PING PONG THE ANIMATION |OT| ( `´)°(ò_ó )/
- Thread starter Dresden
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better to not spoil than to spoil, especially for an ep that just aired
Looked rougher than the first two, but the Ping Pong train rolls on. The opening is still stunning. Can't think of a better one in the last few years.
Don't bother spoiler tagging stuff that's already aired. Tag and label manga spoilers, but it'd be better to not discuss that at all.
Don't bother spoiler tagging stuff that's already aired. Tag and label manga spoilers, but it'd be better to not discuss that at all.
Especially since he thinks he's doing to make the other person not feel bad, the ultimate soulcrusher in any game
Nemesis121
Member
So did his bad habit show up?
Trickster
Member
Just rewatched the smile vs wenge match again. And yeah it pretty damn clear that smile throws the match on purpose. Right after wenges trainer yells at him, the episode cuts to a closeup of smile that makes it clear he "understands" what is being said to wenge, and after that you can tell from the reaction of smiles trainer and the kaiou guys that smile is not playing seriously anymore.
hipbabboom
Huh? What did I say? Did I screw up again? :(
That's how I understood it as well. They made it seem like smile could understand Chinese. Was that the case or was he just hearing the stress in the voice?
If we scroll back to when he first met Wenge, Smile explained that he knew well what Wenge is saying to him, that he didnt really need a translation.
So either he knows Chinese (he did say ni hao in epi 3) or the series is going down to portraying him as capable to read opponent's minds. (Which also unleashed in epi 3)
So either he knows Chinese (he did say ni hao in epi 3) or the series is going down to portraying him as capable to read opponent's minds. (Which also unleashed in epi 3)
Trickster
Member
I assume that smile don't understand chinese. But it should still be quite clear to him roughly what is being said based on how wenge's coach was yelling at him + how meek wenge looks when he replies "yes sir"
edit - I also think wenge knows that smile threw the match. He looks far from happy during the closeup of his face after he wins
Jex
Member
As always, make sure to read Ben's posts on cartoonbrew: http://www.cartoonbrew.com/recaps/ping-pong-recap-smile-is-a-robot-98619.html
Man, that Shinya Ohira OP, masterful. That was a rather great episode with good character interplay with no time wasted. As great as the style is, the animation and art choked in a number of places, the tight production schedule must be tough.
If only he'd write them faster!
Ping Pong 3
I didn't think about that but that certainly explains that limp dick ending to the match.
- Oh we got a real OP now? Pretty cool
- Smile still failing at basic human interaction I see :/
- The music in this show is ON POINT
- The panel approach was cool at first but they way abused it this episode
- I continue to really enjoy the matches. They are always about the players and not the game which makes them engaging to those not super invested in Ping Pong. Its always a battle of wits and the show does a great job of stressing that.
- "There are even some Africans who can't dance" - I can't do anything but LOL at this
- I'm not sure I totally understand the significance of Smile's humming during his match with Kong. Is it just supposed to mean "I'm cool, I got this"?
- For the sake of the narrative I know Kong had to win here but his reversal at the tail end of the match felt super quick and unearned :/
I didn't think about that but that certainly explains that limp dick ending to the match.
(bahi is an young Austrian animator who got his start with Kids on the Slope and has gone on to work on shows like Space Dandy. There was an interview with him recently, a very good - and informative - read.)
@bahijd
What actually aired vs. what was meant to be:
You can find more examples here (or just on bahi's twitter, I suppose, if they don't get taken down). Sad to see what they could have been, compared to the stiff, ugly scenes we got this episode.
@bahijd
What actually aired vs. what was meant to be:
You can find more examples here (or just on bahi's twitter, I suppose, if they don't get taken down). Sad to see what they could have been, compared to the stiff, ugly scenes we got this episode.
Feel pretty bad for Bahi, since nothing sucks more for an artist than realizing your work isn't going to be used. Hopefully they'll put it back in the BD release or something. But I guess this is what happens when you deliver the animation for the entire final 90 seconds of an episode just 2 days before it has to be screened somewhere in Japan. 
I wonder when they decided they weren't going to wait for him and just got someone else to do all the replacement scenes. Had to have happened before he even submitted his finished work since they look pretty complete. Pretty weird all round.
I wonder when they decided they weren't going to wait for him and just got someone else to do all the replacement scenes. Had to have happened before he even submitted his finished work since they look pretty complete. Pretty weird all round.
Episode 4
Episode looked really rough in a lot of scenes relying on lots of empty backgrounds, but when it came down to the actual matches, they really got it right. The Kazama match was pretty much as intense and hype as I expected to be it. Not to mention the music choice was fantastic.
Ping Pong The Animation Episode 4:
I think this was the most Kick-Hearty episode yet and I for one rather enjoyed that. Anyway, I am unsure if Kaio Acadamy is the protagonists of a shonen sports series we are not watching or if they are more the evil rich team of an American sports movie. Still, in any event we see why they are a force to be reckoned with and I am glad we got some matches not starting Linkin Park listener Smile, so there was some actual drive and ambition behind the moves.
I think this was the most Kick-Hearty episode yet and I for one rather enjoyed that. Anyway, I am unsure if Kaio Acadamy is the protagonists of a shonen sports series we are not watching or if they are more the evil rich team of an American sports movie. Still, in any event we see why they are a force to be reckoned with and I am glad we got some matches not starting Linkin Park listener Smile, so there was some actual drive and ambition behind the moves.
