#2 KUROKO’S BASKETBALL
Kuroko no Basket is most definitely the most talked about anime since its debut last Spring. Normally, a sports anime should gets its audience excited, get their hearts pumping for more action and should most definitely absorb its audience into the moment to the point where you find yourself rooting for the characters. It doesn’t come off as a shock that sports anime is among one of the most popular genre next to shoujo and shonen simply because it captures the beauty of the sport that the anime features and most definitely revolves around a character that is overly passionate about the sport. Well, true to its very nature, Kuroko no Basket has undeniably possesses all of those qualities that we look for in a sports anime. One of the redeeming factors of the show is its fast-paced action and storyline wherein you can most definitely say that it doesn’t waste time. At episode three, you can already see the characters having a basketball match. Normally, in a basketball show, you’d definitely see some nice shots from inside the court as well as see a lot of fouls and time outs that drag the pacing of the game. Luckily for us, Kuroko no Basket eliminated all that nuisance and just allows us to enjoy the characters do heart-wrenching slam dunks and hair-raising double clutches during the game. Seeing all those flashy moves not only provides excitement to the audience but also eliminates the technicality of the game so that even the casual anime viewers can whole-heartedly enjoy the game. Overall, it resulted into a fast-paced and high adrenaline basketball sports action between to equally impressive basketball teams. On to the more technical side to the show, this anime has most definitely utilized some of the best animation I’ve seen in years. The fluid and smooth movements of the characters helps the show stand out very splendidly that it was able to capture the drama of those moments that made the matches that much more exciting. Essentially, Kuroko no Basket captures the audience’s attention with its epic scenes, hair-raising moments, likeable characters and to top it all off, funny comedy that all can appreciate. Without a doubt, Kuroko no Basket never disappoints in every aspect of the show and is highly recommended for all types of viewers, not only to avid sports fan.
Plot: The story begins with a recount of Teiko Middle School’s Basketball team, an incredibly strong team with over one hundred members. Teiko easily rose to distinction by demolishing its competition and became the champion for three straight years. Amongst their brilliant record, the generation of five basketball prodigies has led the team to victory until they were eventually referred to as the “Generation of Miracles” for its undeniable talent and potential to be great in the sports industry, each one excelling in their own strength and capabilities. After graduating middle school, these so-called Generation of Miracles went on to different high schools with top basketball teams in hopes of becoming number one. However, a rumor starts to spread regarding this so-called Generation of Miracles. Despite being relatively unknown to everyone else and a lack of game record, there was one member recognized by the five prodigies, the so-called phantom sixth man. This mysterious player is now a freshman of Seirin High School, a new school with a powerful, if little-known, basketball team. Along with Kuroko Tetsuya and Kagami Taiga, a naturally talented basketball player who spent most of his middle school in the US, are aiming to become number one in Japan. Much to the surprise of everyone else, even the team’s coach is unable to believe that Kuroko used to go to Teiko Middle School and that he was a regular alongside the so-called Generation of Miracles. It wasn’t till later during a practice match did they realize that Kuroko is actually the phantom sixth member of the Generation of Miracles who excelled at passing and supporting his team behind the scenes. Kuroko is using his exceptional observational skills to use misdirection, a technique used in sleight of hand, to direct his opponent’s attention elsewhere to create illusions that he disappeared so he can pass the ball around. Now with the untapped raw potential of Kagami and the support of the phantom sixth member of the Generation of Miracles, just how far can these first year duo lead the Seirin basketball team especially when they’re facing Kuroko’s former teammates, the Generation of Miracles?
