Audience reviews
20 · Sample from the first available page, separate from the total number of ratings.
YBYUVI
Love the anime, it's a really good anime, the story is top tier, and the characters are written very well. But the only thing is that the matches in this anime are super annoying, I mean if you are watching this anime you probably have already watched Haikyuu, so imagine haikyuu match but they never actually show the dang court and just speak volleyball jargon. Like blud show me the damn court, I don't know what a frickin slice, or cross shot or any of that stuff is, and the main thing that if the matches are going to last 2 episodes I just don't wanna see him or the opposite player just give a monolgue, I also wanna see the dang match like the audience in the anime. Becuase it's just not fun someone just explaining what they are doing in the match and not actually seeing what they are doi…
Read at the sourceSerial_Exp_Lain
Just like it's title,the show is a bit slow to take off.However,it captures you immediately with a very unique character.The story is simple but it's the execution that is exemplary.A deep sense of realism runs through all the episodes.While the MC has some amazing talents,the show constantly reminds us how talent alone is not enough.Almost every character,every rival is unique.They all have their backstories that explain their styles of play.This makes all matches interesting and the writers manage to keep taking it up a notch with every game.Something that seemed like the greatest "weapon" when introduced,turns into a baggage in the next match.This happens while our MC is improving at an exponential though slow seeming pace using the "join-the-dots" kind of method.
The show handles all…
Read at the sourceTpfang56
- This is a joint review of seasons 1 & 2 of Baby Steps. There will be mild spoilers. -
Of all the sports anime I’ve seen so far (which is not actually a whole lot), Baby Steps is my first foray into tennis. Overall, I am pleasantly surprised at how good it is. Perhaps it’s because I’ve been watching team sports all this time and tennis is a single player sport, but it does feel like it did something different.
First, let me just say that the main character Eiichiro (or Ei-chan) is not your typical sports protagonist. I mean sure, he’s another "complete newbie"-type who gets into a sport for the first time in high school, but unlike many other sports protagonists, he’s also an excellent student. Almost always, a sports protagonist is book dumb or at best average at school. On top of that…
Read at the sourceanaract
Baby Steps is sports anime done right. No power ups, final bosses, character gimmicks, overpowered main characters, or formulaic plot.
The shonen battle-arena format is done so thoughtfully that it hardly feels like one at all. While the story ultimately consists of a generic underdog main character training and battling against increasingly stronger opponents, it manages to feel unique and refreshing due to its detailed and compelling portrayal of competitive tennis.
The underdog trope is used to successfully make Maruo's (the main character) foray into competitive tennis at a late age (sixteen) feel intimidating, challenging, and all the more impressive when he nails it. Maruo doesn't catch up to everyone else because he has prodigious talent or a super gimmick, he earns it though lots…
Read at the sourcepleochroic
I loved this show. I am not usually a big sports anime fan because most sports anime is shounen, and the typical shounen treatment is so over the top. I did sit through many episodes of "Prince of Tennis" but I blame a friend who said "it gets better" (it didn't, not really). She shipped various guys, which might explain that. ;)
Compared to PoT this is a whole different world, and it's a lot closer to reality. No sports anime can ever be truly realistic because it would be too boring, but Baby Steps tries its best. There are no hyper-talented people who rarely need to practice here, no magic swings and power-ups to make the action pop off the screen, no artificially pumped up rivalries to add drama.
Oh, and lets get this out of the way, because the anime is miscategorized on MAL: there'…
Read at the sourceDeMilan
Baby Steps is a very interesting and somewhat unique take on the regular sports anime.
The show follows highschooler Eiichirou, a complete newbie at tennis, who uses his hard-working and determined personality to quickly improve his skill, and rise to the level of the players he meets during his journey.
-Story- 7/10
The story itself is nothing extraordinary. That doesn't mean it's bad in any way, but it isn't anything groundbreaking - it's just good.
-Art and animation- 6/10
The art-style of the show is somewhat unique - different to the typical 'all hot guys' design that most sports anime these days tend to have. Although the art-style is nice, the animation is noticeably lackluster in some scenes. Usually it's nothing terrible, but there are some parts which might leave you wondering…
Read at the sourceboub
In Baby Steps, we see how Eiichirou Marou a diligent student who appears to have perfected his note taking through his studies, but has no apparent talent in sport attempts progress in the world of tennis. In contrast to most sports anime were we see the main character constantly developing new skills, this anime depicts nicely how a transferring a skill such as “note taking” to a new area can result in a valuable asset when combined with HARD WORK.
