Sakamichi Onoda is a cheerful otaku looking to join his new school's anime club, eager to finally make some friends. Unfortunately, the club has been disbanded and he takes it upon himself to revive it by finding students who are willing to join. Without much luck, Onoda decides to make a round trip to Akihabara on his old, bulky city bicycle, a weekly 90-kilometer ride he has been completing since fourth grade.
This is when he meets fellow first year student, Shunsuke Imaizumi, a determined cyclist who is using the school's steep incline for practice. Surprised by Onoda's ability to climb the hill with his specific type of bicycle, Imaizumi challenges him to a race, with the proposition of joining the anime club should Onoda win. And thus begins the young boy's first foray into the world of high school bicycle racing!
[Written by MAL Rewrite]
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Veronin
Peer pressure often prevents us from being the person we want to be. The teenage years entail a necessity for conformity and a fear of change. Physical appearance, grades, money and social status are used to determine someone's value in society. Or so it seems. For Onoda Sakamichi, he finds his place by pedalling and pedalling forward. Yowamushi Pedal is a story of a weak-willed, unattractive and friendless otaku finding joy in life through the sweat of sport. Nobody, including himself, thinks him capable of more than shopping for manga and singing embarrassing anime songs. He rides his cheap bicycle from school to Akihabara once a weekand the dismal cycle begins anew. But through a series of fortunate coincidences he finds untapped talent and a place in his school's cycling club.
Unlike most protagonists in sports anime, Onoda is not a hot-blooded maniac with a craving for victory. He is timid, weak-- but earnest. He pedals on not out of proud, but because his aching muscles and the wind beating against him makes him feel alive. In a race he does not need to worry that he is shy or awkward; all that matters is that he pedal forward and dominate the asphalt. While Onoda may not be likeable in the traditional sense (his timidness can occasionally reach the point of frustration), much like Mihashi from "Big Windup", you can't help but root for the poor guy.
The other members of Souhoku's cycling club are fairly exciting, though most of them are nothing you haven't already seen before in a sports anime. There's Onoda's rival, Imaizumi, but the rivalry seemingly vanishes into thin air as the Interhigh tournament approaches. Naruko represents the life and energy of the club, while the three seniors unsurprisingly serve as mentors to the first-years. The most interesting of all the characters (sans Onoda) is Makishima. His long, green hair, lanky body, molester-like smile and spider-like cycling manoeuvre has him come across as a creepy little bastard, but gradually he develops and adds a distinct personality to the show. Souhoku will certainly feel the loss once he graduates.
The rival cyclists are, well... they have quite a personality. One of them is a muscle freak who names his pecks (Andy & Frank, in case you were curious) and regularly screams "Abs!" while riding with his jersey unzipped, exposing his bulging, twitching muscles. Yes. Yowamushi Pedal is a very strange show.
Others are more conservative in their personality, with the unbeatable Hakone High serving as the second main cast of characters. Their rivalry with Souhoku feels genuine as a result of a number of flashbacks, and these scenes fortunately are handled gracefully, only ever shown when pertinent to the story. The individual members of Hakone High are all fleshed-out, too. Even Muscle Dude.
The one blemish in an otherwise fun cast of characters is Midousuji of Kyoto Fushimi. He takes ridiculous to a level that I don't believe I have seen before in a sports anime. He does not stop at simply being the arrogant antagonist; he is a goddamn animal masquerading as human. He slurps with his long, lizard-like tongue, bends his body in positions impossible for the human body, loudly grinds his skeleton-like teeth in front of his opponents, strangles his team-mates and leaves death shrieks like a complete lunatic. Okay, I understand that the show wanted to create conflict by having a villain that the entire audience can despise and root against, but he did not need to be exaggerated to such an extent. His character simply creates a pervasive, ceaseless sense of imbalance within the show. And he does not ever stop frustrating the viewer. By the power of God, Jesus, Allah, those Hindu deities that I can't remember the name of, my mom and every other person in the history of mankind, won't somebody please please please beat the fool senseless?
Midosuji aside, Yowamushi Pedal does an excellent job of being accessible to those who have no prior experience or interest in the sport of cycling. Basic terminology is concisely conveyed to the viewer without being condescending, and it focuses more on the abilities of the cyclists rather than the intricacies of some obscure technique they are using. It does occasionally stray from realism during the Interhigh tournament, though. Every main character seems to have some sort of superpower. And you have to wonder how the characters don't lose their breath from talking so much while cycling.
Yowamushi Pedal is a visual feast. It is easily one of the best-looking sports anime produced to date. In the thirty-eight episodes produced thus far, there has not been one where the animation quality has dipped to any noticeable extent. The amount of CG used is thankfully minimal (usually limited to the scenery and the legs of the cyclists), though to be fair, it does skip many of the expensive shots by focusing more on the faces of the cyclists, with said faces given extra prominence by the blurring of the backgrounds. However, the best part of the visuals is the most basic: colour. Too many shows forget the importance of colour. Grey and brown is not fun for the eyeballs.
The musical score is great, but the real beauty is in how well-timed it is. All the tracks start and end at the perfect moment; a final dash towards the finish line being accompanied by a hot-blooded orchestral piece with guitars riffing in the background, or a tense 'eleventh hour' piece playing as the characters run out of strength and fall behind. One of the best moments in the entire show occurs in the thirty-first episode, with Onoda motivating his teammate by forcing him to sing along to a cheesy anime song (the way he's always encouraged himself), it later switching into a guitar solo of the song before finally crescendoing into the show's main background piece. Even if there's no particular stand-out track, the excellent usage of these tracks makes every episode a joy to watch. It's also pretty damn motivational, to boot.
However, it should be noted that the first season (should they even be considered separate seasons?) does not have a conclusion. It ends in the middle of the Interhigh tournament during one of its climaxes, the final sprint of the second day with no 'to be continued' to assuage the viewer. Watching the second season is an absolute necessity, so you will have to prepare yourself for a fairly long ride.
Yowamushi Pedal is first and foremost an inspirational story of the weak surpassing the odds and triumphing over the strong. It will not leave you with something you haven't already seen before, and while it is most certainly not deep or philosophical, it excels at doing what matters most: leaving a smile on the viewer's face.
Solid_Cow
Yowamushi Pedal is not a good show. It's a standard, predictable shounen sports series that does nothing memorable or exciting. Every conflict in the story is caused by not having enough pride in your team, and every conflict is resolved by having more pride in your team. The characters all fit neatly into their pre-determined stereotypes, and nothing really changes between the start of the show and the last end card. But this show does excel in one area, and that is copious amounts of balls-to-the-wall MANSERVICE. Now, I don't claim to be an expert on the admiration of the male physique. I like my ladiesmore than I like my guys, which is why I lean towards shows like Highschool DxD more than Free. But I started this show with no idea what I was getting myself into, and for the first, oh, 10 episodes it was a so-so show about bicycles. Then it started happening. The outfits got tighter, the shorts got shorter, and the amount of screen real estate taken up by sweaty butts increased dramatically. I was bewildered by this sudden turn. “Truly,” thought I, “these camera angles are those reserved for fanservice shots, but there is nary a panty to be seen!” It wasn't until 2 episodes before the show ended that I finally had a complete conception of what I was seeing. It was a shot of two cyclists crossing the finish line, one positioned triumphantly behind the other with his arms held to the sky, hips thrust proudly into the rear of the one in front. The loser was wide-eyed at this sudden shock, overcome with the realization that the winner had completely taken him by surprise. It was then that I knew just how far from home I had come.
