Big Windup!
Synopsis
Ren Mihashi was the ace of his middle school's baseball team, but due to his poor pitching, they could never win. Constant losses eventually lead to his teammates bullying him and reached the point where his teammates no longer tried to win, causing Mihashi to graduate with little self-esteem. As a result, Mihashi decides to go to a high school in a different prefecture where he has no intention of playing baseball. Unfortunately, upon his arrival at Nishiura High, he is dragged into joining their new team as the starting pitcher. Although unwilling at first, Mihashi realizes that this is a place where he will be accepted for who he is; with help from the catcher Takaya Abe, he starts to have more confidence in his own abilities. Abe, seeing the potential in Mihashi, makes it a goal to help him become a pitcher worthy of being called an ace. [Written by MAL Rewrite]
Audience Consensus
The audience generally loves 'Ookiku Furikabutte' for its character development and realistic take on baseball. While some find the slow pace and Mihashi's character off-putting initially, most viewers become invested in the team's growth and the strategic aspects of the sport. The main criticism is that the anime's ending feels incomplete, leaving viewers wanting more.
Strengths
- Well-developed characters, even among opposing teams
- Realistic portrayal of baseball strategy and psychology
- Balances slice-of-life and tense sports moments well
Weaknesses
- Slow pacing, especially during matches
- Main character Mihashi can be initially annoying due to extreme shyness and insecurity
- Anime ends without a complete storyline conclusion