Sports Anime and Manga Discussion (Round 2)

[leongsh]

Refreshing from the previous thread - Calling all who watch any sports anime (http://forums.animeondvd.com/showthreaded.php?Cat=&Board=generalanimeforum&Numb er=983036).

<font color="firebrick">INFO/NEWS UPDATE</font> (Updated 11 June 2006)

Currently at this time of posting there are a few sports anime being broadcast in Japan, e.g. Eyeshield 21 (American football, Episode 61), Capeta (Go-kart racing, Episode 35), and Major: 2nd Season (Baseball, Episode 26, just ended with repeat starting next week). The 3rd Season of Major has been announced for December 2006 broadcast at the end of Episode 26 of the 2nd Season.

The websites for the aforementioned series are as follows:
<ul type="square"> Eyeshield 21 - Main site (Link (http://www.eyeshield21.com/)) and the TV Tokyo site (Link (http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/anime/eyeshield21/));
Capeta - Main site (Link (http://www.capeta-tv.com/)) and the TV Tokyo site (Link (http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/anime/capeta/)); and
Major: 2nd Season - NHK site (Link (http://www3.nhk.or.jp/anime/major/)) and the manga site (Link (http://websunday.net/major/index.html)).[/list]
<font color="firebrick">SPORTS ANIME AND MANGA PROMOTION:</font>

All fans of sports anime and manga are welcome to join an informal group who are interested in promoting sports anime and manga. The informal group is called:

<font color="red">S</font>ports <font color="red">A</font>nime &amp; <font color="red">Ma</font>nga <font color="red">F</font>ans <font color="red">Un</font>ion = <font color="MidnightBlue">SAMA-FUN</font>
(The acronym could be pronounced as Summer Fun /images/graemlins/wink.gif)

All that is required is just to put in <font color="MidnightBlue">SAMA-FUN</font> in your sig and I'll get to you with a number to keep track. We can keep each other informed of the latest news on sports anime and manga and help to promote them to others (and bring in more fans to our informal union). [NOTE: Just do a "Reply with Quote" to see the colour code I used for <font color="MidnightBlue">SAMA-FUN</font>.]

[leongsh]

Major: 2nd Season has started it broadcast in Japan (on 10 December 2005) and the AoD forum thread for the series can be found here (http://forums.animeondvd.com/showthreaded.php?Cat=&amp;Number=1181096).

This second season of Major is being broadcast by NHK every Saturday 6:00pm (tentatively - based on the Episode 2's broadcast time) in Japan. No indications as to the number of episodes the second season will be but current expectations are that it will be 26 episodes.

[Jarred]

[ QUOTE ]
leongsh said:
No indications as to the number of episodes the second season will be but current expectations are that it will be 26 episodes.

[/ QUOTE ]
If it continues to grow in the ratings like it did with the last season (I think it ended up around 5.2), we should see 26 and hopefully a few more. /images/graemlins/wink.gif

[leongsh]

Nearly forgot about Play Ball (http://www.anime-playball.com), the baseball TV series set in the 1970s and in itself a sequel to the 1970s baseball anime TV series, Captain, which will be broadcasting its second season on 9 January 2006 (link to announcement (http://www.anime-playball.com/html/news/news026.html)).

The 2nd season is probably a result of there being sufficient interest in the 1st season which comprise 13 episodes.

[leongsh]

Forum hiccup has swallowed the discussion threads on Major: 2nd Season, Capeta, and Eyeshield 21 (in order of declining thread activity).

We can choose to recreate the respective discussion threads or continue them here.

In the meantime, do note that Episode 12 of Major: 2nd Season has just been broadcasted a couple of hours ago as I post this /images/graemlins/wink.gif

[Aiia]

[ QUOTE ]
leongsh said:
We can choose to recreate the respective discussion threads or continue them here.


[/ QUOTE ]

Then in the meantime, maybe I could just quietly pop in a question here about Capeta:

Is Capeta focused on the sport side of the story or more on the characters and the "spirit" of achieving something? I read another manga by the same author, Subaru (which unfortunately seems not to have been animated), about ballet. But the story was more about the heroine's quest to become a good dancer and moving the audience and her growth as a character, rather than the technical aspects of dancing, moves and position etc. On the whole it was a very intense story spiritually so to speak. So I was wondering if that is the case with Capeta as well, or if its more of a pure sport/racing story (as in competing etc).

[leongsh]

[ QUOTE ]
Aiia said:
Is Capeta focused on the sport side of the story or more on the characters and the "spirit" of achieving something?

[/ QUOTE ]

It's nicely balanced between characters and sport. The story falls more towards personal development but not in the spiritual sense as Subaru. The lead titular character has a regular boy's keen interest in cars and driving and is eventually drawn into competitive go-kart racing as a young kid. As he becomes a teenager, he loses his spark for racing. However, his very first rival confidently moves up through the divisions to keep himself focused firmly on the path towards become a Formula 1 driver. Capeta, in turn, finds himself inexorably drawn towards following the footsteps of his rival into more competitive motor racing. Some technical aspects of karting are thrown in to explain some of what's going on for those new to the sport. There's also a very quick and short history of vehicle development in Formula 1.

That's where it has reached so far after 22 episodes. The show is broadcast in Japan on every early Tuesday evening. Expected to end at 26 episodes as it is catching up with the manga of the same title that it is based on.

The Capeta manga has reached Volume 10 (released on 17 February 2006). The manga has recently been identified in December 2005 as one of the mangas strongly recommended by the jury of the 2005 Japan Media Arts Festival (link (http://plaza.bunka.go.jp/english/festival/sakuhin/suisen/manga.html)).

[Helschadenfreude]

hah, no wonder the thread disappeared from my favorite lists when it was there two days ago.


My thoughts on Major.... I want to see the tournament competition! And I realize that I like Toshiya a heck lot more than Goro.. Goro too...Goro for me. /images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[Aiia]

[ QUOTE ]
leongsh said:
It's nicely balanced between characters and sport. The story falls more towards personal development but not in the spiritual sense as Subaru. The lead titular character has a regular boy's keen interest in cars and driving and is eventually drawn into competitive go-kart racing as a young kid.

[/ QUOTE ]

Sounds good then! I'll give the manga a try, and if I like it I'll try to catch a re-run of the anime. It sounds like the kind of story you definitely want to follow from the start. Thank you for the explanation!

[leongsh]

I'll just post my thoughts on the above episode here for the time being.

It's the final round of the qualification tests to join Kaidoh's baseball team. The remaining 20 are split into 4 teams of 5 players each. It is a one inning elimination game. Goro and Toshiya are in the same team and they work out the positions each member plays. Toshiya is the catcher while Goro is relegated to centre fielder. That's how Episode 11 ended.

The elimination games eventually does show off Toshiya in a very good light as he's able to manage the players in the team to adjust for the opposing team. Goro even ends up playing shortstop. Toshiya's blend of thinking, technical and batting skills is being played up here and it is impressive.

What I was looking out for is for the show to tempt and tease us with a Goro-Toshiya battery (pitcher-catcher) partnership and they oblige but it was way too short and there's nothing much to see now /images/graemlins/wink.gif

In the end, <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>they both make it to qualify for Kaidoh's but there's also the other element - you have to be good academically to get into Kaidoh by passing their entrance exams. The only person in the winning team of 5 that's not aware and thus surprised by this is who else?</span> /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

[ QUOTE ]
PsychoIdiot said:
My thoughts on Major.... I want to see the tournament competition! And I realize that I like Toshiya a heck lot more than Goro.. Goro too...Goro for me. /images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

The series is now in its story and character consolidation phase. A tournament competition is now a bit way off for the time being. If you like Toshiya a lot now, do get up to Episode 12 becuase you'll like him even more after watching the episode.

[Helschadenfreude]

Hahahhah! /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif Poor person who didn't know. /images/graemlins/tongue.gif I'm suffering now from Major and Capeta withdrawal... /images/graemlins/relief1.gif

Wait, so the tryouts are basically for those who just want to join the baseball team? Don't usually really good baseball teams have tiers of teams? like 2nd tier, 3rd tier, and regulars? (at least that's the trend I seen in like soccer anime.. /images/graemlins/sweat200.gif)

[golthin]

Well, this episode was more about Kaoru and Goro trying to get in Kaidoh. Kaoru is trying to follow goro to Kaidoh.

<span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>
She succeeded in passing the entrance examan and the interview. She found during the interview that Kaidoh doesn't have a female Softball team. She is now torn between her passion for Softball and following Goro.

Goro himself teld her to follow her dream of playing softball which annoyed her. Eventually she decided to go to a different school than Goro after she had a talk with the pitcher girl from the first season. The end of the episode was a little sad because I will be surprised if Kaoru ends with Goro now.

While walking back from school as they separate to go different ways. Kaoru asked Goro if he will wait for her, and goro misunderstand it for "See you tomorrow". IT is goro really that clueless? "Mata na" and "Mata ashita na" sound like two completely different things even to me. Kaoru is going to need to be blunt with this blockhead if she wants him so bad, which she must be if she studied so hard just to be in the same school.</span>

[guyver83]

[ QUOTE ]
PsychoIdiot said:
Hahahhah! /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif Poor person who didn't know. /images/graemlins/tongue.gif I'm suffering now from Major and Capeta withdrawal... /images/graemlins/relief1.gif

Wait, so the tryouts are basically for those who just want to join the baseball team? Don't usually really good baseball teams have tiers of teams? like 2nd tier, 3rd tier, and regulars? (at least that's the trend I seen in like soccer anime.. /images/graemlins/sweat200.gif)

[/ QUOTE ]

umm we got jv and varsity teams if thats what you mean. I don't know how baseball does it in japan but those are just what is here in high school.

[guyver83]

<span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'> Yeah I was like oo its the girl from 1st season and the story gets more interesting. Talking to Legonsh him and I agree I'd like to see a bit more Toshi getting developed. </span>

[leongsh]

[ QUOTE ]
golthin said:
Well, this episode was more about Kaoru and Goro trying to get in Kaidoh. Kaoru is trying to follow goro to Kaidoh.

<span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>She succeeded in passing the entrance examan and the interview. She found during the interview that Kaidoh doesn't have a female Softball team. She is now torn between her passion for Softball and following Goro.

Goro himself teld her to follow her dream of playing softball which annoyed her. Eventually she decided to go to a different school than Goro after she had a talk with the pitcher girl from the first season. The end of the episode was a little sad because I will be surprised if Kaoru ends with Goro now.</span>

[/ QUOTE ]

I doubt it would end so easily.

[ QUOTE ]
golthin said:
<span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>While walking back from school as they separate to go different ways. Kaoru asked Goro if he will wait for her, and goro misunderstand it for "See you tomorrow". IT is goro really that clueless? "Mata na" and "Mata ashita na" sound like two completely different things even to me. Kaoru is going to need to be blunt with this blockhead if she wants him so bad, which she must be if she studied so hard just to be in the same school.</span>

[/ QUOTE ]

<span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>The thing is any relationship should be 2-way. For now, Goro is oblivious to her attraction to him. He only sees her as a childhood friend and has no special feelings for her. His mind is only on one thing only - to make it as a professional baseball player like his father (and his foster father). I have also taken note from the previous season that Goro is one who keeps his feelings hidden deep within and uses bluster to take away anyone's attention on it. She will have to be persistent to slowly break down the wall he has put up around his heart.</span>

The show is developing nicely so far. I wonder anyone who is following the show has the manga to compare the anime with. A marker as to which volume of the manga that the anime has reached would be nice.

[Helschadenfreude]

Wheee Pitcher girl!! /images/graemlins/sweat200.gif Soooo behind...... /images/graemlins/sweat200.gif Arghhhh

[leongsh]

Mostly for <font color="RoyalBlue">PsychoIdiot</font> who is way behind on the series... and to frustrate her /images/graemlins/devil.gif /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

Briefly, Capeta is putting himself in high risk by deciding to race in his worn-out banged-up 3-season old kart frame. However, the lure of racing against Naomi before Naomi moves up another class makes him now a driven person ready to take higher risks than usual. Just from free practice runout, he has had to work very hard to control his kart and is well tired out. We also get an introduction to a new rival - he's the blonde haired racer who wears a red race gear with white sleeves and uses a black-and-green helmet we see in the opening credits.

The action sequences are nicely directed with miscellaneous shots and close-ups of the kart frame at track level as it races around the track, seeing the mechancials works and the frame flexes along with the driver's view. Put together, they are very effective in communicating the excitement of kart racing. Can't wait for the next couple of episodes /images/graemlins/happy.gif

[Helschadenfreude]

Er, although this was brought up eariler, why doesn't he have any sponsers still....? And his cart...eeek... Capeta!! /images/graemlins/cry00000.gif Must... have.. sports... anime.....

[golthin]

[ QUOTE ]
PsychoIdiot said:
Er, although this was brought up eariler, why doesn't he have any sponsers still....? And his cart...eeek... Capeta!! /images/graemlins/cry00000.gif Must... have.. sports... anime.....

[/ QUOTE ]
Because it is more fun for him to overcome the challanges
of driving in a piece of crap instead of a brand new kart.

[Jarred]

[ QUOTE ]
golthin said:
[ QUOTE ]
PsychoIdiot said:
Er, although this was brought up eariler, why doesn't he have any sponsers still....? And his cart...eeek... Capeta!! /images/graemlins/cry00000.gif Must... have.. sports... anime.....

[/ QUOTE ]
Because it is more fun for him to overcome the challanges
of driving in a piece of crap instead of a brand new kart.

[/ QUOTE ]
Hehe. It's Takumi's Trueno all over again!! /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

[golthin]

The animators also need to make their mind on how big Monomi's tits are going to be, sometime she has almost nothing, sometime she has avarege, and like in this episode she has super huge breasts.

[leongsh]

[ QUOTE ]
golthin said:
[ QUOTE ]
PsychoIdiot said:
Er, although this was brought up eariler, why doesn't he have any sponsers still....? And his cart...eeek... Capeta!! /images/graemlins/cry00000.gif Must... have.. sports... anime.....

[/ QUOTE ]
Because it is more fun for him to overcome the challanges
of driving in a piece of crap instead of a brand new kart.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm guessing that this time round, he may just end up pushing himself and the kart a bit too far and hurting himself. Now, if they did let the story go that way, it would be a nice twist.

[leongsh]

[ QUOTE ]
golthin said:
The animators also need to make their mind on how big Monomi's tits are going to be, sometime she has almost nothing, sometime she has avarege, and like in this episode she has super huge breasts.

[/ QUOTE ]

They really do need to make up their mind. Consistency helps a lot. (However, I'm not complaining about her breasts being inflated /images/graemlins/happy.gif as long they are not over-inflated.) Could it be all about shot angles and the really skimpy outfit she is wearing in this episode that accentuates her breasts?

[golthin]

[ QUOTE ]
leongsh said:
[ QUOTE ]
golthin said:
The animators also need to make their mind on how big Monomi's tits are going to be, sometime she has almost nothing, sometime she has avarege, and like in this episode she has super huge breasts.

[/ QUOTE ]

They really do need to make up their mind. Consistency helps a lot. (However, I'm not complaining about her breasts being inflated /images/graemlins/happy.gif as long they are not over-inflated.) Could it be all about shot angles and the really skimpy outfit she is wearing in this episode that accentuates her breasts?

[/ QUOTE ]
Nope! They change from time to time during the episode. They are the biggest when she first came out of the house. Though i see some kind of angle with Monomi becoming some kind of model. She caught the eye a photographer already, he took some pictures of her. They just can't make their mind, they must have more than one team working in the same episode or something.

[Helschadenfreude]

[ QUOTE ]
Jarred said:
[ QUOTE ]
golthin said:
[ QUOTE ]
PsychoIdiot said:
Er, although this was brought up eariler, why doesn't he have any sponsers still....? And his cart...eeek... Capeta!! /images/graemlins/cry00000.gif Must... have.. sports... anime.....

[/ QUOTE ]
Because it is more fun for him to overcome the challanges
of driving in a piece of crap instead of a brand new kart.

[/ QUOTE ]
Hehe. It's Takumi's Trueno all over again!! /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

But at least he modded his!! Or his dad did it for him but still...

[leongsh]

Just a simple and short heads up for those still following Eyeshield 21 but at a slower pace. The series has reached Episode 49. This episodes gives us a glimpse of the Kyoshin Poseidon team and the team's 2 tall linebackers.

[Helschadenfreude]

[ QUOTE ]
leongsh said:
Just a simple and short heads up for those still following Eyeshield 21 but at a slower pace. The series has reached Episode 49. This episodes gives us a glimpse of the Kyoshin Poseidon team and the team's 2 tall linebackers.

[/ QUOTE ]

ARGHHH why is everyone so far ahead? I'm dying here..... Wait, that's the team that has a guy that actually MET the real eyeshield 21 right? And that can't be a spoiler as we know Sena is not the original...

[leongsh]

Briefly, Episode 14 has the newcomers to the Kaidoh baseball club go on a training camp on an island for preparation work and weeding out the weaker ones.

Goro as usual is full of bluster but he is able to back that up by being able to complete the initial tasks assigned easily. The trainers decide to handicap him in the later tasks to make it more of a challenge. He makes it through and even surprises the trainer in charge of his group in how he completes the task even when Goro was give a handicap of a backpack of weights at the start of the task.

Starting with Episode 14, we get the new ED credits and song.

*Ups <font color="RoyalBlue">PsychoIdiot</font>'s withdrawal symptoms for Major* Mwhahahahaha... /images/graemlins/devil.gif /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

[golthin]

[ QUOTE ]
leongsh said:
Briefly, Episode 14 has the newcomers to the Kaidoh baseball club go on a training camp on an island for preparation work and weeding out the weaker ones.

Goro as usual is full of bluster but he is able to back that up by being able to complete the initial tasks assigned easily. The trainers decide to handicap him in the later tasks to make it more of a challenge. He makes it through and even surprises the trainer in charge of his group in how he completes the task even when Goro was give a handicap of a backpack of weights at the start of the task.

Starting with Episode 14, we get the new ED credits and song.

*Ups <font color="RoyalBlue">PsychoIdiot</font>'s withdrawal symptoms for Major* Mwhahahahaha... /images/graemlins/devil.gif /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

[/ QUOTE ]
Ah! It seems like a boring episode to me. I have not watched it yet. After episode 13 I am losing interest on the series.

[leongsh]

[ QUOTE ]
golthin said:
Ah! It seems like a boring episode to me. I have not watched it yet. After episode 13 I am losing interest on the series.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, Episode 14 is a generic shounen-type anime episode. If the ED credits sequence is of any indicator where the series is going, the series will be moving towards the development of the baseball partnership of Goro and Toshi and rekindling their close friendship when they were very young.

The next episode will be having combined practice and working out positions.

[golthin]

[ QUOTE ]
leongsh said:
[ QUOTE ]
golthin said:
Ah! It seems like a boring episode to me. I have not watched it yet. After episode 13 I am losing interest on the series.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, Episode 14 is a generic shounen-type anime episode. If the ED credits sequence is of any indicator where the series is going, the series will be moving towards the development of the baseball partnership of Goro and Toshi and rekindling their close friendship when they were very young.

The next episode will be having combined practice and working out positions.

[/ QUOTE ]
I am hoping they get back to Kaoru sometime soon. That was the only part the show that kept me interested, I hope they don't bring some other love insterest for either Kaoru or Goro. With her being out the picture, I am losing interest. IT will be to me like Monami from Capeta getting some other guy to be her boyfriend.

[guyver83]

[ QUOTE ]
golthin said:
[ QUOTE ]
leongsh said:
[ QUOTE ]
golthin said:
Ah! It seems like a boring episode to me. I have not watched it yet. After episode 13 I am losing interest on the series.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, Episode 14 is a generic shounen-type anime episode. If the ED credits sequence is of any indicator where the series is going, the series will be moving towards the development of the baseball partnership of Goro and Toshi and rekindling their close friendship when they were very young.

The next episode will be having combined practice and working out positions.

[/ QUOTE ]
I am hoping they get back to Kaoru sometime soon. That was the only part the show that kept me interested, I hope they don't bring some other love insterest for either Kaoru or Goro. With her being out the picture, I am losing interest. IT will be to me like Monami from Capeta getting some other guy to be her boyfriend.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm total opposite. I dont' really want too much of a love show, I want it to continue to be just like it is.. About goro and toshi and striving hard to make it as pro baseball players.

[leongsh]

[ QUOTE ]
guyver83 said:
[ QUOTE ]
golthin said:
I am hoping they get back to Kaoru sometime soon. That was the only part the show that kept me interested, I hope they don't bring some other love insterest for either Kaoru or Goro. With her being out the picture, I am losing interest. IT will be to me like Monami from Capeta getting some other guy to be her boyfriend.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm total opposite. I dont' really want too much of a love show, I want it to continue to be just like it is.. About goro and toshi and striving hard to make it as pro baseball players.

[/ QUOTE ]

My guess is that the show will continue with the Goro and Toshi story on their current parallel path to become pro baseball players (whether they be in the same team or not) in the foreground of the series with Kaoru and Ayane respectively in the background where they will come into play outside of the baseball activities.

[golthin]

[ QUOTE ]
guyver83 said:
[ QUOTE ]
golthin said:
[ QUOTE ]
leongsh said:
[ QUOTE ]
golthin said:
Ah! It seems like a boring episode to me. I have not watched it yet. After episode 13 I am losing interest on the series.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, Episode 14 is a generic shounen-type anime episode. If the ED credits sequence is of any indicator where the series is going, the series will be moving towards the development of the baseball partnership of Goro and Toshi and rekindling their close friendship when they were very young.

The next episode will be having combined practice and working out positions.

[/ QUOTE ]
I am hoping they get back to Kaoru sometime soon. That was the only part the show that kept me interested, I hope they don't bring some other love insterest for either Kaoru or Goro. With her being out the picture, I am losing interest. IT will be to me like Monami from Capeta getting some other guy to be her boyfriend.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm total opposite. I dont' really want too much of a love show, I want it to continue to be just like it is.. About goro and toshi and striving hard to make it as pro baseball players.

[/ QUOTE ]
Hehehe! you are a true sport anime fan. I only like sport shows that contain a major Romance plot. That is why I like shows like touch or H2, there is the sport thing but the love drama is there too. I hope they don't forget why Adachi's sport show even though they repeat a lot were always popular. where will Yawara be if it has not been for the love part.

[Gatts]

[ QUOTE ]
golthin said:
where will Yawara be if it has not been for the love part.

[/ QUOTE ]

The "romance" in Yawara didn't really become a serious aspect until the last quarter of the series. Most of it was just played for additional comedy. So something besides the romance was keeping people watching it for 80+ episodes.

[guyver83]

[ QUOTE ]
golthin said:
Hehehe! you are a true sport anime fan.