Yowamushi Pedal is a show built entirely on a foundation of manliness. You're apt to see so many sweaty, panting men with their firm butts thrust high in the air, grasping at each other and fighting for dominance, that you'll never want for another slash fic again. There is a veritable smorgasbord of masculinity on display for any tastes you might have. Do you fancy the stoic leader type? Take your pick from any of the team leaders. Do you prefer a foul-mouthed lone wolf who secretly cares deeply for his friends? You got it. Want a tall, awkward guy with a big heart? Well, you're getting one anyway. The dogged nice guy with a dark and troubled past even makes an appearance. Like your guys with a more bishounen appeal? Here's a fun activity: count all the female cyclists you see on the character page. Done? Those are all guys. Do you love big beefy bros? There's not one, but TWO massive mountains of man-meat here, one of which even names his muscles for easy reference in fan fics. “Oh Arakita-san, please rub lotion on my Andy...” Like long, spindly guys with no bones and a sociopathic hatred of humans? You may want to talk to someone about that, but in the meantime, enjoy Yowamushi Pedal! No matter your preference, this show's got you covered.
Should you watch Yowamushi Pedal? If you've read this far, you should already know the answer to that. If you like men's butts and you cannot lie, pick this one up and tough out the first two arcs. You will be richly rewarded. If you just want to watch a by-the-numbers shounen then by all means, pick this up as well. But if you're not in the mood for manservice and you don't want to see something that insults your intelligence, then give Yowamushi Pedal a pass. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go marathon Seikon no Qwaser to reaffirm my sexuality.
Stark700
Hobbies. Everyone has them whether when you were just a kid, during high school, or as an adolescent. But everyone’s hobbies vary. Hobbies pique interest and interest can lead into an obsession. For Sakamichi Onoda, his hobby is watching anime to the point of obsession. You remember that one time when you forgot to record your favorite show that airs late at night? Well for Sakamichi, that could be a catastrophe. But little does Sakamichi know that his hobby will lead him to an encounter with destiny. That encounter leads him to ride the winds and steer the Yowamushi Pedal. A tour with Yowamushi Pedal willquickly reveal the essence of this show surrounding the sport of cycling. It’s not just the promotional picture but rather the way the characters are designed. Besides Sakamichi, almost every supporting and major character has a degree of athletic form. It’s their passion, their desire, and love for bicycles that drives them to become the best in the world of cycling. But for Sakamichi, he is still riding a mamachari, or better known as the “mommy bike”. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that he’s a beginner. Yet, there’s something that makes Sakamichi draw attention with his wit. And by that means, I mean potential. That potential leads him to join the Souhoku High Bicycle Club, the core group of the series starring individuals of all angles.
The show builds paths for our characters to take. For Sakamichi, his journey to stardom begins with his meeting with Shōkichi Naruko at Akihabara. The encounter isn’t anything mind crushing but strikes a bit of curiosity. After all, the two seems nothing alike based on their personalities and appearances. Naruko, the boy with red hair, has a fiery passion with a competitive nature in sports. Sakamichi is the boy with otaku passion with an obsessive nature in anime. Get the picture now? Nonetheless, the episode detailing their meeting highlights a potential for Sakamachi. He is able to ride through the winds and break forth his timid nature. In retrospect, Sakamichi creates an impression that some people might of not originally anticipated. While the show does not warp itself with mind games, Yowamushi Pedal does offer plot twists viewers will be surprised by. Sakamichi’s first step to becoming an elite cyclist is one of those surprises.
However, the real question remains if Sakamichi can talk the talk, but also walk the walk. Comparing to characters such as Shunsuke Imaizumi, this seems to be overkill. Shunsuke is like the professor of cycling, knowing the nature of the game and presented as logical thinker. His competitiveness and dream has no boundary. In fact, the rivalry between him and Naruko is quite intimidating like tiger vs. dragon. Drawing from rivalries usually brings out the best of a character. In this series, it does that easily with the way characters compete whether it’d be friendly competitions or a battle of pride. At the paramount of the story, Sakamichi also shines with brilliance with how much he improves. For a show like this, character building is important and the focus is adamant to draw interest. The competitive atmosphere brings out that focus with obstacles the characters must overcome both physically and mentally. These obstacles ranges from a simple steep slope to catastrophic bike accidents that can lead to potential death for the characters. This is expanded to supporting characters as well and rivals of the Souhku High Bicycle Club. The success here is that the show embraces characterization on them with clever flashbacks and well-timed scenarios. It clearly makes its point across to show what the character wants and desire to achieve. Characterization becomes an important aspect of this show and I am thoroughly impressed by its aspects.
There’s also a niche for sports series that doesn’t need to be unique to set itself apart. The catch for this show is that it can transform cycling into a form of art. Characters brings their skills artistically during competitions with their unique styles of skills. These include a variety of signature moves like Naruko’s rocket sprint, Makishima’s spider climb, Midousuji’s leaning style, Tadokoro’s human bullet train, among others. Even Sakamichi develops his own signature move that truly shows how far he comes across. He might not be a prodigy but potential is one word that draws in people’s attention. As a member of Souhoku High Bicycle Club along with some of the main characters, Sakamichi sets himself as a journeyman. His interaction with characters brings out his potential especially during training camp. When he rides up that slope, Sakamachi is building character with his spirit. We’d like to appreciate his development as he takes on challenges that are seemingly impossible. He has to figure out solutions to difficult problems where they are real, not like the ones in the anime world he came to embrace.
It’s also said that competition often draws out the best of a person. After all, competition has rewards, tests, and strives to make us accomplish and achieve. Despite playing roles of supporting characters, some of them really tests the Souhoku High Bicycle Club. A few of them even have dynamics focused on their characters through clever usage of flashbacks. It ties directly with the story to bring forth development. It’s not just their gimmicks but their nature that will draw out interests for viewers. This interest leads to both friendships and rivalries to bring out the best of the best.
There are also other ways to look at this show. One is from the realistic angle with the mechanics of cycling. There are fundamentals explained that draws in techniques of cycling from the real world. Brand names are also featured to bring credibility with the competitions. From another angle is the comedy that sometimes will feel unrealistic. Characters such as Izumida will draw attention with his signature phrase “ABS, ABS, ABS” or Akira Midousuji’s nightmarish face. At the same time, some of the feats these cyclists performs can seem superhuman and unreal. There’s a boundary that blurs in between fiction and reality as the competitions gets tougher and heated each episode. And don’t forget the ending after the credit song. There’s a little gimmicky afterwards that offer laughs for nearly everyone.
A philosophy to get used to for sports series is generally development and training. Perhaps this show focuses a bit too much on the latter. The training session can feel repetitive and dragged. In fact, the first half exclusively focuses on this with appealing image but will take patience to get through. Furthermore, Sakamichi isn’t exactly a model to look on firsthand. His blend design and obsessive hobby isn’t something to write home about. The crux of the series focuses on his development but this could come as a mixed bags for viewers. The weaknesses also comes forth with his biking style that doesn’t bring impression at first glance. Furthermore, there’s a lack of this show’s style itself when it comes to competitions. Some bits can be predictable while others will feel like a repetitive cycle. And when it comes to destinations, there are times when you might not like what you see. Season 1 is also noticeable for cliffhangers and the endgame isn’t far from that.
