Anime Digest
The story follows Shotarou Futaba, a middle school student in his final year who has tried swimming, soccer, and baseball in the past but never quite made any of them his passion. One day in a park, he sees some people practicing rhythmic gymnastics. He goes home and watches a tournament performance of the Shoushukan High School team. He is fascinated by them and the sport, but the team loses because of penalty points for not having a full six-member team. Shotarou joins the team without having any prior knowledge about the sport and slowly learns everything as the show goes on. They are now set to compete in the inter-high tournament with a full six-member team.
The Feel-Good Part
It is a good show with a great story that shows excellent team spirit and trust. The anime has a great story that builds from the basics and stays strong till the very end. The very best thing about this show is that the main character is also new to this sport, so it explains everything from the very bottom, and the viewers are not left confused because of the high-level sports terms or as to what is going on. It pretty much stays on the same page as the viewers.
Another thing is the animation. It is a mix of 2D and 3D. The show is 2D as a whole, but when they perform, it switches to 3D. It gives a more refined view of the performance and is fantastic to look at.
The Disappointing Factor
The story is the same as all the other sports shows. The only thing that has changed is the sport. The basic story is a little different, but then when they start competing, it’s the same as any other anime.
Another thing is the animation. While some might find the switch between 2D and 3D fascinating, some may find it irritating. But it is not a big issue.
In-Depth Analysis
Backflip!! is a rhythmic gymnastics sports anime where the main character, that is, Shotarou Futaba, initially finds it difficult to find his passion. Then he watches a rhythmic gymnastics performance and then joins a team because he finds that sport interesting.
Even though it is like every other sports anime, Backflip does not fail to leave its mark. It is a refreshing show with a completely new sport that has never been seen before in an anime. The directors did an amazing job in its execution, and the whole show just feels perfect. The characters are funny when they interact with each other, and they have their determination back in place when they are competing. It is amazing to look at.
Star Power
The characters are the same as you will find in other sports anime. The moody guy, the funny guy, the leader, the no-nonsense guy, etc., but it is still refreshing to watch them in this show. They all get their time for character development, and they all fit perfectly into the show. The main character was also fantastic and carried the show very well.
Overall Opinion
It is a fantastic show, which brings a new sport into the anime world. If you are into sports anime, you should consider giving this a try.