[/ QUOTE ]

that I am /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

I mean its cool if there are parts like in ippo but I don't like it to dominate or make it a big part. BTW I do like touch /images/graemlins/happy.gif good show

[leongsh]

[ QUOTE ]
golthin said:
I am hoping they get back to Kaoru sometime soon. That was the only part the show that kept me interested, I hope they don't bring some other love insterest for either Kaoru or Goro. With her being out the picture, I am losing interest. IT will be to me like Monami from Capeta getting some other guy to be her boyfriend.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, Kaoru will be there all the way for Goro. Look at the manga covers for Major Volumes 48 to 57 (the latest) at the manga site (Link (http://websunday.net/major/index.html)).

By the way, Major: 2nd Season Episode 14 corresponds to Major Volume 26. There's a lot more material to go but will they... or would they end at a certain point like Hajime no Ippo?

[ QUOTE ]
golthin said:
Hehehe! you are a true sport anime fan. I only like sport shows that contain a major Romance plot. That is why I like shows like touch or H2, there is the sport thing but the love drama is there too. I hope they don't forget why Adachi's sport show even though they repeat a lot were always popular. where will Yawara be if it has not been for the love part.

[/ QUOTE ]

The tent is big enough for everyone - whether they be pure sports action/drama or those with a major dollop of romance thrown into the mix /images/graemlins/happy.gif

[golthin]

[ QUOTE ]
Gatts said:
[ QUOTE ]
golthin said:
where will Yawara be if it has not been for the love part.

[/ QUOTE ]

The "romance" in Yawara didn't really become a serious aspect until the last quarter of the series. Most of it was just played for additional comedy. So something besides the romance was keeping people watching it for 80+ episodes.

[/ QUOTE ]
I have only watched Yawara till episode 52, so far if you say the love part of Yawara is not serious, I can wait for it to get serious. /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

[Helschadenfreude]

Damn I wish the guy on the cover was er...the other guy that was the catcher besides Toshi. I hate you guys sooo much btw.. but at least I'm getting something rather than nothing...

[Gatts]

[ QUOTE ]
golthin said:
I have only watched Yawara till episode 52, so far if you say the love part of Yawara is not serious, I can wait for it to get serious. /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

You'll love the olympic special. /images/graemlins/happy.gif

[Helschadenfreude]

As Japan is in the finals? of the WBC, I wonder if a baseball anime/manga will be made for it, like Whistle was, sorta, for the 2002 World Cup.

/images/graemlins/catgirl0.gif Thoughts? I mean there's a ton of baseball manga/anime.. but still... maybe Major... hehe. /images/graemlins/tongue.gif It's not finished right?

[pumpkinsmoke]

[ QUOTE ]
leongsh said:
[ QUOTE ]
golthin said:
I am hoping they get back to Kaoru sometime soon. That was the only part the show that kept me interested, I hope they don't bring some other love insterest for either Kaoru or Goro. With her being out the picture, I am losing interest. IT will be to me like Monami from Capeta getting some other guy to be her boyfriend.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, Kaoru will be there all the way for Goro. Look at the manga covers for Major Volumes 48 to 57 (the latest) at the manga site (Link (http://websunday.net/major/index.html)).

By the way, Major: 2nd Season Episode 14 corresponds to Major Volume 26. There's a lot more material to go but will they... or would they end at a certain point like Hajime no Ippo?

[/ QUOTE ]

Actually, episode 14 spans from the third chapter of volume 24 through the first 2 chapters of volume 25. You're right though, that there's a lot of stuff coming. The new ending shows Saotome Shizuka and Taizou so we should get past the Yume Shima arc into the stuff about the <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>second-string team</span> that starts in volume 27. At this point I have no idea where they're going to end the season, or if a third season is in the cards. Hopefully we keep getting more.

[Helschadenfreude]

Grr, I hate the fact I'm still on the first race. /images/graemlins/cry00000.gif Er, can someone tell me what advantages does a rolling start have? I mean don't you line in the order of less ability? Like the best people are the in back... /images/graemlins/sweat200.gif I always wondered.. and I was watching Nascar the other day in a cafe and was like.. how do people exactly pass other people.. then they crashed but ehhh

[leongsh]

[ QUOTE ]
PsychoIdiot said:
Er, can someone tell me what advantages does a rolling start have?

[/ QUOTE ]

A rolling start helps to ensure that there are fewer mishaps happening in comparison with stationary starts. In stationary starts, there is a risk that the vehicles lined up stall and requires the vehicles behind to make very drastic movements to avoid collision with the stalled vehicle.

A rolling start and a stationary start both require good but different skills to pull off well.

[ QUOTE ]
PsychoIdiot said:
I mean don't you line in the order of less ability? Like the best people are the in back... /images/graemlins/sweat200.gif I always wondered..

[/ QUOTE ]

They are positioned based on qualifying. The driver with the fastest qualifying time lines up first (known as "pole position") followed by the next fastest and so on.

[ QUOTE ]
PsychoIdiot said:
and I was watching Nascar the other day in a cafe and was like.. how do people exactly pass other people.. then they crashed but ehhh

[/ QUOTE ]

Dependent on which type of racing. For Nascar, it's about sitting in slipstream and using that to slingshot past the car in front when you can find space to squeeze yourself through. The driver of the car in front can counter by blocking the passing path. As Nascar is mostly raced on banked ovals, there is centrifugal force to manage - go too fast, you will be fighting against the car moving up the higher bank of the track. With the large number of cars and how close they race each other, it's also a matter of being aware of "keeping your nose clean" so to speak and avoid collisions or being taken out as collateral by crashes by other vehicles.

[Helschadenfreude]

Okay, well I understand that the people are in front, but wouldn't it make sense for them to be in the back? I dunno. What's the difference between course record, the timed attack, and the actual race? I don't quite get how there were three races... /images/graemlins/sweat200.gif

And Shameless Plug For Hiruma in the 2006 Anime Draft...

[leongsh]

[ QUOTE ]
PsychoIdiot said:
Okay, well I understand that the people are in front, but wouldn't it make sense for them to be in the back? I dunno.

[/ QUOTE ]

That would make absolutely no sense. The faster drivers should be in front rather than at the back as they would not be impended by the slower drivers. Besides, if the faster drivers are not placed in front, there would be no incentive to drive fast and qualifying would be a farce to see who drives the slowest to gain the best starting position - see how ridiculous it is?

[ QUOTE ]
PsychoIdiot said:
What's the difference between course record, the timed attack, and the actual race? I don't quite get how there were three races... /images/graemlins/sweat200.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

There's only 1 race.

The course record is the fastest lap time recorded for the course. This is similar to the meet record times for athletics and swimming races.

The timed attack is the qualifying for the race to determine your starting position for the race proper.

[Helschadenfreude]

[ QUOTE ]
leongsh said:
[ QUOTE ]
PsychoIdiot said:
Okay, well I understand that the people are in front, but wouldn't it make sense for them to be in the back? I dunno.

[/ QUOTE ]

That would make absolutely no sense. The faster drivers should be in front rather than at the back as they would not be impended by the slower drivers. Besides, if the faster drivers are not placed in front, there would be no incentive to drive fast and qualifying would be a farce to see who drives the slowest to gain the best starting position - see how ridiculous it is?



[/ QUOTE ]



[/ QUOTE ]

Ohhhh, okay now that made sense.

[Helschadenfreude]

Gah.. still only... on 13. So sad.

anyway, I'm sad that Ryoko(the girl from Yokohama) isnt' going to be on teh same time as Kaoru. /images/graemlins/relief1.gif I wonder why she keeps playing baseball and not softball where she can play more.. eh.

/images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif And I know if they didn't do what they did during the exam episodes there wouldn't be a story... well it could be all that effort would be for nothing, and no one likes wasted effort. Still, a cop-out. /images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Capeta... now just need more Capeta...

[Helschadenfreude]

[ QUOTE ]
leongsh said:
Briefly, Episode 14 has the newcomers to the Kaidoh baseball club go on a training camp on an island for preparation work and weeding out the weaker ones.

Goro as usual is full of bluster but he is able to back that up by being able to complete the initial tasks assigned easily. The trainers decide to handicap him in the later tasks to make it more of a challenge. He makes it through and even surprises the trainer in charge of his group in how he completes the task even when Goro was give a handicap of a backpack of weights at the start of the task.

Starting with Episode 14, we get the new ED credits and song.

*Ups <font color="RoyalBlue">PsychoIdiot</font>'s withdrawal symptoms for Major* Mwhahahahaha... /images/graemlins/devil.gif /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Mwahahha I caught up! ... hey why am I the only one talking in this thread. Anyway, are the rest of the kids scholarship based? Why does the recruiters recruit more than needed when they're going to weed them out? What would those people do?

Looking at the ending? pictures, it seems to be a couple that will be together as a group, but I don't know how Honda will take that guy that creamed them... /images/graemlins/relief1.gif

[leongsh]

[ QUOTE ]
PsychoIdiot said:
Mwahahha I caught up!

[/ QUOTE ]

Took you a while /images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[ QUOTE ]
PsychoIdiot said:
Anyway, are the rest of the kids scholarship based? Why does the recruiters recruit more than needed when they're going to weed them out? What would those people do?

[/ QUOTE ]

No. So that they pick the cream of the crop. They would either join other activities or join other high schools.

[ QUOTE ]
PsychoIdiot said:
Looking at the ending? pictures, it seems to be a couple that will be together as a group, but I don't know how Honda will take that guy that creamed them... /images/graemlins/relief1.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, just watch and find out in due course /images/graemlins/happy.gif

I'm up to Episode 16, the latest episode broadcast, and can't wait for Episode 17. In addition, Shimizu shows up in the Episode 17 preview.

By the way, have you watched Capeta Episode 12 yet? /images/graemlins/happy.gif

[Helschadenfreude]

[ QUOTE ]
leongsh said:


By the way, have you watched Capeta Episode 12 yet? /images/graemlins/happy.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes I have.. I did comment on it up there didn't I? /images/graemlins/depresse.gif I didn't?

Okay yeah. Capeta awesome for pushing all the carts out of the way, which proves if you're good you can get up there. So Narumi? is that right, doesn't like dog fighting? eh.... and Capeta is good as a result because he wants the same thing Narumi does.. .hmmmm but does it become unnecessary.. I dunno...

How far is the manga?

:sigh: I want more Major.. .../images/graemlins/cry00000.gif

[Helschadenfreude]

That's AWESOME!! That Capeta can force other drivers to pick up his line and drive faster... Takeshi is in serious trouble.. I understand how Capeta passed at this point.. wow.. I am just loving this series more and more. There's so much energy !

has it ended yet? I mean the series, as the manga isn't very far?

[leongsh]

[ QUOTE ]
PsychoIdiot said:
That's AWESOME!! That Capeta can force other drivers to pick up his line and drive faster... Takeshi is in serious trouble.. I understand how Capeta passed at this point.. wow.. I am just loving this series more and more. There's so much energy !

[/ QUOTE ]

Fun series, huh? /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif Now you know why I wrote about how well the race action was directed in the lost discussion thread on Capeta.

[ QUOTE ]
PsychoIdiot said:
has it ended yet? I mean the series, as the manga isn't very far?

[/ QUOTE ]

The most recent episode broadcast was Episode 27. In Episode 26, Capeta hurt his side badly (literally a large angry purple-black bruise on the right side of his body -&gt; have a look at the bruising (http://img240.imageshack.us/my.php?image=capetaep26bruisedcapeta3tc.jpg)) as he uses his body to shift the balance point to steer his kart. In the qualifying section, he nearly had a white-out from the pain. In the first race proper in Episode 27, he is so behind the pace of the frontrunners that he was blue-flagged and eventually loses control of his kart to retire from the race. At the end of the Episode 27, his confidence takes a total beating.

[Helschadenfreude]

[ QUOTE ]
leongsh said:
[ QUOTE ]
PsychoIdiot said:
That's AWESOME!! That Capeta can force other drivers to pick up his line and drive faster... Takeshi is in serious trouble.. I understand how Capeta passed at this point.. wow.. I am just loving this series more and more. There's so much energy !

[/ QUOTE ]

Fun series, huh? /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif Now you know why I wrote about how well the race action was directed in the lost discussion thread on Capeta.

[ QUOTE ]
PsychoIdiot said:
has it ended yet? I mean the series, as the manga isn't very far?

[/ QUOTE ]

The most recent episode broadcast was Episode 27. In Episode 26, Capeta hurt his side badly (literally a large angry purple-black bruise on the right side of his body -&gt; have a look at the bruising (http://img240.imageshack.us/my.php?image=capetaep26bruisedcapeta3tc.jpg)) as he uses his body to shift the balance point to steer his kart. In the qualifying section, he nearly had a white-out from the pain. In the first race proper in Episode 27, he is so behind the pace of the frontrunners that he was blue-flagged and eventually loses control of his kart to retire from the race. At the end of the Episode 27, his confidence takes a total beating.

[/ QUOTE ]

/images/graemlins/relief1.gif Funding Funding.. poor Capeta.. It's partly not his fault.... You're so far ahead... what happened to the by play? So what is he ranked next to Naomi? Still too far behind?

damn that bruising is way nasty.. you can see his ribs....

[Helschadenfreude]

Wow 14 was great.. though it's expected that Capeta won... 10 million yen a year.. if he gets up there(is there any monetary reward for winning or its all sponsers?)I wonder how the father kept up the four years that Capeta kept racing.... How old is Capeta now? How old is Naomi compared to Capeta? /images/graemlins/relief1.gif Ganbatte Capeta!

[Helschadenfreude]

Hmmmm I thought big school do like ace pitchers.. I guess not one man pitchers but still....

Anyway Goro is crazy. I thought you can cover every position because of the muscle.. well... then again, that's why you can switch to position to positon. Eh, I dunno. I guessed about the sound thing, but what else can you use when you can't see?

I want the next episode already.. and Capeta... /images/graemlins/relief1.gif

[leongsh]

Been busy the past couple of weeks. Caught up with Capeta yesterday and it has reached the Episode 30 mark. This episode is a barnstormer.

The second race has started in the previous episode and Capeta is starting from the back row due to his early retirement in the first race. Placings in the first race determine the starting positions for the second race. Episode 29 ended with the rain starting to fall just shortly after the start of the race.

In Episode 30, not only does it rain, it pours down heavily. From previous episodes, we have already learned about Shiba Ryo's skill as a driver in wet conditions and he's fighting for the lead with Tobita Isamu of Autohouse. Capeta's struggling at the back as he has gone out in slicks (i.e. tyres with no grooves and in wet conditions, you just can't get much grip due to aquaplanning). As the rain pours down, a few drivers spin out from the track due to the conditions. He sees an opportunity to take advantage but overdoes it and suffers a massive spin which he barely manages to catch on the home straight. The fun starts when he notices one of the drivers being hurt after crashing and just decides to damn-it-all and risk everything /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

The race action in this episode with the heavy rain, wet conditions, water spraying from the wheels of the karts, is just engrossing. With the heightened danger element, the race action here with the tracking camera and angles easily trumps the race action in the earlier episodes of 12 to 14. I was left with a massive grin after watching this episode.

I understand that this episode and next falls squarely in Volume 8 of the manga. The most recently released volume of the manga is Volume 10 and was released in February 2006. There is enough material to reach the 39 episode mark and maybe even the 52 episode mark by the time it reaches that point in time.

[Helschadenfreude]

Yay! Someone talking in this thread besides me...

Damn.. I want more capeta.. and I want the manga now.. I got really taken in by his firefighter one...


Um, is Shiba Ryo just another rival dude? /images/graemlins/sweat200.gif

/images/graemlins/relief1.gif I really want to watch...... /images/graemlins/relief1.gif /images/graemlins/depresse.gif

[leongsh]

Episode 31 is entitled "Side-by-side". Just finished watching it. All I can say is: Wow... /images/graemlins/stunned1.gif Wow... /images/graemlins/stunned1.gif

The rain has stopped towards the end of Episode 30 but the track condition is still extremely wet. Capeta uses a technique that he been working on that allows him to be faster and in better control over certain parts of the totally drenched track while everyone else is limited by their worries of spinning. However, the technique requires him to lean towards his right and thus driving in absolutely agony as his already well-bruised ribs continually take the beating. I'm not describing this episode further. Just tough it out past the middling episodes in the run-up to this particular race. The racing action in this episode is really worth it.

And I thought that Episode 30 was a fantastic watch for this go-kart racing anime. Episode 31 just takes it up another level. A one-two punch with an incoming third to floor you if the first 2 haven't - the preview for Episode 32 promises a massive grandstand finish... /images/graemlins/cool.gif

Sorry, <font color="RoyalBlue">PsychoIdiot</font>. You will just have to bear with it. /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

[leongsh]

Last night's broadcast was Episode 21. In light that Episodes 18 to 21 cover the first match the freshmen players, who have survived the final culling at the Kaidoh training camp, play, this post will cover those respective episodes.

In Episode 18, the freshmen team are sent to the Kaidoh baseball hostel to say. To welcome them, the Kaidoh baseball 2nd coach set them up to play against the Kaidoh reserve team players. The obvious purpose is to show the incoming freshmen players their places. Goro is even sidelined to watch until an appeal by Toshi and Terakata after the freshmen have been pummelled 10 runs in the 3rd inning.

Episode 19 is where the fun truly begins as Goro winds up the action with Toshi and takes the fight to the reserve team. The freshmen team respond immediately to catch-up to 3 runs behind before the coach brings in the first team pitchers to deal with the freshmen team.

Episode 20 shows how Kaidoh play. Their kind of game is all business-like but also played very cynically. Goro catches on to it and deals with them in his own way - using a bit of mind games.

Episode 21 is the conclusion to the game with the first team ace, Mayumura, pitching. Mayumura is the Kaidoh pitcher that whitewashed the Mifune East Middle School team earlier this 2nd season when Mifune East with Goro made it to the perfectural tournament. Who won this game then? Catch up to this episode and you'll know /images/graemlins/happy.gif

[Helschadenfreude]

Geez kick me while I'm down will ya. Capeta and Major! /images/graemlins/cry00000.gif I wanna watch!!

[leongsh]

The episode entitled, "Final Lap". With what they have shown and built up in past 2 episodes (Episodes 30 and 31), they were promising a grandstand finish with the preview of Episode 32. Boy, did they deliver one! /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

The rain-drenched race ended in this episode with Capeta and Ryo fighting it out right down to the wire. One of them won. Who? [To <font color="RoyalBlue">PsychoIdiot</font>, "Mwhahahaha..." /images/graemlins/devil.gif]

So far, the series has exceeded my expectations. I think I have an inkling why the manga was a jury recommendation in the 2005 Japan Media Arts Festival. The episodes covered here were those in print in early calender year 2005 that would have entered for consideration. While the highlight races are exciting affairs, the episodes that help to set-up for the eventual races does slow the series down a little but considering the payback from the highlight races are just so good they are easy to forgive. I find myself enjoying this series a lot.

[beatmania]

I've finally watched up to 32 in 1 sitting. I've been hoarding the eps in preparation for this marathon since it seemed to me that this one race was taking a while. Wow, what a finish. Been a while since there was a good race and it doesn't disappoint. I don't understand the little burst of speed from the other car though. Wouldn't the other car's wheel cause drag instead of helping him out of the last corner since they were essentially rotating against each other?

Can't wait to see how Capeta's going to make a come back.

[leongsh]

[ QUOTE ]
bemani said:
I've finally watched up to 32 in 1 sitting. I've been hoarding the eps in preparation for this marathon since it seemed to me that this one race was taking a while. Wow, what a finish. Been a while since there was a good race and it doesn't disappoint.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yup, it was a grandstand finish to the race /images/graemlins/happy.gif I've been going back to rewatch Episodes 30 to 32 a few times already. The direction for the race mixed in with appropriate background music is just spot-on in raising the excitement.

[ QUOTE ]
bemani said:
I don't understand the little burst of speed from the other car though. Wouldn't the other car's wheel cause drag instead of helping him out of the last corner since they were essentially rotating against each other?

[/ QUOTE ]

That's what I thought too but reconsidered the possibility as the other kart's wheel was spinning in the air and when in very brief contact provided the adhesion that both running wheels pushed off against each other to give that kick.

[ QUOTE ]
bemani said:
Can't wait to see how Capeta's going to make a come back.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, I just watched Episode 33 /images/graemlins/happy.gif

[Helschadenfreude]

I hate you two, argh. I'm so far away.. and now I'm spoiled to who won, but eh.

anyway I'm on episode 16 of Major and Capeta. For both it was a bit slow, as Capeta worries about his grades, his future and his racing, while 16 for Major was set up for the Kaidoh entering dorm. Also I find it kind of odd, everytime Capeta thinks of his dad, he suddenly is extremely motivated . Argh, I don't want Ayane and Toshi to get together, the girl from Yokohoma little would have been better. well at least she's mildly better than Sakano from POT.

I want to watch more of both, bleh.. /images/graemlins/cry00000.gif Hm, can Capeta ever use that move where he tilts his cart to one side and goes on and circles? is that illegal in a race to do?

[beatmania]

[ QUOTE ]
leongsh said:

[ QUOTE ]
bemani said:
Can't wait to see how Capeta's going to make a come back.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, I just watched Episode 33 /images/graemlins/happy.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm thinking they're going to ignore the humongous hospital bill that would've equal 5 years' worth of racing budget? Daddy must have real good insurance.

[leongsh]

[ QUOTE ]
bemani said:
[ QUOTE ]
leongsh said:

[ QUOTE ]
bemani said:
Can't wait to see how Capeta's going to make a come back.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, I just watched Episode 33 /images/graemlins/happy.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm thinking they're going to ignore the humongous hospital bill that would've equal 5 years' worth of racing budget? Daddy must have real good insurance.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm guessing here but I do think all racers usually have to buy insurance before they are allowed to race.

[Dmiller]

When will somebody make an anime about curling? Considering the pace of an actual game they could just about milk a single match for thirteen episodes. /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

[leongsh]

[ QUOTE ]
dkmiller said:
When will somebody make an anime about curling? Considering the pace of an actual game they could just about milk a single match for thirteen episodes. /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Bah! They are already milking a single basketball match for nearly 13 episodes in Slam Dunk /images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[Helschadenfreude]

[ QUOTE ]
leongsh said:
[ QUOTE ]
bemani said:
[ QUOTE ]
leongsh said:

[ QUOTE ]
bemani said:
Can't wait to see how Capeta's going to make a come back.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, I just watched Episode 33 /images/graemlins/happy.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm thinking they're going to ignore the humongous hospital bill that would've equal 5 years' worth of racing budget? Daddy must have real good insurance.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm guessing here but I do think all racers usually have to buy insurance before they are allowed to race.