Artwork is attractive on most parts of the series. The backgrounds feels natural with the mountain fields and rural roads. Although the characters doesn’t all look cutting edge, they do have a well-built presence. Each character has a design style that matches their persona whether it’s Naruko’s fiery hair to make his equally intense personality, Makashima’s long green hair, captain Shingo’s trademark sunglasses, or Midousuji’s malevolent expressions. It’s silly to say but Sakamichi is probably the most normal looking main character we see. Luckily, there’s limited fan service. (unless of you count Izumida’s friends nicknamed by him as “Andy” and “Frank”) What you get is characters that looks real, competitive fields that look consistently natural, and a respect for the nature of the game.
With an intense sport such as cycling, you’d expect soundtrack as a major backbone for support. The hype is real and the soundtrack does not disappoint with its well-coordinated orchestra. The OST is a strength that is fierce, adamant, and vigorous to the core. Incoming climatic scenes are set up well with thanks to the OST. Along with pacing, we get what fans deserve – high caliber races of integrity and well-timed music. The OP and ED songs also demonstrate degrees of such integrity. Character voicing is also respectable with their voice mannerisms that matches their personalities. There’s also a silly gimmick with the infamous “Hime Song” that will knock your socks off. If you’re not ready for each episode, the soundtrack will get you fired up.
It’s admirable that such an exercising hobby such as cycling can be turned into such a competitive sport. For Sakamichi, he never thought of going from a mommy bike to riding the glorious winds of a national competition. Just note that season 1 serves more as a built-up (for the first half) and execution with the remaining course. The ultimate conclusion isn’t exactly what should be designated as a suitable ending. Still, the experience you gain out of this show will also feel like a journey after you watch the rivalries, the characters’ creativeness, and a story about so much more than just riding a bike to burn calories.
elleyonce
At one point or another, one faces a metaphorical wall, and no matter how much effort one puts into breaking it, it is futile. What does one do, then? Give up? Wait? Have the willpower to try again and again? This, essentially, is what Yowamushi Pedal is about. Yowamushi Pedal, Weak Pedals in English and Yowapeda for short, follows Onoda Sakamichi and his journey to have fun with friends he never had, as well as his struggles in the world of road racing he gets dragged into. It’s, of course, not a unique concept by any means – after all, many sports shows follow the scheme ofa rookie exploring the sport in question. But instead of giving the viewer what they want – Onoda, and the bicycle team he’s in – Sohoku – to be at the top after hard work, Yowamushi Pedal rather makes the members suffer through one obstacle to the other.
But let’s start from the beginning.
Onoda’s biggest wish when entering high school is to join the anime club and to gain some friends with similar interests, since he was mostly alone in middle school. But this is going to change in high school, he tells himself, and it does indeed, as he doesn’t join the anime club as intended, but the bicycle club instead, after meeting the tall, serious Imaizumi and the flashy, short Naruko, to test his own potential. And Onoda does show lots of potential, especially at climbing hills (true to his name, which means “hill” in Japanese), and at catching up to opponents, eventually determined to help the Sohoku bicycle club in any way possible to gain overall victory.
While the story per se is not particularly good – especially paired with pacing problems in the second half of the show, unnecessary time extensions as well as the ending – its themes are very heartwarming and realistic. For one can’t say that they can’t identify with the theme of failing, and the constant struggle of overcoming obstacles, and Yowapeda has it in all facets and angles. Every character looks for ways to overcome their struggles, and for ways to motivate themselves. And in the middle of all that, there are comedical slice-of-life moments that strengthen the interactions between the characters after every ending song. The world of road racing is explained well, as the viewer has just as much of an idea of it as Onoda does, bit by bit so that it doesn’t come off as a boring info-dump, especially with every piece of information almost directly demonstrated in the scene.
The cast is certainly an odd mix. It never really fits any archetype, though it is close to, but that doesn’t exactly mean they’re very unique, either. Onoda fits in the otaku archetype, but is more presented as a timid, shy person who tries to give his best. Imaizumi fits in the serious, arrogant boy archetype, but there are moments where he is simply very awkward, and the list continues. The Sohoku team, save the green-haired third-year Makishima, who is an “irregularity” as he refers to himself and grows to be a distinct personality in the team, is very conventional with nothing new. But Makishima is by far not the only one who develops over the course of 38 episodes; the previously mentioned Imaizumi and third-year Kinjou are some examples as well. Of course, Yowapeda doesn’t only focus on Sohoku only (even though the first half does invest on the team); the rival team and champions Hakone is worth mentioning as well. They’re a lot odder than Sohoku – there’s the aggressive Arakita, the eccentric Toudou, laid-back Shinkai, muscle-freak Izumida and Onoda’s rival Manami. And despite being such an odd bunch, they get their flashbacks and development as well, even their stone-faced captain Fukutomi. The rivalry between Sohoku and Hakone feels real, too. Last but not least, there’s the antagonist Midousuji with his team Kyoto Fushimi. He’s the oddest of the cast, disturbingly so, and most of the time Kyoto Fushimi serves as a shock factor to Sohoku and Hakone. While not everyone’s past is revealed and not everyone is developed, a lot of them are, and they help making the characters seem very human with their faults and motivations. Indeed, the characters are Yowamushi Pedal’s strongest point.
The animation is average, sometimes even cringeworthy, but at least consistent. The CGI is not very annoying nor very remarkable. As for the sound, it certainly never feels out of place, always suiting the current mood. The problem is though that it is very repetitive, as certain tracks for racing or dramatic moments are used over and over again. The opening and ending themes deserve a special mention as well – almost all of the song fit the mood to the corresponding arc, the best of them being the second opening (Dirty Old Men’s “Yowamushi na Honoo”) and the best ending the third, “Glory Road”, sung by the voice actors of the Hakone members. Speaking of voice acting, it is certainly well-done. Many of them are B-list voice actors, and still pulled off the character they’re voicing without effort, especially the performances for Onoda and Toudou.
So in conclusion, Yowamushi Pedal is not the most unique, but a very touching tale about friendship and overcoming obstacles. Even though it has pacing issues at times as well as a non-existent end, it makes up for it with loveable characters and intense matches, as well as the great opening and ending themes. It does not rely on “pseudo-homo” moments, nor on magically winning because it’s the main character, but rather on the strength of willpower and how actually motivating friendship is. Should you watch Yowamushi Pedal? Yes.
TooBadForU
This review has grown big enough, so I'll cut the chase and let you jump right into it: -Story- 7/10 I'll go right ahead and say that I'm not usually "into" sports manga and/or anime, mainly because I'm not into sports in general. Thus, I can't really say how clichéd or not clichéd the story is compared to other titles in the genre. I do know a few things about shōnen though, and seriously - this is so shōnen. A lot of determined faces, seemingly impossible odds, close failures that get solved in the nick of time by the power of some good ol' JapaneseSpirit(TM), speeches about friendship and teamwork, and homo-eroticism. My god, is there a lot of that last one (this is excellent fujoshi-bait, so keep that in mind fellas).
Anyway; yeah, as far as shōnen goes, this story probably has seen the light of day more times than can be counted. And honestly? I don't mind.
The characters tries, works hard, support each other, fails and then tries some more. The competitions are exciting, the friendships are touching and the funny moments are genuinely funny.
Have we seen it before? Yes, definitely. Does it matter? No, I don't think so.
