Story and Character 10/10
Initially I thought it would be one of those generic sports anime but this time with ballet. And then, episode 1 employed several hooks that grabbed my attention and never quite let go. The story and characters are gripping, with both coming of age and adult/mature themes:-
* A young boy "hides" his passion for fear of being judged by his classmates / society as "sissy" or "gay". In reality Ballet (for men) is a sports form requiring grace, flexibility, speed, strength and endurance, and is technically harder than martial arts, soccer, football and 95% of sports out there. The training is so rigorous, classically trained ballet dancers can pick up other styles of dance and tend to do well in dance competitions. For example Alex Wong who should have won So You Think You Can Dance after that "Outta Your Mind" hip-hop performance with Twitch if only he hadn't gotten injured.
* Murao is unashamedly a teen who just wants a girlfriend. Most teenagers can relate to this part. For some reason this was really important when I was a teen, but when a person "finds themself" they also usually are not as hung up on "getting a partner." Life changes and goes on, but when you're a teenager this is the be all end all. Relatable.
* At some stage a person has to grow up, decide what it is they want to do and choose whether to give up their passion to fit in, or do what makes them happy. The best career is when Talent, Passion and Skill intersect, very few people actually manage this.
Skill can be taught and learned. Talent is inborn. Passion cannot be faked.
I reflected and realized I don't know if I even made the right choice in this respect, as culturally, we are raised to do well in school then get a job that utilizes skill for $$ and forget the other 2. Does this mean when we work were "dead inside" and unfulfilled? Should we have made a different choice? What would a person have to give up to make the right choice for themselves?
* This anime has one of the best love triangles I've seen, not contrived but something that happened naturally with the second male lead and girl being compelling characters in their own right. This might also the most controversial part of the story in how it plays out. Delicious drama!
Art and Sound 10/10
Mappa did a great job animating this series. So yes, I hated the eyes with that pupil thing but I was told this is the style in the manga, so I guess I have to forgive it and I eventually got used to it. And the eyes are even a plot device! There's one character that spends most of the anime with her eyes closed, so the audience is waiting to see if and when they will open their eyes.
The animation is done most likely using motion capture but with 2D drawing. The dance scenes are an animation achievement, similar to Yuri on Ice, with everything from head to toe accurately portrayed. This in combination with the piano or orchestral Ballet Music make the dance scenes phenomenal.
Words cannot express how moved I was ... at the ballet performances. I have seen Swan Lake live, but it was never as dramatic as the ones performed in this anime. Not just once, but there are several jaw dropping dance sequences that I ended up IRL clapping to. Wow. The last episode moved me to tears, TWICE.
Enjoyment and Overall 10/10
#1 hidden gem and second best anime of the season. The youth. The angst. The overwhelming Passion. An anime this good which makes one reflect on their life choices that is also exhilarating and moving shouldn't be a hidden gem, it should be watched and enjoyed by many more people.