[/ QUOTE ]

True, most sports are like that. I want more Capeta. /images/graemlins/cry00000.gif

[Helschadenfreude]

Argh, the fact that I'm only on 17 and the next episode is about Sponsers whooooo , makes me wish I was actually on the same damn page as the rest of ya. I would think an up and coming go kart racer would have some sponsers.. something anything... maybe everyone's too busy funding autohouse..... :-P

As for major, damn if Honda and the other guy that slips my mind at the moment cuz the greatest and anime styling of his fastball. :-P

[ndm]

[ QUOTE ]
dkmiller said:
When will somebody make an anime about curling? Considering the pace of an actual game they could just about milk a single match for thirteen episodes. /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

There's actually already a manga about it, Orange Delivery (http://nifty.bk1.co.jp/product/2533385), by the author of Amaenaideyo. I couldn't tell you if it's at all interesting though, since I have no intention of actually reading it. /images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[leongsh]

Just a quickie update.

Episode 24 is the start of the match-up between the Kaidoh first team against the second team. Episode 25 continues the match. Next week's episode is Episode 26 and that episode will wrap it up. Episode 26 is also confirmed as the last episode for Major: 2nd Season (source: NHK website for the anime series (http://www3.nhk.or.jp/anime/major/yokoku.html)) and is entitled, 「��よ��＜終＞, (translated as "Goodbye!" &lt;End&gt;).

Will there be a 3rd season? I hope so. It may be another 6 month wait for the next season just as there was 6 month wait from the first season to the second season as they rerun the first season and probably a rerun of the second season with the end of it next week.

[Helschadenfreude]

[ QUOTE ]
leongsh said:
Just a quickie update.

Episode 24 is the start of the match-up between the Kaidoh first team against the second team. Episode 25 continues the match. Next week's episode is Episode 26 and that episode will wrap it up. Episode 26 is also confirmed as the last episode for Major: 2nd Season (source: NHK website for the anime series (http://www3.nhk.or.jp/anime/major/yokoku.html)) and is entitled, 「��よ��＜終＞, (translated as "Goodbye!" &lt;End&gt;).

Will there be a 3rd season? I hope so. It may be another 6 month wait for the next season just as there was 6 month wait from the first season to the second season as they rerun the first season and probably a rerun of the second season with the end of it next week.

[/ QUOTE ]


NOOO Major!!! I want more.. and I'm not even near the end... so a season for very chapter of his life? I mena 52 volumes lot of stuff to animate... Although how were the ratings? If they weren't good then that's not good.

[leongsh]

As mentioned earlier, Episode 26 is the last episode of Major: 2nd Season. This episode wraps up the baseball match between the Kaidoh first team and the second team.

At the very end of the episode, they left a note (Link to screencap (http://img131.imageshack.us/my.php?image=major2ndseasonendmessage4dc.jpg)) telling us that Season 3 will be broadcast in December and it will be the same arrangement as I guessed earlier too:

[ QUOTE ]
Will there be a 3rd season? I hope so. It may be another 6 month wait for the next season just as there was 6 month wait from the first season to the second season as they rerun the first season and probably a rerun of the second season with the end of it next week.

[/ QUOTE ]

[Helschadenfreude]

Woot! For the 3rd season, even though I'm barely over halfway finished with season 2. Although I marathon the last 10 episodes of the first season, so it might happen that way as well.

Well since I finished watching Capeta 18, I thought I share my thoughts. Um, can Capeta still not figure out what's wrong? Or he does and by doing more trial runs it'll go away? And sarukii continues to be cute. /images/graemlins/catgirl0.gif

[Helschadenfreude]

Yes Revive from the DEAD!!!

That's what I do late at night.

It's interesting to see that Narumi now qualifies for you know what.. that was kind of quick and he's kind of young. I haven't watched any F1, so I don't really get how go cart racing goes to F1 but okay. Narumi also scares me in his dedication. One thing that made me go what was the girls that were supposingly wanting to talk to Narumi. They were... really... ugly/plain. I mean, I think I preferred the Initial D girls to them. /images/graemlins/sweat000.gif That was random I know. Did Capeta end yet for the rest of you lucky people?

God, I haven't watched Major in so long either...

[Helschadenfreude]

Why is no one talking in this thread anymore.. I need my spoilers...gahhhh....

anyway Capeta is major trouble as his frame is shot to hell. And I though the rival guy was in Naomi's class, since they were thinking about last year race? Or did Naomi upgrade after that, and the guy that wished for rain too(gosh, what's his name), is still there? Glad to see Osamu and not Takeshi.... is it just me or the Obaba is getting younger looking?

/images/graemlins/sweat200.gif Monami and ... I forgot his name, the other part of team Capeta... ...bleh....

[leongsh]

[ QUOTE ]
PsychoIdiot said:
Why is no one talking in this thread anymore.. I need my spoilers...gahhhh....

anyway Capeta is major trouble as his frame is shot to hell. And I though the rival guy was in Naomi's class, since they were thinking about last year race? Or did Naomi upgrade after that, and the guy that wished for rain too(gosh, what's his name), is still there? Glad to see Osamu and not Takeshi.... is it just me or the Obaba is getting younger looking?

/images/graemlins/sweat200.gif Monami and ... I forgot his name, the other part of team Capeta... ...bleh....

[/ QUOTE ]
Gosh, you are terrible with remembering names. And I thought I was bad!

The frame is not going to survive long as from the end of Episode 24, Capeta has mentioned that the frame is not responding properly anymore.

The new rival, Shiba Ryo, has got enough talent to take the fight to Naomi but he had not done so in the previous year as he had no incentive to do so. Naomi moved up one class above after the previous year while Ryo is still in the same class.

Meanwhile... the anime has reached Episode 51 just about 12 hours or so back at this time of posting. Have not watched that yet but do know that Episode 50 ends just before the start of the race (and I can't wait to watch Episode 51!).

[leongsh]

It's been awhile that I've posted here as I've been really busy away from home. The one sports anime that I still followed until it's recent end is Capeta which ended this week with Episode 52.

The last 2 episodes, Episodes 51 and 52, featured Capeta's debut race in an open wheeler and right until the end of the race, the race action sucked me in and had me gritting my teeth over the tense action. A bit sad that the race was not as spectacular as the kart race featured in Episodes 29 to 32.

The race did not feature Minamoto Naomi that Capeta has spent most of his racing life chasing after to challenge as just before the final qualifying session, he has been pulled off to test for a European formula race team in Italy. However, Naomi does come back later to visit and the series ends with Naomi challenging Capeta to a kart race at a kart track as the end credits play. Back to where it all started. Just seeing both of them smile while they race on the kart track, it is enough to confirm that even Naomi acknowledges Capeta as his main rival and someone to juice up his competitive streak.

After the ending credits, there's a small little epilogue showing Capeta's room with the background TV commentary about two Japanese drivers competing in the Italian Grand Prix in Formula 1 going by the names of Minamoto and Capeta and then a "see you again"...

I wonder whether we will get a second season continuation when the manga gets further in front and adds more story for us. The ending left it open. However, when there's still no word about more Hajime no Ippo yet after waiting for so long, I shouldn't get my hopes up for more of Capeta either. The only one that seems to be getting extended is Major - only 2 months left to December 2006 when the 3rd season comes on.

It's been a blast watching Capeta. A massive guilty pleasure. I'm now tempted to pick this up on R2J especially the volumes containing the racing episodes.

[Helschadenfreude]

[ QUOTE ]
leongsh said:
[ QUOTE ]
PsychoIdiot said:
Why is no one talking in this thread anymore.. I need my spoilers...gahhhh....

anyway Capeta is major trouble as his frame is shot to hell. And I though the rival guy was in Naomi's class, since they were thinking about last year race? Or did Naomi upgrade after that, and the guy that wished for rain too(gosh, what's his name), is still there? Glad to see Osamu and not Takeshi.... is it just me or the Obaba is getting younger looking?

/images/graemlins/sweat200.gif Monami and ... I forgot his name, the other part of team Capeta... ...bleh....

[/ QUOTE ]
Gosh, you are terrible with remembering names. And I thought I was bad!

The frame is not going to survive long as from the end of Episode 24, Capeta has mentioned that the frame is not responding properly anymore.

The new rival, Shiba Ryo, has got enough talent to take the fight to Naomi but he had not done so in the previous year as he had no incentive to do so. Naomi moved up one class above after the previous year while Ryo is still in the same class.

Meanwhile... the anime has reached Episode 51 just about 12 hours or so back at this time of posting. Have not watched that yet but do know that Episode 50 ends just before the start of the race (and I can't wait to watch Episode 51!).

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah I'm terrible with names. The only way I start remembering is if I read fanfiction, because I don't have pictures to help me. /images/graemlins/sweat200.gif Gah, why am I so far behind?

The ending is just a race for Capeta qualifying for F1 team? /images/graemlins/cry00000.gif I want more.. but I realize there's only like 9 volumes of this vs like 60 volumes of Major which has gotten on the top 10 best selling manga list this week. /images/graemlins/relief1.gif Major does deserve all its seasons though...

But go cart is so interesting....

[beatmania]

Finally finished watching 52!
Wow, very exciting and emotional ending. I like how he and Naomi go back to their roots. The anime so far doesn't race all the way to F1, but at the end you get to listen to a radio broadcasting the Monza GP, with Capeta as driver. It shouldn't be a surprise to anyone since the OP from the beginning already shows him in a Ferrari look-alike.

Especially love the photo finish rematch between him and Ryo. BTW, skinny tires scare me! I keep thinking Capeta will bend a wheel everytime he drives into the kitty litter/gravel.

[leongsh]

[ QUOTE ]
bemani said:
Finally finished watching 52!
Wow, very exciting and emotional ending.

[/ QUOTE ]
What's your assessment of the series on an overall basis? The story is linear, with a bit of time taken on focusing on his lack of funds that sometimes felt dragged on but essential to show how expensive racing can get and set up the difficult circumstances he has to surmount.

The racing action in the show is what really made the series shine. Races were well-directed with good support given by the soundtrack to keep the tension and exictement high. The wide variety of camera angles and close-up of machinery added to the fun. All 3 feature races in the series were wonderful to watch - the first, his debut go-kart race; the second (and my favourite of the three), the go-kart race in the rain; and the third, his debut Formula (open-wheeler) race.

It's a pity that so few people watch it /images/graemlins/relief1.gif

[guyver83]

[ QUOTE ]
leongsh said:
It's a pity that so few people watch it /images/graemlins/relief1.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

ADD tits or big boobs or panty shots and they will /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

I have not caught up due to major time focused on youth coachin, dietin for competitions and work but I will after this month!

[beatmania]

[ QUOTE ]
leongsh said:

What's your assessment of the series on an overall basis?

[/ QUOTE ]

For sure, animation for the races are really nicely done. Too bad the animators probably need a lot of time to do them, and we see a lot of episodes of them not racing but running around looking for a drive. The hierarchy, the rules, etc of racing are basically followed so that's good. I just wish there were more actual racing.

They sure spent a lot of time on Monami's venture. Is that going to be important or is that just useless filler?

[Helschadenfreude]

wow I'm finally at the point where leongsh posted screencaps! That bruise looks nasty.. and the race doesn't really start until epi 29?? what are they going to do for the next third episodes? The qualifer...? It like... really needs to rain. /images/graemlins/cry00000.gif Poor Capeta.

[leongsh]

[ QUOTE ]
bemani said:
For sure, animation for the races are really nicely done. Too bad the animators probably need a lot of time to do them, and we see a lot of episodes of them not racing but running around looking for a drive. The hierarchy, the rules, etc of racing are basically followed so that's good. I just wish there were more actual racing.

[/ QUOTE ]
You're not the only who would love to have more racing action /images/graemlins/happy.gif

[ QUOTE ]
bemani said:
They sure spent a lot of time on Monami's venture. Is that going to be important or is that just useless filler?

[/ QUOTE ]
The only way to find out on whether Monami's venture is a just useless filler or not is to pick up the manga series to find out more on whether the anime is fairly close to the manga and what happens thereafter.

Hmm... I think I may just do that. I need to find out more on how Capeta's career develops.

[leongsh]

[ QUOTE ]
PsychoIdiot said:
wow I'm finally at the point where leongsh posted screencaps! That bruise looks nasty.. and the race doesn't really start until epi 29?? what are they going to do for the next third episodes? The qualifer...? It like... really needs to rain. /images/graemlins/cry00000.gif Poor Capeta.

[/ QUOTE ]
A couple of episodes on the qualifying heat that runs about 20 laps and then the race proper.

[Helschadenfreude]

[ QUOTE ]
leongsh said:

[ QUOTE ]
bemani said:
They sure spent a lot of time on Monami's venture. Is that going to be important or is that just useless filler?

[/ QUOTE ]
The only way to find out on whether Monami's venture is a just useless filler or not is to pick up the manga series to find out more on whether the anime is fairly close to the manga and what happens thereafter.

Hmm... I think I may just do that. I need to find out more on how Capeta's career develops.

[/ QUOTE ]


I thought the anime kind of caught up to the manga or did the anime make up its own ending? (I mean like, the last actual race)

[Helschadenfreude]

Now it's almost to the end of the second season of Major(I know it ended such a long time ago but I'm slow...) Toshiya is freaking awesome.. and I'm utterly sad that because of the whole H2 situation that's here. Being on the same team with such good players wouldn't be that fun ... nooo, we have to be hardworking and "level up" to compare yourself... /images/graemlins/cry00000.gif

Is there another season?! The manga is so long...

[leongsh]

[ QUOTE ]
PsychoIdiot said:
Now it's almost to the end of the second season of Major(I know it ended such a long time ago but I'm slow...) Toshiya is freaking awesome.. and I'm utterly sad that because of the whole H2 situation that's here.

[/ QUOTE ]
And in the next episode (i.e. Season 2, Episode 26), someone's going to raise the bar /images/graemlins/wink.gif Just watch.

[ QUOTE ]
PsychoIdiot said:
Is there another season?! The manga is so long...

[/ QUOTE ]
Look at the top post (link (http://forums.animeondvd.com/showthreaded.php?Cat=&amp;Number=1215229&amp;page=0&amp;view=c ollapsed&amp;sb=5&amp;o=&amp;fpart=2#Post1453250)) - the 3rd season will be broadcast in December 2006 after the current rerun of Season 2 now.

[Helschadenfreude]

Your avatar makes me cry. /images/graemlins/cry00000.gif I got spoiled on that one....and I stopped watching it after <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>reinheart died. damnit, that was a dumb way to die. Now Yang wen li.. nooooo who is golden boy going to fight against? </span>

Yay! for third season.. so would that be pro league or college?

/images/graemlins/relief1.gif I want Capeta......

[leongsh]

[ QUOTE ]
PsychoIdiot said:
Your avatar makes me cry. /images/graemlins/cry00000.gif I got spoiled on that one....and I stopped watching it after <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>reinheart died. damnit, that was a dumb way to die. Now Yang wen li.. nooooo who is golden boy going to fight against? </span>

[/ QUOTE ]
It doesn't matter whether you were spoiled on it. Just watch the show. It's just damn engrossing. And that question in the spoiler? I'm not going to tell you. You just have to watch it.

[ QUOTE ]
PsychoIdiot said:
Yay! for third season.. so would that be pro league or college?

[/ QUOTE ]
Major, 3rd Season is still going to be high school. Goro has an appointment that he has to keep /images/graemlins/happy.gif If you have watched Episode 25 of the 2nd Season, you would have an idea what it is. It can't get any clearer after Episode 26 what his appointment is.

[ QUOTE ]
PsychoIdiot said:
/images/graemlins/relief1.gif I want Capeta......

[/ QUOTE ]
You're at Episode 27 now. When you get to Episode 30, you'll be desperate for Episode 31. After watching Episode 31, waiting for Episode 32 is going to be sheer torture /images/graemlins/devil.gif /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

[Helschadenfreude]

[ QUOTE ]
leongsh said:
It doesn't matter whether you were spoiled on it. Just watch the show. It's just damn engrossing. And that question in the spoiler? I'm not going to tell you. You just have to watch it.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm so far behind though... /images/graemlins/sweat000.gif I left off a couple episodes after said first event happened.. and that's like 65? or something? I remember a battle... and that's it, I gave up. I was majorly ticked at the creepy silver hair adviser dude. Oh yeah blond hair guy is Reiheart and the red hair is Kirchesis... oops.

[ QUOTE ]
leongsh said:
Yay! for third season.. so would that be pro league or college?
Major, 3rd Season is still going to be high school. Goro has an appointment that he has to keep /images/graemlins/happy.gif If you have watched Episode 25 of the 2nd Season, you would have an idea what it is. It can't get any clearer after Episode 26 what his appointment is.

[/ QUOTE ]

Blargh. Stop torturing me!
[ QUOTE ]
leongsh said:
You're at Episode 27 now. When you get to Episode 30, you'll be desperate for Episode 31. After watching Episode 31, waiting for Episode 32 is going to be sheer torture /images/graemlins/devil.gif /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Argh, that goes double for Capeta. then again thread spoiled me muchos much already but it's oookay.

[Helschadenfreude]

[ QUOTE ]
leongsh said:
[ QUOTE ]
PsychoIdiot said:
Now it's almost to the end of the second season of Major(I know it ended such a long time ago but I'm slow...) Toshiya is freaking awesome.. and I'm utterly sad that because of the whole H2 situation that's here.

[/ QUOTE ]
And in the next episode (i.e. Season 2, Episode 26), someone's going to raise the bar /images/graemlins/wink.gif Just watch.

[/ QUOTE ]

Oh man, that made me soooo confused. I thought they were against Varsity and <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'> mayamura was on the varsity team... and that he was the final picture not weird, stressed suddenly not pretty anymore pitcher </span> But yeah it made me realize yes, Toshi still more awesome than Goro, and yay for other people for finally realizing it. I'm still a bit miffed on the whole H2 thing. makes it hard to know who to root for. Why does goro always have to do that.... /images/graemlins/relief1.gif

[Helschadenfreude]

Okay so I have a couple episodes of eyeshield 21, and capeta left to watch, but omg. The ending of h2!! Gah! NO!!!!

I know it is a rather old show, but has anyone watched the end?

[leongsh]

Okay so I have a couple episodes of eyeshield 21, and capeta left to watch, but omg. The ending of h2!! Gah! NO!!!!

I know it is a rather old show, but has anyone watched the end?
Not only have I watched H2 but I have the R2J DVD Boxset too.

It's a show that is very slow paced compared to what you get nowadays. It took me a a while to get into the pace of the show but once you do, it feels just right in its languidness. When the anime series was made, the H2 manga was still ongoing then. The anime caught up real fast with manga even though the pacing of the anime series was moving at a glacial pace. You should pick up the manga to read - it's a fun blast.

[Helschadenfreude]

so I got terribly spoiled before getting before this episode,but I didn't care but I was anxiously waiting for it to rain. Because you know, it has to happen. But then I was thrown for a loop with the whole tires thing... I don't really see how Capeta can win.. arghhhh.....

I'm so sad Capeta is already over though. At least Major season three is starting soon.. in December right?

[leongsh]

so I got terribly spoiled before getting before this episode,but I didn't care but I was anxiously waiting for it to rain. Because you know, it has to happen. But then I was thrown for a loop with the whole tires thing... I don't really see how Capeta can win.. arghhhh.....
Your natural curiousity is spoiling the show for you. However, please remember that it's the journey that makes the destination worthwhile.

I'm so sad Capeta is already over though. At least Major season three is starting soon.. in December right?
On 6 January 2007 to be exact. Refer this link (http://www3.nhk.or.jp/anime/major/kokuchi.html) at the anime's website.

[Helschadenfreude]

I'm so sad Capeta is already over though. At least Major season three is starting soon.. in December right?
On 6 January 2007 to be exact. Refer this link (http://www3.nhk.or.jp/anime/major/kokuchi.html) at the anime's website.


Hm, Honda and everyone looks more mature. Yay! wait, are they officially still in high school? and your avatar just makes me sad.... I mean after the beginning of 2nd season I gave up, but then they do it again..... :tired:

[ucdawg12]

Guys, a question about Major and its pacing, I read in this thread that some episode in season 2 corresponded with like volume 24 out of like 50+? How is this possible? It doesnt seem to be on like a blazing pace. Are they skipping things? I mean, do we only have 2 more seasons before they are caught up to the manga at this point? I had only read about 2 or 3 chapters of the manga which I think was the first episode, and I guess this would mean they are now doing 5-6 chapters per episode? It certainly doesn't feel any different unless the manga volumes are like 5-6 chapters long (I thought weekly collections were usually 10 chapters per volume). Even Bleach, which was moving through its source material quickly, got more episodes out of 24 volumes didnt it?

Sorry I just love Major and it scares me that we are already halfway through the source material (if this is true) in only 52 episodes

[leongsh]

Season 3 of Major has started on Saturday, 6 January 2007. Continuing with the story from season 2, Goro has left Kaidou to pursue his own baseball development track. However, Goro has difficulty in transferring into another school due in part to Egashira. While waiting to get into a high school, he does odd jobs and even takes some time to watch his ex-colleagues from Mifune East play in the inter-high qualifications. He is surprised by far they have improved. He eventually gets into a high school - the same high school that Shimizu is at and one that does not have a baseball team. Last scene has him bumping into Shimizu on the bus going to his new high school.

Good continuing start to the series. Won't help those who have not watched the previous season.

[2old2care]

Trolling for any info on a new baseball anime - Ookiku Furikabutte - scheduled for broadcast on TBS for next spring according to ANS. Currently, it's a manga series which won the 2006 Tezuka Culture Award. Does anyone know anything about it? I'm interested in starting a new baseball series from the beginning. Major is just too far along.
Official Oofuri site (http://www.oofuri.com/)
TBS link (http://www.tbs.co.jp/anime/oofuri/)

[leongsh]

Trolling for any info on a new baseball anime - Ookiku Furikabutte - scheduled for broadcast on TBS for next spring according to ANS. Currently, it's a manga series which won the 2006 Tezuka Culture Award. Does anyone know anything about it? I'm interested in starting a new baseball series from the beginning. Major is just too far along.
Official Oofuri site (http://www.oofuri.com/)
TBS link (http://www.tbs.co.jp/anime/oofuri/)
The anime adaptation of the manga has been on my radar screen since it's announcement but no firm broadcast date yet. Stay tuned though as I will be following it when it is broadcast.

Briefly, some info regarding this manga. The lead character is Mihashi Ren, a boy who has confidence issues regarding his ability as a pitcher due to his pat experience. He does not think that he has it in him to be a good pitcher but circumstances arise that forces him to face up to being an ace pitcher and his personal growth. That's the gist of it that I understand from people who are reading the manga. I haven't read it yet but the Tezuka Award has brought good attention to the manga. The latest volume of the manga is Volume 6.

