Anime Digest
The story revolves around a horse riding academy and the students in it. The main characters are three fifteen-year-old boys. Yū Arimura, is a fifteen-year-old idol who leaves the entertainment industry and joins the academy after falling in love with the sport. Shun Kazanami, only learned about the sport through radio broadcasts on the island where he grew up. Amane Grace, wants to walk in the footsteps of his father who is a former derby jockey. He is from a rich family in England and wants to keep up the legacy. How do these boys with different backgrounds get along? How difficult is the sport? Watch the series to know more about it and how the story unfolds.
The Feel-Good Part
Our teens are a phase we all want to live in again. The audience can relate to certain scenes that show the innocence of teens and the value of friendship. The show sheds light on the difficulties behind competitive sports. How that one moment of glory is the result of many nights of practice is very well shown. An interesting story arc is how Yū Arimura bonds with his horse. From not being able to emotionally connect with it to ride it to the competitions, the entire arc is very well depicted.
The Disappointing factor
Though the story seems fresh with the characters and their bond, it is not something we haven’t seen before. The story of the other students in the academy could have been depicted when needed. There could have been better in-depth writing about the three boys and their backgrounds to show their passion for the sport. Instead of focusing more on the sport that is the central theme of the series, the story focuses more on popularity and betting on the horses, which is a very common form of gambling in Japan.
In-Depth Analysis
The story is the typical teen story, the only difference being that instead of being in a high school, the story is set in the horse-riding academy. The competitive spirit, the teenage urge to be popular, and the bond between friends are analysed well in the series. Besides, the series also gives us a view into how gambling can make or break one’s life and how getting wealth the hard way is better than the quick way.
Star Power
The main characters and the diversity in their backgrounds highlight the show. The characters clearly show how one’s attitude is mainly dependent on who they are in the past and under which circumstances they are raised. Another character to look for is Eri Shimotsuki, the competent girl jockey who brightens up the team, where all the boys are aloof and moody.
Overall Opinion
Despite its minor flaws, Gunjou No fanfare is one of the best sports anime to watch if you are just starting to venture into the world of anime. The opening and ending songs deserve credits for their amazing background score. It focuses on the hardships, efforts, and friendships of teenagers.
