"Tsurune"—It's the sound made by the bowstring when an arrow is released, and the sound that inspired Minato Narumiya to learn kyudo, a modern Japanese martial art focusing on archery. However, an incident during his last middle school tournament caused him to quit the sport.
But soon, many factors conspire to make Minato take up the bow once again: the start of a new kyudo club in his high school, a chance encounter with a mysterious archer, and the support of his childhood friends, Seiya Takehaya and Ryouhei Yamanouchi. Together with his childhood friends and his new teammates, Kaito Onogi and Nanao Kisaragi, Minato rekindles his love for kyudo and works with his team toward their aim of winning the prefectural tournament.
[Written by MAL Rewrite]
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Stark700
Close your eyes and picture a moment in your life that really affected you. It could be anything like made you into the person you are today. As humans, we are bound to change in some ways or another throughout our lives. Especially in our teenage years, we can be easily influenced by others and events around us. I can safely say that without a shadow of a doubt, we have all experienced change in our lives some way or another. It’s called growing up. Like most sports shows, competitors experiment with themselves to be the best they can be. Tsurune lives as an exampleof a rare form of sport not seen too often these days in the anime medium. In fact, what exactly is Tsurune? The term itself refers to the sound of a bowstring made when an arrow is fired. As you should expect, that relates to archery when a bow fires an arrow. Adapted by studio Kyoto Animation, Tsurune feels like an anime that could raise a bar. In 2018, there were several sports shows that made a noticeable presence so where does Tsurune really hit the mark?
To be fair, understanding Tsurune as a sports show isn’t difficult despite not being a very popular sport. Be honest, when was the last time you’ve watched a competition in real life or TV about archery? The only time I remember is during the Olympics on an international scale. As a competitive sport, it deals with individuals and teams trying to shoot their arrows to land the center of the target as close as possible. That’s the base of the rules and scoring applies to the performance of the archers. There’s time limit, signals to be followed, and styles that each archer adapts to perform their best. Even the equipment plays an important factor on the result. However, don't be too alarmed. Archery isn’t really hard to understand and this show is more of a character driven story.
If you’ve seen the promotional poster and trailers, then you’ll easily recognize how producers made the cast. Characters are built with a bishounen features to attract audiences and most of them look young and healthy for competition. Deep down though, characters faces inner problems that runs deep in the veins of their past. The most prominent example is Minato Narumiya, the main male protagonist and first year at Kazemai High School. Despite being an experienced archer, he lacks confidence in the present timeline due to a tragic event of the past. Remember what I said about how humans can be changed especially when we were young? Well, here you have it. Minato battles his personal demons throughout the show and we see how he feels detached from himself. The story explores his past regarding his relationship with parents and how events influenced his character. It’s a type of self-discovery where the main character has to accept his past and move on to build a better future for themselves.
Luckily for Minato, he has friends and supporters. His childhood friends Seiya and Ryohei brings him to join their school’s archery club. After encountering the mysterious Masaki in the forest one night, Minato became fascinated by archery again despite having forsaken his bow. Now obviously, the idea isn’t easy as it sounds. Being part of the archery club also means that Minato has to deal with his past. Despite this, he experiences change in his character thanks to the positive influence of Masaki. With the club, Minato’s emotional scar begins to heal. You’re probably wondering at this point if the show will maintain this sort of melodrama throughout the rest of the duration. Make no mistake that while this show can be quite moody, there are still much room for fun and entertainment. Because at the heart of the show, we have the archery club that is growing alongside Minato. The show offers competition, character relationship building, and even a training camp for the team to grow together. While the anime advertised itself as a cast with a male dominant cast, there are even girls joining too. This doesn’t change the general tone of the anime though as the story is still built around the main characters. The more I watched this anime, the more I felt compelled to understand them. Even after half the show, there are moments where I wonder how these characters became who they are in the present. So in a sense, this show has a feeling of mystery. After seeing a good deal of Minato’s past, I think people may feel sympathy for him. Or maybe not. Maybe you want him to be a man and deal with it like a mature adult. Either way, the show does a fairly consistent job at building Minato as a character.
In a sports competitive environment, there are rivals and a name like Shu Fujiwara is no pushover. As a prodigy, he and Kirisaki High School stands as a challenge that the Kazemai archery club must take on to prove themselves. Not only that, the club also faces the pressure of competing in the regional tournament. It all feels too real when we see the emotions and look on the characters’ faces. Then again, competition pushes everyone to be their best so it’s assumed that pressure is a common experience. The bottom line is, the competition itself feels like you’re there with them. Every second, every minute, every moment counts.
From the start, it’s no surprise the anime is produced with sheer amount of visual quality. Kyoto Animation is recognized for their high quality production so naturally, a show like Tsurune would get a similar treatment like Free. Now, I don’t want to compare the show but it’s easy to make comparisons with some of the character designs. Tsurune does have less man service as the visual performance lies in the photographic scenery of camera angles. It draws the audience to see how archery is treated in the anime medium and to be quite honest, I feel like the producers hit the mark. (that’s not a pun by the way). Similarly, the soundtrack plays on a serene tone from the start and shifts between melancholic and dramatic depending on circumstances. I’m not too familiar with the director but they got the point across to the viewers in the safest way possible.
Watching Tsurune reminds me how people can change but often times, it’s a difficult journey. For Minato, he had to realize the truth and accept it. There’s a lot to say about his overall growth process but definitely watch this how to really understand his character. To me, Tsurune made itself as a show that emphasized on human feelings and change. Maybe once you’ve experienced this anime, you can realize it too.
