So let's begin with a bang. This review is about the anime 'Kaze ga Tsuyoku Fuiteiru'. It is animated by the studio Production I. G., a studio that exceeds in making great sports anime. And this is one of them. The anime consists of 23 episodes and now that that's all out of the way, to the review!
Plot/Story: The story revolves around a group of 10 guys who follow a goal of running in the Hakone Ekiden, a running spectacle only the best runners can get qualified for. It all starts with Kiyose Haiji witnessing a guy running away from a convenient store after he stole something from there. Haiji immediately follows the guy with his bicycle and asks him right away if he likes running. This thief is Kurahara Kakeru, one of the key plot points in this show. After some events Haiji who wants to run in the Hakone Ekiden manages to get together 9 other guys to complete the minimum number of team members for a track field club. With those 9 Haiji goes into training in order to get the participation.
So the plot doesn't sound very amazing but that's okay. A goal doesn't have to be incredibly amazing. It is the journey to that goal that is of importance, that forms you into the human being that you are going to be at the end when you reach your goal. Kaze ga Tsuyoku Fuiteiru, or with its English title 'Run with the Wind' is about that journey, about the commitment to a goal. While the core plot isn't anything masterful the anime thrives from its rich characters and their story, their reason. On the other spectrum one needs to have good writing skills to construct a story with a simple concept but with a build of characters (or other aspects) that are strong enough to support the simple story and and make it into what it becomes in the end.
Art: There are two reasons why this anime looks so good. 1st. It's done by Production I. G. and 2nd. It's a sports anime done by Production I. G. This studio is very well known for another great sports anime called 'Haikyuu'. They also were responsible for the sports anime 'Ballroom e Youkoso', both shows being great sports anime. I. G. is the king of anime when it comes to sports anime. Honestly they should animated all sports anime, period. Because of them the animation and artstyle is the same as Haikyuu and Ballroom, so if you like that style and you probably are then you will like this show's artstyle as well. Because it's the same. Production I. G. as they are in their regular fashion don't lower down on the quaility of animation or artstyle. There isn't a single drop in quality that I could find. That's not something that's a given in the anime industry, especially when nowadays it's more quantity over quality. There is CGI involved in the show but only for cars or background runners. This makes it easier on the animation and drawing board team. Thankfully they didn't settle for bad CGI and they don't feel out of place.
Sound: Sound is great, honestly. Both openings and endings are greatly chosen and the BGM is equally as good. Talking about the sound in an anime is often not as easy as the others because the only things you can say about Run with the Wind is that it has good musical compositions and all that, but after watching the show it did not stick out in that.
Characters: This is the best part of the show and I feel it's one the points I can talk least about. All 10 teammates and even other charcaters would deserve to be talked about big style. But that would just increase the length of this review needlessly. Therefore I will try to limit it as much as I can. All characters are rich in personality and ambitions. In favor of the plot all the charcaters are in college which is a very refreshing change for once. Haiji is a man with a big but small dream. And for that dream he looked for people he could achieve that with. The sport is the main center of the anime and the characters do that sport. Around and during all this each of the characters has to come to terms with their own inner conflicts. Obstacles they have to overcome. It didn't feel at all that any of the teammates got less screen time than the others. Each one was highlighted at at times where it was needed. Everyone was important for the story, for the team. Kakeru, one of the more central points in the show. A great runner with a love for running. But his love comes into conflict with himself. At times like these it is to lean on others for help. The characters are all equally as strong.
Enjoyment & verdict: One of the best sports anime I have ever seen and possibly one of the best sports anime out there. I was deeply motivated by the show, I even started to run a bit myself. And when the sports anime manages to make you interested in the sport itself then it achieved exactly what it wanted to. I thoroughly enjoyed every episode of this show and I am quite sad it's already over. A truly great show. I highly recommend everyone to watch this show. It is one of the best things to have come out in the last year, maybe even last two.
And with that I will excuse myself. There are other reviews waiting on the shelf. Until the next time!