(It's also nice to be able to truthfully say that I actually learn something new when watching it; Watanabe, the mangaka, is a cyclist himself and all the facts and techniques that show up are real, if sometimes exaggerated.)
-Art & Animation-
8/10
Nothing really special. There are shots that linger a teensy bit too long, many close-ups of the eyes, looped footage, CGI in a few places (though it's not as jarring as you might think; I for the most part didn't think about it) and probably some other tricks to make the animation seem not-as-cheap-as-it-most-likely-is. At the same time, the art still looks nice. The art in the manga is at best stylistic and at worst sloppy, but the anime makes a good job of cleaning it up and giving the character designs a little bit more consistency. The result is polished, if slightly generic.
(I'm also happy to tell that there's a considerable lack of side-mouths or "fish-faces", which is always a welcomed virtue.)
-Sound-
9/10
Absolutely lovely. If the music wants to get you pumped, you'll get pumped. If it wants to break your heart, reach for the tissues. If it wants to make your heart grow three sizes and fill it with fluff, don't fight it - embrace it. It will get you, sooner or later. All of the opening and endings fit very well with the concept and are pretty damn good songs on their own to boot.
The voice acting is equally satisfying; among the cast there are some known and some less known, but all of them are doing a great job and every voice fits their character superbly.
-Character-
10/10
The trump card of the show. These characters are WONDERFUL and I love every single one of them. Each and every one have their own special blend of talent and eccentricity that makes them stand out and be charming both by themselves and when paired with another character. Perfect since much of the humour comes from the guys' personalities playing off each other. Like probably many other sports anime and practically every shōnen anime there are rivalries in abundance, but so far only one of them is actually malicious, which is a nice change of pace. It's safe to say that the characters alone are reason enough to check YowaPeda out.
-Enjoyment-
10/10
If you haven't realised it already, I enjoy this show immensely, both in a written and animated format. It's fun, exciting and at times incredibly sweet. I was amazed at how something as simple as racing up a hill could pull me into the action and struggles of the characters. Sports anime and manga might not have been my thing before and, hell, maybe it still isn't, but after watching Yowamushi Pedal I'm at least willing to give the genre a try.
Overall, a 9/10 - lowered only because of the art and story which we've unquestionably seen before. Still, I cannot stress enough how worthy this show is of your time and attention.
And about the fujoshi-thing I said before? It's actually not that bad, so please - don't let it be a deterrent (just stay away from certain forums and art sites and you should be fine).
Kynov
"Sometimes, things that you dont consider as a good thing for you is probably the most good things for you" Thats what i learned from Yowamushi Pedal. Yowamushi Pedal is an anime that i pick randomly just because some people talking about it, honestly i dont have any expectation for this anime and i am not even a fan of cycling. For me, cycling is just a boring sport you just have to pedal your bicycle as fast as you can and thats it. But seems my arrogance must be paid, this anime gives you a new perspective about cycling and makes you think cycling is notalways ride a bike but also the fun behind ride it.
The story will begin about Onoda Sakamichi, an otaku who loves to go to Akiba using his mama bikes once a week. When he entered into Sohoku high school, he already planned to join anime club but unfortunately anime club is already disbanded and need new members to revive the club. While he tried to find a new member, he realize his talents in cycling especially in climbing which he got from his journey to Akiba each week. Then, he ended up to join Sohoku cycling club.
What makes Yowamushi Pedal interesting is the way how the bring the story. As we know, cycling is not really popular and even boring sport for some people –me, especially- they bring out the tension and drawing out some “action” scenes. Basically, Yowamushi Pedal is a modern sports konjo (meaning sports and will-power). They providing us each of the character’s thoughts carefully while taking careful time to illustrate the action and the reason behind each characters the action.
Not just that, Yowamushi Pedal explains perfectly all things about cycling. Like how i said before this anime give you a new perspective about cycling and they really did it. I always thought cycling race (like tour de france) is simple, you just need ride the bike and quickly reach the finish line but i was wrong. It is more complicated. Like did you know there is two type road bicycle racer, climber or sprinter? Or did you know the pack leader is the most exhausting parts because they must drafting the pack?
As i said before, sports konjo is focussing on will-power. Its pretty much genre that quite essentially from japanese and easily reflects an important mentality within the culture: no matter how tough it gets, it’s possible to improve by the power of will and this what makes Yowamushi interesting. Our main character, Onoda is not a talented person in cycling but his will what makes him through all the obstacles and we, as viewer cant be helped to not to root for him.
Yowamushi Pedal is surely quite eyecandy for a people who looking for visual quality. It surely have the best art in sport anime. They mixed well between 2D animation and 3D animation especially when every riding scenes, they use 3D animation from the legs to the bottom while in the face they using 2D in face section. I must say the art is really superb and almost flawless. Not just that, the background is also looks vivid and colorful, its surely visual feast for the viewers.
The music is also pleasant to hear. All the opening song which are rock songs is really suitable with the themes, which is sport and determination. The one thing i really memorize is from Dirty Old Men, Yowamushi na Honoo (弱虫な炎) is really a catchy rock song, the fast beat drum and catchy tune makes this anime looks epic. The BGM or soundtrack is also amazing, they really hyped the atmosphere like when the racer nearly reach the finish line, the BGM that they use is an orchestra music which makes the atmosphere looks glorius and epic.
What makes Yowamushi interesting to watch is the characters. Almost all the characters in this anime have unique side and personality. You can easily knowing them by the differences, like Naruko , which he is hot blooded character or Izumida, the rival cyclist who is always flaunting his chiseled abs. Its important to make the characters prominent to others because by doing it you can easily remembering them and make them is not like a forgettable 2D character and become a wasted character.
Finally, after all the things i have said, i can surely saying this “this is a great anime that i would recommend to you guys”. This is one of good sports anime, because it can turn the topic of a sport you’ve never had interest into entertainment, and Yowamushi Pedal is just like that
freemums
Oh gosh, the things to say about this show. I really, really loved this show. When I first found out about it, I was a bit confused because: Bikes? Why? But then I fell in love with every single character in the series and it was one hell of a ride. The story is simple and easy to follow. Looking at the story dryly, it may seem a bit boring, but it really isn't. It's the characters and their amazing development that make this series awesome. This cast is hugely diverse in looks and personality. You've got chubby characters, extremely thin characters, muscly characters, tall characters, short characters,characters with birthmarks, and each character's face looks different and unique. Oh, I just love this cast! Their diversity makes them seem so real and loveable, not to mention they all have their strengths and weaknesses, each and every character's backstory being touched on, making you love these characters more. Each character had something they were carrying, some initiative to win and fight and carry on. These characters had their own demons to fight, a character with PTSD that overcame his stress, characters that suffered loss (races, and family) and characters that had to gain confidence along the way, like our protagonist, the first year Onoda.
Onoda started off the show with no friends and planned to just simply have an anime club and make friends there. With his unplanned decision to join the bike racing club and in which he finds his love and passion for bikes. There are parts in this series that will warm your heart and make you tear up a little, and parts that will make you mad and keep you at the edge of your seats. It made you want to get up and cheer on for these characters like you were watching a real live race. At points, you will think you know who will win, and then there are points where your mind changes and this is an even bigger reason why this show will keep you at the edge of your chairs in suspense!
The animation and sound were both very good, I enjoyed the openings especially. I definitely did not focus on those factors much while watching the show, but Ii did enjoy the animation and how bright and colorful everything was.
