This anime deserves so much more views and a much higher score than a simple 6 it has right now. It is easily my favorite from the season and I really did not expect it to be that way. From the very first episode I knew it was going to be something special, because very few anime manage to make me love a character right from the get go and get teary eyed, wanting to see them grow. Michi managed that, the loveable ball of optimism and energy that she is. The other characters are excellent and have their own unique traits and play offof eachother really well, and they all made an impression.

This is a slice of life as much as it is a sports anime and the struggles are often grounded in realistic issues which find resolutions quickly, and that is one of its strengths. It does not drag out anything and keeps the plot moving at a steady pace. The music is great and fits the tone of the scenes. I often found myself getting emotional at the charged moments, and at other times I could barely hear it during an intense judo sequence, which is good because sometimes you just need to focus on the action without the loud music drowning everything. My only complaint is that this anime is so short and I have no idea if it will be continued. I WISH IT WOULD! As I sit here waiting for episode 12 to air, all hyped up from that cliffhanger, I love this anime so much and I would wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who likes the CGDCT or sports genre.