BackstageMage
Tsurune is weird. It’s a Kyoani anime that wasn’t a cultural phenomenon, probably because it aired two weeks late and had to share the year with both Violet Evergarden and Free!, but let me say I enjoyed Tsurune the most out of all the Kyoani anime I’ve watched. Why? Because Tsurune felt real. There is drama, and there is a lot of it, it feels hectic, nothing gets solved right away and more problems pile up, and some people may have a problem with this but I like this part of Tsurune. Life is hectic, Tsurune just follows the example. Along with drama Tsurune also has a lotof character to it, even though it does seem characters go into tropes, particularly Kaito, Nanoa, and Ryohei, at the same time they don’t. Kaito “Kaachan” Onogi, is a good example because even though he’s the angry one he does self reflect on himself, albeit it’s subtle. In all honesty, these three were in a bad position since the anime really focuses on Masaki, Minato, and Seiya, but those three made the anime worth watching. Seiya and Masaki especially, the struggles they deal with connects them together through Minato, this creates an interesting dynamic. The characters do seem shallow at first, but when you start noticing aspects about their character you truly start falling in love with the anime.
Tsurune also excels at atmosphere, every shot is Tsurune is dynamic and well-placed, especially in episode 10 and 12. The production is obviously top-notch, and this helps Tsurune in the sound and animation department, because every frame deserves to be placed in an art gallery and every track is full of emotion. Good examples of shots in Tsurune is episode 2, the blue moonlight mixes extraordinary well with the characters. Also, shots of them doing kyudo have dynamic camera angles, making hits feel all the more satisfying.
The themes in Tsurune aren’t anything new, but the way Tsurune portrays it is different. “Are adults actually mature?” or “do you love the sport?” are simplistic questions with a wide array of answers, and Tsurune can’t fully answer them either, but the dialogue used to address the questions had a certain charm to it.
The payoffs in Tsurune feel good, they take a while but when it happens, does it happen. Sometimes you might not even realise the answer, and you figure it out as the characters learn which I think is done well.
Some might call Tsurune tedious, character drama is everywhere, Kaachan is a bit of an arse and annoying, or whatnot, but I think those two things are fine. Kaachan did get on my nerves sometimes, but he did change subtly and the little things really shifted my opinion on him.
Overall, I’d say Tsurune is a charming show, as long as you like the characters that is, everything about the anime has a flow to it, no matter how hectic the problems get. I think it would be great if it got a second season, because Tsurune has much to expand on and I don’t think the Free! Treatment would hurt Tsurune.
Anyway time to buy the novel and overpriced merch ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ
Karhu
'Tsurune' is the sound caused by (bow)string upon its release. Tsurune: Kazemai Koukou Kyuudoubu follows bunch of bow-wielding school boys during their daily life / archery club activities because this is a show by KyoAni and they only make one show every 10 years that isn't related to school clubs. This time we meet several students whose names are pretty much irrelevant, but they are basically downgraded version of KyoAni's other "cute boys do sports activities within club" series called 'Free' only this time around they don't have much character to show. One of them is smart and wears classes because he is smart. Another can sometimessound angry but really isn't. His character literally has nothing else going on. The real mc is a person whose entire life seems to center around this one sports, but personally I can't really say it felt genuine. For example, some melodrama has been inserted in his life, but it really doesn't seem to exist for him: only for the viewers. As for the countless insecurity-filled monologues he silently has inside his own head as some sort of "psychological battle against one's own self" or "I can't hear my tsurune and therefore I must panick and depress" seemed rather dull and not even very fitting to a show of this sort. Yet they were the driving motion for his entire story.
The last 2 archery bros are incredibly fake. The first one is some sort of "friendly giant" because he is sooo nice and tall. The last character is the exact same as him except shorter, has messy hair and instead of being super friendly he is just super positive about anything and everything that ever happens. Overall the cast was bit too much; like a cake made of nothing but sugar. There are also bunch of side characters who have more important role in the series than the main ones (especially during the first half of the show), but they will be as relevant to this review as they were to the series. I.e. I won't bother talking about them. They mainly offer filler-feel and not much more. Practically all the characters despite their age, gender or role are made to appear with some type of child-like innocence to a point that it becomes pushy. As a whole, the cast was hardly worth of caring about and surely did not carry the show or its weak story.
To continue with the story, it is somehow weaker than the cast. Go from this point to another point, the driving motion being success at shooting those arrows because apparently it can help with the mc's character development among other things such as not make the series feel so pointless. Even tho it still does. The sports side has practically nothing to offer. The slice of life silliness follows the same pushy nature, but at least some of the interactions between main and side cast were pretty fun at times. The light drama is bound to seem like copy-paste to those who have seen more than 3 KyoAni shows. Basically anyone could have given birth to this storyline. That's pretty much it.
The production has KyoAni written all over it from art and animation department. However, money is being saved whenever possible as the series contains tons of still, barely animated sequences which hold almost no movement whatsoever. I also have to point out that the character design is seriously poor. There were times when opponent archery team members were present and I could only tell them apart thanks to their different colored clothing. Some of the boys look so similar to each others it's just ridiculous and also cheap. On the other hand, I really liked the overly tomboyish character design for teenage girls. Unfortunately the girls don't otherwise have any meaningful roles in the series, but I hope to see more of that in the future from KyoAni~ The voice acting is in every way the same as well. The music stands out, occasionally because sad piano is too try-hard and other times because the more energizing OST's play so well during the sports and SOL moments. Still, even the good pieces started to get pretty old towards the end since there are so few songs in the OST that they end up repeating the same ones over and over and over.