With regards to Major, don't worry about it being too far along. Definitely start from the beginning. The first season is recommended. Then follow up with the 2nd season and so on. The first two seasons are.. ahem.. available. Post your thoughts on any sports anime and manga here as you watch/read them even if they are may be old series. People will crawl out of the woodwork to discuss them.

[bill princeton]

Did anyone see Dear Boys/Hoop Days?
I thought that one wasn't too bad. I'm definitely a baseball fan first and foremost, but I kinda got into this series.
I was passing by it on TV, but the opening theme song caught my ear, and then I watched the episode. That's how they hooked me!

[Helschadenfreude]

I rather this one, from what I skimmed out of it. The main character pitcher is ... totally different from Goro, pitching style, personality ,etc. But we have an ace catcher again.. hehe.

I miss Major.... man, starting a baseball team again? I thought Shimizu went to a school that had a girl softball team though... shouldn't it have a baseball team? :cry: Nooo I thought he would go to East Mifune or something.....

Btw does anyone know how to get the blue back into the SAMA? After the forum change it just crapped up on me, and I tried to fix it but I can't figure out which color is the blue.

[leongsh]

Did anyone see Dear Boys/Hoop Days?
I thought that one wasn't too bad. I'm definitely a baseball fan first and foremost, but I kinda got into this series.
I was passing by it on TV, but the opening theme song caught my ear, and then I watched the episode. That's how they hooked me!
Yes, I did watch Dear Boys/Hoop Days but I did not take to it. I had more fun watching Slam Dunk and it's the basketball anime that any basketball anime comes after gets compared to. Unfortunately Toei America botched up their R1 release of Slam Dunk and there were only a few volumes released before they pulled the plug.

[leongsh]

I rather this one, from what I skimmed out of it. The main character pitcher is ... totally different from Goro, pitching style, personality ,etc. But we have an ace catcher again.. hehe.
It develops on a different line and should be worth reading the manga/watching the anime adaptation. Do note that it takes ages for one volume of manga to come our after the previous - approx. 4-6 months between volumes. The first volume was released in 2004, volume 6 in 2006 and volume 7 is coming out later this month (January 2007).

I miss Major.... man, starting a baseball team again? I thought Shimizu went to a school that had a girl softball team though... shouldn't it have a baseball team? :cry: Nooo I thought he would go to East Mifune or something.....
He has no choice. Egashira spread the word that he is a baseball delinquent. So, he has to go to the school Shimizu's school that has only turned co-ed recently and does not have a baseball club to start over. He saw how good his former teammates have developed and wants to play against them.

Btw does anyone know how to get the blue back into the SAMA? After the forum change it just crapped up on me, and I tried to fix it but I can't figure out which color is the blue.
The colour used is MidnightBlue (type it as shown).

[bill princeton]

Major is great.
There's something refreshing about watching a sports team in anime, than the magical powers group of people.

Although I love those too.

Ookiku Furikabutte is great fun to say, btw

[Helschadenfreude]

NOOOOOO THAT BITES!! NO!.... I don't know how they're going to continue after that... man... I hate
the guy who won! NOOOO, stupid cart being slightly faster or longer.. NOOO. What I don't get is when Capeta was doing the turn, he crashed into the other cart? but manage to lift his tired over the other cart and that cart spinned out? Ach Ach Ach....

[leongsh]

NOOOOOO THAT BITES!! NO!.... I don't know how they're going to continue after that... man... I hate
the guy who won! NOOOO, stupid cart being slightly faster or longer.. NOOO. What I don't get is when Capeta was doing the turn, he crashed into the other cart? but manage to lift his tired over the other cart and that cart spinned out? Ach Ach Ach....
Don't blame you for not being able to bear waiting for Episode 32 and just watch the raw when you have just finished Episode 31 :D You can refer to this post (http://www.animeondvd.com/forum/showpost.php?post/88561/) on what I wrote regarding Episode 32 when I first watched it and you can follow on from there regarding the burst of speed with this post (http://www.animeondvd.com/forum/showpost.php?post/88563/).

Great set of racing episodes (Episodes 30-32), huh? :) This series is one of my biggest guilty pleasures for anime.

[Helschadenfreude]

So ... far behind. Gah. Capeta withdrawal... Man I was so hyped up for that race. My roommates thought I was crazy.

Anyone, Major Season Three, episode one! :D :D

Goro is getting less annoying and more mature! Woot! I can't help cheering for him when he's stuck in a H2 position with not even one good player, plus he has to recruit one extra in the spring. No prep plus only half a year to go? I thought he was in his ... first year of high school second semester or something like that?

[Chloe]

Right. I've been discussing this with Leongsh via PM, now I'm just going to throw some things out there.

Firstly, a big thank you to Jarred; without his grinding, Ippo-like persistance I would have never gotten this show. Every time I went to buy something the fact that this was a Geneon title and thus hard as pineland ticks to find a decent price on pretty much got it pushed aside. When the Geneon $4 sale came up I bit hard and got the first 8 volumes.

So very well paced. They introduce the boxing terms and such in such tiny morsels that it's easy to absorb. They absolutely detail Ippo's growth as a fighter down to the millimeter it seems, but that makes it totally believeable. I love the way they give decent amounts of time for the opponent's, so they are not just cardboard targets. Good choices for the music which really is a must for shows like this that want to get you pumped up. The fights just keep geting better and better as they go along. They don't slack at all even when Ippo isn't in the ring(i.e. Miyata vs. Mashiba),and they are showing other fighters. Even though they take some of the real life boxing maneuvers and elaborate things to cartoonish levels, it somehow still works.

So, overall I am loving this. Highly addicting, and like any good slice of life show I am amazed at how fast the episodes fly by. In talking with Leongsh though, he mentioned he didn't think Battle Athletes was a good representation of the sports genre. I have to bow to his much greater experience here, but they definitely had the same things going for them: They get you involved in the characters right from their usually pitiful beginnings and bring you along for the ride, ups and down included. I don't think of these as sports shows, so much as sports dramas. Virtually soap operas. In fact, there are times in both shows when the sports are totally secondary to whatever events are putting the characters through the wringer at the moment. Ippo's loaded with episodes like that.

Oh, and I'm really glad that out of the 32 episodes I've seen so far, they've only had one recap episode. :sd:

[Razb]

Oh, and I'm really glad that out of the 32 episodes I've seen so far, they've only had one recap episode. :sd:

There'll be one more. They aren't great, but since they're almost all action, I found them a lot more tolerable than most.

Only 32 so far? You've still got all the best stuff coming up.

[Chloe]

I'm in the middle of episode 33, Just after Ippo finaly decks Sendo...and my freaking DVD player locks up. You should have seen what I said to it right about then. You could have seen had you been there, since it was so foul it actually achieved the visible light spectrum. :angry: I eventually had to skip over it and start episode 34. I don't think I missed MUCH, but I am going to have to find a better player to see the rest of that episode.

I use my PC to watch anime. I think I've probably watched over 1k movies and anime DVDs on it so far. It usually works, but every now and then it sounds like a sick mule and locks up as I mentioned. I'm pretty sure it doesn't read discs as fast as the newer player out in the living room, if the blinking light is any indication. When do you know it's time to get a new drive, and I CAN replace just the drive,right? Hmmm, maybe this should be split off somehow. O.O

[leongsh]

Firstly, a big thank you to Jarred; without his grinding, Ippo-like persistance I would have never gotten this show. Every time I went to buy something the fact that this was a Geneon title and thus hard as pineland ticks to find a decent price on pretty much got it pushed aside. When the Geneon $4 sale came up I bit hard and got the first 8 volumes.
I hope you learn the error of your ways in just getting the first 8 volumes because the withdrawal from waiting for the remaining volumes to get into your hands is going to be terrible :> :D

So very well paced. They introduce the boxing terms and such in such tiny morsels that it's easy to absorb. They absolutely detail Ippo's growth as a fighter down to the millimeter it seems, but that makes it totally believeable. I love the way they give decent amounts of time for the opponent's, so they are not just cardboard targets.
That's one of the strong points about the series in that they take the effort to show you develop the opponents to give you their background to see where they are coming from before the matches. Empathy creation so that you will feel for the opponent too. How do you know which opponents of Ippo that the show is signalling to us that are deemed worthy adversaries that deserve our recognition? Simple. Listen to the music played post-fight. If it's the first ED song, Yuuzora no Kami Hikouki, bingo.

Good choices for the music which really is a must for shows like this that want to get you pumped up. The fights just keep geting better and better as they go along. They don't slack at all even when Ippo isn't in the ring(i.e. Miyata vs. Mashiba),and they are showing other fighters. Even though they take some of the real life boxing maneuvers and elaborate things to cartoonish levels, it somehow still works.
The boxing action is very dynamic and, yes, it does exaggerate some of the moves, but it also gives you an appreciation of the boxing moves too.

So, overall I am loving this. Highly addicting, and like any good slice of life show I am amazed at how fast the episodes fly by. In talking with Leongsh though, he mentioned he didn't think Battle Athletes was a good representation of the sports genre. I have to bow to his much greater experience here, but they definitely had the same things going for them: They get you involved in the characters right from their usually pitiful beginnings and bring you along for the ride, ups and down included. I don't think of these as sports shows, so much as sports dramas. Virtually soap operas. In fact, there are times in both shows when the sports are totally secondary to whatever events are putting the characters through the wringer at the moment. Ippo's loaded with episodes like that.
Most sports anime generally use the sport as a plot device to drive the story. It's not necessary to know the sport in detail but it would help to understand the what is happening. What you have hit upon is the common/generic plot found in sports anime. A good sports anime is when the anime transcends that to successfully add other aspects to the show that make a difference from the norm. Battle Athletes was generic as it did not add anything interesting. In comparison, Hajime no Ippo weaves in the basics and intricacies of boxing, and gives the supporting characters and opponents sufficient development to show their interesting backgrounds. As a given, the action aspect should draw you in further. If there is little or no sports action, it's a question of whether it should even be classified as a sports anime.

Most sports anime will deviate somewhat from the real sport. An anime substantially true to the sport is the bonus one should look for. An example of a sports anime very true to the sport is Whistle! (football/soccer). All moves are real world moves and no exaggeration. However, there are a number of sports anime that exaggerates and deviates so much that it caricatures the sport it uses to the extent it becomes eye-rolling and a disservice, e.g. Prince of Tennis (tennis), Dan-Doh! (golf), and these distract as a package. People often get burned due to these shows and classify sports anime as unwatchable.

Oh, and I'm really glad that out of the 32 episodes I've seen so far, they've only had one recap episode. :sd:
It's 70+ episodes. Chances are there are bound to be a recap episode or two.

[battle001]

It's nice to see more fans of Ippo.
After two More Ippo Fights <from where you are>, He Learns his First Sunday Punch.<So Sweet>

[guyver83]

So ... far behind. Gah. Capeta withdrawal... Man I was so hyped up for that race. My roommates thought I was crazy.

Anyone, Major Season Three, episode one! :D :D

Goro is getting less annoying and more mature! Woot! I can't help cheering for him when he's stuck in a H2 position with not even one good player, plus he has to recruit one extra in the spring. No prep plus only half a year to go? I thought he was in his ... first year of high school second semester or
something like that?

I'm watching this as you damn know i'm a big ass major fan. I'm on ep 3 now and things are looking interesting. I agree Goro less annoying and more a man. We'll see how this goes.. gotta love raws of ep 3 and 4. I'll post again after I finish watchin them.

[leongsh]

I'm watching this as you damn know i'm a big ass major fan. I'm on ep 3 now and things are looking interesting. I agree Goro less annoying and more a man. We'll see how this goes.. gotta love raws of ep 3 and 4. I'll post again after I finish watchin them.
Goro's the typical brash cocky bastard of a typical shounen series but what endears him is his recklessness to put everything at stake and relentless drive to improve and achieve that often puts him into jeopardy. He basically thrives on pressure. Nay, relishes it. But he's not so cocky that he cannot see the error of his ways. We have already seen right from the 1st season that he is an extremely private person. He will only admit how wrong he is in some of his actions only to those closest to him. In the second season, he only opens up his frustration to his father when he is taken a few pegs down after his first terrible loss to Maruyama.

In the 3rd season, you will see him mature more as he needs to dig in and has to trust his new teammates even more than before. We can see from the OP what will happen to him and if the team is as it is, he will be on the sidelines and need to rely on them.

[leongsh]

Out of curiosity, has anybody here watched Aoki Densetsu Shoot? It's a football/soccer anime from the early 1990s. Straightforward series that's a guilty pleasure for me due to the football action. A number of the main games are like battles on the football field. If you're a football/soccer fan, the second half of Episode 18 is a fantastic watch.

[Helschadenfreude]

Certainly it's not really a sports anime per say, but it kinda fits into the genre.

Akagi!

anyone seen it? I was addicted to it.... like Hikaru no Go's.. how can mahjong be so interesting...

Akagi is so ruthless...

[leongsh]

Certainly it's not really a sports anime per say, but it kinda fits into the genre.

Akagi!

anyone seen it? I was addicted to it.... like Hikaru no Go's.. how can mahjong be so interesting...
The full name being Touhai Densetsu Akagi :) It's in my anime licensing wishlist. Seen all 26 episodes. Good stuff. I do not think it would qualify as sport. It's more gambling than sport. But what verve!

Akagi is so ruthless...
He's a classic anti-hero. He is ruthless but really makes me give him kudos is that he has, pardon the crude expression, great big balls made of kryptonite. He's a supreme risktaker, does what it needs to be done to win, and it's absolutely fascinating how he psychologically pushes others to their breaking points.

[leongsh]

The series is coming along nicely as it's building on what has come before in a linear fashion. Earlier today, I've posted some of my thoughts on the episode elsewhere but rephrased and added here.

Episode 5 sees the conclusion of the practice match started in Episode 4. Tashiro, who has been uncooperative during the practice match in Episode 4, steps up to replace Fuji as catcher when Fuji hurt his catching hand from catching Goro's pitches. We get the background of why Tashiro has been uncooperative. Turns out that he was formerly a catcher for a middle school senior league team and his father forbade him from trying out for Kaidou and playing baseball in high school. That's why he is at Seishuu - a school without a baseball club. Now that Goro has shown up and instigates a baseball club, his pent-up frustration boils over. In the end, when you had to walk away from a sport you enjoyed so much and you get the chance to get back in, Tashiro is in his own way grateful for it.

The teacher adviser, Yamada, manages to secure one of the rooftops of the school building to be used as a practice place for the fledgling baseball club. It' all paved in concrete though and would not be suitable and safe for practices. He does indicate to Goro that he could use the earth from the school grounds to cover up the concrete. When Goro laughs at the suggestion, he then tweaks Goro's pride as one formerly from Kaidou who gives up so easily. Goro's pride is also his spur and he does decide to do so - dig up the earth and bring it up to lay the rooftop.

Fuji and Miho chip in and Tashiro too. The 3 freshmen who were thrown into the practice match to make up the numbers were still feeling the afterglow from the practice match and seeing those 4 working at it they too chip in to help and to be members of the new baseball club. Eventually, all the guys (all 8 of them :P ) work at it and complete laying the earth on the rooftop to make it a practice ground for baseball.

At the end of the episode, Yamada comes up to the rooftop to have a look at their efforts and is impressed. He declares that it's time to move on to stage 2. Yamada's crafty. First, he sets up the practice match to gauge Goro's ability and the possible potential of the club. Then he turns a disadvantage of not having a practice field and a bare rooftop into one by getting the boys to be committed to setup one on the rooftop. It also becomes a bonding exercise. Crafty. And what's stage 2? The next episode preview shows us ;) (which I guessed right in the other forum :D ).

Next episode is in a week's time.

[Helschadenfreude]

Oh gosh, I really really liked how Goro matured. He was even willing to give up 4th batter and Ace Before he wasn't as practical and forgiving. I don't know how this is going to turn out, but man I'm dying from withdrawal.

But capeta episode 32!! :cry: :cry: So sad....

[Helschadenfreude]

Certainly it's not really a sports anime per say, but it kinda fits into the genre.

Akagi!

anyone seen it? I was addicted to it.... like Hikaru no Go's.. how can mahjong be so interesting...
The full name being Touhai Densetsu Akagi :) It's in my anime licensing wishlist. Seen all 26 episodes. Good stuff. I do not think it would qualify as sport. It's more gambling than sport. But what verve!

Akagi is so ruthless...
He's a classic anti-hero. He is ruthless but really makes me give him kudos is that he has, pardon the crude expression, great big balls made of kryptonite. He's a supreme risktaker, does what it needs to be done to win, and it's absolutely fascinating how he psychologically pushes others to their breaking points.


you know just to mention this, the end of episode 26 was such a let down. They coulda let it go longer! Akagi is so pimp looking at the end.. and old at the end of 1999 :sd: I don't think I like the Washizu matches very much though. I think the blind guy was my favorite.

[leongsh]

you know just to mention this, the end of episode 26 was such a let down. They coulda let it go longer! Akagi is so pimp looking at the end.. and old at the end of 1999 :sd: I don't think I like the Washizu matches very much though. I think the blind guy was my favorite.
The Washizu matches are fascinating in how Akagi turns a truly hostile and intimidating environment into one where he is able to control and apply the psychological pressure. Unfortunately the anime could not continue further as the manga has not finished the match-up with Washizu. The anime stopped at a convenient point.

[leongsh]

This series is a guilty pleasure... :blush: Loving it lots :P :D

Shigeno Hideki (yes, Goro's stepfather) gets introduced as the coach for Seishuu's new baseball club :D and he brings along an old friend to help him with the training, Kashimoto. Kashimoto? Yup, the Yokohoma Little coach from the 1st season and who popped up in 1 episode of the 2nd season.

Shigeno goes all serious here and he gets Kashimoto to test them. The team members are literally thrown into the deep end as Kashimoto does not go easy. The members are all shocked at the unflinching and direct way used. Most walk off. Goro accuses his stepfather of trying to kill his dream of playing against Kaidoh. However, he is only doing to help Goro in trying to ensure that he has teammates who are committed and good enough to support him in his quest. It's now up to Goro to get those who walked out to return. By the end of the episode, he manages to convince them all to come back. With the exception of one, his practice match performance and brashness has galvanised them all to catch onto and share in his dream. Along the way, we get a peek at the background of 2 of his classmates - Uchiyama and Miyazaki - and him taking personal responsibility in getting the first-timers up to speed on the basics.

Next episode, we get introduced to Shimizu's younger brother, Shimizu Taiga. He's going to join his big sis at Seishuu. The preview shows him as being extremely good in baseball and he looks very cocky too! Can the team survive with two cocky big heads, Goro and Taiga? :> At last, Goro's going to get a taste of his own medicine in having to deal with a junior that's good and cocky.

Some more thoughts - Yamada, the teacher adviser. Ooo... he is truly crafty. What a puppet master! Of all people he goes to get to coach the team, he specifically gets Goro's stepfather. Wickedly smart but he's one person that the team will owe a lot to.

[leongsh]

There's often incredulity over the endurance of Japanese high school pitchers in baseball anime. How the heck is someone able to pitch for a full 9-inning game and expect to continue the next day to pitch for another full 9-inning game? In Japan's high school baseball competition, it looks to be the norm when the schools each believe they have an ace pitcher playing for them.

The NY Times has a write-up on Matsuzaka Daisuke (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/11/sports/baseball/11matsuzaka.html?pagewanted=all) (note: free registration required to read NY Times articles) with him joining the Boston Red Sox. His exploits in the 1998 Koshien tournament (Japan's National High School Baseball Championship) had him throwing 250 pitches in a marathon 17-inning game. If you think he was pitching softly after 9 innings, read this:

In the 17th, Matsuzaka’s fastball was still buzzing past hitters at speeds that appeared to be over 90 miles an hour. (approximately 144km/h)

And then continuing to pitch for another 2 games in the next 2 days with a no-hitter in the final championship game whereby his team, Yokohama High, won the 1998 Koshien. The last 4 days of the tournament (over 4 games), he threw an outstanding 535 pitches. Wrap your head around that stat. It's boggling and unbelievable when we have not been exposed to that kind of endurance. Although Matsuzaka's accomplishment is one of legendary proportions and also one of exception rather than the rule, it is an indication of the possibility that it is not undoable as it seems to be in baseball anime to pitch well and with the endurance that Matsuzaka has done. We are facing our own limitations and thus imposing our own limitations as to what could be done.

Here's looking at Major: 3rd Season which will have the brash and cocky Shigeno Goro playing in his last chance for Koshien against his talented former mates at Kaidoh High School. I'm expecting that game in the anime to go into extra innings. It's just crying out for it. I haven't read the manga though and I suspect people who have read the manga will tell me that it will :D

[Helschadenfreude]

Envy~ Dying of envy....

[leongsh]

They really speeded up the timeline in this episode.

Episode 7 begins with all the eligible players rejoining the baseball team. The intensive training is on. Fast forward to late autumn and we have Shimizu Taiga, Shimizu Kaoru's younger brother, showing up to have a look at the baseball club. He's highly skilled in baseball and as expected, being the cocky kid, gives Goro a taste of his own medicine.

Later on, we learn that Taiga is a top middle school baseball player and he has been scouted for a Kaidoh baseball scholarship. However, he turned it down to join Seishuu. We also have Suzuki, Sato's girlfriend, joining Seishuu and being a baseball club manager in middle school, naturally joins up with the Seishuu baseball club as a manager too.

As the spring practice season starts, Yamada, the teacher adviser, has difficulty arranging a practice game. The only one left.. Kaidoh, who else. He goes ahead to request for one and Egashira agrees but it would be against the Kaidoh second team.

The episode ends with the Seishuu team at the Kaidoh second team's home base for the practice game. Goro goes off to greet Shizuka and she warns him to be careful as Egashira is taking charge of the Kaidoh team for the practice game. The end shot has Egashira giving a sly smile and a sparkle in his eye.

If you have been paying attention to the OP sequence, you have an idea of what's going to happen and the next episode preview makes no doubt about it. (spoiler includes some forecasts ahead of Episode 8) Egashira's going to play dirty to take out Goro. Goro is expected to be injured for a period and whether he can recover in time for the Kashien qualifying games. Taiga is a shortstop but can also pitch. So, he's most likely the one who will replace Goro as the pitcher until Goro recovers. He'll probably be back around the game against Mifune High School as we can see Goro pitching against Komori of Mifune from the OP.

This episode just flew by for me. At the current pace that this season is developing, there's going to be a lot of episodes left for baseball games. I can't wait...

[Helschadenfreude]

Okay, I'm confused. Which one is Shimizu and Shizuka.. arghh horrible with names.


