Baby Steps
2014
Original language: Japanese
- animation
- comedy
The story
Eiichirō Maruo (nicknamed "Ei-chan" for his grades being straight "A") is an honor student, bookworm, and is not interested in anything other than studying. In order to solve his problem of lacking physical strength, he enrolled a tennis school and soon found the fascinating side of tennis. Being a tennis newbie lacking physical strength, he supplement his shortcomings with his excellent observing and analyzing skills.
What it’s like
Bright, clean cel animation with sunlit school courts, blue sky and pale green clay, and tennis rallies that cut between sweat-streaked close-ups and calm, analytical inner monologue. The comedy comes from the gap between a fragile, bookish protagonist and the sporting world he has stumbled into, with the deadpan narration doing as much work as the animation. The sound is bouncy and upbeat: squeaking shoes, thwacking strings, and an energetic pop-rock score that eases off during quieter scenes of practice and friendship. The tone is warm, earnest and low-stakes, with a steady pace across episodes and a slow build of confidence and camaraderie. The romance and coming-of-age threads stay light and gentle. Physical effort and exertion appear constantly, but there is no violence, gore or real cruelty, and sexual content is absent beyond faint teasing. It suits an easygoing weekend binge, background viewing while doing chores, or a comfort watch. It is for viewers who enjoy sports stories that prize thoughtful strategy over raw talent, and who like a hopeful, good-natured school setting.
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