Enjoyment-wise, it is safe to say this is the least popular KyoAni show to this date. It sounds uninteresting, it has no wild mainstream appeal to offer and most of all, it is so incredibly spirit-less shell it's hard to hold any strong feelings ('perspective', if you will) towards it either way. Perhaps there is a niche audience who is really into this sort of "light"/"lighthearted" slice of life of boyzz and can get great deal solely out of its atmosphere alone, but I didn't find anything to truly hang onto.
MScientist0
In terms of sports anime, I would say that Tsurune is probably the most realistic of the bunch. That is to say, there isn't any super powers, or randomly shouting out the name of their secret techniques. It's all about the real struggles that people who practice archery, or any sport, have to experience and overcome. Overall, I would say that it did a great job at depicting this, but it certainly isn't going to provide you with much hype. If you're not into atmospheric slice of life type anime, then this entry, most likely isn't for you. As previously the mentioned, the narrative that ispresented is one that takes the more realistic aspect of sports and converts it into anime form. It then turns into a coming of age story where our main character interacts with, and learns from his fellow team mates and sensei, to overcome his fears. It is most certainly an inspiring story, but the pacing is rather slow, which is what the director most likely intended for this series. This is a good one to just kick back and relax to. Of course, there are some dramatic events, but they're not overly dramatic and unrealistic, which again adds a sense of realism to the narrative. Perhaps some viewers may find themselves being able to directly relate with the characters, which is certainly a good thing for any anime to have.
Production-wise, this anime is a KyoAni anime, so there isn't much to critique. The art style is definitely interesting and non-generic, while the V.A. and OST's were fine. Nothing to write home about though.
I personally felt that the characters were a tad bit generic, as in, that one guy with the red hair who's a hot head, and the cute guy who all the girls love, then you have the cold and calm leader, and of course the underdog protagonist who develops into a better person by the end of the show. I will agree that these characters were used effectively, sadly, I'm definitely not going to be able to remember any of them after finishing the show. There are just some characters in anime that you'll remember for the rest of your life. Sadly, for me, this anime doesn't have any character like that.
Perhaps it's simply because this type of anime isn't what I'm into, but I didn't enjoy it very much. The pacing is just too painstakingly slow for my taste. However, I'm not saying that this anime is bad. It does have its good qualities here and there, but I don't think it's going to be a favorite for the majority of people. If it does, however, sound like just the kind of anime you're looking for, then by all means, give it a go. If not, then I'd recommend watching something else.
Thank you for reading this review!
Kaijuuj
If you've ever done archery, or any sport/hobby that you heavily enjoyed in your life. You would know what it feels like to lose control of it. Feel like you aren't doing good at it anymore, failing every time you go back to this thing you love and wanting to give up. Tsurune gives you a glimpse of what that feels like, and the joy of overcoming it and being good at what you love again. Story: 10 The story is beautiful. what else can I say. It throws you in to all of the emotions the main character is feeling and just tugs at yourheart. Anime about sports, most of them focus on heavy amounts of drama and almost unrealistic situations, but Tsurune has just the right amount of drama. The story pulls you in and leaves you wanting more, even after 13 episodes.
Art: 10
The art and animation in this series was just outstanding. It was fluid and bright, very well animated, and oh my god the animation when they are shooting is beautiful. There is nothing about the art I can find that is even remotely bad.
Sound: 9
The soundtrack fit pretty well with the scenes. The sound affects are what were the best about the sound overall, the sound when the arrow hits the target gave me goosebumps. It was so beautiful.
Character: 9
The characters were very well developed. They each have their own personality, obviously some of them are just the cliche sports anime character personalities, but that stuff keeps the series more interesting.
Enjoyment: 10
I enjoyed the heck out of this series. I've been waiting for a series about archery to come out because it's such a beautiful sport, only seeing archers in fantasy anime was getting a little boring, an entire series about my favourite sport on the planet is just what we needed in this world. This anime kept me hooked and I really hope we get to see more to the series.
As an archer, I approve of this anime.
PyraXadon
I'm not really one for sports shows personally. There's just something about them that I feel makes them so formulaic and by extension less interesting to watch. Sure, Kyoto Animation as the tacked on production company for this work is one for interest, but given their track record with Free! and the following that show has accrued, I wasn't really sure fully what to expect with Tsurune. Story: A budding archery prodigy in middle school, a bad tournament crushed by expectations and nerves catalyzed by his mother's passing has inflicted Minato Narumiya with 'Target Panic', making him unable to properly shoot a bow well enough to hiteven the edge of the targets. Now transferred to Kazemai High School, he is dragged back into Kyudo in the Kazemai Kyudo Club in hopes of reminding him why he started firing a bow in the first place; to hear the 'Tsurune'.
A lot of what this show is about can be boiled down to the tried and true themes of 'friendship', 'comradely', and 'teamwork', as the majority of the series is focused primarily on the team of five boys the show is focused on as they prepare and get better at the sport that they all (mostly) love. In addition to that, the show provides special attention for Minato, Seiya, and Masaki in various parts of the show to help explore their characters, regrets, and aspirations a bit in order to flesh out their characters. The end result of that choice however comes off less spectacular as what was probably originally intended, because particularly for the latter two, their backstories and respective character moments feel tacked on rather than a natural integration for the show. Both Seiya and Masaki have issues that are hinted at in the beginning, but considering how hard the series delves into their stories, the transitions don't feel smooth enough for me to validate them going that direction.