Anyway, episode 3! The drama! I expected Shigeno to be retired at the beginning of season 2, but I'm still sad that he's retiring now. And the whole "I'll never forgive you" plotline appears, which I still think is interesting. :D

....Argh.... Major.. need more...

[leongsh]

The challenge truly starts now with this episode.

This episode starts off Seishuu's practice game against Kaidoh's 2nd team at the 2nd team's home base at Atsugi. Seishuu to bat first.

The first inning goes by fast with Seishuu 0 Kaidoh 4 after the first. Yes, Kaidoh scores 4 runs off Goro's pitching. What's happening, you say?

For the impatient (especially to tempt PsychoIdiot :> ):

Prior to the game against Kaidoh, Yamada wanted Goro to promise to not go full bore and use the practice game as a practice session. The only other person knowing about it is Tashiro, the catcher. Yamada is concerned about letting Kaidoh know where Goro's level is and also showing Seishuu's cards early, so to speak.

However, Goro being the hothead could not hold it any longer when the 9th batter comes up to bat in the first inning. The 9th batter being Enamoto's younger brother. Recall Season 2, Enamoto was the ace pitcher of the Kaidoh 1st team that the 2nd team played against in the last couple of episodes. Goro shows his true pitching capability and shocks everyone. This is to the dismay of Yamada and Tashiro. Egashira is now alert to the danger.

I liked how Yamada is trying to manage the team. He's cautious and does not want Goro to just pull the team along with him. He's trying to have a balanced team out of the bare minimum members they have that will be able to give the necessary support during any game. He also wants to protect Goro knowing full well that Goro leaving Kaidoh would have upset a number of people.

The rest of the team members do start to contribute on-field as they settle in for the game. In the 6th inning, a run scored by Taiga is a result of the tactical play worked out. That's the second run on the board by Seishuu but considered by Yamada as the first true run scored by Seishuu.

At the bottom of the 6th inning, Egashira puts into play his dirty tactic. The eventual result, a Kaidoh player stomps on Goro's right foot as Goro goes to cover first base off a bunt and his right foot is on the 1st base. With that injury, thus ends the episode. The injury: broken/shattered metatarsals. Will probably take approximately 8-10 weeks to heal. How do I know? Too many metatarsals being broken in the English Premier League =P

The questions now are whether Goro will be able to heal sufficiently in time for the qualifying matches and who will pitch in place of him. It's likely to be Taiga who will be the replacement pitcher. The next episode preview has Shimizu Kaoru, his big sister, convincing him to take it up while Goro recovers.

With that, the challenge truly starts whereby Goro will have to watch from the sidelines and trust his team mates to pull through for him.

Episode 9 is a week away and it's a week too long in my books.

[Helschadenfreude]

ARGHHH!!! Can I say that I'm so envious? envious... That's right... Goro always ended up playing even though he was injured, and then maybe forced off the field....

It's kind of like the second generation wheeee... Taiga and all....

Gosh, at this rate.... will we have a season four? XD

[leongsh]

Ookiku Furikabutte (or in short, Oofuri) is starting its broadcast on 12 April 2007 on TBS.

This new anime series is based on the seinen baseball manga of the same name. What makes it fairly unique is that the anime is adapting a seinen manga series and not a shounen manga series which is usually the case for a sports anime. There's 8 volumes of the manga released so far and before you snicker that it's an unknown manga, here's a telling statistic - more than 2 million copies of the manga have been sold in Japan to-date. It's generally unknown outside of Japan but it is a big seller in Japan especially considering that it's a seinen manga.

Links to the respective sites:
Main site (Link (http://www.oofuri.com))
The TBS site (Link (http://www.tbs.co.jp/anime/oofuri/))

[Helschadenfreude]

Ookiku Furikabutte (or in short, Oofuri) is starting its broadcast on 12 April 2007 on TBS.

This new anime series is based on the seinen baseball manga of the same name. What makes it fairly unique is that the anime is adapting a seinen manga series and not a shounen manga series which is usually the case for a sports anime. There's 8 volumes of the manga released so far and before you snicker that it's an unknown manga, here's a telling statistic - more than 2 million copies of the manga have been sold in Japan to-date. It's generally unknown outside of Japan but it is a big seller in Japan especially considering that it's a seinen manga.

Links to the respective sites:
Main site (Link (http://www.oofuri.com))
The TBS site (Link (http://www.tbs.co.jp/anime/oofuri/))



Oh I read the manga, and it was quite interesting. Instead of Goro=pitcher, we have Goro=catcher, and pitcher is the one with excellent control... It didn't feel very seinen, but not very shounen either....

[Helschadenfreude]

Is there no one but me and leongsh commenting in this thread?

Major episode 4- Good thing the game is unofficial or else they couldn't did what they did for the first inning. Although the storyline does take care of that. That one guy is a jerk, and Goro plan would have never worked in the end. He'll maybe he one hit off the pitcher, that is, if they didn't seem him in action, then walk him. Then they would lose.

Capeta epi 33, so this is a Nobu episode, like how it's going to be Momami episode next. There's a scholarship to be determined by the winner of this race, I'm guessing, but if you crash or damage the car,you pay for the damages. isn't that a lot of responsibility, and what if they can't pay up? Isn't it also a waste of time and materials to do that? And will this cart be different than the regular go cart?

[leongsh]

Major episode 4- Good thing the game is unofficial or else they couldn't did what they did for the first inning. Although the storyline does take care of that. That one guy is a jerk, and Goro plan would have never worked in the end. He'll maybe he one hit off the pitcher, that is, if they didn't seem him in action, then walk him. Then they would lose.
The practice game has a couple of purposes to be met. First, it's to settle the bet he made with the rest. The other, well, the other reason is explained in my post on Episode 5 above (http://www.animeondvd.com/forum/showpost.php?post/361186/).

Capeta epi 33, so this is a Nobu episode, like how it's going to be Momami episode next. There's a scholarship to be determined by the winner of this race, I'm guessing, but if you crash or damage the car,you pay for the damages. isn't that a lot of responsibility, and what if they can't pay up? Isn't it also a waste of time and materials to do that? And will this cart be different than the regular go cart?
It's both - a Nobu episode and an episode to move Capeta onto his development towards open wheelers. With regards to the scholarship, it's often not necessarily the winner but the one that the school thinks is the best driver after the conclusion of the trials. It's the driver's responsibility to take care of the car and the drivers in the trials have to know that they will have to pay for damages otherwise they may not be careful with the machines. He moving up to a Formula car (a single-seater open wheeler) and not to another go-kart.

[Gatts]

Is there no one but me and leongsh commenting in this thread?

I'm sure there are plenty of people reading it that aren't commenting. You don't have to feel lonely. j/k ;)

[leongsh]

Watched this episode more than 12 hours ago but did not post as I followed up with live EPL (English Premier League) football (nervous last few minutes in Arsenal's 2-1 win over Reading where Arsenal scored all the goals - yes, an own goal too).

Righto, back to Episode 9 of Major: Season 3.

Arising from the events of the previous episode, Goro is sidelined with the injury to his right foot and requires about 3 months for the foot to properly recover. Egashira even has the nerve to visit him and provide him with a compensation offer letter. True to form, Goro is not taking this lying down. What's nice to see is that Kaoru and Miho are having open rivalry for and in front of the totally oblivious "baseball idiot".

The members of the baseball club are disheartened by the extent of Goro's injury when informed by Yamada as they were banking on him to lead them. Fuji loses his own self-confidence but Kaoru sets him right. Tashiro organises the team in their practice. Meanwhile, Taiga wants to take the easy way and leave the Seishuu baseball club but Kaoru berates and challenges him to stay on. He does and he comes back to pitch in Goro's place and showing himself to be a good pitcher too.

Meanwhile, Goro is determined to get back in time for the qualifying games. What we saw in glimpses in season 1 and overshadowed in season 2 by his cockiness is how focused and driven he is when it comes to baseball and his dream of making it as a pro player. I suspect Gibson's words to him in season 1 when he went to US to attend a baseball game on Gibson's invitation is still ringing in his brain - that Gibson will be waiting for him (season 4 or 5? :) ).

Shigeno Hideki, his stepfather, advises Goro to take it easy in his rehabilitation to save himself to become a pro later but Goro is determined to play against Kaidou. Hideki takes the step to inform Yamada about Goro's determination to play against Kaidou, how Goro's first major injury had him in a funk, that Goro is going to throw caution to the wind and he wants Yamada to rein Goro in before he does himself in. It's going to be great to see how Yamada is going to go about balancing all this.

The episode ends with Goro jogging alone around the school grounds in the heavy rain - determined and driven.

Foresaw how the story is developing based on some educated guesses earlier but it's still a fun ride even after correctly guessing the waypoints. It's not the waypoints that it stops at that's interesting, it's all about the journey.

Next episode looks like the start of the qualifiers. It's two episodes earlier than my expectations. That probably means we are getting more game time and likely more character insight and development in-game. Roll-on Episode 10!

[leongsh]

It's Saturday night (over here in East Asia). What else in this thread? :D

Episode 10

Right off the bat, there's a slight change in the OP. Goro is now wearing number 10 instead of number 1. A reflection of his injury and that he would not be the starting pitcher.

Practice time before the preliminary games. Seishuu has been paired up against Youhana High School. Youhana seems to be known as having an average team but one thing the team has is an old and highly experienced coach which we will see later.

During practice at the their rooftop training ground, Goro tries his hand at pitching again. He manages to pitch back at his best but he feels the pain when he puts weight on his injured right foot for the follow through step forward. The rest don't notice it as he hides it behind a facade of laughter. Yamada, the teacher adviser, notices it though from afar. He makes the decision to have Taiga be the starting pitcher as Goro has not completed the 3 months recovery period recommended by the doctor.

While Goro sulks at home on game day, Fuji and Tashiro go over to drag him to the ground. It turns out that his team mates wants Goro to be on the bench to be the field coach and guide them as they pleaded for him as they know the team came about due to him.

The game starts with Youhana batting first at the top of the inning. Taiga pitches well and gets Youhana out with 2 strikeouts and 1 fly ball caught by Fuji. Seishuu works their tactical plan with Taiga bats first and scores a run from a hit to centre field to get to first, followed by a sacrifice bunt by Uchiyama to get him to second, and an outfield hit by Tashiro that brings him home. 0-1 to Seishuu. Thinking everything is working out as planned, Goro goes off for a practice jog around the stadium.

Meanwhile, the coach at Youhana adjusts his team to work on what he sees are inexperienced ball players at Seishuu.

By the top of the 7th inning, it's 8-1 to Youhana. Seishuu failed to score any since the first. That's by the time Goro is summoned back from his practice jog. Stunned by what is happening and Taiga pouting and dissing his teammates, he takes matters into his own hands in the bottom of the 7th inning as he yanks out Taiga and takes over to bat. Will there be a revival? But of course.

I won't provide any details for the mini revival but the score reads 8-5 in favour of Youhana but still in the bottom of the 7th inning with Seishuu having scored 4 runs in the 7th inning and still batting as it's only 2 outs. Through this inning, we see Goro pushing himself very hard playing with grit through the pain of his foot injury.

Next episode (Episode 11) continues the game against Youhana with the coach seeing through Goro and gets his players to take advantage of Goro's injury. Up at the stands sits Komori scouting the game for his Mifune team.

Cliched but I'm enjoying the show a lot - hence, massive guilty pleasure.

[Helschadenfreude]

2 episodes more.... that's like... 6 episodes ahead of me.... :cry: :cry: :cry: and you're done with Capeta....

did the Okiku I can't spell it OF? start yet?

[leongsh]

2 episodes more.... that's like... 6 episodes ahead of me.... :cry: :cry: :cry: and you're done with Capeta....

did the Okiku I can't spell it OF? start yet?
Nope. Haven't started yet. Refer my post above on this (link (http://www.animeondvd.com/forum/showpost.php?post/380865/)):

Ookiku Furikabutte (or in short, Oofuri) is starting its broadcast on 12 April 2007 on TBS.

[Helschadenfreude]

2 episodes more.... that's like... 6 episodes ahead of me.... :cry: :cry: :cry: and you're done with Capeta....

did the Okiku I can't spell it OF? start yet?
Nope. Haven't started yet. Refer my post above on this (link (http://www.animeondvd.com/forum/showpost.php?post/380865/)):

Ookiku Furikabutte (or in short, Oofuri) is starting its broadcast on 12 April 2007 on TBS.



:sd: Yeah, sorry you have to keep referencing your posts.. I mean I read them, but ... things slip by fast....

[Helschadenfreude]

Hmmmmm Momotaro?? keeps beating Capeta in video games.. is it the nature of video games or Capeta just doesn't feel the same rush? A lot of interesting info out there... and I wonder how they're going to pull the terms of the bet off... poor them.....

[leongsh]

Episode 11 concludes the match between Youhana and Seishuu. The end result is obvious for Seishuu to move to the next round. As mentioned previously, it's not the waypoints that make it interesting, it's the journey there. The journey to make it to the next round though is not easy.

With a partially healed injured right foot and aggravating the injury in the 7th inning fightback, Goro steps onto the mound to pitch the 8th and 9th innings. He tries to cover his pain with laughter and boasting after striking out all 3 Youhana batters that come to the plate in the 8th inning. The first of his teammates to suspect something isn't right is Tashiro, the catcher. Tashiro catches him suffering in pain away from the rest and lambasts him for risking it. Goro goes all serious in letting Tashiro know that he's not going out with a whimper before going back out to the bench and to the plate to take his turn at bat.

Not going to describe any further how the game progresses so as not to spoil the fun. He does further aggravate his injury in the process.

While the game is going on, his ex-teammates from Mifune are scouting the game with Komori leading the effort.

Next episode (broadcast date: 24 March 2007) is the start of the game between Mifune and Seishuu. The preview has Komori putting to good use the intelligence he gathered from the Youhana-Seishuu game to use against Seishuu.

[leongsh]

Hmmmmm Momotaro?? keeps beating Capeta in video games.. is it the nature of video games or Capeta just doesn't feel the same rush?
More like, in a video game, it's not easy to judge the different aspects of speed, distance and breaking per video game physics when you are attuned to it in real life. You just don't get the same kind of feedback as you get in real life racing like from the steering wheel, the seat of your pants, the g-forces from accelerating and braking, etc.

A lot of interesting info out there... and I wonder how they're going to pull the terms of the bet off... poor them.....
That, you have to watch as someone will have to break it to her about that date :sd: :D

[guyver83]

YEAH.. loving more MAJOR!!! :D

edit: also time to watch more capeta haha time for monami-san to get that date ahhaah I can't wait to see this ep.

[Chloe]

Hey, does GANTZ qualify as a sports anime? :>

Sorry, I couldn't resist, and it's been a while since I posted in this thread. Haven't been able to watch any real sports anime recently, but my Ippo-induced shadow boxing fantasies are still going strong, I assure you. :D

[leongsh]

Hey, does GANTZ qualify as a sports anime? :>

Sorry, I couldn't resist, and it's been a while since I posted in this thread. Haven't been able to watch any real sports anime recently, but my Ippo-induced shadow boxing fantasies are still going strong, I assure you. :D
There are a couple of sports anime shows starting in April 2007. You may want to start with those 2 shows, i.e. Over Drive (Cycling - manga-based) and Ookiku Furikabutte (Baseball - manga-based).

However, if you want to take the plunge with Major: Season 3, watch Major right from the start, i.e. the first season, the 2nd season, and right up to the 3rd season being broadcast now. It's available out there...

FYI, guyver83 has written a review on the 1st season of Major for Animefringe (http://www.animefringe.com/), the now-defunct web-magazine on anime and manga. His review (http://www.animefringe.com/magazine/2005/09/feature/03.php), though, has spoilers aplenty. The summation in his review:

Major is a great anime that isn't just about baseball. The show brings out many characters and their emotional attachment to the game. We all know that Goro is a baseball prodigy, but he is the underdog compared to the suffering that he has experienced in his past. Shimizu, a girl who has never heard of baseball, gives it a try, and she falls in love with the game and its atmosphere. There is so much more, and every character is introduced and developed properly. Life is more than just sports, but sports can create better opportunities in life and teach you things that a normal classroom cannot. This is one of the many themes that Major presents.

To get the full benefit, I suggest you watch the series first before reading the review so as to avoid the spoilers. Hey, guyver83, remember that early episode and how many were caught unprepared? ;) :>

[guyver83]

I wanna know that other guy with Komori when he was scouting the game. It will be an interesting game. Good shit as always.

[leongsh]

I wanna know that other guy with Komori when he was scouting the game. It will be an interesting game. Good shit as always.
Yamane. He was the antagonist for the first couple of episodes of Season 2. He has taken inspiration from Goro by working with his left after his right arm was wrecked in an non-accidental damage by a rival during middle school. He is now the ace pitcher for Mifune High School.

Yes, the next match is going to be most interesting. And the next episode is broadcasting (*checks time of this post*) later today.

[guyver83]

I wanna know that other guy with Komori when he was scouting the game. It will be an interesting game. Good shit as always.
Yamane. He was the antagonist for the first couple of episodes of Season 2. He has taken inspiration from Goro by working with his left after his right arm was wrecked in an non-accidental damage by a rival during middle school. He is now the ace pitcher for Mifune High School.

Yes, the next match is going to be most interesting. And the next episode is broadcasting (*checks time of this post*) later today.


He looks totally different now... Awesome, can't wait for ep 12

[Helschadenfreude]

....remember that early episode and how many were caught unprepared? ;) :>


.... I knew what happened and I still was like holy crap when it happened. :( Ah Major.

[leongsh]

Episode 12

Following the events of the previous episode, Yamada takes Goro to consult the orthopaedic at the hospital regarding his foot injury. The orthopaedic is unhappy over the development and informs them that Goro should not be playing now and let the injury heal properly if he wants to have any baseball career. On the way back, Yamada gently advises Goro to take care. He reluctantly accepts and asks Yamada to drop him off and let him go back on his own.

Hold on. Go back again? He accepts? That's it?

Well...
he takes this opportunity to go shopping around for opinions from private practices. He goes to several and they all give him the same prognosis. Finally, he finds one that thinks he can continue but with a couple of caveats - severely limiting his playing time and requiring him to get parental consent and sign-off a release form.

He knows that he is not able to get the parental consent and digs through the parents' closet for the name seal*. Momoko catches him in the act. :sd: Oh boy... He gets a talking from Momoko but also gets a sympathetic ear from her. Hideki gets home and steals a listen. He is stunned that Momoko does eventually sign-off and affixes the stamp of her name seal against her name.

* Name seals are used in East Asia (China, Japan, Korea) to be stamped as your official signature on official documents. For more general info, refer the Wikipedia entry (link (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seal_(Chinese))).
Game day against Mifune. Taiga continues to get a talking to by his sister Kaoru. On the way to the ballpark, Goro waits for him and meets up to talk to him about the upcoming game.

At the ballpark, the difference in players' capabilities is striking when the 2 sides take their turns to practice fielding. Mifune's players are well drilled while Seishuu's players are missing the balls hit to them. Meanwhile, Goro goes off to greet Yamane and Komori but gets the cold serious treatment as they deem him to be their competitor.

Cue to the Mifune bench as the coach reminiscences about the joining of 3 Mifune middle school players to the Mifune High School baseball club. How Komori, Yamane, and Ohbayashi show their capability in the first session of practice. After the first practice session, Komori and Yamane declare to their coach that their target as Koshien and against Kaidoh. It's hard practice but they lift Mifune to be quarterfinalists (best 8) in the prefecture.

Play Ball!
The game starts off with Seishuu batting first. Yamane's pitches are fast and true - catching the inside edges of the strike zone. A bit of gamesmanship tactics by Komori to get Taiga struck out. When it comes to Tashiro as the third batter, he is given the four-finger salute, i.e. he is given an intentional walk. Komori has done his homework to identify Tashiro as the hitter and thus the intentional walk. Komori is serious in wanting to get past Seishuu to face Kaidoh and make it past them to go to Koshien.

The bottom of the first inning and it's Mifune up to bat. Taiga steps up to pitch. He pitches harder than the previous game to a surprised Tashiro, as the catcher. The first and second batters are dispatched easily. The third Mifune batter is Ohbayashi and he gets an infield hit to Fuji who then makes it a bad error in pitching too high to Miyazaki on first base. Ohbayashi steals on to second base. Instead of blowing up as he did in the previous game, Taiga takes it calmly.

Komori steps up as 4th batter. The challenge is well and truly on. You'll just have to watch the last remaining bit of the episode. :>
As expected, this game is a major step up in challenge and thus all the more fascinating. The 1st inning is done. The next episode preview shows the game going Mifune's way early on but there's a fightback from Seishuu. Ooo... can't wait to watch Episode 13.

[leongsh]

Episode 13

Continuing the game between Seishuu and Mifune after the first inning.

You'll just have to watch the episode to know how the game is going :D

A few points of note:
Taiga learns that his teammates are not as bad as he thought. When Taiga gets into a terrible pinch during the game, the teammates that he dissed in the previous game came to his help. They also showed a lot more fight than he thought they had.
Miyazaki, the lanky spectacles-wearing senior playing 1st base, breaks his spectacles and cannot continue as he cannot see without his spectacles. Someone has to step onto 1st base to replace him. Who else? But not before having a mini stand-off against Yamada who is still mightily concerned about his injury.
Goro on 1st base shows how much a leader he can be on the field in inspiring and directing the team on the field and thus makes short work of Mifune's turn at-bat.The game continues in the next episode as this episode ends in the bottom of the 6th inning. The next episode preview has the Seishuu team fighting tooth-and-nail and a depressed Fuji who is probably continuing to commit lots of errors. That also means he will redeem himself in the next episode (I think there's a rule for this for sports anime :P )

What's the scoreline?
Seishuu 0-3 Mifune at the bottom of the 6th inning. 3 innings left for Seishuu to overhaul Mifune.

[Helschadenfreude]

Yeah... you and your Major. :cry:

Capeta... looks really scary when he's dreaming and drooling over the new cart, but he can't drive it. I'm glad the boss will find out in the next episode, but holy crap that can't be good for his ribs. Nobu is going to be pissed, as will Monami...

[leongsh]

Yeah... you and your Major. :cry:
Don't worry. You'll catch up in time =)

Capeta... looks really scary when he's dreaming and drooling over the new cart, but he can't drive it. I'm glad the boss will find out in the next episode, but holy crap that can't be good for his ribs. Nobu is going to be pissed, as will Monami...
Adrenalin - it's extremely addictive. He has been racing at a significant disadvantage with a kart that's way past its due date. The very thought of having a new kart to race with and thus be more competitive overwhelms him.

Well, I won't spoil what happens in the next episode and let you watch it as it happens. He made the right decision in my books. And his father's boss sees how highly regarded Capeta is by his racing peers.

