Review of Scorching Ping Pong Girls

Confession time. I have to admit, when I first heard of the anime adaptation about this series, I paused and thought “girls playing ping pong…what can be so exciting about this?” Coming into this show, my expectations were rather low. I didn’t read much of the original source material either so venturing into this series is like walking into the world of the unknown. As H.P. Lovecraft once said: “The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown”. Okay, maybe that’s a bit of an over exaggeration. However, what this show ended up beingwas a pleasant surprise.
Adapting the manga of the same name, the story follows middle school students Koyori Tsumujikaze and Agari Kamiya. They get involved with ping pong, a sport played between players on a hard table divided by a net. On the surface, there probably not much to expect from this show. That’s no surprise considering the simple premise and casual storytelling. However, this show is able to capitalize on several concepts that makes it quite entertaining.

First, it’s the characters. The show has a colorful cast of characters of different personalities. From friendly Koyori to the sarcastic third year captain Kiruka Ushirode, there’s something that will always grabs your attention about these characters. Some of the background storytelling are also extensive that expands beyond childhood memories. The series’ attempts at making character roles’ relevant also becomes quite entertaining because every character has a reason to play ping pong. As a sport, the show also introduces rivals so expect the show to evolve with some competitive elements. In essence, character chemistry is likeable especially between friends, Koyori and Agari.

Second, there’s the humor. While this show can initially feel like a “cute girls doing cute things” on paper, the comedy can easily be appreciated from the character reactions to their personalities. Take Kururui Futamaru for instance. She has the sort of look that gives off a yandere-like vibe and her behavior in the show is contagiously addictive to watch. The captain of Suzumegahara is also known for her love of teasing her team. Every episode has a balanced feel of humor that doesn’t overextend itself. Even at times when it feels like dumb comedy, it doesn’t drag the show down.

Third, what we have is the overall tone of the show. Often these days, sports shows is portrayed as overly serious. Soccer, football, basketball, you name it. There’s the pressure put onto players so drama is inevitable both on and off the field. However, this show portrays ping pong as a more casual sport even with its competitive nature. With that being said, it’s more or less popcorn entertainment. There’s no stress in being disappointed on who will win or lose. At the end of the day, the emphasis on the show is to craft fun from ping pong, something that it effectively achieves. While there are some characters that are obviously more skilled than others, it doesn’t spend too much time focusing on them at the expense of others or the other way around.

Still, if you’re looking into a show about creative storytelling, then it’s the wrong place. The storytelling is simple, perhaps way too casual. There’s not much to remember besides the show’s characters and humor. When it come storytelling, the show suffers from development and in general, it isn’t interested in going anywhere new. When watching this, it’ll feel like every episode is nearly the same with its pacing. The final two episodes are also I describe as quite underwhelming compared to the mid-season.

Adapted by Kinema Citrus, the anime visual quality is decent at best. The character designs emphasizes on cuteness as the girls (especially the moe eyes) look just like kids. Even the captain has her childish personality being expressed visually with her facial features. The ping pong matches focuses a lot on body movements and camera angles to present its action. Is it good though? Personally, I feel like it works sometimes while other times feels dragged down. Fan service does exists in the show as well although it doesn’t venture beyond onsen scenes.

On the other hand, the soundtrack surprisingly creates a perfect storm of expression. It’s spot-on aim with fast pacing and instrumental choreography. Character voice mannerism will probably appeal to fans who are used to shows with cute girls. If you’re not used to this type of show, then it’ll probably feel like a disappointment. There’s nothing else to say besides that. It’s either you’re into it or out.

This show can pretty much be recommended to anyone. It’s one of those series where you shouldn’t really expect too much. At its core, the series delivers a satisfying comedy and is hilariously worthy for a sports show. Just watching cute girls playing ping pong and trying to make a name of themselves, you know? That makes me feel like a kid again.