That being said, the show does still shine with Minato as its forefront. His character arc feels naturally integrated into the narrative, and a lot of what makes the show worth watching goes back to his character and his slow progression towards going back to the sport he loves. It's also the only part of the show's highest points that feels worth it, and a part of me really wishes everyone else got the same level of attention he had, or alternatively, just make it all his story instead of trying to shove in other characters' problems into the narrative to create conflict and potentially drive the plot forward.
Characters:
Minato's defining characteristic lies in his nerves and growing defiance to overcome the target panic that plagues him. He starts off as a much meeker version of himself that over time with more exposure (and practice) grows to become a character really worth watching. This is greatly capitalized by the forward facing shots the show almost exclusively for Minato as he's firing his bow, letting off a satisfying sound to emphasize growth and change for him. My only complaint is that I really wish the show was JUST about him. I feel like the whole 'team' aspect to show how important friends are is just padding for characters and easy conflict since 'teams are only as strong as their weakest link' and all that.
And that leads me into why Seiya is by far the worst character in the show. And that's after considering the token male tsundere that in stories like these act all brash and like a dick when in reality they're just a softy with a really, really, really hard exterior. It just feels like Seiya does nothing aside from act bitter and a bit angsty. His character focuses on expressing regret about something relating to Minato, hence Seiya's decision to switch to a different school as well. The problem with this is that the whole time the episodes run by, he does virtually nothing to even insinuate what happens until a single episode happens and we get the whole story. It's not unusual to see a massive infodump like that in a character-focused episode, but given the slow burn of progress that the show has had up until that point, I feel like what ended up happening was a character arc that didn't feel satisfying to watch and really wasn't up to the quality that the show's potential had. Masaki suffers a similar problem with the infodump department, but that's mostly because his backstory just felt like it was thrown in there at points instead of just being revealed slowly as well.
And the rest of the Tsurune club is just there for fodder and/or to provide the 'friendship'. Truthfully, Kaito, Nanao, and Ryohei have very little to do with any of the show's character focuses. True, the duo of Kaito and Nanao do get a bit of their characters explored later on, but it's small potatoes compared to the big character moments that Minato has. Kaito is supposed to be the antithesis to Minato by chastising the poor guy at every turn, Nanao is the popular guy who acts like a floozy, and Ryohei is just happy to be there and gets no mention of anything tragic ever happening to him.
And the problem of lacking impact extends to the rest of the cast, especially towards the female members of the Kazemai Kyudo Club and the series rivals, the Kisaragi Kyudo Club. The girls just feel like lost potential, like there was truthfully no reason for them to even be there in the first place considering they offer nothing for the series narrative-wise given their usage is purely for plot purposes only. Kisaragi functions the same, posing as the 'elite' club with such good and eccentric members that they alone can hit three bulls-eyes in a row with their eyes closed. (Warning, might not be accurate information.) It just feels like there was no effort put into actually making these characters interesting apart from posing as an obstacle for our protagonists, which is a shame given the potential that could've arisen from their involvement.
Aesthetics:
Tsurune is a pretty show. Muted, but still pretty, which isn't surprising Kyoto Animation's track record in the last few years. It's kind of like the 'poor man's Free' in terms of animation quality since you definitely get the Kyoto Animation style, but for the most part you're getting the slightly cheaper version of their potential since it didn't seem like they cared THAT much to make it stand a cut above the rest. A real shame given how one of their more recent projects, 'Violet Evergarden', had them flex on everyone else in the season for just how pretty they could make anime.
That is however not to say the beauty of some select shots. Ordinarily, Tsurune truthfully is not amazingly pretty to look at, as we've come to expect from KyoAni. Until you watch them pull back that string. Accompanied by a score of light vocals and piano chords, what you get is the show's most picturesque moments, the parts of the show that really stand a cut above the rest. Close up angles of the boys pulling their bow back with the satisfying release of the string—the sound of the arrow whistling through the air—and the resounding thud of the target. It's here where the narrative culminates in a single moment, and for a brief moment, there's a gentle atmosphere when watching.
While the score speaks softly with a light piano, the OP and ED of the show speak a different tone. "Naru" by Luck Life is a rock song that to me recalls the comradely that the five boys share with each other. Honestly, I don't find this song all that interesting. Especially compared to the ost's main theme for the show, it just doesn't resonate with me. Choucho's "Orange Iro" on the other hand is the thing that I expected more for a song relating to Tsurune. Her voice coupled with a softer song helps hammer in those more quiet, somber moments that the show has regarding Minato and similar moments like it, so that to me is a plus compared to the comparatively louder OP that we got.
Personal Enjoyment:
My opinion of Tsurune changes depending on what exactly you're talking about. In this case, the whole is most certainly not equal to the sum of its parts. Had it not been for Minato's character arc culminating in what is quite literally a few single shots, I don't think I would've found anything remotely amazing about this show. This problem of narrative extends to the rest of the cast as no one is nearly interesting enough to stand out as either their own characters, or do anything significant enough to warrant any focus or attention without Minato acting as a guise in the back.
That being said, a lot of this is still made up during the moments that the characters show. As an audience, I could definitely feel the emotional impact and satisfaction that the characters got when firing their arrows and managing to hit the target. If there's anything I can really give Kyoto Animation credit for, it's the fact that they really managed to nail the 'Kyudo' part of Tsurune, really making the sport matter at the highest points in the story with such a beautiful theme to go along with it as the characters are having their internal monologues about overcoming their adversity.