Overall, I highly recommend this anime for those who want a story of friendship, hardship, challenge, and most importantly bikes. I was most definitely not expecting such a heartwarming and passionate story like this to be about bikes, but it was and I wouldn't have it any other way. This series was great, and for more be sure to read the manga!
MAND4
With the announcement of the 3rd season, I decided to check out Yowamushi Pedal and see whether the ride was worth it (pun intended). I wasn't exactly expecting anything special out of it, so I can with a heart full of love say that Yowamushi Pedal is everything I thought it would be before I watched it. In a nutshell, it's just another sports anime... If you're a newcomer to either the world of anime or the sports genre, you may get far more out of YP than I did. It has everything that enticed me into this genre at first: over the top animation, plethoraof characters with special abilities, rivalries, etc. It's entertainment in its purest form, and I can't fault it for that alone. In reality, I enjoyed my time with Yowamushi Pedal quite a lot. That is, if I ignore the fact that I've skipped at least 6-7 episodes altogether.
As for the main reason, I can only blame the story. You won't find a sports anime nowadays with good story - you simply cannot. They rotate the same cliches as if they're playing 'Wheel of Fortune', and you can practically see the entire 1st season from the very 1st episode of the show (okay, maybe 2nd). A guy who can barely, if at all, play a certain sport joins a team which would under no circumstances accept him in real life, but he has that one, unique thing about him that makes others want to teach him. Raise your hand if you've ever heard of that kind of a story.
The reason I why I graded the story as such is because it's practically a carbon copy of every popular sports anime out there. Imagine if KnB or DnA were converted into cycling, and you have it. However, whereas KnB, DnA and so on merely have cliche and predictable stories, they at least try to break the mold here and there. YP? Never. Not throughout 62 episodes of the first and second season did I even notice an attempt at something new or different.
However, I can't say that's truly a bad thing. The author merely followed the formula of 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it', and decided to just roll with it. Problem arises though if you're someone like me, someone who has seen his fair share of sports anime. Because, starting with episode 1, you gain the ability to see into anime's future. And, as fun and awesome as that sounds, it is not. Same backstories of the minor characters that are neither interesting nor fun, same 'unexpected' twists, same rivalries, same sequences of random power-ups... I can go on listing cliches till sun freezes over, but I think I got my point across.
One thing, though, I can praise the story for is the pace. At least it doesn't take 70 fucking episodes for the MC do be kind of, sort of, somewhat fucking useful to the team.
Anime even falls behind others in the genre in production values. While sound and music should be applauded, alongside voice actors, I always felt that animation was lacking that 'wow' factor that other shows have. Unlike with others, I cannot remember a single moment, save for perhaps one, as THE moment, where MC does something truly badass. Everything, animation wise, simply felt... average. I mean, I see the effort, and fluidity, at least to a certain degree, is there, but the animation lacks that final punch. At some of the more important moments, I always felt as if the animation, and anime in extension, failed to convey the sense of speed (which is hugely important for this sort of an anime) to the viewer. If you've ever seen some episodes of Major, Eyeshield, Kuruko, hell, even Diamond, you can remember that you felt the sense of massive speed being conveyed by animation. Yowamushi simply fails to deliver that.
When it comes to the characters, there isn't really much to say. It's your standard set of sports anime characters, but Onoda reminded me far more of Eyeshield MC rather than most others as he was extremely timid. He's probably the best and the worst character in the entire series, and that 'worstness' boils down to two things:
First, he lacks any sort of individuality. For the entire run of the anime, he never did anything out of his own will. He joined the club because he was basically told to. He trained hard because he was told to. He participated in the race because he was asked to. He did his best in the race because he was ordered to. He lacks any sort of a backbone and that's just terrible writing for your main character, especially in sports anime.
Second, his reactions... I mean, fucking overreactions to ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING. Each time some of the characters would say something that's mildly outside his comfort zone, or each time something """"ODD""""" (all the quotation marks intended) would happen, the dude would freak out as if a random chick pulled him off the street and told him she's carrying his kid. I fucking had nightmares feautirng that face of his, and it is present in EVERY SINGLE GODDAMN EPISODE. No, seriously. I strongly believe that if someone had said "SKY EXISTS" he'd make the same :OOOOOO face. Brutal.
For all my ranting, I can honestly say I enjoyed Yowamushi Pedal. That's mainly, though, since i had low expectations to begin with, and I mostly knew what I was getting myself into. It has the similar feeling that all sports anime share - they're rather easy to watch, and even easier to binge watch. Although I did skip most of the 'character development' scenes and backstories of the characters that are there for like 2 episodes, I feel like that actually helped the factor of enjoyment. I sure as hell couldn't have sat through yet another story of a freaking thug being converted over to the sports by the sport junkie or whatever.
Overall, this is... just another sports anime, really. If you enjoy sports genre, go for it, you'll love it. If you're like me, though, and are looking for something that's at least slightly different, then yeah, keep looking mate. This ain't a ride you wanna ride. (omg...)
acclrtr
This was an enjoyable anime that gives one a great glimpse into cycling and its peculiarities. While giving you information about the sport you also get a pretty common but well build story that is, in its format, quite often used. The main character find a new passion and happens to have a talent because of something he had to do up until now. (This is similar to Initial D and others.) So the story isn't a deep masterpiece but fits perfectly for the theme of cycling and allows for exposition. The art and sound design are fine and allow for easy watching and support the actionwell.
My verdict: Nice Anime, solidly build and well made about a topic that is interesting and known to many. If you want an anime thats fun to watch, you don't want a deep story but would like to know more about cycling this is a great anime for you.
Risan07
High school is sort of that akward time for us all where we try to find out place in the world and try to make friends that have similar interests as us. For some it can be worse trying to accomplish this seemingly impossible feat. The main take away for Yowamushi Pedal is this: You can conquer any challenge. Story 8/10 The story is about Onoda Sakamichi, a friendless Otaku who goes into high school with the hopes of joining the anime club to finally make friends. His hopes are crushed though when he finds that the club has been cancelled due to a lack of members. Ashe tried to revive the club he runs into Imaizumi and Naruko--first years like him who joined the bycicle racing club, and managed to convince him to do the same despite his fears that he really had no place in the world of sports. Here he meets the third years, who mentor them all to become the strongest, fastest, and best that they can be.
Many can argue that Yowamushi Pedal is just a copy of Over Drive (because the plot is very very similar), but to me Yowapeda brings something a little different to the table, a weak character. Most sports anime/manga have the MC be really good, and kind of know it too. Since Onoda is weak and self concious of himself there is a very realistic feeling to the story--mainly the struggles and determination to become something great. It inspires me, and it makes me more involved with Onoda.
The anime pretty much follows the anime to a T--which brings up a major flaw--The pacing. The bulk of this anime is taken up by the Inter-High competition. You would think that with 38 episodes you could get through a relatively big chunk of this 3 day race out of the way. Well....sorry to say, but there is a reason why there is a second season. The last episode was left on a major cliff hanger, and for many who watched the series right as it was coming out found themselves to be severly disappointed and upset when the season ended in July and they found out that they had to wait until early October to continue the series.
Animation 9/10
Now I definitely didn't get into Yowapeda for the art. The manga is rather brash with its art style and the characters often look disfigured when they are riding their bikes (Midosuji is a prime example). So I was really impressed with how well the animators did with cleaning it up. All of the characters are unique, with few characters being drawn to fit a particular stereotype (the three Sohoku first years are about it). My only complaint is that Imaizumi and Arakita are so similar looking that I had trouble distinguishing them in the manga.