[Helschadenfreude]

Question though, is that July 11th race, the one he's going despite the broken ribs, the last go cart race he's attending if Formula Stella.. well actual cars?

[leongsh]

Question though, is that July 11th race, the one he's going despite the broken ribs, the last go cart race he's attending if Formula Stella.. well actual cars?
All I can say without spoiling anything is that he will continue to race go-karts until he is old enough to officially race in Formula Stella. There is a minimum age requirement to qualify for a Formula Stella license.

[guyver83]

Episode 13

Continuing the game between Seishuu and Mifune after the first inning.

You'll just have to watch the episode to know how the game is going :D

A few points of note:
Taiga learns that his teammates are not as bad as he thought. When Taiga gets into a terrible pinch during the game, the teammates that he dissed in the previous game came to his help. They also showed a lot more fight than he thought they had.
Miyazaki, the lanky spectacles-wearing senior playing 1st base, breaks his spectacles and cannot continue as he cannot see without his spectacles. Someone has to step onto 1st base to replace him. Who else? But not before having a mini stand-off against Yamada who is still mightily concerned about his injury.
Goro on 1st base shows how much a leader he can be on the field in inspiring and directing the team on the field and thus makes short work of Mifune's turn at-bat.The game continues in the next episode as this episode ends in the bottom of the 6th inning. The next episode preview has the Seishuu team fighting tooth-and-nail and a depressed Fuji who is probably continuing to commit lots of errors. That also means he will redeem himself in the next episode (I think there's a rule for this for sports anime :P )

What's the scoreline?
Seishuu 0-3 Mifune at the bottom of the 6th inning. 3 innings left for Seishuu to overhaul Mifune.

can't wait for ep 14.

[leongsh]

can't wait for ep 14.
Any other thoughts about Episode 13? :P

[Helschadenfreude]

I think.

Although Leongsh discussed it pretty throughly, I can't help but smile at the whole yay teamwork, give in thing. And the ground is really nice for... say weeks? of work? Strength training!

[guyver83]

can't wait for ep 14.
Any other thoughts about Episode 13? :P



nope you covered all of it. I don't need to add, what you said is what I was thinking.

[Helschadenfreude]

Mwhahha, something that isn't Major or Capeta!

So I watched the first three episodes, and although the oldness gets to me(and the romance... it's... so terribly blatant/annoying.. I don't know....), I'm highly amused. The soccer is interesting and more realistic from what I seen so far. I'll see how the plot goes, because thus far, nothing is making me want to marathon it.

Whistle on the other hand, hooked me from the first episode, and I've marathoned it many times.. heh... Ah. Sho.

[leongsh]

So I watched the first three episodes, and although the oldness gets to me(and the romance... it's... so terribly blatant/annoying.. I don't know....), I'm highly amused. The soccer is interesting and more realistic from what I seen so far. I'll see how the plot goes, because thus far, nothing is making me want to marathon it.
The football/soccer action in Aoki Densetsu Shoot! is the main draw with the romance being the side show. It's not the typical "I want to get better" shounen show. Action-wise, the football is a bit harder edged compared to most other football anime. If you enjoy the sport, there are some plays that are a joy to watch (2nd half of Episode 18 is my favourite). The manga, entitled "Shoot", that it is based on is a bestseller for the tons of frantic high-paced football action within.

The first few episodes are straightforward setup. Nothing fancy. The more interesting episodes are ahead when the football action starts up and the drama starts :)

Whistle on the other hand, hooked me from the first episode, and I've marathoned it many times.. heh... Ah. Sho.
The draw in Whistle! is really Kadomatsuri Sho and not the football. He's the honest hardworking underdog that very easy to root for.

[guyver83]

Mwhahha, something that isn't Major or Capeta!

So I watched the first three episodes, and although the oldness gets to me(and the romance... it's... so terribly blatant/annoying.. I don't know....), I'm highly amused. The soccer is interesting and more realistic from what I seen so far. I'll see how the plot goes, because thus far, nothing is making me want to marathon it.

Whistle on the other hand, hooked me from the first episode, and I've marathoned it many times.. heh... Ah. Sho.


YOU will love the great KUBO!! I def enjoyed whistle I wish there was more! DEF big fan of sho and how hard he works for all the shortcomings that he has.

[leongsh]

Right from the start of Episode 14, disaster strikes with Seishuu messing up its fielding and Fuji's actions, although done in all good intentions, allows Mifune to score another run. Eventually they are able to end Mifune's inning at-bat.

A visibly tiring Taiga goes up to bat for Seishuu and barely makes it to first base safely. Yamane, who is pitching for Mifune, is also feeling the effects of fatigue as his pitches are wayward and when he does pitch within the strike zone, even Uchiyama can get a hit on it. Can Seishuu claw back the deficit?

Tashiro is up to bat next but words from Komori to Yamane gets Yamane fired up. Instead of walking Tashiro in the previous innings, Yamane pitches to him and tashiro walks into a double play. Top of 8th inning, 2 outs, Taiga at 3rd base, and 4 runs down.

Fuji's turn to bat as the fourth batter. No one expected Fuji to be able to help out or do anything considering how much a disaster it has been for him in this game so far. While everyone is giving up, Miho shouts out a lambast at Fuji for continuing to run away and play half-heartedly.

Well, this is a sports anime and there seems to be a law somewhere about people redeeming themselves :D Fuji manages to get ball to bat with a grounder to the pitcher but the ball bounces up right in front of Yamane and Fuji gets to first base. By the time Mifune get their bearings, Taiga has reached home plate from 3rd base.

Next up to bat, one of the sophomore members the first year playing shortstop in place of Taiga. However, Yamane can only see who's next as sixth batter. There's no way he could have missed the loud swish of the practice swings made by... Goro.

Yamane gets distracted but he pitches to the 5th batter outside the strike zone. Komori wonders what's up but we can see how much Yamane wants to have a showdown against Goro instead of intentionally walking him. Komori eventually accedes to Yamane's wishes and the 5th batter is walked. So, Seishuu has two runners on 1st and 2nd base with 2 outs and Goro up to bat.

Showdown! I'm not going to spoil the fun. You just have to watch it.

The game hasn't ended at the end of this episode. A tiring Taiga pitches and tried to catch a hit with his bare right hand and injures his right hand in the process. Taiga apologises to Goro for being unable to pitch to the end of this game out to save him for later rounds. Goro does highly appreciate Taiga's efforts. He has no choice now but to step up on to the mound to pitch. That's how the episode ends.

The next episode is entitled "Full Swing!". Errm... can you guys at NHK just broadcast it like, uh, now? :sd: :D

[leongsh]

YOU will love the great KUBO!! I def enjoyed whistle I wish there was more! DEF big fan of sho and how hard he works for all the shortcomings that he has.
Which fits right in to your sig, i.e. "Winners Are Losers Who Got Up And Gave It One More Try !!" :) Sho continues to plug away even when he is down. It's near impossible not to root for him.

[guyver83]

AHHH yes, I want ep 15 NOW! Just got done watching this and I won't spoil anything else for the like OTHER person who watches this besides myself and leongsh. Next ep is going to be interesting Seeing Goro pitch and if his former mates can HIT him.

[leongsh]

AHHH yes, I want ep 15 NOW! Just got done watching this and I won't spoil anything else for the like OTHER person who watches this besides myself and leongsh. Next ep is going to be interesting Seeing Goro pitch and if his former mates can HIT him.
I know some lurkers who follow but they do not comment :)

Next episode will have the key confrontation between Komori (4th batter) and Yamane (5th batter) at bat against Goro. Ohbayashi's hit was the one which Taiga tried to catch and injured himself in the process and he's the 3rd batter. The next batter is thus Komori. Komori's the best batter that Mifune has. And to add to the pressure on Goro as the incoming relief pitcher, the bases are loaded. A situation that he thrives in. That determined evil grin that they showed him with at the end of the next episode preview is the clincher for me to want to watch the next episode now. You hear that, NHK? Not next week. NOW!


Note to PsychoIdiot:
The scoreline at the end of Episode 14? *Feigns ignorance* :> :P

[guyver83]

AHHH yes, I want ep 15 NOW! Just got done watching this and I won't spoil anything else for the like OTHER person who watches this besides myself and leongsh. Next ep is going to be interesting Seeing Goro pitch and if his former mates can HIT him.
I know some lurkers who follow but they do not comment :)

Next episode will have the key confrontation between Komori (4th batter) and Yamane (5th batter) at bat against Goro. Ohbayashi's hit was the one which Taiga tried to catch and injured himself in the process and he's the 3rd batter. The next batter is thus Komori. Komori's the best batter that Mifune has. And to add to the pressure on Goro as the incoming relief pitcher, the bases are loaded. A situation that he thrives in. That determined evil grin that they showed him with at the end of the next episode preview is the clincher for me to want to watch the next episode now. You hear that, NHK? Not next week. NOW!


Note to PsychoIdiot:
The scoreline at the end of Episode 14? *Feigns ignorance* :> :P




What's funny is most pitchers are taught to NEVER try to stop a hit ball with your throwing hand, just let it go and let your fielders do their job... OPPS!

[Helschadenfreude]

You hear that, NHK? Not next week. NOW!


Note to PsychoIdiot:
The scoreline at the end of Episode 14? *Feigns ignorance* :> :P



ARGH!!! I'm spoiling myself but that doesn't stop me from enjoying the show ... :( Please?!

It's saying something when you want the next episode to broadcast NOW. Although.. how many volumes is Major at, will the third season cover the rest of his high school career, and into season 4?!

[leongsh]

What's funny is most pitchers are taught to NEVER try to stop a hit ball with your throwing hand, just let it go and let your fielders do their job... OPPS!
However, Taiga's primary position is that of a shortstop and not as a pitcher. In desperate times, I think it was just instinct that made him reach out for it. But damn, THAT really had to hurt.

[leongsh]

ARGH!!! I'm spoiling myself but that doesn't stop me from enjoying the show ... :( Please?!
I do not know what you're talking about :> :D :> :D

Let's see, it was Seishuu 0-4 Mifune and then Taiga scored one run, thus Seishuu 1-4 Mifune. After that, with runners on 1st and 2nd base, Goro is up to bat in a showdown against Yamane. So, the score when the episode ended is... Mwhahahahahahahaha

It's saying something when you want the next episode to broadcast NOW.
If you have watched the episode and how it ended, this is the picture of an evil-looking but determined Goro in the next episode preview (http://img300.imageshack.us/my.php?image=episode15previewsnapshoer5.png) that I mentioned that is a clincher for me wanting to watch it now. He has something up his sleeve and is relishing the tight spot he has been left with - bases loaded and the best batter of Mifune, who is also a good friend, coming up to bat.

Although.. how many volumes is Major at, will the third season cover the rest of his high school career, and into season 4?!
Season 3 is probably going to stop at around Volume 47 of the manga. Have a look at the cover of Volume 47 (http://www.s-book.com/plsql/com2_detail?isbn=4091265472). It can't get any more obvious.

[Helschadenfreude]

Hehe, Goro looks like he's slightly in pain, crazed I'm going to make this work, because I am the great Goro Honda.... er, Shigeno.

Whee! I clamor for 4th season already! Toshi has to be in though... I haven't seen him thus far, but that's alright.

[Helschadenfreude]

I think I disagree with Kubo A LOT. Teamwork isn't everything bleh bleh bleh. Bah humbug.

Kasumi is still super annoying, and it's saying something when I care more about them when they're kicking the ball around than or when there's downtime. :sigh: I can't bring myself to care about the characters that much... :sd:

[leongsh]

I think I disagree with Kubo A LOT. Teamwork isn't everything bleh bleh bleh. Bah humbug.
That's where football philosophy comes into play. I'm in the school whereby football needs both teamwork and individual play. Teamwork will get you to play a more organised gameplan. However, it's the individual play that often gets the attention and sticks in the memory. The ideal for me is when the team play instinctively in an individualistic manner and yet on a team basis that scores the truly great goals - e.g. Argentina's team goal against Serbia and Montenegro scored by Cambiasso that just went whizzing in and around from some superlative movement in the recent World Cup. (YouTube link to watch that goal (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhuRMiDz63w)) Fantastic stuff. Moments like those in football come rarely but when it does... WOW!

And you know what? That's the philosophy that Kubo wants to instil which you will be able to see somewhere in the later half of the show. It's not something that can be done overnight. It's playing with trust and confidence that your teammate will do the same.

Kasumi is still super annoying, and it's saying something when I care more about them when they're kicking the ball around than or when there's downtime. :sigh: I can't bring myself to care about the characters that much... :sd:
As I mentioned in my earlier post, it's a show that's more about the football action rather than the side show. If you do pay attention, the characters do behave like normal teens. No major angst. Regrets though, there are many. There's not much wasted when you look back after watching the whole series as I have done. Things happening, mentioned and shown in the beginning does drop a lot of info for later development.

The football action really starts off with the game against Hamano and that's from Episode 7 onwards. There's more action with rougher play as the team come up against tougher opponents.

[Dylonius Funk]

Has anyone been keeping up with Eyeshield 21? I'm way behind in my viewing so i was just curious to see how far along they've gotten.

[leongsh]

Has anyone been keeping up with Eyeshield 21?
I got off around the mid-60s a few months back. The show has reached Episode 100 and still going.

[Helschadenfreude]

Has anyone been keeping up with Eyeshield 21?
I got off around the mid-60s a few months back. The show has reached Episode 100 and still going.



Same here. The production values weren't that great and the slight changes made it less funny. Also the action scenes aren't even that great.. the reuse of scenes heh. :sd:

[Helschadenfreude]

The football action really starts off with the game against Hamano and that's from Episode 7 onwards. There's more action with rougher play as the team come up against tougher opponents.


That youtube link was cool, like the "Flash Pass" of ... the other school that I forgot the name of.

... I'm wondering if some of the things are legal. I mean, kneeing the goalie? and kicking him right in the face? I know soccer is a contact sport, but I thought trying to directly injure the player is a no no. Like PK or yellow card? the whistle wasn't used at all... :sd: Except when the fight almost started.

Kubo is too perfect like Tezuka of POT. I'm waiting for the fact that he's actually injured, and needs to do surgery. I'm guessing though.

the soccer action was definitely really good though.

[leongsh]

... I'm wondering if some of the things are legal. I mean, kneeing the goalie? and kicking him right in the face? I know soccer is a contact sport, but I thought trying to directly injure the player is a no no. Like PK or yellow card? the whistle wasn't used at all... :sd: Except when the fight almost started.
Ah... you're watching the match against Hamano. Kneeing the goalie? Not legal. Trying to injure a player? Not legal. However, all this requires the referee to catch you in the act of doing so. There are some dirty tricks to hide the intentional foul. The referee needs to make quick decisions on some of these moves to ensure the game keeps moving. Unless he is close by and has a clear view of the action, it can be hard to tell.

Kubo is too perfect like Tezuka of POT. I'm waiting for the fact that he's actually injured, and needs to do surgery. I'm guessing though.
Kubo perfect? You'll find out later how much he has worked and practiced to get where he is. Anyway, just watch ;)

the soccer action was definitely really good though.
The football action gets even better in later episodes in certain matches.

[Helschadenfreude]

Wheee...that kid that has such good control is so good. Ahem.

The whole Kubo/Kamiya backstory would totally make for a good yaoi story. :sd: That was my only thought as I watched it. :D

Hamano ending was sort of weak though, a freshman being 10 and goalie? ..... Eh. and him transferring? Bleh.. interesting ending.. but somewhat disjointed.

And why does every sports series have to trash on the data sport person?

[guyver83]

And why does every sports series have to trash on the data sport person?


NERDS don't play well in sports.. the meatheads do...... JUST KIDDING! :P

[leongsh]

Wheee...that kid that has such good control is so good. Ahem.
Kazuhiro, I presume?

The whole Kubo/Kamiya backstory would totally make for a good yaoi story. :sd: That was my only thought as I watched it. :D
Combination of being a girl and been reading yaoi recently, huh? I can't for the life of me see yaoi undertones but that's because I'm not generally interested in the genre (although I have read some).

Hamano ending was sort of weak though, a freshman being 10 and goalie? ..... Eh. and him transferring? Bleh.. interesting ending.. but somewhat disjointed.
It's simple - he was formerly a goalkeeper in middle school competitions and a very good one at that. He converted to play up-field in high school. Him transferring is mainly due to his commitment and continuing gratitude to his coach and to follow the coach.

And why does every sports series have to trash on the data sport person?
Well, sport is not just a matter of crunching data. If so, we might as well just crunch data and see who has the better algorithm and matrix.

[Helschadenfreude]

Okay, so the disappearing shot. You know when you say the word disappearing, I instantly knew that the ball dropped. Of course it's hard to catch or whatever, but it gets kind old, when they're like OMG, it disappeared. Well at least Kubo has sense, and I still think he has a major injury or something... I don't get the girlfriend either.

[Helschadenfreude]

And why does every sports series have to trash on the data sport person?


NERDS don't play well in sports.. the meatheads do...... JUST KIDDING! :P


I mean, is it just the fact its a concentration on just data, and not factoring talent into it too? I mean because Inui, Hiruma(well his is more blackmail, but you can't deny that he totally knows the other teams data with help from Mamori)... Toshi... :(

[guyver83]

Okay, so the disappearing shot. You know when you say the word disappearing, I instantly knew that the ball dropped. Of course it's hard to catch or whatever, but it gets kind old, when they're like OMG, it disappeared. Well at least Kubo has sense, and I still think he has a major injury or something... I don't get the girlfriend either.

Keep on watching ;) good stuff is about to occur...

[leongsh]

Woohoo! :D That picture of Goro with an evil grin that I posted last week in my post on Episode 14? It's not about Komori/Mifune...

Without further ado, Episode 15:

We left off last episode in the bottom of the 8th inning with Mifune batting. Bases loaded and 2 out. Taiga suffers an injury and Goro steps in to do relief pitching. Komori as the 4th batter in the line-up for Mifune is next to bat. Scoreline? :>

Goro pitches his first to Komori, who is the best batter of the Mifune team, and ...
it's a scorcher which stuns Komori and the rest. Strike 1! Komori steps away from the plate to calm down.

Next pitch, Komori prepares to bunt just as Goro pitches. Komori manages to bunt it and fouls off it. While Komori and the rest are surprised that even when trying to bunt it Komori is unable to get the ball into play, Goro had already rushed to the home plate on seeing Komori changing to bunt the pitch. Goro challenges Komori on him being afraid of his pitches. In return, the Mifune team shouts out to Komori to take up the challenge.

And he does. With the next couple of hard pitches from Goro, Komori manages to get bat to ball but fouls off each time. Tashiro is concerned that Komori is close to getting the timing right. Looking at Goro's face, he gets a cocky assurance that the fun is just starting. Next up, Goro does a windup for the first time in his pitch and leaves Komori with absolutely no chance at all.

A bit later after the match, there is a nice sendoff for Komori when Goro meets up with him at a pedestrian overhead bridge. Before they part ways, Goro pitches one last time to Komori as the catcher up on the bridge.
Moving along.

The Seishuu team, sans Taiga and Goro, watch the performance of their next opponents on video and are worried about their next opponents' very good batting performance. Taiga shows up late and announces to the team that he has been to the hospital and shows them his bandaged right hand. He is effectively ruled out for the next match.

At the same time, Goro was at the baseball ground hoping to watch Kaido play but the match was rained out. Just as he leaves, he sees Toshiya and manages to meet up, exchange greetings, and have a small chat at the Kaido team bus. Goro finds out that Toshiya has not noticed the matches he played and Toshiya gives a simple unknowing "Good luck" goodbye. On the team bus, Toshiya was asked who he was talking to and on disclosing the identity, you can see the serious consternation of nearly everyone on the bus, with the exception of Mayumura. Egashira on hearing it, tells the team to forget about the past.

What Toshiya does not know is that he left Goro seething in his personal pride. And to add to Goro's anger, he finds out on the way home that Taiga is injured and is unable to pitch. He is now extremely determined and committing himself to make Toshiya and Kaido notice him. Cue that picture I posted.

Next matchday has Goro's parents come to watch and cheer him on. At the baseball ground, they meet up with Katsuragi, a scout for the Blue Oceans, who is there to assess potential professional players.

On the field, the other team is wondering why Seishuu is starting with using their relief pitcher. Everyone eventually finds out that that is no relief pitcher with Goro's first pitch. With anger from the hurt to his personal pride and steely determination (http://img252.imageshack.us/my.php?image=vlcsnap1105878ce3.png), he pitches hard to ensure the Kaido team notices him.

The next day has his performance being splashed in a full color page in the local newspaper (http://img486.imageshack.us/my.php?image=vlcsnap1122037qo3.png) as he pitches a full 9 innings for a no hitter shutout. Mention is also made of his pedigree along with photos of Honda Shigeharu, his father, and Shigeno Hideki, his stepfather - both highly regarded Yokohama Blue Oceans players.

Due notice given :> :D With that, Episode 15 ends.

Next episode preview - is that Toshiya in disguise going to meet Goro at the Seishuu rooftop practice ground?

[Helschadenfreude]

Keep on watching ;) good stuff is about to occur...

That was awesome, Kubo passing all 11 people. That must be stressful though, as he ran the entire length of the field. But uhhh is tha rain or is he really sweating that much? ...Okay he collapsed... so mortally injured and can't play for life?

[Helschadenfreude]

What the frack? [hide] Tell me they didn't just kill off Kubo. OMG THEY KILLED OFF KUBO! I expected injury that can be fixed with work like Tezuka.. not for him to DIE. OMG. I mean Honda dying in Major was sad(but he was old), but this was just WTF out there. He's like 17!.... Soccer > life?? Poor kid.... didn't he think his team would be too down to play in the finals without him?! Especially since the equalizer was made by him...[hide]

And then we have a kid from Brazil. Why do all the kids from Brazil come and play in Japan? what about other countries? Wild Striker deja vu ness... except he has to be there because they're short. :(

[guyver83]

heee she finally got to that part Yeah it was very sad, not as bad a in major IMO but close to it

The brazil thing, I don't know ask the man about that one.

[leongsh]

Keep on watching ;) good stuff is about to occur...

That was awesome, Kubo passing all 11 people.
First off, take note that what Kubo did - all the feints and and flicks - are doable in real life. It takes lots of technical skill to pull them off. Furthermore, he had full control of the ball right from the moment he was given the ball from Kakegawa penalty box all the way to the Kakekita penalty box and scoring an open goal after getting by the goalkeeper, the last man. Absolutely brilliant stuff.

That must be stressful though, as he ran the entire length of the field. But uhhh is tha rain or is he really sweating that much? ...Okay he collapsed... so mortally injured and can't play for life?
Refer to my response to your next post.