As such, I would give Tsurune my recommendation if only to witness the parts of the animation where you can see the frame count rise significantly for a few seconds until the arrow his the target. A lot of the show however doesn't feel like it validates such beautiful moments, but given just how well framed and crafted the shooting scenes are, I find literally no other reason to say that the show isn't worth it if not only for that.
teikou
Tsurune is a collection of paradoxes: delicate yet purposeful, subtle yet grounded. It deviates from the traditional sports anime formula and carves its own identity amidst moments of endless doubt. It starts off with somewhat of a generic but tried-and-true premise, what with the protagonist being estranged from the object of his passion due to recent bouts of trauma. However, while stories of this nature are charming in their own right, what makes Tsurune so memorable lies in its approach to the topics at hand. Despite being a sports anime, it is a slice of life and a character drama first and foremost. The sport itselfserves as a backdrop – a medium through which conflict is explored. A common complaint that surfaces with Tsurune is the lack of excitement inherent to archery as a sport, but that is in no way to its detriment. It is an intimate tale of patience and perspective, and this quality is precisely what sets it apart within the genre.
Minato is neither a prodigy nor is he an underdog. He is as human as the rest of us; he loses sight of himself, of the target, and of the people around him. He is put into situations where he is given no choice but to confront his inner demons and, crushed under the weight of his own anxiety, he recedes further into himself to cope. But his desperation to find a “cure” for his target panic is met not with crippling resistance, but with a gentle reminder of a central theme in Tsurune’s narrative: there’s no need to rush, and in the moment, there’s always very little that’s honestly at stake. The road to self-actualization, with all its myriad detours, can be daunting and scary, but the truth is that it never really ends, and it’s a reality that Tsurune chooses to embrace and make peace with.
The animation quality is quite frankly unfair, and it is immediately evident that this is, in fact, a work by KyoAni. The background art is lovely, as are the color palettes used to convey the atmosphere of each scene. There’s so much to be said about Tsurune’s incredible attention to detail – every storyboarding choice is inspired and deliberate. Even the slightest movements and visual cues can speak volumes about the character and their internal monologue. Not everything is spelt out within the framework of language, and the result is a world that feels alive and real. No moment goes by that feels wasted and it is, in more ways than one, the visual medium at its peak. The soundtrack is also ridiculously beautiful and complementary to what is already a top-notch production. I think it’s particularly noteworthy that the sound of the bowstring release is not recycled among the cast; every character’s “tsurune” is uniquely individual. It’s, again, the little things like this that really elevate and breathe life into the show.
In a character-driven narrative such as Tsurune, the characters are undeniably the backbone of the entire show. Though not every character is given substantial screentime or opportunity for development, the dynamic of the main cast is incredibly charming and down-to-earth. One tidbit that I loved especially was how we were given a little sneak peak into their daily lives through shots of their group chat. There’s something to be appreciated in the mundane – in the things that have become routine that we often take for granted. It’s small details like these that make Tsurune so special. They definitely don’t start off as best friends, and the development of their bond is a slow-burn; there’s friction and incompatibility among the club members, but what makes it worthwhile is their determination to work around that and to learn about each other in the process.
Even if we don’t get proper insight into all of them, the characters in Tsurune go through struggles that are painfully and tangibly human. In addition, true to its principles, the rivalry in the show is wholesome and healthy, which is such a welcome sight in the genre. However, growth doesn’t end with adolescence, and this is perfectly encapsulated by Masaki, who fulfills the role of a mentor for our boys. It’s so rare to find a mentor character as profoundly human as Masaki and his presence definitely shapes the show into what it is. You get the impression that he learns just as much from the boys as they do from him, and the parallels between mentor and pupil all come full circle.
Needless to say, I enjoyed it immensely. It might be because I have a particular soft spot for sports anime and what they embody, but I genuinely think Tsurune epitomizes the genre at its best. I looked forward to every single episode and it’s never ceased to tug at my heartstrings in all the right ways. No matter what point you’re at in your own lives, Tsurune has a little something for everyone; its lessons are timeless and underrated. I wish I could string together the words to express how deeply it resonated with me, but alas, all I can really bring myself to say is that it was an experience I will treasure for a long time to come.
Mury0kush0
I would say tsurune is more of a philosophical anime than sports anime per se. I dived into it thinking I was going to watch a sports anime something similar to “run with the wind” or “free” instead of haikyuu etc. Even with those expectations it was truly beyond it too. Tsurune is an anime about finding one self rather than doing some sport. Archery, here, represents more about the way of life. And coupled with KyoAni’s fantastic animation and masaru yokoyama’s soothing soundtracks, this anime presents itself as a healing slice-of-life. If you’re feeling empty then I’d suggest you to give this atry, because there’s so much to relate to minato and even masaki. They are phenomenal in kyuudou but suffer from target panic and although we don’t see masaki’s journey from the start, we do get to see minato’s. And it may act as a silver lining for us and may also motivate one to get back on track. It does have tournaments etc, but it is not exactly the premise of the plot. As I said, tsurune depicts life and it shows a process of adulting, overcoming difficulties, friendship, all of it beautifully meshed with or rather shown through the lens of archery. We also have girl members and their respective tournaments, something which is usually lacking in a sports anime. So it was nice to see their teamwork and friendship too!
I think it depends on with what lens you see this anime. If you’re just watching it as a sports anime then changes are you’re going to be bored or you’ll just see it as a fun slice of life etc….If you watch it from the perspective I mentioned above then maybe you can see the depth of it (-: Btw, expect no romance be it boys x girls or even boys x boys. I think a lot of ppl mistake it for shounen-ai, but honestly it isn’t AT ALL….relationships can be platonic too y’know~ and this is the best example of it. Everything is just so pure in here…
Can’t wait to see what season 2 has to offer.