The coloring is bright and colorful as is expected for it being made 2013-2014. However, it is not overly bright with "sheen bubbles" or a too exaggerated of a color scheme. It uses a straight forward color scheme to get the job done. The animation itself was pretty solid, which is always important in a sports anime.
Sound 9/10
The sounds was superb. It fit the moments perfectly, and was just enough to where is aided the emotion of the scene without overpowering it. Music has never gotten my heart racing as much as the soundtrack in Yowapeda. The three openings and ending themes were great too, which is unheard of coming from me. Normally due to time constraints I listen to the opening and ending once, unless one or the either was something special. I listened to all six theme songs without skipping them--I even have the soundtracks to listen to them all the time.
Character 9/10
When you walk into a sports anime you're just basically counting the seconds until you see a major sterotypical character. And while Yowapeda exhumes the natural talent, elite and hot-head archtype with Onoda, Imaizumi and Naruko (respectively) they have their own quirks that really do make them unique. And what makes Yowapeda really shine are the character interactions. All of Sohoku really supports each other and works together to pull the team along (now whether this is efficient or not is neither here nor there).
What's even more amazing with the close relationship they have with their rival school--Hakone High. They are supposed to be enemies, and I feel like with most sports anime I've seen, the rivals are just viewed as the bad guys to be defeated. In Yowapeda though the seniors all have a relationship with one another, creating the impression that these guys could in reality be friends--and even SHOW signs of friendship during the race. What's even better is that most of the characters in Hakone get their own little background story, so now not only do these guys have more demension to them, I actually care about them and feel for them!
I love all of the characters in Yowamushi Pedal, they all bring something to the table to make the series enjoyable. Yes, even Midosuji, for as fucking creepy as he is, he brings spice into the competition.Ugh....so creepy
Overall 9.5/10
Yowamushi pedal really is a great anime. Onoda is a very relatible character and the underlying theme is inspiring. Yes, the pacing is bad, but you'll soon forget it in the heat of the races, waiting on the edge of your seat to see who wins.
Now if you really dislike sports anime, then I would probably skip over this. Because with the genere they try to take the sport and make it as cool and as awesome as humanely as possible. Other than that you should give it a try.
Blind_Guardian
Let me preface this by saying that not only do I not watch sports anime, I hate sports in general. Nothing interests me less than athletic competition, especially since I find most sports to be horrendously boring (I'm not counting martial arts in the category of 'sports' here, or I'd find very little shonen I'm able to enjoy). YowaPeda is the exception to the rule, and boy what an exception it is. I almost don't really think of it as a sports anime, as it makes use of all the shonen tropes we know and love. Red Oni/Blue Oni, Hot Blooded heroes, plucky underdogs, and of course,Nakama Power.
Story: 9
The series makes great (if frustrating) use of cliffhanger endings to help the story flow together. I was glad that I waited until this portion of the series was over to marathon it, as it flows so well from one episode to the next.
Art: 8
The CGI is sometimes rather conspicuous, but it gets extra points for making use of shonen power-up sequences while being about racing bikes.
Sound: 10
The battle theme is catchy and gets in your head, and I defy you to watch this and not find yourself humming the theme to 'Love Hime', a fictional anime that the main character loves.
Character: 10
Onoda is a great main character, overcoming the odds in the traditional shonen fashion. It also helps that he starts out as an otaku with no interest in sports or bike racing, but has built his stamina up from years of biking 60 kilometers to Akihabara and back on his single-speed 'momma bike'. The villain of the Inter-High is the creepiest SOB you'd ever want to meet, and just begs to be punched in the face.
Enjoyment: 9
Loved this anime from start to finish, and the ending segments are not to be missed.
Overall: 9/10
nylife1022
Personally I was never a fan of sports anime. They just didn't interest me what so ever. Free was okay but it wasn't my favorite, but then I found this masterpiece. Once upon a time I was in my dorm trying to find an anime to watch and i was on a manga fanpage on facebook and they posted a comparison meme of Imaizumi to Haru from Free. I saw in the comments the anime was called yowamushi pedal. I went on google and looked it up and I knew from just the summary I would enjoy this show. I never had so much funwatching an anime since I first got introduced to the genre as a whole. Now on to the technical stuff.
Story: 10/10- The story itself is amazing. A lonely otaku who just wants to make friends and finds them in the most unique way, by riding a bicycle and getting noticed by someone on the racing team. Can I just say my favorite episode will forever be "you are the princess" The singing moment never fails to make me laugh hysterically I always go back to that episode when I just need a laugh when I am stressed. Another thing i love about this story is that you find yourself constantly routing for the characters for success. It constantly makes me have a fuzzy happy feeling inside me every time I watch it.
Character: 11/10- Like I said, the characters made the show amazing. I constantly fell in love with this show because of the bonds with the characters. I actually kept on watching the show because Naruko and Imaizumi actually reminded me of Gray and Natsu from Fairy Tail constantly and made me laugh even more with the show. If I had to choose a favorite though it would be between Makishima and Toudou because i love their rivalry and comedic bonds with each other xD (SPOILERS AHEAD) "Makichan don't ignore me!" "onada hes not important just ignore everything he tells you"
Art/Sound: 9/10- the animation and music was good i particularly liked what they do with Midousuji making him so freaking creepy to the point where sometimes I forget I'm watching a sports anime not Horror. THE LOVE HIME SONG ITSELF IS 10/10 lol
Overall: 10/10 - If you like me is curious about sports anime and don't know which one to watch as a start, watch yowamushi pedal. You don't have to be a sports anime fan to watch it. I definitely recommend this wonderful anime.
AnimeDevotee
" Hime Hime Hime, suki suki daisuki Hime Hime, kira kirarin" -I already love this anime song. 9/10 This anime is simply all about getting out of your comfort zone and experiencing the world on what it has to offer. However, Sakamichi Onoda is awkward , appearance wise is not so good and has no friends. And just because of a habit he continuously does changes him as a character and his life. From a reader's point of view, I already love his genuineness which other characters do as well. Thus I advise everyone who loves generally anime to try this anime out. As thecharacters develop and your there experiencing this whole process...it is truly amazing.Furthermore, the anime interestingly questions you as a person on your habits and interests by getting out of your comfort zone and taking on challenges and having FUN!
"It's fun climbing together!" - Sakamichi Onoda
shadowfireflame
Bicycling anime! Onoda is a nerdy otaku who plans on starting a school anime club until his natural talent for biking is discovered, and then he and his new friends Imaizumi and Naruko bond over a love of bike racing. I love the rivalry/friendship between Imaizumi and Naruko, how they’re determined not to lose to each other and yet are bound together by their mutual interest in taking care of Onoda. What an adorable trio: they work so well together. Onoda is completely loveable with his glasses and his “mommy bike” and his anime; I burst out laughing every time he sings his princess animetheme song (and the scene with Tadokoro in episode 33...oh my God, that was hysterical).
There is so much to love about this silly and fun anime: the comically overly-serious characters (“Abs!”), the humor (I really enjoyed the scenes after the credits on each episode), the bright and colorful art, the cute songs, the importance of friendship and teamwork, the strange and weirdly terrifying antagonists (Midousuji). But most of all, to quote the coach, the anime’s charm is how its protagonist represents “the fundamental joy of cycling.”
