Ace wo Nerae! 2

I'm totally impressed by how much I loved this season of Ace wo Nerae!

I enjoyed the 1973 series, even more the movie (1979), which I think it's better directed and you can note a great animation improvement. But Ace wo Nerae! 2 has everything I could've asked for. And not just because I love tennis with all my heart.

We see our main character in her transition of a beginner in tennis to a one of the biggest promises of Japan. Oka Hiromi has been working for three years with her coach Munakata. First episode takes place in the final of the National Tournament in her ... third year, while Madame Butterfly and Ranko are now college girls. We can see her new abilities and skills and it seems there is no rival for her in high school. This is just a preparation for what is to come in her career.

Without making major spoilers, this season has a lot of drama, more than in the previous installments, and also more mature themes. It's not just that but it's better constructed than in the previous season. In the 1979 movie (which I highly recommend before watching this season), we see a certain problem with Munakata in the final scenes. The OVA takes place around those days, and this is where the real drama begins.

Ace wo Nerae! 2 gives us a great representation of overcoming serious and personal difficulties while you are trying to improve and be the best in what you do. I really love all the characters' development, especially our main heroine Oka Hiromi, who suffers the transition of being a simple child to an adult who has to face the reality of the world where she wanna lives, where it depends on her to stand up and to continue trying her best.

Regarding the style, you will note the typical designs of 80s-90s animes (I prefer these more than those from 73' and 79') and a better direction, mainly scene by scene which I really liked because it gave a better dynamism to the tennis matches, something important to keep you glued to the screen and make you think you are watching a real match.

About the music, the OST is very good. The OP and ED are more than amazing and for me both are the best of the franchise. I'm really in love with that sax in the beginning of Endless Dream and also with Moriguchi's voice.

I know that the main direction was made by Noboru Furuse and Osamu Dezaki was the chief supervisor, but this clearly has the stamp of a Dezaki work: splendid pastel freeze frames, screen split in two and more.

This is absolutely worth it if you enjoyed the first season or the movie, and even if you weren't really convinced by the previous works and wanted to see more of this wonderful story of overcoming serious obstacles in life and trying to live in the sports world. I will be eternally grateful to have found this amazing anime and one of the spokon I have enjoyed the most.

This is what I would call the pinnacle of dramatic audiovisual portrayal and exploration of an individuals struggle and growth.

The story continues mainly from where the original series left off. I'd say that the engaging part of the series for me is the exploration of the struggle of the main character and the story is more so used to lay out a premise for that exploration.

The art style of the series is different from the prequels which had more bright and youthful perspective to the design and colors. The palette for this series is lot darker and portrays more mature and darker approach to ... the series. I'd say that the design and colors are in line with the main characters mindset compared to the earlier series. The vibe of the design is also very "Dezaki" looking at Oniisama e... and Black Jack OVA.

I'd say that part of the philosophy of this sequel series is growing up from an innocent childhood to accepting the reality around you and overcoming the struggle. The art and design I'd say represent this philosophy when compared to the original 1973, 1978 and 1979 more youthful parts of the story.

The key character during this season is Oka Hiromi the main character and her relationships with tennis, her friends and the coach Munakata Jin. I'd say that these relationships and how their weight reflects on the main character and her struggle is handled exceptionally well in this series.

Another key part of the series is the Oka Hiromi growing up through her struggle and moving on towards the future accepting herself and her relationships.

As far as enjoyment goes this series is probably the series that I was most engaged in to watching just because of how well the struggle of the character and her growth during the series was handled. If you are not fan of heavy struggle or dramatised portrayal of growth you might not enjoy this season as much.

Overall I'd say that this was one of the most engaging audiovisual experiences that I've have been able to experience.

Here we are. The next installment of Aim for the Ace! after a delightful series and movie adaptation. We step into a new and maturing Oka Hiromi now focused entirely on her tennis after graduating and becoming a junior champion with her teammates. Oka has achieved it all, she’s a tennis star, has a great coach, and amazing friends/teammates.
Until she doesn’t.

For fans of the previous installments, the style shift and VA changes might be quite jarring. As we turn away from the softer palette and character designs (a bit more similar to black jacks ‘93 OVA), Fortunately this does not distract too much ... from the beloved tennis and personal drama. We also step away from unorthodox framing and shots to a more direct scene by scene. Sound quality is for sure a step up from the rest of the series as well. Aim for the Ace! 2 offers a look into the more personal trials and tribulations of our favorite characters as they go through loss, grief, and struggle. A more serious take on a sports anime, but absolutely worth it.