Tsurune has become one of my comfort anime for sure! Do watch it guys…
Ashiya-chan
There are many reasons to watch Tsurune. ^(=^.^=)^ First of all you can experience a different kind of friendship, deriving from teamwork and companionship. When a group of people fight for something they all love, they create bonds that compress other negative vibes between them. 🥇 Second of all, it's a peaceful anime with beautiful sceneries, and if you are into japanese traditional stuff this one suits you! 🇯🇵 The art is wonderful, and the animation studio put a lot of effort in every episode until the end without rushing any of them.The characters have deep personalities with unique qualities, and that's something that makes you feel sympathy but also awe.
Watch it guys, it's worth it. ♡
tangerine_sushi
Description : The story follows Minato Narumiya. Minato played Japanese archery in middle school, but after a certain incident, he ran away from the sport. In high school, Minato meets new friends, and together as part of their school's archery club, they aim to win the prefectural tournament. Review : I was quite interested when I saw this anime's trailer and can't wait anymore for the episode release. Finally, it was released. And then I watched the episode 1, apparently, it was shared that this Minato was afraid to join kyudo again in his high school because of some problem. And then I was thinking, "Ahhh, Ithink it may be a story about this Minato struggle on his so-called problem". I quite like a story about the main character who struggles of his problem and succeed in the end, so I was quite like this anime, and finally the result of this boy hard work was satisfying. When the first episode, so many peoples rated this anime low score, but now? the final episode came out and the previous review was drastically changed than last time one. See? it wasn't wasted time to wait for this beautiful story ending, right? Ahh~ I was so happy for the 13 episodes. Thanks, Tsurune. You're teaching that miracle has existed if we do not give up before trying it. The last time review I gave this anime a "9" but now, I changed it became "10"!!!
Last Note :
SUPER RECOMMEND IT! Who says that this anime was disappointed sports anime? you must have blind!
Valentine07
(Spanish review below) Although Tsurune is a fairly simple anime and doesn't invent anything, I consider that it accomplishes what it sets out to do and isn't presumptuous. Personally, the first time I saw it I like it but nothing more, it was okey. But, over time, I couldn't stop thinking about the warm feeling it left me with. After watching it again several years later, I can assure you that Tsurune is a comfort anime for me. It has the dramatic touch of KyoAni that I like so much, characters that I generally find interesting (although none of them are very original) and a beautiful animation.If something stands out, it is the animation.
Also, from the beginning I like that we not only have a male group of characters practicing the sport, but also three girls in the same club, something that doesn't happen so often in other sports animes. If it happens, they usually don't have more than three dialogues, and in Tsurune all the girls have a marked personality and are part of what happens. Clearly, since they aren't part of the team that will compete, they aren't at the center of the dilemma, but they are still quite present.
On the other hand, I like that we don't just have a coach who fulfills the role of coach and that's it. Masaki has an almost leading role in the series and many things to contribute to it.
Aside from Masaki, Seiya, and Minato, almost no other characters get much development. Yes a couple of clues, but nothing more. Having seen the second season, I recommend that you watch it if you want to see more development of the rest of the team and also the rivals. The only "bad" thing I have to say about the series is that I find Minato extremely boring as the protagonist and even a little unbearable.
Without a doubt, I highly recommend watching Tsurune, but with the idea of watching a slice of life with touches of spokon, rather than a spokon itself.
...
Si bien Tsurune es un anime bastante simple y no inventa nada, considero que cumple lo que se propone y que no es presuntuoso. En lo personal, la primera vez que lo vi me gustó y nada más. Pero, con el tiempo, no podía dejar de pensar en la sensación de calidez que me dejó. Tras verlo una vez más arios años después, puedo asegurar que Tsurune es para mí un anime de comfort.
Tiene el toque dramático de KyoAni que tanto me gusta, personajes que en general me parecen interesantes (aunque ninguno sea muy original) y una animación preciosa. Si algo destaco es la animación.
Además, desde el principio me gusta que no sólo tengamos a un grupo masculino de personajes practicando el deporte, sino también a tres chicas en el mismo club, algo que no pasa tan seguido en otros animes de deporte. Si pasa, no suelen tener más de tres diálogos, y en Tsurune todas las chicas tienen una personalidad marcada y son parte de lo que pasa. Claramente, como no son parte del equipo que competirá, no están en el centro del dilema, pero aún así están bastante presentes.
Por otro lado, me gusta que no sólo tengamos a un entrenador que cumple el rol de entrenador y ya está. Masaki tienen un rol casi protagónico en la serie y muchas cosas que aportar a la misma.
Además de Masaki, Seiya y Minato, casi ningún otro personaje tiene un gran desarrollo. Si un par de pistas, pero nada más. Habiendo visto al segunda temporada, les recomiendo que la vean si quieren ver más desarrollo del resto del equipo y también de los rivales. Lo único "malo" que tengo para decir de la serie es que Minato se me hace aburridísimo como protagonista y hasta un poco insoportable.
Sin duda, recomiendo mucho mirar a Tsurune, pero con la idea de mirar un slice of life con toques de spokon, que un spokon en sí mismo.
ZB_Blades
I typically like to keep an eye out for anime series made by Kyoto Animation as I feel they have a good track record when it comes to what they put out. For their new work they decided to go with a high school sports setting which tempered my expectations. However, I wanted to give a chance. This what I thought. (NO SPOILERS) Story - 6 The story of Tsurune is a slow burn matching up with the equally nonchalant premise of competitive high school archery. There is an air of calmness in how the story presents itself. For me this pacing led to boredom early onas I struggled to give the show my full attention through the first half. This slow pace doesn't help the shows plot of a mostly male high school sports club that has been done a million times before. Despite the shows standard setting it thankfully stays away from some of the melodrama that plagues series of the same nature. Instead we are presented with a unique problem that our main character must overcome. The problem with this unique scenario is the execution. Had they gone more in depth, the story would probably receive a higher rating and a psychological tag.
