art was good, though when in tennis matches, you'll notice repetitions such as their special techniques and missing the ball. That's okay, unless you don't like the moves. The good thing is the art's pretty consistent. I'll give my opinion that the English dub mixed with the animation is such a pain to watch.

Sound? Yeah, it gets a thumbs up. Music is good too, especially Wonderful Days, where it's sung by some of the characters. Dream Believer, love that song!

Characters, haha there's A LOT. I'm not talking 20, there's got to be somewhere around 50 or more. Plus they're pretty all unique. Well, except some players that use their wit. They just look different. You'll love some, you'll hate some, that's a possibility. Sometimes it's hard to believe they're only in middle school. Shocking right?

Enjoyment, I enjoyed it. The show is really funny. I mostly remember it being funny just because of Inui. Him and his special drinks.

Overall, the show gives a lot. Maybe not romantically, though you get Sakuno crushing on Ryoma, who, of course, doesn't notice. If you want to get a good laugh, watch the special episodes that don't really correspond to the storyline. So stop reading and GO WATCH!
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The Prince of Tennis. I'd have to say this is one of my most favorite anime yet, So I do strongly recommend it if you haven't seen it. It really gave me that sad, but happy and satisfied feeling after I finished the series. It includes comedy and sports, but yet humorous at the same time. The Prince of Tennis mainly focuses on Seishun Gakuen's Tennis team (Seigaku) trying to reach for the nationals and become pros one day, while Ryoma Echizen, the protagonist, has his own dream of winning against his father, the former pro in the tennis world. Also, a few of the episodes include the Tenipuri series, when Seigaku and everyone else are chibified. Those times are Hilarious and yet cute.

This isn't just normal tennis you see everyday. There are lots of strange, but yet interesting techniques they use while they play, such as the invisible ball and the Tezuka zone, You have to use your intelligence and stamina in order to win a game. You may find their games somehow deeply move you, as they get more intense, serious, and dramatic at the same time.

The art and how the characters are drawn are pretty amazing. Their expressions and body movements are so realistic when it comes to moving around a lot while playing a tennis game, Everything is drawn neatly and in funny ways.

I have nothing to complain about the Seiyuu's in The Prince of Tennis, they all did a wonderful job and I love how they all sound! I'd say their voices really suit the characters personality very well. I'm especially impressed with Minagawa Junko, ever since I found out Echizen was voiced by a girl. Shes so talented so have such a manly voice ^-^ Although I haven't been paying much attention to the background music sounds of the anime, I do think that Little Sky was sung very well. Dream Believer was also pretty good, since the members of Seigaku sang it. Some of them will even result you in going crazy looking for the name and who the artist is.

Characters...each and every one of them has their own different personality and look, which I find very unique and entertaining. Sometimes you can find the complete opposite personality from a character. I turned out to love all of them, even though my first impression was that they all sounded strange. I like it how all the schools first start out as rivals, but as the series slowly develops, each and every one of them start to change and become friends and allies with eachother, this is one of the most heartwarming things about this anime.

Well, I really enjoyed The Prince of Tennis, and I'm still sulking at the fact that it ended. Each and every one of the episodes captures a memory into your mind. The funniness really sticks in your head when you think about it, and the characters too, you can never forget about them.

I've grown to really like this show, and recommend you to watching it too. 178 episodes + The OVA's and specials, You'll regret it if you don't! read more

I am not a tennis person, I never even saw a single game before I watched The Prince of Tennis, I was a bit reluctant to watch it at first because I only watched it because my friends were. I was only planning to watch 3 and that 3 turned to a 5 then a 8, a 10, to a 13 in ONE DAY. It was really interesting, it's not actually that bad at all. Afterwards, I 'tried' playing tennis...but failed. Overall, it is an AWESOME anime, with a bit of humour and tennis it is the perfect combination for a successful anime. Why else would there be 178 EP plus over 40 OVA's? If you are considering to watch this, then do it, you won't be disappointed. read more

___________________________________________ Review the 1st

Chihuahua Review(short&sweet): A fun, addictive shounen(bunch of guys and action) filled with more unique characters than probably any anime out.

------------------------------>In Depth Review:<------------------------
STORY: You definitely dont have to be a tennis fan or player to enjoi this anime. This could be like any other action anime but, with tennis as the medium. Story is about a young tennis star who joins the infamous tennis club known as Seigaku. Through his time there he and his teammates play through tournaments to become Japan's best team. This may seem boring but with the most hilarious fillers i've seen and experiencing unexpected players(probably over 50 and all different) using unexpected strategies with unexpected endings (main characters actually lose). This anime easily is one of the best sport animes to date. Which is proven with the ova(National Tournament) that continues today!^_^

ART: This was unexpectedly well drawn. The specials each player had looked cool and smooth. Again even with the plethora of characters none of them were that similiar. In the early episodes the characters were a little fugly but soon they become more likeable as animation quality developed. The chibi episodes(best fillers ever)>_< were fun to watch.

SOUND: Not to fond of the english dub version but, probably a result of hearin the japanese version which was voiced decently well by the seiyus.
OP's , ED's, and backround music fits well but doesnt really enchance the experience so most of the time i skipped the opening and ending. T_T

CHARACTER: There was alot of character developement. Just about every character and alot of the supporting characters CHANGED. It may not have been drastic but they changed. They werer all pretty enjoyable in their own way wether it be their lame jokes or their own tennis style that makes them become ur favorite. Other than an unamed female (who never changes)>_< U will probably wont hate anybody since even the" badguys" become somewat likeable after seeing their backrounds.

ENJOIMENT: Very fun anime and since matches lasted two or three episodes and a tournament around 13eps i usually marathoned(ALOT of episodes at a time 24 a day) and like i said again u dont have to be a tennis fan to enjoi. Great fillers and fun characters who EVOLVE will keep ur face glued to the t.v. or computer until ur done. ^_^ And if u do become a hardcore fan ova's are still comin out!

OVERALL: The soundtracks may sound boring but there is a fastforwad button. Art may start unappealing but with 178 episodes it improves with the times. Story may get repetitive with tournament after tournament but with the fresh characters u cant not be excited for the next episode.

Recommendation: If you like tennis(u dont have to) or a superpowered sport with great quality then watch this. If you like this watch Law of Ueki or Hajime no Ippo there also great.

If you dissagreed OR agreed fully with me on anything feel free to message me and discss it. Always fun. @_@

WoofWoof
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Prince of Tennis is probably not the first show on your 'to watch' list, right? Well if I were you, I might want to change that. You don't need any bit of love for tennis to enjoy this anime. The strange tactics and tecniques used in this show could never be in the same category as the sport they are used for unless you know someone who can hit a tennis ball hard enough to knock their opponent into the stands.

It is a tremendously thrilling experience watching Echizen Ryoma advance in his path to defeat his father, who is considered a legend in the world of tennis. Following the characters as they grow mentally and physically is like standing atop your car as you're driving down the highway. If you can live to tell the tale, it will be something that you'll never forget.

The enjoyable characters in Prince of Tennis make this show a difficult one to part with once you've watched a few episodes. The drama and thrill of someone coming back from a 5-0 deficit is priceless. There is not a single episode in the entire series that isn't enjoyable, which is amazing considering the length of the series. Every person that watches this anime finds one character that they like more than the rest and latches onto them, experiencing that characters every moment, good and bad, first hand.

Whatever rumors you may have heard about this show should be ignored. If you miss out on what Prince of Tennis has to offer, you may end up regretting it.

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