Saki
Synopsis
Due to childhood circumstances, first-year high school student Saki Miyanaga hates anything related to mahjong. When she does play the game, she keeps a low profile to avoid standing out. One day, her friend Kyoutarou Suga drags her along to the school's mahjong club. There, she meets Nodoka Haramura, the champion of the previous year's national middle school mahjong championship, and Yuuki Kataoka, a fellow club member. As the club play a few rounds, Saki attempts to hide her talent. However, the club president, Hisa Takei, notices Saki's unusual playstyle. Realizing her potential, she puts Saki's real ability to the test—proving her to be more talented than expected. This revelation damages Nodoka's pride, and their relationship gets off to a rocky start. Saki ends up joining the club, and after clearing up the misunderstandings between her and Nodoka, friendship blooms between them. As Saki slowly warms up to mahjong once again, she and the rest of her club only have one goal—to win nationals! [Written by MAL Rewrite]
Audience Consensus
Saki is a generally well-received anime that injects energy and excitement into the game of Mahjong. While the over-the-top action and character abilities are enjoyable, some viewers find the plot and character development lacking. The yuri undertones and open ending are divisive, but overall, the show is considered fun and entertaining, especially for those who enjoy moe and sports anime.
Strengths
- Exciting and dramatic mahjong matches with well-thought-out strategies.
- Cute character designs and generally good art quality.
- Enjoyable and addictive, easy to marathon.
Weaknesses
- The plot can derail and contains too much filler and fan service.
- Character development is lacking, especially in the supporting cast.
- Unresolved plot lines and an open ending can be unsatisfying.