Ping Pong the Animation
Ping Pong the Animation

Ping Pong the Animation (2014)

"Enter the hero! Enter the hero! Enter the hero!"

8.2 (123 votes)
1 Season
April 11, 2014
Japanese
Animation Drama

Synopsis

Makoto 'Smile' Tsukimoto and his friend Yutaka 'Peco' Hoshino have been playing table tennis together since they were kids, but as they enter high school, they find that the game, and how they see it, has changed. Peco, brimming with confidence and energy, wants to be the best in the world, but the reserved Smile has little fighting spirit and doesn't want to sacrifice others' happiness just to win, despite his innate talent. As the two grow, and experience the ups and downs of the sport – and life – they try to figure out exactly who they really are and what drives them to play.

Creator

Koji Yamamoto, Yoko Matsuzaki, Masuo Ueda

Network

Fuji TV

Episodes

The Wind Makes It Too Hard to Hear
E1

The Wind Makes It Too Hard to Hear

Apr 11, 2014
23 min
5.2

Two old friends go to spy on a new table tennis champ at a rival high school, but meanwhile their own team is falling apart.

Smile Is a Robot
E2

Smile Is a Robot

Apr 18, 2014
23 min
9.0

Coach Koizumi has started working Smile hard, and he definitely doesn't appreciate the extra attention.

Staking Your Life on Table Tennis Is Revolting
E3

Staking Your Life on Table Tennis Is Revolting

Apr 25, 2014
23 min
9.0

All the teams gather at the prefectural qualifiers, and China gets to play Smile at last.

The Only Way to Be Sure You Won't Lose Is to Not Fight
E4

The Only Way to Be Sure You Won't Lose Is to Not Fight

May 2, 2014
23 min
7.0

Peco learns a hard lesson from someone he never took seriously enough, and then we finally see how Dragon earned his name.

Where Did I Go Wrong?
E5

Where Did I Go Wrong?

May 9, 2014
23 min
4.3

Dragon's obsession with Smile prompts Akuma to do something rash.

You Love This Sport More Than Anyone!!
E6

You Love This Sport More Than Anyone!!

May 16, 2014
23 min
3.7

Five athletes have five very different Christmas Eves, and Peco gets a wake-up call.

Yes, My Coach
E7

Yes, My Coach

May 23, 2014
23 min
5.7

Players, coaches, captains, and their families.

The Hero Appears
E8

The Hero Appears

May 30, 2014
23 min
4.3

Smile, Peco, Dragon, and China begin another prefectural qualifier. Will the results be different this year?

Gonna Cry a Bit
E9

Gonna Cry a Bit

Jun 6, 2014
23 min
8.3

In the third round, Dragon has an unexpected visitor, Sanada questions himself, and Peco scares lots of people in lots of ways.

I Thought You Were the Hero!!
E10

I Thought You Were the Hero!!

Jun 13, 2014
23 min
7.7

Peco and Dragon tackle the question of whether only birds can fly.

Blood Tastes Like Iron
E11

Blood Tastes Like Iron

Jun 20, 2014
23 min
7.7

The final match is on.

Cast

Trailer

Details

Original Title

ピンポン THE ANIMATION

Status

Ended

Seasons

1

Episodes

11

Production

Tatsunoko Production, Aniplex, Kyoraku Industrial Holdings