Life-changing. Ping Pong, a sport where two to four players hit a lightweight ball, also known as the ping-pong ball, back and forth across a net on a table using small solid rackets. That’s the definition according to wikipedia at least. But this series begs to differ by transcending that definition. Not only for ping pong, but for sports as a whole. No series has ever kept me as emotionally entranced as Ping Pong. I’ve yet to come across a series that can swoon me over with its dynamic characters, dilemmas, growth and presentation as this one. You don’t need me to tell you that, I’m sure you can read hundreds of other takes on this series. Takes that praise and describe every aortic detail. But that’s not my aim here. My intention with these write ups is to preserve the experience for you to have. My only goal is to inform you about the magnitude of how good or bad this voyage is. So with that in mind, how does Ping Pong manage to fill me with pure exuberance each time I’ve embarked on its journey?

Ping Pong follows the life and growth of Tsukimoto “Smile”, Hoshino “Peco” and their relationship with Ping Pong. That’s about as brief as a summary I can provide with such a dynamic series. Though I’ll say that they are far from the only characters you’ll be following. As the entire cast of characters are just as multifaceted. There is not a single character that’s portrayed as an “antagonist” as every character is represented as a normal, imperfect human being. Yet each character has a discernible personality that makes them unique and “inhuman” to some degree. The show marvelously orchestrates this sense of childlike interpretation of a character’s actions, or personality traits. Whether that’s imagining this character as a hero, a robot, or beast, the way the show portrays the mental gymnastics of its characters is second to none.

You can’t have a perfectly woven tale of two friends with just an assortment of great characters though. Unsurprisingly, its characters are not the only aspects that weren’t taken for granted. As this show possesses a feat most anime have never even fathomed. And that’s not to treat the audience like idiots. By that, I do not mean that the story itself is interpretational. But the series doesn’t solely rely on dialogue or character expressions to convey the mood of a scene or to progress the narrative. The show utilizes extraordinary (and initially confusing) visuals, phrases, actions between characters, foreshadowing, call backs and melodies to give each scene greater emotional depth.

Despite the “out of this world” vibe it may sound like the series has, this show has its foot firmly rooted in fantasy just as it does in realism. The obstacles characters are forced to face are presented as larger than life and are often exaggerated. Yet it approaches each situation with a sense of composure and optimism. As if the show is saying, "This too will pass, and from it you will grow". And it’s in that growth that the beauty of this anime and its characters shine. Because even if you’ve been let down, misguided, gone off your path, or you’re in a rough patch, there’s still another day worth living for. This motif is often used in anime, however the way it’s portrayed in this series is unique to this series and this series alone. As I have yet to see a show convey the beauty of overcoming a colossal obstacle that we imagine as this epic force to be reckoned with, to be conquered by simple and honest solutions that are often overlooked as answers.

With the sense of the show’s atmosphere set out of the way, in what ways does the show present itself that makes it so intriguing to watch? As aforementioned, this is an adaptation of a manga series by Taiyo Matsumoto. I say this as someone who loves reading the book, but this anime goes above and beyond what it means to be an adaptation. Managing to improve and add onto the source material by taking cues from the manga’s genius paneling and unique character design to make each scene exhilarating to watch. Simply put, as someone who knows nothing about ping pong, this anime perfectly managed to convey a sport I’ve known nothing about in a way that makes me feel just as invigorated as the players involved or as a spectator in the crowd.

The animation and dynamic visuals are not the only aspect that elevates this experience to a whole other level. The audio is just as crucial to making this voyage feel paramount. The music was composed by Kensuke Ushio, also composer of the superfluous space dandy ost, who demolishes the emotional barrier between the scene and the viewer. It's a fast paced synth-edm masterpiece with piano and orchestral-esque interludes. This anime OST’s is not far behind my personal favorite, which is Samurai Champloo, but I digress. The songs are largely uplifting, lush, energetic, rhythmic, and mechanical. For example, the songs “Ping Pong Phase 1 and 2” utilizes the actual sound of ping pongs hitting the table that gradually develops into a fun catchy rhythm. And the track Peco embodies his character to a tee. Upon listening to it I feel like an impish miscreant not letting a moment of his youth fly by. Every track feels very rich and provides great sensory pleasure. Speaking of Peco, both Seiyuu for Peco and Tsukimoto provide phenomenal performances that give their characters so much life that I could die.

I’ve yet to come across a series that can swoon me over with its multifaceted characters, dilemmas, growth and presentation as Ping-Pong. How does Ping Pong manage to fill me with pure exuberance each time I’ve embarked on its journey? Because it manages to take Ping Pong, a sport I barely remembered existing before watching this series, and utilized it as a perfect backdrop for a story about evolving, becoming your best self, and expressing that in order to fully bask in life’s pleasures one must overcome the obstacles in their path. I didn’t mean to get too metaphorical, but that’s the effect watching such a philosophical masterpiece will do to you. So I implore you please, embark on this journey because from it, you may develop your own wings.