Characters - 5
The characters in this show are about what you would expect from a teenage high school sports series. You have the quiet one, the talented rival, the supportive senpai, the loud mean looking one, and the chibi jokester. Out of our shows cast, only a couple get some development by the end leaving the rest to wallow in one dimensionality. By the end I can't really say I cared for any of them, nor were they all that memorable.
Animation - 8
If you've been watching anime long enough, then you know of Kyoto Animation's reputation as a top-tier studio. With Tsurune they bring the same level of quality that one would expect. Everything looks beautiful and picturesque. There aren't really any sakuga moments or anything with a lot of motion outside of the arrows flying through the air, but the animation stays consistent throughout. I would have to say that the art is the best thing about this show.
Sound - 7
Both the opening and the ending song fit well enough with the show that I can't really complain. The songs were fine to listen to in the moment but I can't say they really stuck with me. Aside from the OP and the ED what I really appreciated and would like to point out is the OST which I feel is very important for this kind of series. As I discussed above, this is a slow tranquil series. To have background music that reflects what is going on in the scene is something that puts my mind at ease. Even the sounds that they use for an arrow gliding through the air and hitting a canvas is utter harmony.
Enjoyment - 6
Throughout the series I found myself half interested in what was going on. Pretty much the only thing that kept my attention was the beautiful art and the sounds of arrows flying through the air. Other than that, the characters were rather dull and the story moved too slowly for my taste.
Total - 6.4/10
Overall, it was a nice somewhat pleasant series that I would recommend to only those that are in the mood for something peaceful.
fathoming
Being someone who never plays team sports but somehow has become obsessed with sports anime like Haikyuu, Chihayafuru, and Yowamushi Pedal, I was excited to find Tsurune. It seems promising at first--a reluctant but talented young archer with 'target panic'! (Basically, a mental block.) A mysterious archer in the night, shooting arrows alone at a temple, who has a pet owl! Some unexplained tension between the main character and his best friend/neighbor! Alas, everything that seemed promising initially is either dropped and forgotten about soon after it's introduced (like the owl) or transforms into something much less interesting, and is resolvedwith some obvious platitude.
Also ... something I loved about all the aforementioned great sports anime was how they delved into the sport itself. Have I ever had any interest in volleyball or bike racing? Hell naw. But those shows GOT me interested in them. One would assume if you're going to go to all the trouble to make a sports anime, it's because you have some passion for the sport, but in this case, the specifics of archery--a sport which I actually AM interested in--are barely touched on.
Any great ensemble anime knows you have to have a good cast of characters to base it all on. Here, Tsurune is sorely lacking. The two main characters are essentially identical: reserved, dutiful, quiet, and, well, pretty uninteresting. All three female archers on their team are, come to think of it, ALSO just like this. (!!) The 'spicy hothead' character is so consistently, pointlessly mean as to come across as almost psychotic, and in any case, not someone whose good opinion is worth cultivating (it would be impossible to acquire, anyway), yet that's, I guess ...? what they were going for with the relationship between him and the main character. Another character who seems interesting is introduced halfway through, but though he and the main character share a relevant past, little happens with him or between them, and it's all very vague.
Also, various car accidents transpire over the course of the show, and in no case do they directly impact the story in any way, so they seem to be merely a cheap way to add pointless drama.
I give it 5 stars because it's not terrible, it's just not good.
Lazily conceived, emptily executed. If you're looking for another great sports anime like Haikyuu or Chihayafuru or Yowamushi ... keep looking (and tell me when you find it).
Turatas
I never write reviews, ever, but as soon as I started watching this anime, I knew I’d have to change that. Even with my reluctant state towards sports anime I’ve watched a fair amount of them, all from Haikyuu!! to Yuri on ice, to prince of stride to kuroko no basket, even Kyoto studios own similar show: Free! So, this clearly isn’t my first rodeo with the genre even though I’m nowhere near an expert, but still when I tell you that Tsurune is different, I wholeheartedly mean it. Already in the first episode you can tell exactly what you’re signing up for. They pullyou in with the classic Kyoto animation visuals, the character design of cute boys that struggle with their separate setbacks in life (big and small ones). but even though it has these KyoAni features it’s clearly a slight downgrade visually from their regular works, I’d still say it’s above average and even stunning at times, but there’s no denying the stark difference form their higher budget works such as Free! and Violet Evergarden, which itself is the reason for the lower budget as they were airing Violet Evergarden and Tsurune at the same season. But still despite that, the cinematography with the animation to the fluently, the vibrancy and just well thought out scenery for every single scene still makes it so this show is well above average in animation It leaving behind remarkable stunning scenes such as Motomuras introduction scene in the first episode. But besides that, there’s also another downside to it being a very typical KyoAni series, which is the fact that its undeniable similar to their other shows. There no denying how similar the show is to Free! with everything from the plot to the characters, it’s to the point where even before the second episode you will have a general idea of the future plot points if you’ve ever seen Free!, and it will most likely be accurate too.
