English Dub Review: The Prince of Tennis II U-17 World Cup; Final Member Selection Match “Bluebird”

Overview

In the first match of the U-17 World Cup Semifinals, it’s Team Japan’s Oni versus Team Germany’s Q･P. Can Oni hold his ground against Team Germany’s No. 2 player?

Our Take

Picking up from the previous episode, the latest installment continues to disappoint with its horrendous CGI tennis animation and questionable pacing. This arc seems to be getting more screen time than necessary, especially when previous seasons rushed through matches that deserved more attention. On the bright side, it’s amusing to finally see Kaji Kazena get some playing time, and Byodoin and Oni’s heart hands in the opening work as a fun easter egg to those who appreciate the Manga more than I do. Their contrasting personalities and mutual understanding make them an entertaining duo, although the new opening feels underwhelming compared to its predecessors.

With five matches happening simultaneously, the constant transitions make the action difficult to follow, while the limited screen time prevents individual matchups from having much impact. While it’s nice to see more characters getting their moments in the spotlight, the rapid pacing makes it difficult to become invested in the matches or appreciate their potential.

Overall, despite a few comedic moments and some potentially interesting matchups ahead, the rushed presentation leaves more to be desired. There’s also a noticeable amount of reused animation, which doesn’t help matters. Hopefully they’ll improve in later episodes…