To be honest with you, I wasn’t planning on watching this show this soon. It was something I was going to save to watch at a later date, but boy am I glad I took the time to watch it today. It turned out to be a lot more intense than I had anticipated!!!
It’s rare to come by a sports anime that revolves around a set of female protagonists, much less one that isn’t excessively focusing on “fanservice” shots. Hanebado immediately sets the tone that this series will be one that will be a highly competitive and emotional journey for all of the characters. It kicks off with a fateful match between Ayano and Nagisa, competing in the JOC: Junior Olympics, National Junior Badminton Players Tournament. While Ayano won and Nagisa lost, both of them had were haunted by the same question: What are they playing badminton for? Both girls have a story behind them, Ayano’s one that certainly piping my curiosity as she is a prodigy, born with the natural abilities that enables her a better chance of becoming a professional player who can compete in the olympics. However Ayano had decided to quit, and has no intention of returning, but she ended up giving herself away when the ball went off the rim of the Tennis Club’s Captain’s racket, and almost she saved her friend Enya from getting gravely injured by blocking the shot so fast, that not even the rising star player all the girls are fawning over could stop it. It was such a badass scene.
It’s clear to me that one of the things that bothers Ayano the most is that there’s no reason for her to play anymore. Even though she has everything a badminton player would kill to have, she doesn’t care for the sport or the competition, she lost that drive. The only reason why she is even present is because Enya had dragged her to the club, firmly believing she needs to be playing, and is trying to encourage her to move on from the past that is holding her back.
And then we have Nagisa, who is the exact opposite: She wasn’t born with the natural talent, so she must work harder to make up for it. She is still playing Badminton, but she has been terrorizing the club members by taking her insecurities out on them, which prompted several of them to finally quit, and scare off the newcomers from even considering joining the club. And for real, she was absolutely savage. She does have a softer side when she’s away from the sport, and took some time to reflec ton her actions and be remorseful for her awful addtitude… we will have to see whether or not she will ease up on the members though. Now that the club advisor has recruited her “secret weapon” an actual Badminton Coach, Tachibana Kentaro, who used to be the club’s captain and a contender for the olympics until he blew his knee out. We will have to see how things will change thanks to having someone will more experience take control of the club at was on the path to self-destruction.
Next week, we will have to see whether or not Ayano will accept Nagisa’s challenge. I wonder if she will remember her, I have a feeling she might not. Her eyes… holy shit it was super creepy, but it looked more like she was in the zone of a sorts. Anyhow if Ayano doesn’t want to be part of the club, she will either just walk away or she will need to beat Nagisa. Either way, it’s gonna be a spicy one!
It’s too soon to say whether or not I will be covering this show, but it shows a lot of potential and it’s worth keeping an eye on this season! I will try giving it three episodes.
Possibility of Blogging: Moderate
Possibility of Watching: Guaranteed
