Aug 8, 2022
Baby Steps is a rather typical sports anime, and what I specifically mean by that is that on the surface, it seems just like another "average guy trains hard to reach the top of his respective field," and honestly, that is essentially what this anime is, but that's not necessarily a bad thing, as long as it is executed properly. And I can confidently say that Baby Steps does indeed execute its premise very well.
Since you've presumably already read the synopsis given that you're currently reading this review (wait, why are you reading? Why am I writing this? Whatever), you should know that it
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revolves around an academically diligent honors student, Maruo, and how his sudden interest in tennis turns into one of great passion. At first, he took an interest in it for the exercise, but as he progressed further into the depths of tennis, and the fascinating aspects behind it, tennis now seems to find itself at every corner of Maruo's life. The manner in which they display his progressive passion for the sport is riveting, compelling, and motivating for the viewers, as even if you aren't a tennis fan, you can perhaps still resonate with his fervor in regards to the dedication he puts into tennis, his new-found interest.
Naturally, since this is a shonen sports anime, some of the matches are heavily exaggerated from an emotional stakes perspective, but I don't neccisarily think this hurts the anime, as the matches are the culmination of Maruo's training and effort, so seeing his efforts and intense training bear fruit is really satisfying. Hence why I don't think the rather exaggerated emotional stakes presented in the matches are unwelcome. One aspect of this show that's great in regards to the matches is the presence of Maruo's analysis. He is exceptional at analyzing the current situation of the match, as he can determine his own weaknesses as well the opponent's, calculate the probability of certain potential serves, and also at taking note of the tendencies of his opponent before and during the match. This aspect of the show is what made me really interested in the matches, as otherwise, they wouldn't have really captivated me.
I really like the fact that this anime satisfactorily touches on the effect tennis has on Maruo's personal life, as sometimes in anime, and not just strictly sports anime, the personal lives of the characters are neglected for the sake of plot progression, which sometimes isn't all that bad, but it's usually a detriment to any series. The series adequately gives an insight as to how his sudden passion for tennis affects the relationships of others around him, with an example being his mom. Maruo's mom, like most moms, wants her son to continue being on top of his academics, especially since Maruo is renowned for being a straight A student. Upon learning that Maruo desires to focus on tennis primarily instead of his studies, she's ambivalent about it, as on one hand, she's glad that Maruo is actually passionate about something, but on the other hand, if it interferes with his studies, is it really worth it? Then there's his relationship with Natsu, the star female tennis player who competes nationally, which though not the most complex, is still intriguing in its own right, as she in a way serves as Maruo's motivation.
Since I'm tired of writing this, I'm just going to briefly summarize my thoughts regarding the technical aspects of the show, since I don't take particular note of them when watching a show.
The music is nothing exceptional in general, but the OP is absolutely fantastic. It encapsulates the overall essence of the show brilliantly, ending with the epitomizing phrase, "believe in yourself." I've caught myself listening to that OP even when I'm not watching the show, which is very praise considering I only do that for OPs that I greatly enjoy.
The animation and art style are fine overall, nothing special about them in particular, but I did like the way they presented Maruo's analysis during the matches.
Overall, this anime is the embodiment of a very good show. I wouldn't regard it as a masterpiece by any means, but it had enough brilliant qualities that warrant regarding it as an 8/10.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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