Kuroko's Basketball

Inszy Jun 21, 2015

6

Do you love basketball? You want to watch great anime about your favorite sport?! Well... then go for Slam Dunk (or eventually Dear Boys). Kuroko's Basketball isn't about basketball. They have the same ball, they play on basketball court and that's it. There's no tactics, no one know anything about this sport, basketball rules exist only in part etc.Generally it's like Dragon Ball in school gym. Everyone have some super powers and they activate them one by one.Unfortunately there's no real plot - it's all about action on court. Main characters don't have life outside of the game, we don't know their motivations (only "I want to be the best!"), fears or problems. They just play match after match with one scheme: at the beginning Seirin are losing, but at the end they wins, because they found the way to deactivate opponents powers or/and they activate own powers on new level. And that's it. Throughout the season. Sounds stupid and boring? Well, partly it is. But if you don't watch too many episodes at once, it can be really fun. We have very nice animations, pretty good music and sound effects. All battles have a good dramaturgy and powers aren't exaggerated.There's no real emotions, because you always know how it's gonna end, but trust me: you can be excited :)

Foxfire Mar 27, 2016

5

I love sports anime.  I've been hooked ever since Hajime No Ippo in my teens and fell in love with a handful of series' despite not being a fan of boxing or whatever sport they played.  It's the way so many writers and studios pair the sweetness, bitterness and naivete of youth and friendship with well-paced action, fleshed-out and believable characters inside and outside of the sport and their growth through losses and triumphs. Kuroko... has none of these things.  I've wanted to like this show and get through all 3 seasons, but always sputter out by the time the first 25 episodes or so come to an end.  The production values are high but the characters are weak.  Particularly Kuroko.  I'm sure there's an argument to be made that the entire point of his lack of character is to further illustrate his... unique skillset on the court.  But for me, personally, it just makes the character completely unlikable, unrelatable, boring and at that point, why root for him? The same can be said for most of the supporting cast of friends and foes.  The unique "skill" of at least one or two of the characters is so ridiculous it wipes the earlier mentioned believability right out the window.  You never really get a glimpse at the past life of the characters or their real motivation outside of being the best.  You don't really see a huge struggle or wall for them to overcome, just a bunch legendary foes to beat one-on-one who are easily as one dimensional as Kuroko himself.  I'm a little surprised this series gets so much love. Kuroko reminds me a little bit of the main character of Big Windup! (a show which I like despite its flaws) in that both of their social incompetence is bordering unbelivable and mentally deficient/ill.  I say this as a complete recluse myself.  The difference is that Big Windup! at least gives you a reason to root for the main character by giving him some past and some emotion.  Kuroko characters are bland, cardboard cutouts. If you're easily bored by bad/uninspiring characters and motivations, save yourself some time and go watch a gem like Haikyu! or Hajime no Ippo instead.  If you love basketball and high production values, by all means give it a try.  Maybe you'll get further along than I did.

noah1212 Jun 11, 2012

9

Kuroko's Basketball focuses on a school that only formed one year prior to when the story takes place. While the team didn't do well, they regarded their first year a personal victory as they weren't expected to do much at all.  The story follows this team as they recruit an American basketball prodigy with loads of potential, and Kurok the "sixth man" of the "miracle of generations", a squad considered to be the most talented basketball team assembled ever. Kuroko's real talent is less about making himself a good player, and more about using his talents to increase the play of the players around him, this makes him a perfect fit on an ambitious squad that wants to work well as a team.  Story - 9 - The idea of Kuroko playing against the five super stars he was once on a team with and trying to beat them using tenacity and teamwork rather than superstardom and raw talent is quite interesting. It makes the series a real underdog story, and a treat to watch. The story moves at an extremely fast pace, which is really necasarry for a sports themed anime. The show also has some very funny and well timed comedic moments, which not only are entertaining, but draw you closer to the characters within the anime. The one knock on the story line is it follows the same formula many sports animes do. Sound - 10 - Music selection and sound effects are perfect for the anime, they are unique almost every episode, so the music doesnt lose its ability to hype up the viewer or add to the anime. The sneakers squeaking on the court, pitter patter of running, and ringing sensation after a dunk are all present and executed as one would expect.  Animation - 10 - The Animation is very interesting to look at, and it adds a lot to the anime as a whole, its very bright and elaborate. The lines and designs of the characters help illustrate their personality and at times the anime feels like its popping out of the screen. This may be the most visualy please anime i have ever seen. Every little detail is accounted for, and used correctly. I.e. a player with tremendous speed gets low to the floor and as he accelerates quickly his jersey puffs out a bit off his back. ankles turning and twisting as they would for a real life basketball player, nets swishing, its all accounted for and executed flawlessly.  Characters - 8 - The characters are all well done, especially considering how many well thought out character designs there are. Though, as with most sports animes the character creativity is limited because of how focused the subject at hand is. Somehow, the series really does make the characters its own though, and they are all very interesting and have several dimensions to them beyond just what they can do on the basketball court. The struggles the players are forced to deal with as a team and individually really adds a ton of depth to the series and its very fun to watch all of them progress, even through the short 18 episode series we are currently left with. The pace of this anime is so fast and it really keeps you engrossed and interested each and every episode.