Can’t wait until season 2 of this anime comes out in October!
RaveMasterHaru
One thing I love about Yowamushi Pedal is that you don't have to be a fan of sports, sports anime or cycling to fall in love with the anime. The characters are all interesting and you grow to love them and hate them in your own kind of way. I find this anime funny, fun to watch, interesting and awesome. It's one of those anime's that'll keep you on edge during the races and give you feels when you see one of your beloved characters win or lose. If any of you guys like Kuroko No Basket then you will deffo love Yowamushi Pedal, Iwasn't sure at first as i'm not a big fan of cycling but trust me I absolutely loved it and now it's one of my favorite animes that i'll happily watch again ^^ until the new season comes out.
Honestly it's worth giving it a watch, i'd say give at least 4-5 episodes a shot and see what you think :) but you'll be missing out! it's cycling in a completely different way, it's fun and cool for a start! So cool that I'm planning on cosplaying Imaizumi and Manami from it! Don't just take my word tho! Get going and check out Yowamushi Pedal episode 1!!
titledefiant
(This review is for the first 2 seasons of Yowamushi Pedal) This anime is what happens when you throw all the typical shonen characters into an anime about road racing. It’s pretty hilarious at times. It might be a weird comparison to some people, but my experience watching this was similar to the Disastrous Life of Saiki K. Some (most) of the characters are complete stereotypes. They’re also mostly stupid. They say things that are either blatantly obvious or completely wrong like 75% of the time, the rest of the time they’re usually being stupid over-the-top. There were times when it was a little bit touchingor exciting, but mostly I kept watching it for two reasons: 1) Funny. 2) I like cycling and it made me want to ride my bike real bad.
There are a lot of issues with this show. Yowamushi Pedal is at its best when the emphasis is on comedy, but it's not consistently comedic. There are times when the mood is meant to be more serious. Unfortunately, the story wasn't well-written enough to get me actually invested most of the time. (There are only a couple exceptions, which I can't share without spoiling anything.) There was a lot of potential for interesting character relationships, but none of them really get fleshed out very well.
I think the worst thing about this show was Onoda, the main character. He really doesn’t change much over the course of the show, save for maybe getting better at cycling, and even that isn’t really done very well. At first, you may feel a lot of sympathy for Onoda. I certainly was rooting for him. I thought the concept of an otaku joining a sports club was great. He starts out shrimpy and timid. The problem is, he stays that way the whole show and it gets old fast. I’d have to go back and watch, but sometimes I felt like it actually got worse as the show went on. (It might have just been getting really old.) He stutters constantly, has zero confidence, doesn’t learn from his mistakes, is unreliable, etc. and never improves even after facing circumstances that really should have taught him better. The other characters try to help him build confidence to no avail over and over again. I’m currently watching New Generation, and he still hasn’t changed.
Okay, to be fair, I otherwise did actually like the rest of the characters, though they were completely over-the-top and ridiculous. They might be trope-y, but honestly, a lot of the characters are legitimately like-able or at the very least fun/funny to watch. There are plenty of moments where characters subvert expectations. I liked a lot of the designs for the characters. They were all pretty distinct and the art style is pretty decent most of the time. Some of the opponents of the main team are basically designed/act like supervillains (ex: Midousuji) , which is amazing and hilarious for a sports anime. (And weird. Very weird.) In spite of how ridiculous a lot of the characters seem, the show actually does take the time to flesh quite a lot of them and their relationships with each other out via backstory.
There are a lot of flashbacks, maybe too much. They work pretty well most of the time, but I feel like it might have been more exciting to take us along on some of these stories as they happen instead of the constant flashbacks. Honestly, the story is the weak point of this show. It’s kind of all over the place and it’s not really clear to me what sort of journey the characters are supposed to be on besides winning the next race. I guess it’s all just about them relying on each other? But they basically overcome the same challenge over and over in that regard and that’s really mostly it.
It’s hard for me not to compare sports animes to Haikyuu!!, so I’ll just say this: I think one of the things that makes Haikyuu!! so great is the individual, unique journeys characters go on to target their weaknesses to improve. The characters legitimately grow a lot in measurable ways throughout the show, and we’re there for mostly all of it as it happens-- in sequential order. There is just as much emphasis on the struggles and failures as the successes, which makes the successes all the more satisfying. When and if substantial growth or struggle happens in Yowamushi Pedal, it’s hard to even notice because the story is too scattered in its focus and sequencing.
Characters changing their approaches or learning lessons is typically near-instantaneous. Or even worse, all the progress happens off-screen. To be honest, we’re lucky to even see progress via flashback half of the time. As a result, the few changes characters do undergo end up feeling underwhelming. Characters talk about how the challenge of races cause rapid growth, but that doesn’t change the fact that it would have been more exciting to put more focus on characters identifying and targeting weaknesses in practices leading up to said races.
The aforementioned lack of character growth and struggle really holds this anime back. There is just too much time dedicated to the (extremely drawn-out) races that could have been better used showing us how the characters were practicing to improve in the build-up towards the race. It would have made the actual races even more exciting and raised the stakes if we knew how hard the characters had actually worked and were able to see examples of them using their new strategies and facing their weaknesses “in battle.” It also could have been the vehicle for a much better, more cohesive plot. These kinds of things also probably would have been great for displaying the importance of teamwork, the whole theme of the show. It’s weird and unnatural (although those words could be used to describe this whole anime lol) to see characters change so suddenly right when it’s convenient for them to do so. It’s also weird when characters face the same problems over and over again, overcome them in the moment, and then continue to be the exact same and learn absolutely nothing moving forward. (Onoda)
The racing, tactics, and practice in this show is all just there as a vehicle for characters to act ridiculous, look ridiculous, and say ridiculous things. Oh and don’t forget displaying the power of teammates and rivalry. Can’t forget that. That’s like the whole schtick. We barely see anyone really struggle in this show except for background characters who are usually just in awe of or easily blown away by the raw natural talent of the main cast at every race. Usually struggles are overcome by just pedaling harder or believing in yourself or relying on your teammates or whatever. Yeah, it’s fucking cheesy. This show is about the power of teamwork. That’s the kind of show this is (and that’s how Sohoku rides. lol.) This isn’t really an anime you watch for the story imo. You watch it in spite of that for the funny or wholesome character interactions.
I don’t really have much to say about the animation or soundtrack for this anime, because I mostly found it to be completely average. There is CGI, it’s somewhat noticeable but not egregiously so. The artistic decisions are on the whole very tolerable, but not noteworthy. The character designs are good. There is strong and varied shape language depending on the character, most of which is well-executed. Everything else art-wise does it’s job and doesn’t stand out.