It's the best.
well it cant be the best without dragons, but I'll check it out
It has dragons.
wait what
Episode 4
The production rush is getting more and more obvious. Some of the comic panels they use for cut-ins look like placeholders now, and the animation for key scenes are clearly unfinished. But hey, it's still a fantastic show with great direction and really tight pacing. Peco's match against Demon and Dragon's match against China were really different, and both were exciting to watch for different reasons. Loved the character stuff after the matches too. "I'm not talking about table tennis, I'm talking about life" really sums up the thematic point of the series.
The production rush is getting more and more obvious. Some of the comic panels they use for cut-ins look like placeholders now, and the animation for key scenes are clearly unfinished. But hey, it's still a fantastic show with great direction and really tight pacing. Peco's match against Demon and Dragon's match against China were really different, and both were exciting to watch for different reasons. Loved the character stuff after the matches too. "I'm not talking about table tennis, I'm talking about life" really sums up the thematic point of the series.
Dedication Through Light
Member
4
Sadly the show seems to be going downhill rather fast with the writer clearly showing signs of having struggled to make an sports anime actually deliver on the qualities that make a sports anime good. Each match considerable gets worst and worst and sadly this episode just ended up being pretty unbelievable and disappointing.
Sadly the show seems to be going downhill rather fast with the writer clearly showing signs of having struggled to make an sports anime actually deliver on the qualities that make a sports anime good. Each match considerable gets worst and worst and sadly this episode just ended up being pretty unbelievable and disappointing.
Perhaps the only acceptable aspect to it is that if everyone is losing here now then they would no doubt win later on, but I was looking more toward Wenge just being the undefeated force of the anime being able to earn his right back home after being sparked/ignited by Smile who would in turn finally be able to have a winning image and a way to victory for his ping pong pursuits. Unfortunately, I guess only some people are able to imagine a story like this and instead we end up with this rather oddly done episode. I wish I could telegraph this plot points to them
PSYCHOHYZACK
Member
I'm still really enjoying the story, but man is the animation getting rougher and rougher each ep. Its a real shame. Still the match between the Dragon and China was epic and I loved the imagery. But now that the tournament'ss over I wonder where we're going next. Smile seems completely set in his was and not too impressed by the dragon's pitch, and I really hope this isn't the last of China.
I could understand the matches being disappointing from the animation standpoint, but the writing still seems as good as ever. I think having the majority of the major players loose there match is quite fitting and realistic given what we've been shown and if Peco, China, and Smile never really amount to anything in terms of the game of ping pong, that wouldn't bother me at all. People don't change life long habits on a dime and so Smile still being Smile makes sense to me.
Dedication Through Light said:
I could understand the matches being disappointing from the animation standpoint, but the writing still seems as good as ever. I think having the majority of the major players loose there match is quite fitting and realistic given what we've been shown and if Peco, China, and Smile never really amount to anything in terms of the game of ping pong, that wouldn't bother me at all. People don't change life long habits on a dime and so Smile still being Smile makes sense to me.
striferser
Huge Nickleback Fan
Ping pong 4
So, the Opening is upgraded once again,
There's a downgrade in animation quality, it seem all the budget goes to China and Dragon match.
Other than that, this show is still spectacular.
So, the Opening is upgraded once again,
There's a downgrade in animation quality, it seem all the budget goes to China and Dragon match.
Other than that, this show is still spectacular.
Well, I'll say it again.
Good episode nonetheless.
Passive Assassin
Member
Ep 4
The OP is great. and i kinda relate the smiley. jeebus anime production did strke again.
The OP is great. and i kinda relate the smiley. jeebus anime production did strke again.
Nemesis121
Member
I know people love the art but I think the characters are fucking ugly, i love the environment art but this episode SUCKED, they used the character art for environment sheeeesh.
Episode 4
Parts of this episode looked cheap. Even if it served a purpose, the frame recycling in that lob-and-smash sequence between Peco and Akuma was unbelievably shameless. But there's still a strong vision holding everything together, and they absolutely know how to turn it on when they have the opportunity. Seeing Kazama play for the first time was pretty awesome.
I never would have thought my favorite character so far would be the guy speaking Chinese, but Kong is great. There's something nostalgic about all those conversations he has with his coach.
I really hope they can hold things together all the way to the finish. There's clearly a ton of talent at work.
Parts of this episode looked cheap. Even if it served a purpose, the frame recycling in that lob-and-smash sequence between Peco and Akuma was unbelievably shameless. But there's still a strong vision holding everything together, and they absolutely know how to turn it on when they have the opportunity. Seeing Kazama play for the first time was pretty awesome.
I never would have thought my favorite character so far would be the guy speaking Chinese, but Kong is great. There's something nostalgic about all those conversations he has with his coach.
I really hope they can hold things together all the way to the finish. There's clearly a ton of talent at work.
Easily my favorite show this season. I am glad we finally got to see Kazama play. I was wondering just how good he would be, and I was not disappointed. Now I wonder what will become of Peco and Smile, and the team itself since they're two stars lost.
I cannot stress how much I love the music. Is the OP out yet?
I cannot stress how much I love the music. Is the OP out yet?
Jex
Member
That's being generous. Parts of the last few episodes looked cheap, parts of this episode looked awful. They still delivered where it counts though, that dragon.
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