Yowamushi Pedal Movie

As a new audience in the Yowamushi series, my initial thought for this movie was a fun touched. Idk if that Bike racing anime can be this fun a film animation. I thing Onoda's characterization just making this show to be completely different means by any kind of some serious race matter. He making all that funny moment, such as walk past their enemy with elegant pass, into singing that Hime song with really nice pacing on that racing competition, or in the beginning moment with his smile riding bike, a nice scenes for me.

Thats some of my main point. I pushing aside any ... serious matter about bike racing Kawamoto competition. No other reason seeing this, except some little fun enjoying some nice competition. This great movie really make my purpose come true. Idk about these competition in serious manner, i dont get along with its rules too. But, as long as i enjoy their animations, their fun ride toward each other in friendship matter, it feels nice to me.

As a watcher, a competition sport maybe a boring show to get along with its pace. But, this show is a different. Now i understand why this series can take such a long run serialization, with so much season and episodes airing in TV. Im kinda jealous, this show really put some serious work. It brings more fun, comparing any kind of the show like this. Well, no problem, its the industry itself to show its ability. As myself, an individual non-existent people, i just contribute by giving my initial thought. Thats it, and thats why i came here to watch this.

As a sport anime, i give this show an 8, comparing any same anime in its genre. As an enjoyment i get this show a 7. Because i see this as a little show to wasting my time. Glad my expectation never lie to myself, thats why i still watch this show. As a story, 6 would be good. I dont reach this show in its first series, so i dont get along with its first story development. Ofc with its character too, a 7 would be good to give a respect for Onoda reaction here. His ability to make a fun watch really get my honour. For the sound, art, and music, i keep their simple, a nice 7 would be too great with its ambience.

So thats it, an Overall? I keep it tobe a mean score for those scores above. So, my final judgement would be 7 scores on the total. A nice attempt to great my sceptical mind toward this series, and even its movies. Yowamushi series, its character and its story-telling, good job to make me satisfied. I maybe will reach some of its story in the future. Just maybe, the next time in my short life

This review will mostly compare this movie to the two first seasons of the TV series, as they are a prequel to it.

Spoiler free.

The main issue I can reproach to this movie is how rushed it is. The beginning is fine we can feel the Yowapeda vibes, even though everything is not entirely detailed like it would have been in the TV series. But it is still very enjoyable.

But then, there is the 2 days race. Each day of the race lasts about 20 minutes on screen, crazy considering how the 3 days of the Inter High race lasted over 35 episodes in the anime. ... It becomes a classic sports/action movie for this sequence, lacking the Yowapeda spirit, that is : character development (we learn nothing about the new characters introduced, for instance), psychological tension, suspense. And of course, it has plot holes. "Why are there suddenly only X people riding ?", "How did Y catch up ?", etc. You cannot let your mind wander for a second or you'll miss lots of things happening, and even by watching carefully there are things you won't be able to catch : things are not properly explained, the thoughts of the characters are mostly lacking, etc.

It was a disappointment to me as the race core is pretty much nonexistent, I feel they should have made this into a TV series of at least 12 episodes, or even better a 24 episodes one.

TL;DR : The non-race moment are fine and compare well with the TV series, the race however is way too rushed and fast paced. If you like the daily life parts of Yowapeda, you'll enjoy this movies, but do not expect the same spirit of the TV show in the race sequences. Overall, it's not a bad movie, there are funny moments, there's drama and heartwarming moments, but it just cannot compare to the TV series due to its pace.

for the longest time i thought this movie was a direct sequel to the previous season, that i needed to watch it before jumping on the next season, but that's not the case, the race part of this movie is not only quite rushed, but pure filler and it just hurts the actual story, not only because it replaces the previous sendoff for the 3rd years, in the interhigh, but also because as you watch it, you will see some solid scenes that seem like a perfect fit to the story, but then while watching the next season, you'll see those same scenes again, except ... they're involved in canon material, not made up filler.

there are a few nice original scenes, but they're not worth spoiling your experience over, so overall you're better off skipping this, but if you want to check out the OC scenes, then i recommend watching the next season first, atleast until the 3rd years retire and the new captain is selected, you should be outside this movies spoiling range by then.