This is not going to be a positive review and also note that I think that the manga also sucks.
Below is why the anime is subpar to the manga specifically.
The art is very bad and the animation really does not impress me. The main characters have insanely long necks and they look like birds that are gasping for air. The only respectable thing about the manga is the impressiveness of the art so the anime fails completely as it fucks up the best thing about the manga.
Below is some spoilers for the manga so don't look if you care but I honestly cannot recommend the anime OR the manga.
If you were thinking of reading the manga because you liked the anime or something just read this before proceeding.
I read the manga before this anime came out. People were raving about this manga for years and as a fan of sports anime, I decided to give it a shot. To be frank, I hated it from the beginning but I hypnotized myself into reading until I wanted to punch everyone in the face.
From the anime, it is pretty clear that the main character whose name I cannot remember is very underdeveloped and boring. His ONE defining characteristic is that he likes the girl and he wants to dance. What a boring person. If your whole character can be reduced into hetersexuality and ONE sport, its depressing as hell. This issue continues to the manga.
The series is unique in that it is a pair's sport -- you need to communicate and work with a dedicated partner. This is a blessing for authors who can create very good characters and chemistries. This is the WORST THING that can happen if you are bad at those things and I can conclude for sure that the author is indeed bad at these things.
The main character lacks the technical capabilities as a dancer (that he can work on to improve methodically) but more pressingly, he lacks the EQ to resolve interpersonal conflict. This is devastating because (again) it is a pair's sport. The series keeps punishing the main character for being dumb as a rock emotionally and hurting those around him but at the same time, I feel like the reactions from the other characters are blown out of proportion. it feels unfair to the main character because he's not the only one who needs some EQ improvement. Everyone in that series is actually dumb as a rock and does not understand how to communicate with other effectively.
It was mind breaking seeing these dumbasses fighting each other because they can't just have an honest conversation about it. Literally embarrassing. Don't read the manga and don't watch the anime.
