Review of Hanebado!
I have a hard time deciding if I'd recommend this show just for good character design and some good sports play that's few and far between. Because the story definitely isn't what I'd recommend I've heard some people say that this show is way too dramatic for a sports anime about Badminton. I'd say that it is more like the show takes its story too serious. Sometimes to the detriment of it's characters. Kuroko no Basket is a sports show that takes itself seriously, but still has a aura of camp to it that makes it enjoyable. This show has no camp to it's edgynessand it just leaves you hating any character that isn't the MC Aragaki. Aragaki is great in this show as she seems completely uninterested or unfazed by the other characters BS. This amazon just wants to play Badminton.
The characters are my biggest problem with the show. Motivations and characteristics seem to change for everyone on an ep. to ep. basis. Even after 12 ep., I still wasn't sure what the characters would be like in the 13th. The secondary MC, is one of the worst at this as the entire way through the show she hates her mom for abandoning her, for losing a match. However, anytime we see the mom throughout the show she seems like a super loving mom and a generally nice person. What the Secondary MC thought was abandoning, was actually a business trip that the mom didn't communicate properly..... seriously.
The art and sound are the saving grace of the show. When the director stops focusing on character BS and focuses the camera on the sport, it's super well animated; using some CG and hand drawn techniques. There are numerous times we get long shots of play. One huge prop I'll give this show, is that the final showdown gets all the screen time it needs and it is very enjoyable. The Sound effects are also stellar.
Overall, If you ever wanted to watch a show that's insecure about the sport it's about this might be for you. It's almost like they thought the audience would get bored of crazy well animated sports play for some reason.