English Dub Review: Stars Align “Episode 4”

Everybody’s getting along.

 

 

Overview (Spoilers Below)

Maki reorganizes the tennis team into what he hopes will be more suitable pairs. 

Our Take

It took four episodes, but we have an opening animation now. Since this show wants to cover some fairly serious topics, I thought it’d be one of those shows that do its own thing and just never have one. But here it is at last. And it’s very pretty too, just like the rest of the show.

Half of this episode is spent playing tennis, and they really put in the effort in the animation for it. The movement of the players is so fluid, at first I thought it was rotoscoping, but I think it might actually be that there’s some 3D animation mixed in. If that’s the case, then this is some incredibly well-done cel-shading. The shots with the players swinging rackets are held on long enough to appreciate the artistry in the animation, but short enough that they don’t overstay and keep the pace fast for the match. 

Most of the shots focus on the players receiving the ball, rather than following the ball itself. This results in a lot of quick back and forth between players instead of long takes. One might argue that this isn’t varied enough or perhaps a little lazy. I would argue that these types of shots work for where the story is right now. We’re currently still getting to know the characters better, so the emphasis on them through these back and forth shots allows us to see them more often and become more familiar with them. Additionally, these back and forth shots are done through a wide variety of camera angles, so there is some variation in there.

As for the plot, Maki’s new tennis pairs prove effective. Pairing up everyone based on complementing personalities works well in the games and we receive a little more insight into them.

The little peek into Rintaro’s family serves to bolster the show’s formula of getting to know everyone’s parents and pasts. Nothing terribly serious has popped up on this new front, but something certainly will in the near future.

The club’s teacher advisor, Takayuki, has just been kind of hanging out in the background up until now, seemingly neglecting his duties. His sudden involvement is a little surprising but I suppose that’s a result of the team’s effort. Even he isn’t immune from having a dark past as his conversation with the other school’s teacher indicates. 

And finally, Maki’s dad shows up. It was kind of predictable because, for whatever reason,  it always happens after the credits roll and right when Maki is feeling good about himself. Nevertheless, his seldom but destructive appearances always inject an incredible amount of tension into the mood. His spiel at the end has not only hurt Maki again, but it’s also given us more insight into him himself. It feels like too little is being revealed at once about Maki’s dad, but what we’ve seen here is adding more intrigue into their past. 

The tennis and drama continue to progress together smoothly. The upcoming practice match may make or break the tennis team. And if it breaks, it might break hard.