Anime Review Number 1: Kuroko no Basket

" The stronger the light, the darker the shadow." This quote was taken from Kuroko Tetsuya, the main character of Kuroko no Basket, regarding teamwork and friendship. Kuroko no Basket, officially translated to English as "The Basketball Which Kuroko Plays", is a story revolving around two main characters: Kagami Taiga, a Japanese first-year high school student who has just returned from America, and Kuroko Tetsuya. Kuroko Tetsuya was part of the "Generation of Miracles", the name given to the Teiko Middle School basketball team, the middle school champion for three consecutive years; and within that team, Kuroko is known as "The Phantom Sixth Man" for his ability to escape the opponent's mark and pass the ball with deadly accuracy. Along with five others, the six have gone to win countless championships. However, when they graduated from middle school, the six have decided to part ways, and each one of them was recruited to a different high school. To the surprises of many, Kuroko chose a school whose basketball team is relatively unknown, Seirin high school. It is in Seirin where Kagami Taiga and Kuroko Tetsuya met and became a deadly duo in basketball.




Seirin High basketball first team. From left to right: captain Hyuuga Junpei, power forward Kagami Taiga, the Phantom Sixth Man Kuroko Tetsuya, point guard Izuki Shin and centre Kiyoshi Teppei.

In light of the situation, it is clear to most viewers that Kuroko no Basket emphasises more on the action of the basketball matches rather than the storyline. While there are occasions when different characters of the series would recall nostalgic memories of the past, the author of the series have made a point that Kuroko no Basket would make basketball its top priority, followed by other elements. The background of the characters are sufficient, however limited. We know that Kagami Taiga came back from the United States only because he said so in one line. There is no elaboration on why he would leave America after spending more than five years living there, despite the fact that basketball in America was unrivalled anywhere in the world. We know that Kuroko Tetsuya's intriguing style of basketball, which utilised passing and his lack of presence on the field, stemmed from his weak physique, however, my opinion states that a back story was needed to show the hard work that Kuroko put in so as to become the player he was. In short, Kuroko no Basket needed more background story in order to fulfill the viewers' pertinent questions.

 

On the other hand, Kuroko no Basket is an action-packed anime, filled with heart-throbbing moments of showmanship, in which players from different teams use their god-like skills to  bring their team the victory they so craved. For example, the Seirin High team comprised players each with their unique skills which they developed through sweat and tears. Their captain, Hyuuga Junpei, was a clutch shooter, meaning he could shoot the ball under heavy pressure with deadly accuracy, almost perfect. Their point guard, Izuki Shun, had the "eagle eye". He could pinpoint every players' position on the field at anytime, making it easier for him to pass the ball around. Then comes the deadly first-year duo. Kagami Taiga, the first-year power forward, had the potential to rival the "Generation of Miracles", in addition to his unbeaten jumping power. On the other hand, Kuroko Tetsuya the "Phantom Sixth Man", as mentioned before, was the key player to Seirin, as he facilitated the flow of the game with his precise and quick passing. Beside Seirin, four other members of the "Generation of Miracles" also possess extraordinary abilities. Their small forward, Kise Ryota, part-time model/ basketball player, iwa able to copy the opponent's move in one glance. While their shooting guard, Midorima Shintarou, caouldshoot the ball from anywhere in the field with one hundred percent accuracy, their power forward, Aomine Daiki, had skills and agility unmatched by anyone. And if you think this is all they have, think again. Their center, Murasakibara Atsushi, was the strongest of them all, with hands so big they can crush the basketball itself. Last but definitely not least, the "Generation of Miracles"s captain, Seijurou Akashi, the point guard and the captain, can see a few seconds into the future with his "Emperor Eye". Now imagine what a game it would be to see these talents go head-to-head with each other!

In short, Kuroko no Basket is an adrenaline-packed anime for basketball lovers. While non-basketball lovers may also enjoy this anime's plot, nevertheless if you like basketball, you are more likely to experience the full pleasure that this anime has to bring.