Review of Hanebado!
I think most people will agree when I say this, that sports anime are some of the most exciting ones out there. The various tournament arcs along with the exciting underdog stories make for a engrossing series of affairs. Hanebado interested me not just because its a sports anime, but also because it is based on Badminton which is a sport you generally don't see much of. The story line is good enough and even contains a hint of some of the more mature topics such as body shaming. It is the story of the badminton prodigy Hanesaki whose mother left her without any explanations and shehas been finding the reason for playing badminton ever since. It is also the story of Nagisa Aragaki who lost miserably to Hanesaki in a tournament and has been unable to get a hold of herself ever since.
What it is not is the story of other characters. Most of the anime focuses on Hanesaki, her treacherous relationship with badminton and its effects on the other people. I think there was a huge possibility missed in the sense that the anime doesn't really dive deep into the story of other characters. For example- in the case of coach Tachibana, it would have been better if his background was brought out in a more elaborate and graphical way. I haven't read the manga so I can't say what happens afterwards, but speaking purely from the viewpoint of the anime, I think there was a big missed opportunity.
The animation is really good. The fast paced badminton scenes, the switching of Hanesaki from a friendly to foe mode has been really well brought out. The dynamics and movements of players during the matches are quite akin to what you might see in a real life badminton match, so full points for that. Also, there is a scene in the last episode where everything is muted during the match, and you can just hear the breath of the players. I found it really amazing.
The soundtrack is also great. Especially the ED which kind of gears you up for the next episode. The soundtrack during the matches used to bring out the tension and excitement has also been very well made.
Again, the characters could have been developed in a better way. I really saw much potential in the likes of Tachibana and Gaku, but in the end it felt like an opportunity missed. Overall, the anime is pretty enjoyable and good enough to keep you hooked. Its not one of the best sports anime tbh because it just lacks the kind of development, which could have been brought out had it continued further. You never really tear up or go full on cheering for a certain character. Rather, you just sit there watching a nice and entertaining match which is just good good, but not great enough to rank among the best