Reviews

Feb 24, 2013
The Generation of Miracles is a team of dominance who is both feared and respected. The team became a unified group of players who went on to dominate Teikō Middle School with many of its victories. A lot people wonders about their origins and the paths they walked down to achieve such glorious recognition. Luckily, there's some hope because Kuroko no Basket returns in this special episode and gives YOU the viewers, a chance to see their past.

Kuroko no Basket Tip Off is a special OVA episode that sheds a little insight on Kuroko's past and when he was a member of the Generation of Miracles. Kuroko is seen as a boy who is the sixth and final member of the team. However, his impression doesn't give off the vibe of 'saving the best for last' but rather as a member who is virtually unknown. In fact, he is even nicknamed as a “phantom” for his lack of presence on the field.

The OVA episode gives us a small scope of all the members of the Generation of Miracles on the physical surface. This includes all the members (including the coach) that made their physical debuts from the original series. With their leader, the scarlet hair Akashi, the team follows a motto of “to win at all costs”. In other words, losing is out of the question. There is no other pleasure but to win for the team. This sort of motto follows a professional code of conduct. It's not like the usual fun games where the best enjoyment of a game is not to just win but have fun. For the Generation of Miracles, win is absolute and and glory always comes with motivation.

One thing that this OVA episode shows is to not to underestimate someone. In other words, never judge a book by its cover. Kuroko demonstrates his nickname, the “phantom” on the field as he surprises the spectators in a performance. With his ability, Kuroko is able to pass the ball and work effectively with other team members, particularly Kise. Unfortunately, the true origins of Kuroko and his past are not revealed and more questions may pop up to viewers' minds regarding on how his skills were discovered.

The artwork and soundtrack of the series remains consistent throughout this episode. It shows the uniform of the team and how they became an unity. The seiyu did a standard job from my estimation and it was a fresh insight to hear Akashi's voice. Kuroko's voice mannerisms continues to reflect his soft tone of speech given his lack of presence on the field. It's not surprising either though that Akashi's voice reflects a more challenging tone.

Personally, I found the OVA episode to be a simple piece of a big puzzle in the glorifying journey of the Generation of Miracles. It seems that not all the members got their highlights although that it is understandable given the time limit of only 25 minutes involving the episode. Furthermore, there seems to be a lack of competitive atmosphere that was originally portrayed from the first season. Nonetheless , I found this a pleasant watch for its simplicity and realism. Despite some of its exaggerated style of basketball plays, this OVA was a fun watch for me. Season 2 is on the horizon and I hope it will be a miracle as well.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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