Well, it’s only the second review and I already have to eat my words – not that I’m complaining. After three episodes of slow-rolling character building, “Ippon” Again! kicks into full Sports Anime mode this week, with an episode composed almost entirely of one-on-one matches. Happily, that shift is accompanied by what is easily the show’s best animation so far.
Hiura and Amane’s bout is the showstopper, and for good reason. The animation on display is just fantastic; perfectly capturing the heft of each combatant and the delicate, deliberate way each struggles to pull the other off balance. You can feel the exertion of every swipe, grip, and shift in momentum as two equally-matched athletes go toe-to-toe. Ippon also sees fit to let the match do the talking, eschewing the side commentary that’s typically employed…
