Ironically, Ping Pong the Animation is not about table tennis. It is a personal journey rather than a straight-forward sports adventure. All the characters who happens to play ping pong have their own unique perspective in life. Every single one of them have their own reasons to play this game. However, they are still young and so full of themselves. Most of them think they are superior over their peers. But throughout the show, they learn that the life doesn't go the way they think. Every character affects the others like a domino effect and they start to evaluate their own ideals and desires. At the end of their journey, they all find their own true motivations and become their own "heroes" as the show emphasises from beginning to end. And the self-realization of the characters happens the most organic and authentic way possible. Basically, this anime is the perfect encapsulation of the process of being an adult.
I am aware that the art style is controversial but for me it is unique and distinctive. It stands on its own compared to other shows. Animations are fluid and sometimes very abstract but in a good way. Especially, I love the surreal visuals during the matches. They all were deliberately chosen to represent the unique mental state and personality of each characters. Tsukimoto as a robot, Hoshino as a colorful "hero", Kazama as a vicious dragon and so on. The symbolisms are just spot on for each character.
The same goes for soundtrack too. It is versatile and fits the overall narrative as well. Particularly the upbeat techno music suits the back and forth dynamic nature of the table tennis. Ping pong is not just a test of physical endurance and reflexes, precise decision making and unpredictable tactics are also vital in order to stand against your opponent. While you're watching the match, you can feel the mental and physical battle between players to the fullest. And the mental battle is not just about the game itself, it is also the clash of ideals and principles of life. At the end of each match, both characters discover something new.
At the end of the day, I know that this anime does not appeal everyone with its unconventional storytelling and art style but it offers so many things in just eleven episodes. I genuinely did not expect to be blown-away this much. Ping Pong the Animation is an ambitious and bold project without a doubt. It is a beacon of hope in this industry. Shows like this need more love and support from the community.