Ultimately, this show had a lot of potential as a concept, but could have been a hell of a lot better. That said, I recommend watching it anyways if you like sports anime, just for the humor and characters. There are a lot of moments that will make you cringe and the story is a mess, but the funny moments in this show are honestly worth it. I mean seriously, I can’t give anything away, but there are at least a few things you’ll watch the characters do in this anime that you’ll never EVER see in another sports anime. (Hime, hime….)
ajw215799
This was quite the unexpected joy ride. What I like so much about this is that it feels like a breath of fresh air in a cluttered anime space. I really like shonen anime like this, especially multi-cour series with this series being paced quite perfectly. But what I find quite strange about this series is that it is surprisingly sadistic. Every episode, it seems to relish in bringing these characters down into despair, especially when sometimes it doesn’t make logical sense in the story. Would definitely recommend this series to others and I can’t wait to continue on to future seasons.
yumenokotoba
Oh, the story of the underdog. Onoda is a total otaku that finds his true calling as a road racer climber. Through his high school bike club, he meets friends and rivals, and begins his journey as a road racer. I particularly love shounen sports manga because they are so much fun. And there is something to be said about an underdog to comes out on top. You can't help but hope and pray they make it. And yes, part of the enjoyment is finding out how they do it. 2/3 of the first season sets the stage: we find out how Onoda is dragged into this worldand his training as a road racer. We begin to meet rivals and friends and see subtle moments where Onoda's mysterious power as a climber come out. The last 1/3 begins the Interhigh competition and I enjoyed this part the most. We've got interesting characters and rivals, some flashback moments delving into character backgrounds (but personally, I enjoy the racing action more). Also, (and this is the problem with most cowardly underdogs) I got a little annoyed at Onoda sometimes. Grow some more and man up! I do hope that story-wise, Onoda will learn from his mistakes and they wont play the catch up game so much any more.
In terms of road racing in general, I feel like this anime does a great job of explaining that sport, what each different type of racer does, and how to work as team in a road racing tournament. Not that I knew anything about road racing before. But now I can say I know what a climber does, what a sprinter does, so on and so forth. And I have to say that is something I have come to expect from a good shounen sports manga/anime especially if it's about something I'm unfamiliar with. By the end, I should have learned all the rules and details of the game/sport and enjoyed learning about it.
The art style and music raises the excitement during race scenes. The art style in particular adds to the action scenes, color, slants, emanating waves of bursts of power. It definitely has an edge over another road racing anime, Overdrive, in this respect. Sometimes though, the action effects might get a little over the top but thankfully, not to the extent that Prince of Tennis does (yes, I love PoT too but come on guys, Cyclone Smash?). The music and voice actors are also well chosen.
My absolute FAVORITE episode? Episode 33 - "You Are the Princess" / "Hime nano da" / ヒメなのだ
Oh my god. I have not laughed so much in a while. Tadakoricchi's face here. The Hime song. Everything put together had me laughing hysterically.
Willow_Folk
My Rating Model: 7/10 ~ MAL Rating Model: 6/10 Note: To say one needs an athletic disposition to enjoy Sport-Genre anime is quickly proved wrong in the first few episodes of Yowamushi Pedal. In fact, I believe the very foundation of Sport-Genre anime is what creates strong character-building. Stories that challenge the very nature of rejection vs. achievement is what allows Champions to be born. For what starts off as an entertaining anime quickly turns into an unbearable mental test - rather a test of your durability in patience & suspense. I'm fairly disappointed with what began as a 9/10 story but for me - endedat 4/10. If i may alike it to any analogy I'd certainly pick One Piece or the Freeza Ark of DBZ where a single event/fight/challenge is stretched-out frustratingly long. I dare say i enjoyed the first half of the anime as much as Hajime No Ippo or the 'Major' series but it became quickly evident that this anime will only continue to force flashbacks and cheap suspense driving devices.
I'd HIGHLY recommend this anime for anyone with mental patience - who's happily satisfied in watching 3 hours of a 'complication/event' where not much worth noting transpires.
Though, if this is your first Sport Anime i'm sure it will be either a Hit or Miss - though i'd recommend the first season of Hajime No Ippo 10/10 times over this.
My Rating Model [Beta]
1.Story 6/10
--1.1.Plot (60% of Mark) = 6.6
1.1.1.+Opening [9/10]
1.1.2.+Conflict [7/10
1.1.3.+Resolution [4/10]
--1.2.Pacing (20% of Mark) ~ Criteria (1/4 is dragged on, 2/4 is not bad/good, 3/4 is good, 4/4 perfect)
1.2.1.Dragged On [1/4] ~ ratio to 20% = 0.5/10
--1.3.Setting (20% of Mark) = (1/4 lifeless, 2/4 non-fiction, 3/4 innovative, 4/4 alive)
1.3.1.Non Fiction [2/4] ~ ratio to 20% = 0.8/10
2.Characters 6/10
--2.1.Characters 6/10 ~ Criteria (5/10: Empty, 6:10 Generic, 7:10 Generic/Original, 8: Original, 9: Original/Relatable/Engaging, 10/10: Wouldn't have it any other way)
2.1.1.The overwhelming majority of Characters were Generic and without appeal, very few exceptions to this rule existed.
3.Art 4/5 (Catalyst to PLOT / marks are slightly relative)
--3.1.Repetition (20%) Flashbacks/Filler Art ~ How often were the exact same blueprints used: Too Often, 1/3: Often, 2/3: On Occasion, 3/3: Never)
3.1.1.0/3 ~ 0/5: Sadly I began counting episodes that DIDN'T have repeated art. Especially Point of View renditions of the road-ahead. That was consistently reused.
--3.2.Coloring (20%) ~ How well did the coloring build Mood: 1/4: Rarely, 2/4: Sometimes, 3/4: Frequently, 4/4: Always.
3.2.1. Sometimes 2/4 ~ 1/5
--3.3.Mood - (60%) ~ Specific to each mood presented - ie ~ Each mood is identified and to interpretation - marked with either Sympathy (care) or Apathy (don't care).
✔ Melancholy - Through use of the scenery, shading and coloring the artists successfully captured the sense of hopeless/futility in the characters.
✔ Passion - Many 'moving' cut scenes between hopelessness vs. hope to which the artist's rendition of a 'desperate' facial expressions - really helped established.
✔ Devotion (friends) Specifically Onoda's animation (expression) created genuine Sympathy and Cheer for the character.
3.3.1.Full Marks: Cared about 100% of Mood presented ~ 3/5
3.3.2.✘ -/+ Extra mark [Use of Allegory] N.A
4.Sound: 5/5
--4.1.Opening/Ending Sequence (5%) My only criteria is Annoying/Not-Annoying :L
4.1.1. Not-Annoying - Full Marks
--4.2.Subtitles/Dub Quality (45%)
4.2.1. Subtitles 9/10
--4.3.Music Theme/s (50%)
4.3.1. Full Marks just because of the 'Love Hime' song Onoda sings ;)
4.3.2.✘ -/+ Extra mark [Use of Allegory] = Did i hear any goddamn Cicada's ... dammit lol - only Japan's obsessed with these annoying pests. I'd love to see Mood/Atmosphere created without Insects for once. N.A
5.Overall 21/30 ~ 70/100 or 70%
5.1.Letter Grading: C –
5.1.1.Grading Key:
A = 90 (-) > 99 (+)
B = 80 (-) > 89 (+)
C = 70 (-) > 79 (+)
D = 60 (-) >69 (+)
6.MAL Rating
--6.1.Disclaimer
6.1.1. To cater for MAL’s unquantifiable ‘Enjoyment’ category – in conjunction with their naïve category balancing – I apply a handicap of 1 point to each score. While this may serve (at times) as counter-productive in rating 10/10 or 9/10’s with due credit; the overwhelming majority does not fall into this margin. In doing this, it’s my hope to fairly handicap all anime so as to ensure a fair – non-biased score and no ridiculously high scores for generic anime. It’s my belief that stricter methods have to be established to ‘level-out’ the reckless ratings on MAL’s.
--6.2.7/10 – 1/10 = 6/10 MAL
