The Prince of Tennis: National Championship Chapter
Synopsis
Freshman tennis prodigy Ryouma Echizen and the Seishun Academy Boys' Tennis Team have finally reached the National Tournament, eager to fight for the championship title and claim it as their own. Seishun's first match is against Higa Middle School, the Okinawa-based team labeled as the "dark horse" of the tournament. After watching Higa defeat their first round of opponents using dirty tactics, the Seishun team is determined to show them the value of a fair, hard-earned victory. Awaiting the winners of the matchup in the quarterfinals is one of Seishun's old rivals: Hyoutei Academy, who are determined to restore their pride after the events at the Kanto Regionals. Hyoutei seeks to prove to everyone that they deserve to be at the Nationals despite only qualifying through a special invitation. Tennis no Oujisama: Zenkoku Taikai-hen covers the beginning of the long-awaited National Tournament as Ryouma and the Seishun team meet foes of past and present, each with their own unique ideals on how tennis should be played! [Written by MAL Rewrite]
Audience Consensus
Audience reception is mixed. Some appreciate the improved animation and nostalgic elements, while others criticize the rushed plot, predictable outcomes due to an overpowered protagonist, and questionable production choices. The compression of the National Tournament arc and the lack of character development beyond the main cast are also points of concern.
Strengths
- Improved animation quality compared to the original series.
- Maintains iconic and nostalgic OSTs.
Weaknesses
- Compressed storytelling due to limited number of episodes.
- Protagonist lacks vulnerability, making victories predictable.
- Poor production decisions, such as skipping early rounds of the national tournament and including filler episodes.
- Loss of secondary characters that added excitement.