This doesn’t however result in him always having the upper hand; rather it allows him to analyse his opponents, adapting skilfully to different situations in order to maximise the effectiveness of the skills he has already acquired through training to develop his game play.
Nevertheless, having played tennis myself, a noticeable flaw in thi…
Read at the sourcechiibug
If you've seen many sports anime, then you will definitely enjoy this as a refreshing take on the genre. If you're just starting to dip your toes into the genre, this won't be a bad one to start off with.
First, it's for the reason that many reviewers have said before me, it's definitely more realistic and grounded than its peers. The MC did not immediately have the innate talent for it, but he has built it through training and experiences shown throughout the series. Not to mention, no character was extremely exaggerated or shown to be exhibiting super-human skills. There were just people who were talented and then there were those who weren't.
Second, it's not a purely sports story. It's a romance, a slice of life, and a coming of age as well. It tackled different parts of the protagon…
Read at the sourceExilixE
I love the realism of this show. In terms of realistic tennis, I definitely put this over Prince of Tennis. But the only reason I like Prince of Tennis better is because it was a longer lasting series and I was more attached to the characters and story. But as far as tennis animes go, this is the best in my opinion in terms of realism. They don't incorporate bullshit shots like Drive B, they call outs and double faults, take into account the physical and mental part of the game, and they depict minute details on how to improve. I love how analytical Maruo is too. It makes it very interesting to watch.
Read at the sourceThee_Double_D
I am going to try and keep my review short yet informative.
This anime has come and replaced Prince of Tennis as the no. 1 tennis anime out there. For those of you who haven't watched PoT it's an anime that focuses on turning tennis into something supernatural in order to make it more entertaining to obviously watch. While it did excel in that area is wasn't realistic. If it didn't have that element it would have the popularity it has today. This anime on the other hand makes normal tennis extremely enjoyable to watch. Yes it is slightly exaggerated but not in a bad way at all and not on the same wavelength as PoT. This has become one of my all time favourite anime and I will explain briefly below.
[b]Story 10[/b]
Honour student wants to get some exercise and chooses tennis as a hobby.…
Read at the sourceFlauen
In short: Go watch it now, even if it's your first sports anime!
Overall: Oh my gosh! Sports anime genre, you must forgive me for giving you the cold shoulder for so many years! This anime is quite simple, mostly straightforward with a clean premise - have fun and go pro at playing tennis, obviously. What it does differently is that it gives the viewer a very personal journey by explaining the game itself, by showing the multiple frustrations a person dedicated to a sport has to go through and by giving motive and fullness to most characters in the show. And, the way each episode builds anticipation, suspense and hooks you up to the next episode is incredible. This definitely opened my eyes to the genre and I hope it is not the only anime that gives this type of magnificent thrill.
Some…
Read at the sourcemrjosemanuel2
Is this your firts spokon (sport anime)?
If it is I wouldn´t recomend you this anime, i enjoyed it, but i think there are many other better options (haikyuu!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
What do you want to see in a spokon?
In my case i like spokon cause they are relly motivating, you feel you can do what you want and music is really important in order to do it. And this anime don´t have the sountrack i expected isn´t bad but you won´t rebember any song in a few month.
Now now lets start MY review
Story: 7
Spokons don´t usually have a good story but this one have it, it isnt only get to the final tournament and win it (only). And the most important nd strange thing i have found on this anime is that characters aren´t absurdly overpowered, so it´s a good change.
Art: 7
This anime has an average animati…
Read at the sourceZeroHumor
The shounen sports genre is often known for focusing primarily on the 'badassery' of the protagonist. Whether it'd take borderline supernatural powers, world-class talent, or the glorification of matches complete with equally badass rivals and an audience that's shocked out of their seat every 5 seconds, the series will always pull through with demonstrating that there is something special about what's going on. Protagonists are idols, absolutely extraordinary characters whom you watch from the side lines with awe. It's about the thrill. It's about the fantasy.
Baby Steps is different. As indicated by the title, Maruo's tennis career is built steadily from the ground up, and we're there to see every crucial step that's taken for him to rise from an unathletic straight-A high school stude…
Read at the sourcedwolf
First of all this anime is all about tennis.
Well about the story it's really interesting and the settings are on the spot. This anime shows how a goal can change someone. Facing all the hardship, working on your weakness and using your strength to grow. Pursuing your goal as your future in on the line.