[leongsh]

What the frack? Tell me they didn't just kill off Kubo. OMG THEY KILLED OFF KUBO! I expected injury that can be fixed with work like Tezuka.. not for him to DIE. OMG. I mean Honda dying in Major was sad(but he was old), but this was just WTF out there. He's like 17!.... Soccer > life?? Poor kid.... didn't he think his team would be too down to play in the finals without him?! Especially since the equalizer was made by him...
I've given you a hint earlier on:

"There's not much wasted when you look back after watching the whole series as I have done. Things happening, mentioned and shown in the beginning does drop a lot of info for later development."

Right from the very first episode, you had Kubo watching from afar in a car. Along the way, there are hints dropped that he is not feeling well. One of the most obvious was when he missed a match and asked Toshi to use what he had been practicing. At the end of the match, the reporter was curious about really what happened and Kubo was serious and silent. It was then when I first watched it that I knew something was not right with Kubo. And when it got to the end of Episode 18, I went from "WOW!" to "Oh... shit!".

The additional parts I worked out later on watching further. What happened to Kubo is that he was diagnosed with suffering from leukaemia (cancer of the blood cells) much earlier. When he was missing from the match, he was probably not up to it as he had to go to the hospital to see his doctor about his worsening condition. When he was approached by his former coach from Frankfurt to get him to go back to Germany, he declined in probable knowledge that he does not have much time left. After that meeting, the football reporter cornered Kubo about whether he was going to Germany and his response was a very short term goal - getting Kakegawa to the National Inter-High and winning the tournament. Additional info given when some guests left the funeral wake is that Kubo was not a generally healthy kid as he suffered anaemia (which is a deficiency in red blood cells) and then getting leukaemia is a double whammy. Watch for more explanations as the show moves on.

All hints an info dropped if you paid careful attention and wondering why all this is being shown. Pay attention because nothing much is really wasted in this show.

By having to play defence and repelling the Kakekita attacks, and his failing health, Kubo was really pushing it in that match. Hence, getting all tired out. But he knew that with one goal down, him being stuck in defence as the sweeper and the team upfront not being to make any progress in scoring, he made a decision to give it all he has to bring it level.

Cue that brilliant play. I'm wearing out the R2J Volume 3 DVD in watching the second half of Episode 18.

And then we have a kid from Brazil. Why do all the kids from Brazil come and play in Japan? what about other countries? Wild Striker deja vu ness... except he has to be there because they're short. :(
He's a Japanese kid who was raised in Brazil due to his parents being expatriates in Brazil and now he is back. That's all. This is one of the shortfalls in the series as they had to plug the gap after the event discussed above. However, he also brings the team some perspective and goads them to move on.

Continue watching... ;)

[leongsh]

heee she finally got to that part Yeah it was very sad, not as bad a in major IMO but close to it
They have dropped clues earlier on in Aoki Densetsu Shoot! unlike Major which only had a hint in the OP. We feel the bigger shock and pain when we already know that Goro has lost his mother just a couple of years back and all he has left is his father. And then to lose his father in the circumstances just when he had found someone to re-marry to help raise Goro. It was definitely a very cruel blow and thus of greater significance and greater effect compared to Kubo's death in Aoki Densetsu Shoot!. Both deaths resonate through their respective series with Kubo's death more immediately felt due to the shorter time period covered by Aoki Densetsu Shoot! and the continued memory of him and his massive influence on the Kakegawa football club whereas Major skipped ahead by a couple of years.

[Helschadenfreude]

Right from the very first episode, you had Kubo watching from afar in a car. Along the way, there are hints dropped that he is not feeling well. One of the most obvious was when he missed a match and asked Toshi to use what he had been practicing. At the end of the match, the reporter was curious about really what happened and Kubo was serious and silent. It was then when I first watched it that I knew something was not right with Kubo. And when it got to the end of Episode 18, I went from "WOW!" to "Oh... shit!".


But I didn't think it was dying illness forced exhaustion.. I thought he would be admitted to a hospital for long periods of time.. like Yukimura?? from POT that captain of that one tennis team I hate to bring up POT so much but this is the only sports anime that doesn't follow the rules..... :cry: Well except in Touch, as the premise is set up by it. But still! Man.... And technically the trio needs to grow more and what better way to do it? But that was awfulll :(

[Helschadenfreude]

heee she finally got to that part Yeah it was very sad, not as bad a in major IMO but close to it
They have dropped clues earlier on in Aoki Densetsu Shoot! unlike Major which only had a hint in the OP. We feel the bigger shock and pain when we already know that Goro has lost his mother just a couple of years back and all he has left is his father. And then to lose his father in the circumstances just when he had found someone to re-marry to help raise Goro. It was definitely a very cruel blow and thus of greater significance and greater effect compared to Kubo's death in Aoki Densetsu Shoot!. Both deaths resonate through their respective series with Kubo's death more immediately felt due to the shorter time period covered by Aoki Densetsu Shoot! and the continued memory of him and his massive influence on the Kakegawa football club whereas Major skipped ahead by a couple of years.



I didn't cry as much as I did in Major... nowhere near it. Especially since I knew it. I knew it and I still felt the whammy.

But for Aoki I just couldn't believe it... man I think I was like Toshi? ....it was like more of a disbelief......I started crying for Kamiya... and the others that Kubo left behind...well more of a sniffle. I had to watch Hayate afterwards. :D

[leongsh]

Right from the very first episode, you had Kubo watching from afar in a car. Along the way, there are hints dropped that he is not feeling well. One of the most obvious was when he missed a match and asked Toshi to use what he had been practicing. At the end of the match, the reporter was curious about really what happened and Kubo was serious and silent. It was then when I first watched it that I knew something was not right with Kubo. And when it got to the end of Episode 18, I went from "WOW!" to "Oh... shit!".
But I didn't think it was dying illness forced exhaustion.. I thought he would be admitted to a hospital for long periods of time.. like Yukimura?? from POT that captain of that one tennis team I hate to bring up POT so much but this is the only sports anime that doesn't follow the rules..... :cry: Well except in Touch, as the premise is set up by it. But still! Man.... And technically the trio needs to grow more and what better way to do it? But that was awfulll :(
Kubo knew that his time is short as I do not think he was seeking full treatment for his leukaemia and either was probably hoping to only get full treatment after the National Inter-High or making it his last wish and goal to win the tournament. Even late on just at the start of the second half of Episode 18, when Kubo's girlfriend remembered asked him what is he hiding and he could only give a sad smile to her. That's where it solidified my view that Kubo already knew that his days are numbered when I looked backed to that scene.

[leongsh]

I didn't cry as much as I did in Major... nowhere near it. Especially since I knew it. I knew it and I still felt the whammy.
Because you already read that part. But for those who were first reaching it via the anime, it was a big whammy.

But for Aoki I just couldn't believe it... man I think I was like Toshi? ....it was like more of a disbelief......I started crying for Kamiya... and the others that Kubo left behind...well more of a sniffle. I had to watch Hayate afterwards. :D
When such an event happens, everyone is stunned and in a daze. Watch on... for more development (and the character reflection and regrets aplenty).

[Helschadenfreude]

I'm kinda disappointed because I totally expected a race against Shiba and Isamu again from the preview but that was right decision.

Now I really want to watch the next episode and have Capeta drive a brand new machine.. he hasn't done that ever....

Although that person in the preview looks like Naomi's mom, but I think it's a guy?

[Helschadenfreude]

Wow, this thread dropped to the third page.


It's kind of idealistic how he got everyone to join the team, but that's okay. Yay for Major and training start. Now I remember who Kaoru.. pigtail Sakano girl... I have to admit she looks better now though. Can't wait to see her cocky younger brother... surprised he didn't go to Kaidoh though... with Toshi being there and all.

[guyver83]

WHERE THE MAN at with his summary? Well this ep we are reunited with a old figure that knows both Toshi and Goro well. Who it is?? I'll let Lengsh fill you in. Some Scouts are now looking into goro now after his last performance and Kaido keeps on kicking everyone's ass. Goro's team now plays a team with two familar faces. Think back to when they had to make KAIDO's team and goro and toshi were on TEAM B and the other two players were on team A. One was a pitcher who threw a slider and one was a catcher.

GOOD STUFF!!!

[Helschadenfreude]

Argh, you two are so far ahead. I was thinking that we would be at Kaidoh a bit longer due to the OP with all the team members faces... but I was wrong. So maybe this is why? They're showing up again after all...

:sd: For Aoki Densetsu Shoot, wow Kubo nai ness is horrible. I like how Kamiya knew that they had to change their way of thinking and practice. I actually like the new character, but Shiraishi got annoying.... :sd: Is it legal for him to start running with the ball?? I mean I guess no goal keeper would do it because then it leaves the goal wide open.. .but...

[leongsh]

WHERE THE MAN at with his summary?
Hard at work. Been out of town for work but have been able to watch said episode.

Since you have gotten the basics down, I'll just provide a bit more detail on Episode 16.

The media splash on Goro's no hitter shutout draws attention to him. The Kaido scout, Katsuragi, who was at that game, extols Goro's performance and the links to his fathers to the Blue Oceans scouting team. However, the scouting team do not think he is as well rounded as other players they are scouting, notably Mayumura.

The old figure guyver83 mentions is Kawase Yohko, the Yokohoma Little girl pitcher that Goro played against in Little League all the way from the 1st season of the show. She has continued playing baseball but with her business district team. Her continuance with the game has her pitching ability going up a few levels too.

She shows up to watch Kaido and bumps into Toshiya outside the baseball stadium having a chat with Suzuki (the Seishuu baseball team manager and Toshiya's junior from middle school) and they have a short chat about the past which also includes Goro and his recent performance.

Meanwhile, Goro and Tashiro are watching another match to scout their next opponents. Their next opponents are Kuriyama High School and that school blitzed its opponent in a 5 inning called game. Both Goro and Tashiro are stunned that they such tough opponents next. Goro though recognises the 2 key players of Kuriyama. The 2 players guyver83 mentioned without names are the pitcher, Katori, and the catcher-slugger, Karasawa, from the tryouts for Kaido in the second season. While walking home alone, Goro frets about Katori's sliders as he knows that he made it into Kaido due to Toshiya's batting ability with Toshiya being able to hit home runs off Katori's slider whereas he would have great difficulty.

He proceeds to want to train on batting sliders. No one else on the team can pitch to him but Taiga steps up to pitch sliders even when he is still recovering from his injured pitching hand. Taiga feels the pain of injury with each slider pitch that he throws until he has problems continuing.

Suzuki remembers the chat that Yohko has with Toshiya and she goes to ask Yohko to help out. She does and goes over to the Seishuu rooftop training ground. Goro is surprised that she has is there and asks her why would she be here helping him out considering Toshiya is her former teammate. Her response - she wants to see him play against Kaido, the team to beat. The episode ends with Yohko throwing sliders and Goro practising batting at sliders.

Before then, we have a brief look at the Kuriyama training grounds whereby Karasawa is all prepared to bat against Goro.

This episode is loaded with reunions. Even the title says so, i.e. "Unexpected Reunion". With that, this episode segues in a new ED. The new ED is one in which Goro reminisces on his past on his bed while looking at a photo album. The last picture shown is that of him on his father's shoulder at the Blue Ocean's stadium on his birthday where his father took him to pitch from the mound.

Next episode continues the reunion theme but to Goro's unpleasant surprise in the game against Kuriyama. Et tu, Takigawa?

[leongsh]

:sd: For Aoki Densetsu Shoot, wow Kubo nai ness is horrible. I like how Kamiya knew that they had to change their way of thinking and practice. I actually like the new character,
It's not easy for the team too when their captain and inspiration is not with them anymore. Kamiya is now stepping into the captain's position and he knows that they have to get over their despondency and play with more freedom again. Mahori's involvement with the football club is a boon that he intends to utilise. He is not burdened with the past.

.. but Shiraishi got annoying.... :sd: Is it legal for him to start running with the ball?? I mean I guess no goal keeper would do it because then it leaves the goal wide open.. .but...
Kenji is the proverbial hothead and while it is rare to find a goalkeeper doing that, it has happened before in matches whereby there's a last ditch effort to score and thus equalise late into injury time in a match.

[Helschadenfreude]

Next episode continues the reunion theme but to Goro's unpleasant surprise in the game against Kuriyama. Et tu, Takigawa?



Holy crap that's a lot of names. I got Kaoru wrong then?? That's Goro childhold softball girl then.. gahh horrible with them. So the team they're playing against next has rejects?? from Kaidoh? I'm kinda confused at this point. Gah, names. Gotta get better at them.

[leongsh]

Holy crap that's a lot of names. I got Kaoru wrong then?? That's Goro childhold softball girl then.. gahh horrible with them. So the team they're playing against next has rejects?? from Kaidoh? I'm kinda confused at this point. Gah, names. Gotta get better at them.
I know you're bad at names. A bit more explanation to give a small jolt to your memory. The upcoming opposing players are not rejects from Kaido. They were involved in the qualifying tests that Goro, Toshiya, and Komori attended to get into Kaido under the sports qualification.

Takigawa is the player who ran fast in the first elimination test that Goro had to catch up to block him from overtaking Komori. The overtaken ones are automatically disqualified from continuing with the qualification tests. Takigawa was eventually taken out by Goro in a one-on-one contest and Takigawa swore to get his revenge later.

Next up, Katori and Karasawa. They were the other unknown pitcher-catcher pair in the 5-a-side elimination round that Goro and Toshiya had to play against to qualify for Kaido. Katori is the effeminate pitcher who can thrown a mean slider while Karasawa is a burly catcher who has great batting ability. He manages to connect with Goro's pitch in the elimination match but lost out due to the strength of the pitch as his hit became a infield flyball.

If the above fails, watch Episodes 11 and 12 of Major: Season 2.

[Helschadenfreude]

Holy crap that's a lot of names. I got Kaoru wrong then?? That's Goro childhold softball girl then.. gahh horrible with them. So the team they're playing against next has rejects?? from Kaidoh? I'm kinda confused at this point. Gah, names. Gotta get better at them.
I know you're bad at names. A bit more explanation to give a small jolt to your memory. The upcoming opposing players are not rejects from Kaido. They were involved in the qualifying tests that Goro, Toshiya, and Komori attended to get into Kaido under the sports qualification.

Takigawa is the player who ran fast in the first elimination test that Goro had to catch up to block him from overtaking Komori. The overtaken ones are automatically disqualified from continuing with the qualification tests. Takigawa was eventually taken out by Goro in a one-on-one contest and Takigawa swore to get his revenge later.

Next up, Katori and Karasawa. They were the other unknown pitcher-catcher pair in the 5-a-side elimination round that Goro and Toshiya had to play against to qualify for Kaido. Katori is the effeminate pitcher who can thrown a mean slider while Karasawa is a burly catcher who has great batting ability. He manages to connect with Goro's pitch in the elimination match but lost out due to the strength of the pitch as his hit became a infield flyball.

If the above fails, watch Episodes 11 and 12 of Major: Season 2.



Okay remember the running dude... the pitching duel.... not so much. I remember the guy that ate a lot. Wait...., I remember the weird pitcher...the batter is drawin ga blank. I probably should go back and review.... :sd:

[guyver83]

Since MR. L is slacking here is ep 17 in short summary fashion.

Honda meets some old "friends" from his time trying out for kaido and it's basically a pitching duel until someone lets up.

Simple huh.

[guyver83]

The audition is finally coming around and there are some elite racers there and then... there Capeta. The boss of his father's company gives him the money and now its GAME TIME!

[leongsh]

Since MR. L is slacking here is ep 17 in short summary fashion.

Honda meets some old "friends" from his time trying out for kaido and it's basically a pitching duel until someone lets up.

Simple huh.
I thought it would be nice to let you kick it off rather than me since you're pretty up-to-date :)

I'll just fill in some details for Episode 17.

Day of the match between Seishuu and Kuriyama. Goro changes the batting line-up with him batting first and Tashiro second. It's obvious that he wants to increase his and Tashiro's opportunities to be at bat. As the rest of the team are puzzling on the change of batting order, Goro goes off to the toilet.

While relieving himself, Katori comes into the toilet to prep up for the match. There's a little hilarious scene as Katori goes over to peek over Goro's shoulder while Goro's doing his business. Anyway, Katori informs Goro that they know they lost out mainly due to Toshiya's batting ability and now that he's at Kaido and Goro is on his own with Seishuu, it's not going to go Goro's way.

The fun thus starts. It's a battle of pitchers. As guyver83 has mentioned, Seishuu gets into a bind in the later innings. Goro is definitely feeling his foot injury as fatigue starts to set in.

The next episode preview has the injured Taiga needing to come out to play. He will be the wild card that will give Seishuu a chance to claw back in the next episode. I'm curious as to how they are going to pull this off.

[Helschadenfreude]

The audition is finally coming around and there are some elite racers there and then... there Capeta. The boss of his father's company gives him the money and now its GAME TIME!

Man, I wished this was the episode where I could see them race! I'm dying for more racing action. And there's a girl!!! :D

[Helschadenfreude]

Hat trick! Although I saw it coming...

Why is it a rule that you cannot fight past rivals because their butts always get kicked by a team that suddenly got its awesome player or upgraded ....

It's like a uber sports manga rule.

I stayed up till 5am watching Aoki and that wasn't a good idea, but I think I just like this show better when there are games. Which is odd because I really do not understand soccer.... I just don't really like any character I guess (except Mahori... no idea whyyyy)

[untoldsorrow]

I'm dying to see more Overdrive but each subbed ep is coming out so slow. I don't like the male character designs but the females are awesome. It definitely starts off uber slow but something about it has hooked me, maybe its the girls, Yuki and that shy classmate of his with the glasses who looks like the girl from the opening.

[leongsh]

I'm dying to see more Overdrive but each subbed ep is coming out so slow. I don't like the male character designs but the females are awesome. It definitely starts off uber slow but something about it has hooked me, maybe its the girls, Yuki and that shy classmate of his with the glasses who looks like the girl from the opening.
Go the for the source then. Watch it as the Japanese do. :D

Okay, aside from that, Over Drive is taking its time with a diffrent pace and way development. With Episode 5 it's letting Shinozaki show us his commitment in trying to get physically better and his efforts exercising at weird places and often in front of Yuki annoys her no end. She also sees that Shinozaki has found something to commit to and working hard at it while she hasn't even made any steps to improve herself.

Hmm... I think the above should have been posted in Over Drive thread on Episode 5...

[leongsh]

Hat trick! Although I saw it coming...
Hmmm...? Which episode? Episode 29?

Why is it a rule that you cannot fight past rivals because their butts always get kicked by a team that suddenly got its awesome player or upgraded ....

It's like a uber sports manga rule.
Nah.. not a uber sports manga rule. More like a generic anime/manga rule whereby a new member with uber skills will often turn around a team.

I stayed up till 5am watching Aoki and that wasn't a good idea, but I think I just like this show better when there are games. Which is odd because I really do not understand soccer.... I just don't really like any character I guess (except Mahori... no idea whyyyy)
I thought I mentioned earlier that for Aoki Densetsu Shoot! it's all about the football matches :P

Hence, it's not anywhere near in my top anime listing. It does do a good job for the football action which is better and more realistic than a lot of other football/sports anime.

[leongsh]

Since I'm in this thread...

Episode 18:

From last episode, Seishuu is in a bind as Karasawa hits a homer off Goro's fastball and scores 2 runs as Katori is on base. His foot injury is starting to bother him too.

Katori is on his way to a perfect game (i.e. no hit shutout with no one getting on base) against Seishuu. 9th inning, with 2 outs and 2 strikes, Seishuu's hopes on the ropes. Fate gets involved and Seishuu's left fielder, Yamato, gets hit in the hand as he tries to bunt. With no one else to step in, Taiga takes over to bat.

So, what happens then?
Taiga being more familiar with the slider manages to eventually get a hit and races safely on to 1st base. The next batter is Goro.

From the sheer elation felt by Katori when the Kuriyama team thought they wrapped up the game to being actually hit for the first time in the match, he is shaken badly. Now he has to face Goro another time.

With his fourth time at-bat, Goro does eventually get it right. A homer off Katori's slider to the right - just within the post. 2-2. A tie at the top of the 9th inning.

So, how did Seishuu win as that's only to tie the match? You just have to watch as Katori and Karasawa are still up to bat in the bottom of the 9th inning with Katori and Karasawa having gotten the hang of Goro's pitching :>
After the match, Goro and Tashiro go off to watch the other semi-final the one Kaido is playing. As usual, Kaido wins a 5-inning called game (14-0). While Tashiro goes back to the practice ground, Goro stays around to let the Kaido team know that he will be there in the final to play against them.

Next episode preview shows preparation for the prefectural finals. Goro goes for his visit to the physician that gave him a conditional release to assess the situation with his injured foot. It's likely not to be fully/properly healed yet.

[Helschadenfreude]

Hat trick! Although I saw it coming...
Hmmm...? Which episode? Episode 29?
Yes. The fact that shot #3... and Kazumi's bet....



Why is it a rule that you cannot fight past rivals because their butts always get kicked by a team that suddenly got its awesome player or upgraded ....

It's like a uber sports manga rule.
Nah.. not a uber sports manga rule. More like a generic anime/manga rule whereby a new member with uber skills will often turn around a team.

Well I meant you know where sports team A beats sports team B, and then they vow to fight and win the next time. However their butts get kicked by the new enemy. Eyeshield 21, Touch... okay fine maybe just these 3 series.


Hence, it's not anywhere near in my top anime listing. It does do a good job for the football action which is better and more realistic than a lot of other football/sports anime.


Thus why they should make one with realistic football action and great characters. Whistle kind of came close. I still don't get how no one figures out the opposite team standing in your wall probably means they're going to duck and let the ball through....

And I just realize I'm sooo behind on overdrive(only the first epi is watched) and Ookiku F... I can't even write it. However I feel like my basketball anime is sadly lacking. I dont' feel anything for Slam Dunk however... I don't think there are really any others though...

[leongsh]

Hat trick! Although I saw it coming...
Hmmm...? Which episode? Episode 29?
Yes. The fact that shot #3... and Kazumi's bet....
However, Toshi did not get his 3rd goal (the hat trick). What I did like about the episode is that Kakegawa showed that they can play rough too in response. It also showed how messy type of goals are scored rather than just pure brute power and/or fancy skills.

Well I meant you know where sports team A beats sports team B, and then they vow to fight and win the next time. However their butts get kicked by the new enemy. Eyeshield 21, Touch... okay fine maybe just these 3 series.
I think you're trying to read too much into it. What happens is somewhat like real life. Some teams are so focused on wanting to have a rematch that they sometimes forget that the match in front of them is more important. They have to clear the hurdle immediately in front of them rather than focus on the hurdle which is further ahead.

