Review of Stars Align

Soft tennis is not a game of luck and pure talent, and so is life itself. Hoshiai no Sora can focus solely on taking the competitive spirit and building up the enthusiasm for soft tennis from the start. An ensemble characters that are unworthy and lazy, trained and motivated themselves to be better to an extent that none of them would have expected. Adding some preliminary matches, hardships, friendships and loses then we would have another exciting sports anime to look forward to. But, no. The story diverges from the main training and shounen plot into tackling issues that are actually happening but no one is comfortableenough to address them. Especially not in this kind of trope, as the situations involving the relatively darker side of other’s childhood is too real for us to be bothered with. The feeling of watching as a bystander and not being able to do anything is simply too infuriating and to be frank, it just shows us how helpless they are, we are. And, I’ve never been so amazed by how well this is all executed.

Rather than playing some sad backstory over slow piano sounds, it directly brings us closer to the characters through the way they see the world, how they have lived their entire life completely different than others and how they try to emerge from it. Overprotective parents, supportive parents, ignorant parents, aggressive parents and more are laid bare for us to see. To build that emotional attachment to each of the characters that can only be felt by truly understanding their life and witnessing their struggle.

Then, the story further advances by adding in passion into the mix. Their hard work, their laughter and their frustrations are blended into the chance they have all created together. To make that ridiculed boy soft tennis club surpass all understatement thrown at it. To acknowledge their rivals and improve even beyond their limits. To accept themselves as who they really are. And evoking one of the most common emotion we all have, happiness. Because even in the gravest situation, they were never alone, as cliche as that be.

The art and animation is by 8bit which is decent with the flow of matches involving tense situations handled smoothly. The songs, especially the ending is quite delightful with a relaxing pace to it.

Overall, Hoshiai no Sora is like a dreamy story that has the burning fire a sports anime excels in creating, with a twist of realistic drama that keep you on the edge of the seat. It only marks the start of their journey, because as they struggle more and overcome challenges, amazing things will happen.

As the Stars Align together.