Why do I want this anime is because
- interesting
- good story
- outstanding characters
- mind blowing - surprising
- tactics
- strategy
- skills
- romance
- comedy
Though anime is fantasy I don't really like it when it lacks reality. But other anime like Baby Steps will really get you to watch it.
Please watch.. Thank you..
Read at the sourceSaruwatari-san
If you love Prince of Tennis series , you will also love Baby Steps . Both anime involved tennis of course . While Prince of Tennis have serious skill using , Baby Steps goes to a more realistic kind of way .
Story:8
From the first episode till the end , the story plot goes on just fine . Its was good . I enjoy it just fine .
Art:9
The arts for Baby Steps are quite actually good for a sport genre . It did take my interest . The view of the arts are just beautiful .
Sound:9
I love every of the voice actors . No voice actor that ruined the show or anything . I also love the OP and ED of the anime . Especially the OP . Its a total of 9 for me .
Character:9
Every characters from Baby Steps have its on way . From Maruo to the rest of them . I like how Maruo take risk if he finds himself los…
Read at the sourcededoyxp
Baby Steps... From the title, maybe you will think about some bitchy heroine and some shitty animations. But, it's not. It's purely about Tennis.
Why I like this series? Cause I'm a tennist player that start from highschool too, and I understand how tennis is not so popular on Asia, and how there is a kid there. And it's feel like it was real.
Like any other review, this anime not like other sports, this anime use logic to tell te story, there is no shadow player like KNB, there is no some electricity on their eyes.
The first story tell us about Honor Student at some highschool that he think he lack of excersice, so he check out Tennis sport. And it tell how hard to become a pro player, that I want to be but its just a dream.
The animation is good, no annoying laziness from the animato…
Read at the sourceCompete
To be completely honest, I can’t begin to comprehend the lack of popularity surrounding Baby Steps. The title Baby Steps may often make people prolong watching this sensational series or even drop it completely. Baby Steps art style can push people away from watching it, but once you get past the art style you will be be engaged in this show.
I will not go into full detail of the story, and will try to make this review nice and short.
This series is typically about an honour student Maruo Eiichirou, (also called Ei-chan for his exceedingly high grades) and he is living an unhappy life. A life of studying, to make his parents happy. But what this really making him happy? He decides to take up tennis, with having no prior experience in sport whatsoever. This is when his love for tennis, s…
Read at the sourceAllen-KT
I'm a big fan of sports anime, and Baby Steps, for me it's one of the best that i've ever seen just for a reason: It shows us the reality about tennis.
Maruo, the main character, isn't a genius. He is a character that focus in his control, and the "feeling about tennis" on him keep growing until one episode passes.
For me particularly, i think that i love it because i remember a bit of my old self when i play tennis. This anime give that feeling, that made me remember that isn't easy to become a great player, isn't easy to win matches. This anime show us that for win, you need to train more, and that is the only way to get better.
Because of this realistic way to focus the anime, Baby Steps become so awesome, even in romance that have in the anime, things isn't this easy. The story is t…
Read at the sourceStark700
Watching Baby Steps is like trying to learn how to ride a bike, an activity that may seem hard at first but will find its way eventually if you put your efforts through. But a bike isn’t without rules and similarly, Baby Steps has its own guidelines when it comes to tennis. For Maruo Eiichirou, a straight A-student, almost everything he has done in his life came with effort in order to become successful. And that’s no understatement when he has earned nicknames such as “All-A”. However, one thing he lack is a dream, a real goal in his life. After a faithful encounter one day with popular student Takasaki Natsu, he may have just realized what it means to follow a dream.
Written by Hikaru Katsuki, the series is built on the foundation of tennis, a competitive sport of cunning nature. For Ei…
Read at the sourceDavi3d
I've seen several sports-themed anime, and in my opinion this one of the two or three best.
To me, one of the most attractive aspects of this story is the method by which the protagonists attain their expertise at the sport. Not a single character spends time meditating by standing under a waterfall. No one ever packs up camping gear and hikes to remote areas in distant mountains for training (defeating bears and wildcats along the way.) There is not a single "secret" or "special" move that "magically defeats one's opponent.
What stands out is the main character's ability to analyze not only his opponent's strengths and weaknesses, but his own as well. You could call this "effective reflection", I guess. Skill is invariably gained by realistic training activity and practice.
Some facial…
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