Hence, it's not anywhere near in my top anime listing. It does do a good job for the football action which is better and more realistic than a lot of other football/sports anime.
Thus why they should make one with realistic football action and great characters. Whistle kind of came close. I still don't get how no one figures out the opposite team standing in your wall probably means they're going to duck and let the ball through....
There are a few reasons to do so. The opposing player can either duck or lean against the wall. There are other reasons/variations for being there - an example is that the opposing player can spin around and get to any loose balls that the goalie spills.

[[And I just realize I'm sooo behind on overdrive(only the first epi is watched) and Ookiku F... I can't even write it.
Take your time. It's not a sprint. It's a marathon. Ookiku Furikabutte or Oofuri in short. Type them often enough and you'll get used it it. Oofuri is a show that I'm enjoying a lot. Considering that no one here seems to be watching it and posting on it, I'm withholding my written thoughts on Episodes 2 to 4 (most recently broadcast) for now. Maybe even blog it.

However I feel like my basketball anime is sadly lacking. I dont' feel anything for Slam Dunk however... I don't think there are really any others though...
Basketball? Slam Dunk is my preference for basketball anime. Good mix of action and humour. There is one basketball anime series available on R1 - Dear Boys or as labelled as Hoop Days for the R1 release. I found it decidedly average and not as good as Slam Dunk but you may find it more to your liking.

There is a basketball OVA released, I'll/CKBC, but unless you are a fan of the basketball manga, I'll, you are unlikely to get any enjoyment from it. It is really done up for the fans of the manga (of which I admit that I am one).

[leongsh]

Just a small bit of trivia. If you are watching Capeta, you would be wondering what is the real life "Formula Stella" that Capeta joins up to race in formula open-wheel single-seater racing.

The answer is in Soda Masahito's website in the backstage section where he details some info for us. It's in the 3rd entry (http://www.sodamasahito.jp/back/03_toyota.html). Turns out that it is Formula Toyota. Even the cars and colours of the Formula Stella Racing School (FSRS) that he goes to audition is the spitting image of the real life Formula Toyota Racing School (FTRS). So the real life corollary of Formula Stella in the manga/anime is Formula Toyota (http://www.toyota.co.jp/ms/ft/) (link is to official website). Look at the works sponsored car on the front page and then the FSRS race car in the last few episodes of the anime series - spitting images.

[Helschadenfreude]

Wow, I just watched all those episodes at once and now I'm going to watch Capeta but I thought I put down my thoughts first.

Egawara is a complete and utter jerk, although Honda still should have been on guard for injuries. When the next bulky player came up, I was like "oh crap."

Taiga is a jerk too.... have some faith! I like it how they're slowly getting together as a team, but wow, this is probably the suckiest team that Goro has been on. They can't even beat Youka without Honda much less Kaidoh.. I don't even know how the next episode is going to work with Mifune catcher dude being super analysis and instinct and talent. :sd: It just doesn't look good, and I don't see how they can win. I read the spoilers when leongsh watched them... but I guess I'll just have to see it.

[Helschadenfreude]

Hmmm this practicing stuff makes me kind of sad because while I can kinda feel the racing action it's just not as good. And the last two kids aren't memorable at all, one is inexperienced kid like Capeta and the other is a big guy....

The mock race should be interesting though.

[leongsh]

I read the spoilers when leongsh watched them... but I guess I'll just have to see it.
That's one of the reasons I've not posted recently on Major in the past couple of weeks. Too much to spoil.

Just to let you know that Episode 19 (last week) kicks off the Seishuu v Kaido match in the last 5 minutes of the episode and Episode 20 (yesterday's broadcast) has the game in earnest. I'm keeping quiet on the match for now. If you want to have an idea, Kaido is a much different, much stronger opponent than even Goro could have imagined. As Toshiya tells Goro, how we have improved over the past 1 year is different from your past 1 year. Kaido pushes Goro in their very first inning of batting.

Would you like to know more? :>

As much as you dislike Taiga at the earlier stage, he shows his worth with some smart and risky play ;)

Would you want to know more? :>

[Helschadenfreude]

I read the spoilers when leongsh watched them... but I guess I'll just have to see it.
That's one of the reasons I've not posted recently on Major in the past couple of weeks. Too much to spoil.

Just to let you know that Episode 19 (last week) kicks off the Seishuu v Kaido match in the last 5 minutes of the episode and Episode 20 (yesterday's broadcast) has the game in earnest. I'm keeping quiet on the match for now. If you want to have an idea, Kaido is a much different, much stronger opponent than even Goro could have imagined. As Toshiya tells Goro, how we have improved over the past 1 year is different from your past 1 year. Kaido pushes Goro in their very first inning of batting.

Would you like to know more? :>

As much as you dislike Taiga at the earlier stage, he shows his worth with some smart and risky play ;)

Would you want to know more? :>



ARGHH! I need to relearn my chinese or even pick up japanese...

[Helschadenfreude]

Yeah I totally still don't know how to spell it Okiku Fut something....

The manga didn't really interest me all that much, but now all the chibi and unique characters have actually warmed me up to the series quite a bit. I realy like the 3 episodes I watched, and enjoy all of them growing. Except Tajima? whose awesome already and just went there because the school was close.

[leongsh]

Yeah I totally still don't know how to spell it Okiku Fut something....
Ookiku Furikabutte - type it often enough and you'll remember it :) There's a separate thread created for the show (link (http://www.animeondvd.com/forum/showtopic.php?tid/19326/)) but it's left unloved due to lack of interest and participation.

The manga didn't really interest me all that much, but now all the chibi and unique characters have actually warmed me up to the series quite a bit. I realy like the 3 episodes I watched, and enjoy all of them growing. Except Tajima? whose awesome already and just went there because the school was close.
The manga art leaves a lot to be desired but the anime has its charms. The really good thing about the character designs are that they look distinctive and works in the context of the show. I like how the show feels so normal and real.

Tajima is really a fun playful character for the show to have. He keeps it simple and just does what he thinks he can (which is a heck of a lot). I love how he blurted in the bus in Episode 2 for not taking care of something :D Yet, he is not as simple minded as the first 3 episodes lead you to believe. Episode 7 (the most recent one) shows glimpses of another side of him that he is aware of what's happening. Overall, there's a good pacing of character growth in the 7 episodes shown so far.

So far, I'm enjoying the show a lot. I have even pre-ordered Ookiku Furikabutte R2J DVD Volumes 1 and 2 which will be released in June 2007 and July 2007 respectively. That's something that rarely happens for me.

[leongsh]

The Seishuu v Kaido match is well underway in Episode 21.

A Kaido player hits a homer off Goro's pitching in the 3rd inning to make it Seishuu 0-4 Kaido in the 3rd inning. No prizes for guessing which Kaido player did that.

Of course there's more happening in the episode but I'll just be wicked and leave the above out in the open and the following thought/question:

"So, how the hell is Seishuu going to come back against Kaido?"

:>

[Helschadenfreude]

The Seishuu v Kaido match is well underway in Episode 21.

A Kaido player hits a homer off Goro's pitching in the 3rd inning to make it Seishuu 0-4 Kaido in the 3rd inning. No prizes for guessing which Kaido player did that.

Of course there's more happening in the episode but I'll just be wicked and leave the above out in the open and the following thought/question:

"So, how the hell is Seishuu going to come back against Kaido?"

:>


Whyyyy am I always so far behind? But still love for Toshi!

[Helschadenfreude]

I knew it! Argh!!! Poor Capeta.. that's what the series get for putting such an emphasis on not crashing.. and then... stupid Ishihara.. gahhh now I don't even know how Capeta is even going to begin to pay for the repairs. Capeta was doing so well too....

[leongsh]

How could you be surprised? It is even shown in the 2nd OP... Not a matter of whether he would crash the car but of when and how. The positive thing is that it's not because he made a mistake in driving the car. He was taking the car round an uphill blind corner with a downhill exit just right after Ishihara spinning and there's no way to avoid it. Capeta is not at fault.

[leongsh]

Not going to post anything yet regarding Episode 22 but just a little note on Episode 23.

In this episode, Goro is reaching his limit and is battling not just fatigue but pain as well. Egashira yells at his Kaido squad to bunt to not just tire Goro out but also to wear him down as he would not have enough sprinting speed to get to the balls bunted with his still injured foot. The bunt strategy does not play out and Egashira is furious at the Kaido team. Meanwhile, Mayumura walks off to the bullpen to warm up.

The episode ends early during the top of the 9th inning and Seishuu still batting. The score? :> Well, if you even have Egashira yelling and furious at the Kaido team AND Mayumura warming up, does it really matter when Seishuu and Goro are sticking it to Kaido... :D ;)

p.s.
PM me if you want to know the score at the end of this episode.

[Helschadenfreude]

How could you be surprised? It is even shown in the 2nd OP... Not a matter of whether he would crash the car but of when and how. The positive thing is that it's not because he made a mistake in driving the car. He was taking the car round an uphill blind corner with a downhill exit just right after Ishihara spinning and there's no way to avoid it. Capeta is not at fault.


I... don't watch OP and ED... :sd: I was hoping he wouldn't crash.... but :sigh:

And making us go through extra effort for epi 23 scores.. bah humbug. :D

[taongbuhawi]

Mr. L, why'd you stop posting sa episode summaries? hehehehe..

The latest fansub episode is at episode 14. I've read your summaries until you stopped posting the detailed ones.

Can you post/PM the summaries? hehehe..

[leongsh]

Mr. L, why'd you stop posting sa episode summaries? hehehehe..
At this stage of the show for the main game, there's nothing much I can post without spoiling the game between Seishuu and Kaido. There are some dramatic moments that are best watched first time round with no foreknowledge.

The latest fansub episode is at episode 14. I've read your summaries until you stopped posting the detailed ones.

Can you post/PM the summaries? hehehe..
Depending from which episode onwards and any other people interested. I will hide the text so that you can only spoil yourself if you choose to open the hidden section.

Honestly, if you enjoy the series so far, the Seishuu versus Kaido game is going to rock you. Especially from Episode 21 onwards.

I'll leave you with 2 images from Episode 23 of a visibly tired Goro (http://img263.imageshack.us/my.php?image=vlcsnap43931nk7.png) and grits himself in pain (http://img182.imageshack.us/my.php?image=vlcsnap48016pi6.png) from his foot injury while pitching in the later innings. We've seen him give his all before in the first season and he's betting everything again in wanting to beat Kaido.

[Helschadenfreude]

So 30 pitches.. equal how much including running and batting?! I don't get how Goro can survive so many injuries that in the end aren't really that career threatening. I thought injuries haunt athletes for a long time no matter what.

[Chloe]

So I got my Geneon bounty order in, with most of the Fighting Spirit I was missing. Didn't get disc 14 though, have to wait on that to get restocked, major bummer. Ippo is like crack, and I have the last five episodes sitting there taunting me, but I don't have 66-70 yet... :cry:

Some thoughts. I liked the Red Wolf episodes, and the buildup to the Featherweight Championship was very well done. I pity the poor bastards in Japan if they actually had to wait until the next season to see the end of that fight. Needless to say the fight itself was just gonzo WAAAAHH! and great stuff.

Cune next season OP...WTF? OK, I really loved the OP/ED music for the first two seasons, always got me in the mood, and I just don't care for the new ones. Only good thing I can say about them is I saved a lot of time by skipping them. :roll:

I kind of undestand that for episode 61 - 62 they wanted to focus on Ippo and his reactions, but this is easily the worst job they've done on an opponent fighter in the series. One of the strength's of this show has been how much time they gave to Ippo's opponent's and the lack here was definitely felt. Though it wasn't handled horribly either, I just hope it doesn't happen very often that way.

Now about Sendo. I really hope they do a bit more on him and his new found power(Though in his case they don't neccesarily need to do more.). It's just a bit too weird for me that he is suddenly so much more then he was before. I know the Chief explains a bit about this to Ippo, but it just doesn't cover it for me yet. Maybe it will sink in later.

The humor, though just as roughneck as usual, is growing on me I guess. Aoki & Kimura especially had a nice couple episodes. :D

So, overall, quite fun. For those of you who have read the manga, does it have a lot more detail/side stories to it? I really don't want to add another manga to my plate, but I might consider it for this title.

[leongsh]

So I got my Geneon bounty order in, with most of the Fighting Spirit I was missing. Didn't get disc 14 though, have to wait on that to get restocked, major bummer. Ippo is like crack, and I have the last five episodes sitting there taunting me, but I don't have 66-70 yet... :cry:
Just go watch it :> Mwhahahaha.. :D

Some thoughts. I liked the Red Wolf episodes, and the buildup to the Featherweight Championship was very well done. I pity the poor bastards in Japan if they actually had to wait until the next season to see the end of that fight. Needless to say the fight itself was just gonzo WAAAAHH! and great stuff.
Can I mark you down as another massive fan of Hajime no Ippo who will go out and pimp this title? :)

Cune next season OP...WTF? OK, I really loved the OP/ED music for the first two seasons, always got me in the mood, and I just don't care for the new ones. Only good thing I can say about them is I saved a lot of time by skipping them. :roll:
I honestly think that there's only 1 song from all the OP and ED songs of Hajime no Ippo that's worthy and that's the 1st ED song. Since you have watched so far, you will notice that the song is only used within the show when something notable happens that deserves kudos and respect. It's the song that best captures what's good about the show.

I kind of undestand that for episode 61 - 62 they wanted to focus on Ippo and his reactions, but this is easily the worst job they've done on an opponent fighter in the series. One of the strength's of this show has been how much time they gave to Ippo's opponent's and the lack here was definitely felt. Though it wasn't handled horribly either, I just hope it doesn't happen very often that way.
All the more that the most interesting of characters of the show happen to be Miyata and Sendo but you feel as though that their stories have been given short shrift although they have been given a bit more time than the rest.

Now about Sendo. I really hope they do a bit more on him and his new found power(Though in his case they don't neccesarily need to do more.). It's just a bit too weird for me that he is suddenly so much more then he was before. I know the Chief explains a bit about this to Ippo, but it just doesn't cover it for me yet. Maybe it will sink in later.
They do and you will just have to watch the episodes in Volume 14 (i.e. Episode 66 to 70) to find out :D

[leongsh]

The news is officially out over at the NHK website for Major. (link (http://www3.nhk.or.jp/anime/major/)).

※第3シリーズを放é€�ä¸*ï¼�
　7月7æ—¥ã�‹ã‚‰ç¬¬3シリーズ第1話よりå†�æ ”¾é€�ã€�2008å¹´1月より第4シリーズ放é€�é–‹ 始予定ï¼�
There will be a Season 4 of Major which will start its broadcast in January 2008 after the repeat of Season 3 which will start on 7 July 2007 is completed. Counting the weeks for the repeat of Season 3, the repeat of Episode 26 of Season 3 will be broadcast on Saturday, 29 December 2007. Season 4 will start on Saturday, 5 January 2008 at the earliest.

Over the past 24 episodes of Season 3, the show has consistently ranked in the Top 15 anime shows in terms of ratings. The last time I had a look, it was in 12th spot (and in a week where Conan and Kekkaishi were not pre-empted). Ratings wise, it has been doing very well. With the structure they have in place, i.e. season # broadcast, repeat of season #, season #+1 broadcast, etc, and the availability of material in light of how far advanced the manga is, this suits the show and its sequels to a tee.

[Helschadenfreude]

Woot more Major.. where does this season cover however? USA? Will they overshoot the manga?

[leongsh]

Woot more Major.. where does this season cover however? USA? Will they overshoot the manga?
I understand that it will be about his time in USA playing in the Minor Leagues. AAA, I think. Unlikely for them to overshoot the manga. Maybe catch up to roughly where the manga is or maybe to reach the ending of the manga as the manga is rumoured to be ending soon.

[leongsh]

Might as well post something on Episode 25 ;)

The match between Seishuu and Kaido ends in this episode, the penultimate episode of Major: Season 3. How did it go?

The match ended. Spectacularly. And with added drama. Lots of added drama. :>

Definitely not going to spoil what happened in the episode. Besides, if you have watched up until Episode 24, you know you will find a very strong compulsion to watch this.

[Helschadenfreude]

If I haven't said it before, I'm saying it now. I just about hate you for being able to watch and understand what's going on sooooooo much ahead of time. :cry: On a side note, anyone keeping up with OverDrive?

I want more OF but but.... :sigh: Any updates on those two?

[leongsh]

If I haven't said it before, I'm saying it now. I just about hate you for being able to watch and understand what's going on sooooooo much ahead of time. :cry:
*Takes a bow* :> :D

Honestly, I especially enjoyed Major: Season 3 from the game against Mifune onwards. The story development is really cliché but if you have found enjoyment with the series, its all about honest-to-goodness guilty pleasure time. The game against Kaido, especially from Episode 22 onwards, just piles on the drama as Goro improvises and the Seishuu team ride their luck. Then the fatigue and pain sets in for Goro...

Mwhahahahaha... :> :D

On a side note, anyone keeping up with OverDrive?
I am. It's up to Episode 12 now. The end of Episode 11 started the road race while Episode 12 is early in the road race. Yamato attacks early, goes into solitary lead, and pulls away from the lead group. Someone later decides to follow him...

I want more OF but but.... :sigh: Any updates on those two?
Ookiku Furikabutte (i.e. Oofuri in short) is up until Episode 11 (broadcast on Thursday, 21 June 2007). I'm also up to date with it. If I have the time, I'll post an episode-by-episode update in the neglected Oofuri thread.

Episode 11 of Oofuri has the team going to attend the drawing of teams for the Saitama Prefecture Koshien Qualifying Competition. Mihashi bumps into Haruna, Abe's former pitcher in Middle School. Hanai, duly elected as the Captain of the Nishiura baseball team, goes to draw the lot for Nishiura and strikes the jackpot :D

[guyver83]

Might as well post something on Episode 25 ;)

The match between Seishuu and Kaido ends in this episode, the penultimate episode of Major: Season 3. How did it go?

The match ended. Spectacularly. And with added drama. Lots of added drama. :>

Definitely not going to spoil what happened in the episode. Besides, if you have watched up until Episode 24, you know you will find a very strong compulsion to watch this.


OMFG what a great ep.... OMG I love this fucking anime show. Please god.. find a way to get this to us over here in R1 land. This is by far one of best sports anime's I've ever seen!

[leongsh]

OMFG what a great ep.... OMG I love this fucking anime show. Please god.. find a way to get this to us over here in R1 land. This is by far one of best sports anime's I've ever seen!
I see you've been blown away by Episode 25. Great episode, huh? :D

All this build-up in the past few episodes of the Seishuu vs Kaido game led up to this really major (no pun intended) payoff and what a payoff it is. Now you know why I did not want to spoil this episode and thus, let all those following the series to watch this episode unspoiled to get the full effect.

[Helschadenfreude]

This race wasn't as good as the Haruna race... but it was interesting. It just look like Capeta went "screw this, and I'm just gunning it" type of deal... And it's true that it's his first true loss, since he doesn't have a handicap(well technically, because Shiba did have that extra training time). I'm guessing Capeta is going to that other team that was mentioned though.... but who knows... will they admit 2? And Monami.. doesn't look like Monami in the preview. :sd:

[BWSUQ]

When he said to himself "Who cares what happens now" and gunned it, I was getting really excited! I rewatched that 1 min sequence about 5 times and I especially liked the animation of the wind around the car. I am currently downloading 44-52 raws just so I can see what happens the rest of the way through. I am thankful for fansubs, but it is tough to wait 2-3 weeks between episodes, which is usually why I wait until completion and marathon it. I first watched this series when they were just done w/ the haruna race, and thank goodness I did, because those episodes were Addicting!

One more thing, Major season 3 was really good, can't wait until the 4th season and Goro starts shattering bats.

[leongsh]

When he said to himself "Who cares what happens now" and gunned it, I was getting really excited! I rewatched that 1 min sequence about 5 times and I especially liked the animation of the wind around the car.
Yes, that was a nice sequence. The key that Capeta is looking for (and questioning an imaginary Naomi in his mind for it but not given) is that he has to just drive as fast as he can as much as he can rather than just thinking of getting the pole position. It's evident that the anime does try hard to make the racing sequences exciting and to animate it as much as they can after taking into account budget considerations. That's probably the reason for the fillers in between the racing action.

I am currently downloading 44-52 raws just so I can see what happens the rest of the way through. I am thankful for fansubs, but it is tough to wait 2-3 weeks between episodes, which is usually why I wait until completion and marathon it. I first watched this series when they were just done w/ the haruna race, and thank goodness I did, because those episodes were Addicting!
The Haruna race is the most exciting race of the 3 main races in the 52 episodes of the TV series. Even though I followed the show as it was broadcast, waiting for the episodes of the Haruna race every week were hellish, especially after Episodes 30 and 31.

One more thing, Major season 3 was really good, can't wait until the 4th season and Goro starts shattering bats.
January 2008 is so far away...

[Helschadenfreude]

I have to say, Tanaka still isn't very likable to me, but that last shot in 36 was wicked cool. Also, maybe I been watching too many sports anime, but the same kind of players pop up all the time. When the other guy was like, what's wrong, and I was like he freaking has NO STAMINA!!! Especially since he doesn't really practice.... and there was like a complete turnaround from 33, in saying he was the king of technique to Hiromatsu being better. and I just spelled someone's name wrong...

Unless I'm remembering events wrong. And when you're aiming to let a player rest... I thought the other team slows down and kills time? But then again they were behind/tied .... so I guess the situation was a bit different.

[leongsh]

I have to say, Tanaka still isn't very likable to me, but that last shot in 36 was wicked cool. Also, maybe I been watching too many sports anime, but the same kind of players pop up all the time.
There's not many variations that are usually brought up as these are the standard archetypes. You may want to try Ookiku Furikabutte where it tries a different tack with respect to lead characters.

When the other guy was like, what's wrong, and I was like he freaking has NO STAMINA!!! Especially since he doesn't really practice.... and there was like a complete turnaround from 33, in saying he was the king of technique to Hiromatsu being better. and I just spelled someone's name wrong...
Based on the little history that we are informed about him, he came to the game late. He spent most of his time training on technique but not the physical fitness aspect. It's quite common at the start - you work on what you can achieve fastest. If you find yourself being good technically in the beginning, you are inclined to practice that more. Whereas if you are not good technically but have good physical fitness, you will be inclined to practice the physical and stamina side to cover for lack of technique.

Hiramatsu.

Unless I'm remembering events wrong. And when you're aiming to let a player rest... I thought the other team slows down and kills time? But then again they were behind/tied .... so I guess the situation was a bit different.
Quite often you cannot have the luxury of having a player on the field rest. What Shimizu did was to move Serizawa to play sweeper while they attacked to keep Kakegawa at bay and hope to score to equalise (which they did) and get ahead. When Kakegawa breaks through, Serizawa is left to do the final interception to prevent shots at goal. Minimal action to let him recover physically.