While I genuinely did find all the characters enjoyable in different amount, I can still admit how typical they were for the genre with the angry hothead one (Rin, Kageyama, Yuri, etc.) together with the easy-going bubbly guy (Nagisa, Hinata, Kenjirou, etc.). but at the same time, why change a formula that’s working just fine? I did at no point mind the typical sport anime tropes with the characters as they were still different and unique in their own ways from these other characters, it being either their own personal demons or their relationship with other characters among many differences.
So, what made Tsurune different? Unlike most (keyword: most) other sport anime Tsurune is simplistic, its calm and serene. It’s not about any flash movement or advance tactics, it’s exactly what it tells you that it is. It’s in no sense or form hectic, it’s a show that succeeds incredibly well with keeping the fine balance between calm and intriguing. Even with all the earlier mentioned flaws it has you rooting for the teams, it has just smiling happily with them as you genuinely feel for the characters.
I really wish everyone who likes relaxing slice of life will give this show a genuine try, I really think there’s something in here for anyone that likes these genres.
dandantas
What mostly fascinates me about this anime isn't its art, characters, sound or story. What fascinates me the most is the rich Japanese culture present in this Anime. As a non Japanese person, I tend not to hear much about traditional Japanese culture, so I never grow any interest in that. Although it's just another sport cliche, it carries much more importance in its cultural exchange than in everything else(art, story, sound, Character). I feel great that I've heard about Kyudo through this anime, it gave me a good experience along with an above average story. Traditional Japanese art and sports fascinates me a lot.With the little knowledge I have, I think it did a good job showing both the philosophical and technical aspects of Kyudo. Not the best anime, but a great portrait of what Japanese culture can offer to you.
7/10
SarskildLjus
This is Beautiful....This was my first Kyoto Animation anime. For a random reference,When I completed Code Geass,I wanted to watch something which is simple & not supernatural. My Birthday was coming near. Tsurune was coming in my recommendation from many weeks & I was attracted by its Cover image.....But I didn't judge it by its cover & Thought why not to start this on My B'day. I am going to give a brief review on each aspect: •Story_10/10: (sorry but this aspect has spoilers,better if you do not read.) I didn't thought they could explain a sports based story in only 13 episodes. Well back to the point,The Storygoes Around Minato's & Seiya's past experiences of kyuudou & Minato's Old friend whose mom taught Minato & his friend kyuudou.
After the Death of the Minato's Mom,Minato got very depressed & never tried to learn kyuudou & play kyuudou afterwards.
But one day he met his old friends and they brought him back to the kyuudou classes in his school.....He didn't play it & he experienced problem of target panic.
Afterwards,He met a Kyuudou coach at night who became his school's kyuudou trainer for upcoming kyuudou tournament.
How Minato comes back to his instincts & what will happen in that tournament,How they will train themselves for that Tournament & Seiya's Sacrifice is what is shown in this Amazing Anime.
I loved this story because it shown a great friendship between its characters & how every character helps each other.
Characters_10/10:
You will say "You are kidding me".....I am giving everything 10/10 lol....but It is reality of this anime(atleast for me).
The main characters are great,the anime shows their past stories.....The best Characters In this anime(in my opinion) are Seiya,Minato & Their Coach. I liked the friendship of these characters.....I really enjoyed the presence of each character.
Sound_10/10:
I am not Biased about this....It contains a lot of great OSTs.....The Opening & Ending themes are also very nice. The timing of playing ost is absolutely amazing....I can say that It has Relaxing OSTs.
Art_10/10:
After watching this,I watched some other anime by Kyoto Animation & realised that It is best in making Beautiful Backgrounds. In this anime,I noticed this & then I searched about Kyoto animation's features & I got this....This Studio is a master creating beautiful Art.
Well this is the first review where I am not writing on Enjoyment,because my enjoyment is highlighted in all the above aspects I wrote about.
Now I am ending this review....Many people think every anime should contain some special story....but we should admit that not every story can be special....this anime consists a nice storyline and I respect it....I can't demand anything else from this anime....!
I just want this anime to become more popular among sports genre fans & ofcourse outside it too.
Watch it if you think it is worth your time or Plan to watch it & give it a try in future.
Have a Nice day,Hope you understood what I wanted to tell!
shoxs84
I only have this much to say about this anime... Only kyoani can make you feel the full spectrum of emotions that a team competing in a tournament can go through. It makes you go through their journey and at the end you feel the same comradery with the squad. I had no idea what Tsurune or even what Kyuudo was when i started watching this show. The story keeps you engaged, the art work is nothing but exception as if you can feel the wind from each shot taken. Not being a fan of sports anime, i was shocked to find myself in love withthis one!
spacecraft555
TL;DR Review Personally, I enjoyed this. I mean, it's pretty good if you ask me. The plot is pretty good. It follows the main character, Minato Narumiya, who finds his passion for archery again, while being supported by his friends a teammates. This is pretty heartwarming and nice; however, like all other anime, it's not perfect. Some of the characters you'll definitely not like and the background of Minato is pretty vague for the first part. On the other hand, the art is beautiful. I love the way they animated the archery scenes and special effects that go with it. The special effects aren't outrageous andthey are cute. If you pick this up, I know you'll love it. It's a good watch.
- Spacecraft555 UwU
jspndrsngh
I really wanted to love Tsurune, because it's a good anime. But to be quite frank, it's nothing great. It's well executed enough and the best part of the show was when they focused on the archery, which I wish they focused more on that. The animation is great. It had the recipe to be great but it get held back by the bland characters. It just felt like the characters were written to fit the story arc the episode was trying to tell but with no actual substance. This was my first try at a sports anime so I can't comment on where itfits in the sports anime genre but it's probably worth watching if you are a fan of the genre.
It's a solid 7. Good, but not great.
