Jotaro/Leo make a cute couple and a family with Jotaro's daughter Rei
Anime Spotlight - The Gymnastics Samurai
This was a lovely feel good and earnest sports anime which I enjoyed a lot.
The plot is In 2002, the Japanese men's gymnastics team is not doing well. Jotaro Aragaki is a professional gymnast and former Olympian. However, despite being good in the past, he was never able to get a gold medal. As he suffered a shoulder injury and is an older athlete at 29 years old, his coach, Noriyuki Amakusa, suggests he retires. While considering retirement, Jotaro takes his daughter Rei to Edo Wonderland. While there, they encounter a foreigner dressed up as a ninja, who after following them home, introduces himself as Leo. Later, while announcing his retirement at a press conference, Jotaro changes his mind half way through and decides to continue to pursue a career in gymnastics.
Its a story of not giving up but also family and being there for each other and of course athletic pursuit. There is some very nice and fluid animation on the gymnastics and movement performances that elevate the series. The characters are likeable and sweet maybe a bit too earnest and understanding but sometimes I appreciate a nice family who have gone through something (the death of their wife/mother) and still have a connection, an understanding and appreciation for each others ambitions and dreams. Leo our ninja that slots into this family unit is just a gorgeous and lovely character. I love Leo, he's got the most interesting back story and development but I love how he completes this unit and how they realize he's part of their family.
I appreciate an older protagonist in the form of Jotaro who isn't ready to give up in his dream and he does put the work in and does work so hard but returns this in the end. Its all tied up very nicely and is an uplifting ending.
Its just a short and sweet series with a great opening and a gorgeously drawn ending. Plus a little bonus in the fact that I can ship Jo/Leo.
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