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It's impossible to describe this show with one word, but the closest would be.

Masterpiece.

And im not just talking about this season, but the show as a whole. It starts of with a bang, like these kind of animes usually do. With a tragedy that leads a talented individual to pursue his dream. In this case, to be the best baseball pitcher in the world. But most of all, just play baseball.

You follow Goro Shigeno/Honda through some rough years of his life. Battling with both injuries, tragedies and strong opponents. And they always get stronger, and the wall to climb always gets higher. And it's truly, an epic journey. There are some rough paths from little league to major league. But you quickly learn that there is no shortcut to success.

So, this anime follows a storyline pattern that is proven successful by many shows before. And then it's no suprise when i tell you, i think its brilliant. They start of with a little kid idolizing his father. But when his father falls victim to a freak accident, he starts to rely on himself. And grows to be, the very talented, hotheaded and cocky main character. With one goal, to get stronger.

The main character is very important in this series, more so than some of the other animes i have watched. Of course, all animes revolves around 1 or more main characters, but this series i feel is a little bit different. I can't put my finger on it, but they way they have done the "storytelling", makes me care more for this character than in any other anime. Maybe with the exception of Hajime no Ippo. Which is the only show i can compare it with, mainly because of the storytelling and the colorful characters.

So, i have followed Goro though fire and ice, thick and thin, blood and sweat.
And i have to be honest, i love him. I love his sincerity, his innocence and childish but cocky behaviour. His humour, his guts, his talent, his heart and his soul. And that's basically what this show is about.

What more do you need?


STORY-10-
Pretty original, some signs of the shounen pattern, but still. It have turned it up a notch and spiced it further than anyone before them.

ART-10-
The first two seasons were decent. But from there the quality got alot better along the lines, and the last season is magnificent.

SOUND-10-
Realistic sound, alot of variation in the different scenarios. It's impressive in every way, and i can't recall that i have every noticed a flaw.

CHARACTER-10-
This show gets top score on character, but not just because of the main character. You meet alot of interesting characters when you follow Goro, and each and one of them are unique. Of course, some of them are similar to characters in other animes. But if you add all the characters up, they deserve top score. No doubt.

ENJOYMENT-10-
This show captures the nervous moment when you can decide a game, with one throw/pitch. And does it brilliantly. But the humour, the characters and the story are marvelous. I almost cried when i was finished with the last episode, and it left me with that empty hole in your heart. The feeling you usually get when you miss something and you want more.
That means i enjoyed it alot, and it deserves full score

OVERALL-10-
No suprise here.
When you get that empty feeling like i just wrote about. That's a pretty good indication that this anime was superb.


So, what can i say. It's been almost three months since i finished this anime, and the emptiness in my heart is still there.

You want any more reasons to watch this? read more

This animè is one of the most annoying i have ever seen. It starts of like all other shounen series, but maybe the first one i have seen where the main character still have both his parents. Its about Endou Mamoru, a goalkeeper for a pathetic football team threatened to shut down if they can't get enought members and beat the best youth team in Japan. And that's how it starts, and escalades into one of the most dreadful manuscripts ever.

The story is not bad because of lack of characters or the lack of plot. But the story itself is just utterly unrealistic. Its not about the football in or of itself, but more of the evil people plotting terrifying plans behind the courtain. The plot really pisses me of, and i can guarantee you, if you are not a 9 year old boy. You will get annoyed.
Sometimes you would rather tear out your eyeballs and feed them to pigs than to watch particular segments of the episode.

Im not gonna give you any spoilers, but this series is farther away from perfect than Pluto is from the Sun.

But that is why i love it. I don't take it seriously at all. Ok, ill admit it. I always cheer for Endou and Inazuma Eleven/Inazuma Japan, even though i KNOW they are going to win. But i don't take the manuscript seriously at all. It's brilliant, watching evil people plotting to KILL children because of a youth club football match. It's so unrealistic that i cannot describe how annoyed this series get me, and i kinda like that feeling to. I want to jump into the screen and knock some sense into them. But this isn't what fuels my "need" for this series. It has heart and soul, it got all the right messages morally. Even though you sometimes think the characters are abit one-dimensional.

I don't even think the writers take themselves seriously. I think they blurt out ideas, laught at it, and make it fit. From one moment you are on a football field, the other, on a crime scene. Under pressure by a all powerfull leader that wants to take over the world.

By using kids... on a football field....

You take my point?

To sum it up.
STORY-2- As you already have figured out, the story is dreadful.

ART-9- I have no complaints about the artwork, some of it are pretty cool. The different "Hissatsu techniques" are pretty cool-looking, and good animation overall i must say.

SOUND-8- My main focus when i watch anime is story and how much i enjoy it. But it's all relative, and you can't enjoy an anime without good sound, and i think they did a decent job here. I personally can't put my finger on any major flaws.

CHARACTER-8- Shounen, everything from evil cocky guyes, to overtrusting guys who relies on their friends, and would die for them. Etc
But it works on all other shows, so i see no reason why it shouldnt work here

ENJOYMENT-9-I have already explained why i enjoy this, i can disconnect my brain and just watch this, laught at the stupid plot.I give it a 9, because some scenes make me want to crush my computer in anger.





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