Hiii I’m back!! I realized that everytime I said I would touch this blog, I never do but that doesn’t mean that my love for anime died down. I haven’t been able to watch too many shows within this year but from the ones I’ve watched, there are definitely a few underrated series I really want to highlight!

Welcome to the Ballroom

I wish I was able to talk about this anime way sooner because genuinely, its one of the best sports anime out there. Not only do I think all the characters have their own unique struggles, but they are able to complement each other’s personalities. I also find Tatara, the main character, a well-written main character who’s able to help several characters find their passion in dancing. Additionally, as a 24 episode anime, it is well structured , with 2 arcs as an introduction and one to flesh out our main duo.

I love the uniqueness in using ballroom dancing specifically as our focus. Throughout the season, we get introduced to various styles of dance, kinds of music accompanied with it, and the rules of the competition. While this show has a simple premise, where the main character goes from having zero knowledge of the sport to becoming an expert, its execution is simply amazing. It genuinely feels like an interesting character drama with a solid plotline and great addition of performances.

Run with the Wind

In my opinion, it’s easily one of the best sports anime out there with barely anyone who has watched it. It follows a simple premise with Kakeru, our main character, who experienced a defining moment in high school that breaks his confidence in running. Haiji, our supporting character, comes into his life re-introducing running to him. You’re definitely not going to find an insane hook in the first episode, but it gets you curious as to Haiji’s intentions and all the other character’s feelings for track.

If you’ve watched Haikyuu, it gives you the same rush of fulfillment as you root for the characters to achieve their dreams. Similarly, both anime do have characters with strong character development. However, in just 24 episodes, it is able to achieve great character depth and story-telling without feeling rushed. As viewers, we know that running essentially isn’t difficult, but its the endurance that puts our characters into a physical and mental struggle. But like all sports anime, reaching that final goal knowing the challenges faced is what makes the sport worthwhile.

Chihayafuru

This series is seriously one of the best josei dramas out there, so good that it climbed up my favorite anime list. It centers around the “sport” karuta, an elaborate card game that requires a narrator to read a poem. This poem provides the structure of the game, where players slap the card with the following verse. The story follows Chihaya, a girl who dreams to become a karuta master, as she opens up her own karuta club at school in hopes to achieve her dreams. Taichi is her loyal and supportive childhood friend who starts the club with her. Arata, another character, sparked Chihaya’s love for karuta, introducing this sport when they were young. They each have such depth to their characters and share a different connection to karuta. The other supporting characters start from having no karuta experience to developing into admirable players.

I find this anime so beautiful, from the way karuta is played to how the characters express their vulnerable sides. It’s a story that lets the audience internalize the pressure and attention the players put into playing karuta. I even find myself get nervous for our team. Chihaya is such a well-written main character who becomes mentally stronger through her struggles and will take any opportunity to achieve her dreams. Her confidence and fearlessness is what makes her such a captivating character. The romance, while it’s not the main focus, feels multi-layered as it fuels the rivalry between Taichi and Arata. This show does a great job in incorporating the sport to the character writing. While the plot of the story is easy to follow through, I found myself wanting to watch the next episode. The attachment to the sport and the characters is something you would never expect for such a niche show.

Kids on the Slope

If you want to watch a show that gives a sense of nostalgia, Kids on the Slope is the show. The story centers around two boys, Sen and Bon, with different backgrounds bond over music. In the beginning, they both struggle to bond with others due to their circumstances (one is an introvert while the other is a delinquent). However, they eventually open up through their love with jazz music. This show was honestly such captivating drama, between friends and through love. It’s nice to witness youth explore their hobbies, open up to others, and develop feelings. Watching the characters express their vulnerabilities and possibly make reckless decisions felt very realistic. It felt human. In addition, the jazz performance in one particular episode was remarkable for music in an anime. The emotions in their music is very present.

Princess Jellyfish

Girlhood and quirkness. If I could describe our cast of characters, it would be these two words. Tsukimi, our main character, has a strong attachment with jellyfish, as she has a vivid memory of going to the aquarium with her mother. Tsukimi finds jellyfish elegant and beautiful, which sparks insecurity about her appearance. Not only does she not fit into the Japanese beauty standards, she has very quirky tendencies. She therefore surrounds herself with like-minded people and does not interact with the outside world. However, once she meets Koibuchi, her life turns upside down.

I don’t want to give any spoilers, but this show has a simple premise but revolves around niche ideas. It also has a clear-cut message, encouraging the audience that viewing beauty through appearances is a narrow-minded view. Beauty comes in all different forms, even in the most unexpected ways. This anime also is light-hearted in its comedy. The character dynamic between Tsukimi and Koibuchi is fun but also heart-warming, as they both encourage each other to see the world in a different light. Only thing about this show that is disappointing is that the adaptation ends right when the train starts running its tracks.