Rinkai!
Synopsis
Women's competitive cycling had been defunct for decades until the newly formed Rinkai League revived the sport, making headlines with its first few races. It has inspired many women across Japan, who flock to the league in hopes of realizing their dreams of becoming professional athletes. Cycling enthusiast Izumi Itou is reluctant to stake her future on a racing competition, despite her friends' encouragement. That changes when she discovers that her grandmother is a former champion in women's cycling. She offers to train Izumi, hoping to help her recognize her own talent. Although Izumi lacks experience, the appearance of a fierce Swiss contestant who aims to dominate the competition motivates her to give it all on the track and, ultimately, win. [Written by MAL Rewrite]
Audience Consensus
The anime had potential but suffers from poor execution and character development. Viewers were disappointed by the lack of focus on the main character and the awkward pacing. The use of 3DCG animation was also a point of criticism, though some appreciated the 2D animation quality and soundtrack.
Strengths
- Good 2D animation quality
- Interesting character designs
- Decent soundtrack that immerses in tense scenes
Weaknesses
- Awkward story execution and pacing
- Poor character development, especially for the main character
- Too much focus on supporting characters at the expense of the main storyline
- Mediocre and out-of-place 3DCG animation during cycling scenes
- Bland and boring characters with wasted potential