Recently, sports anime has become one of the most popular genres in the anime world. One of the sports that has helped to establish the popularity of sports anime is tennis. This has been done through the anime series Aim for the Ace! Happy! and The Prince of Tennis. All three of these animes have brought new elements into the sports anime worlds that have allowed the genre to expand. The sport of tennis did not solely establish the sports genre, but it has played a significant component in helping it to become one of the most popular genres out there.
Aim for the Ace! (1973):
Aim for the Ace! was originally a manga that ran from 1973 to 1980, while the anime ran from 1973 to 1974. The plot focuses on high school girl Hiromi Oka who lacks confidences and becomes interested in playing tennis. All throughout the series we see her slowly transform from being a new player into becoming one of the best players in the world as she overcomes physical and mental obstacles. The anime/manga tends to focus more on the mental component of the game of tennis, as Hiromi is often doubtful of her playing abilities. As a result, this causes her to lose confidence in herself and ultimately cost her several points and games. In witnessing this we see how she deals with maintaining her confidence and the strategies she uses. This is one of the first animes to focus on the mental side of a sport along with the physical element to give a broader view of what is occurring. This anime also does another first for a sports anime as Hiromi falls in love with another tennis player Takayuki, but she is advised not get too involved with him as it would be a distraction. Due to this, Hiromi has to make a choice of how much her sports life influences her personal life, which is not an easy choice to make. we see how she goes about making her choice and the dedication she has for tennis. Aim for the Ace! gives an inside peek into the inner working of the physical, mental, and personal aspect of how a sport affects peoples lives as they become involved in it.
Happy! (1993):
Happy! is a manga that ran from 1993 to 1999 and was aimed for mature audiences. The story focuses on Miyuki Umino, a tennis prodigy, who is able to beat top tennis players. Miyuki has a pure, good, heart and is devoted to her family but ends up in a situation where she is semi-taken advantage. As her brother, Ieyasu, has incurred a big debt with the Yakuza resulting in her trying to pay it back by winning in tennis matches. For if she doesn’t she will be forced into prostitution. Matters only become more complicated as Choku Ryugasaki, her archrival, is making her life difficult. This eventually leads Miyuki to gain a sponsorship with Utako Ohtori who also agrees to train he. Due to her hatred of the Ryugasaki family, she wants to embarrass them. All this is tied together as all three of these situations overlap with one another on several occasions as Miyuki is navigating the tennis scene. This anime has a dark sinister tone to it as several groups all have their own angle that revolves around the sport of tennis. As a result, this shows a different perspective on sports anime/manga and how they can become corrupt and un-sportsman like very easily. Yet, despite being the victim and a pawn for several people Miyuki is happy to have been part of this as she got the opportunity to face her archrival again. Reading the manga makes you think about what is the purpose of participating in sports.
Prince of Tennis (1999):
The Prince of Tennis manga ran from 1999 to 2008, while the anime aired from 2001 to 2005. The series focuses on Ryoma Echizen a middle school tennis prodigy who is attending Seishu Academy. Upon arriving he quickly defeats several upperclassmen to secure his spot as one of the tennis team’s regulars. Once on the team Ryoma along with his fellow teammate set a goal to win the National Middle School Tennis Championship. All throughout the manga and anime we see Ryoma mastering new techniques and developing his own style of tennis, resulting in him becoming a better player. Unlike other tennis animes/mangas the Prince of Tennis has an element of realism to it. In particular, with the various techniques that Ryoma uses and how they are explained provides an accurate description of the real sport of tennis. By doing this, the anime/manga is elevated as the story has connections to the real sport and creates a genuine vibe to it. The other element that this story does, as many sports animes do now, is pose the question of why a person is attracted to that sport. In particular, with Ryoma this is done in order for him to get to understand himself and develop his own style of tennis. In many ways this is a test as it confirms why he was drawn to the sport and his dedication to the game. That is what is needed in many cases to allow a talented player to become an exceptional player. This dedication combined with the genuine vibe that this anime/manga establishes resonates well with its audiences, as it is a believable story. Prince of Tennis has been one of the templates in recent years for sports anime to help create real, genuine, and audience-driven interest in sports anime.
Conclusion:
While tennis has not received the attention it deserves in the anime and manga world, it does not mean it has not had an impact on several other sports animes and mangas. Many have copied several aspects from Aim for the Ace!, Happy!, and Prince of Tennis that are being used in sports animes that are waiting to premier.
The Prince of Tennis can be purchased here.
