In this Shonen-sport series, the theme of the day is badminton, a sport I've had a lot of experience with. The show starts with a beautifully animated and directed finals match between what turns out to be our two protagonists, Ayano and Nagasaki. Ayano is ultimately victorious, causing some serious confidence issues for a fiery Nagasaki. Such is her inner-turmoil over the match results that it flows out into anger and irritation at the rest of her club, causing a dwindling membership and some rather irritated club managers.
Ayano, it turns out, has transferred to the school with her childhood friend Elena. Having lost her passion for badminton for reasons unknown, she elects instead to join the tennis club. Initially timid, she reveals her courtside skills when saving her friend from an errant lob at a nearby match. A mysterious (and seemingly pervy) chap rushes in and starts feeling up her hands, praising her skills. This results in a thorough smacking by tennis racket, until he reveals he's a coach and wants Ayano to join the badminton club.
Ayano refuses, but is eventually dragged to the club by Elena, who believes her friend should use the skills she's been given to the fullest, and by the end of episode one, we're all set for a return match between an angry Nagasaki and a reluctant Ayano.
I'm in two minds about this series. On one hand, the show has a solid background with the badminton concept, but on the other it's yet another sports anime with reluctant rivals having to overcome their mutual disdain to further the interests of their club. It's too early to tell at this stage, but I really hope they do something unusual with the premise to avoid being another trope-filled series of Shonen sports by-the-numbers.
The animation is pretty good, and certainly the direction of the matches is exciting, so it has everything going for it in the visuals department. I did find it quite hard to tell who was who during this first episode, as characters tended to blend together rather than stand apart, and that's not a good look for a show that needs you to take each character to heart.
I'm happy to watch a few more episodes, but at time of writing I think it could just devolve into a very bland, re-painted sports show with little new to say. I will, of course, be thrilled to be proven wrong, at which point I will eat my words. With a nice sauce.
Trailer:
Hanebado! is available now on Crunchyroll and Funimation.
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