Major: Episode 01

It’s been a while since I’ve watched any episode of a sport anime. And no, PoT does not count. ;p To be honest, I have very low requirements for this genre since I am a sucker for tournament-like set-ups. So with an open mind, I previewed the first episode of Major which centers on baseball.

With the promotional images I’ve seen from various info sites, the opening ep did not exactly fit what I had in mind. The twist it included in the storyline had me tickled. Most of the sports-centric anime I’ve seen usually have a father with famous or legendary skills whom the son tries to emulate or surpass. True, the protagonist, little Goro has a father whom he looks up to but his dad is far from a legend.

After losing his wife to an unknown sickness, he developed a hernia due to excessive training and lost his place in the Majors. Then while on the Minor league, he suffered another setback when he tore an elbow ligament which requires a year of special rehabilitation. Because of this injury, he was forced to resign the team. However, after a long talk with an old friend/rival and seeing Goro’s reaction, he seemed to have mustered more spirit to improve his skills which would be good enough for the Majors.

The twist is relatively original. The series will probably revolve mostly around Goro but the parallels between the struggle of both father and son might prove to be interesting television. I do love underdog stories better than those prodigy-types. Heck, I’m still waiting for a series similar to Whistle.