Tennis no Ouji-sama (Prince of Tennis) Konomi Takeshi Images

Tennis no Ouji-sama or more widely known as “Prince of Tennis” is Japanese manga series about a tennis prodigy making it into the big leagues.
Tennis no Ouji-sama was both written and illustrated by the same man, Takeshi Kinomi. Tennis no Ouji-sama first got published in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump back in July 1999.
As of March 2008, Tennis no Ouji-sama has published 48 tankobon volumes. The manga series was licensed by Viz Media for a North American adaptation.
An anime television series of the same name has also been worked on by Trans Arts Studios together with Takuyuki Hamana who has worked on several anime shows including Idaten Jump, Sisters of Wellber and even the provocative Kemono no Souja Erin.
Tennis no Ouji-sama started broadcasting since October 2001 and ended on March 2005 with 178 undeniably awesome episodes.
The licensed version of Tennis no Ouji-sama was broadcasted on Toonami, Cartoon Network and Animax Asia.

PLOT:

The story revolves around Ryoma Echizen, a tennis prodigy who enters Seishun Academy, a prestigious school known for its strong tennis club and talented players.
Growing up, Ryoma has been living under his father’s shadow, a former pro tennis player known as the “Samurai Nanjirou”.
Hoping to place a spot in the regulars, Ryoma quickly defeats his seniors and numerous upperclassmen.
With the goal of winning the Interhigh in mind, members of the team forges new friendships and alliances all the while mastering complex tennis techniques.
Playing alongside his newfound teammates, Ryoma starts to finds his own playing style and realizes that his biggest obstacle after all is right in front of him: his father as well as himself.

CHARACTERS:

Echizen Ryoma is a first year student at Seishun Academy, which he attends after he arrived from United States.
Growing up with a legendary pro tennis player, he has been trained well enough to win the American Junior Tennis tournaments for four consecutive times.
Due to his nearly invincible tennis play, Ryoma has been labeled as a tennis prodigy at the mere age of twelve.
He is notorious for saying his favorite catch phrase “Mada Mada Dane” which literally means “You still have a lot to work on”.
Ryoma can oftentimes come off as arrogant at times but it’s usually backed with his undeniable tennis skills.
He initially copied his father’s playing style wherein he eventually finds his own playing style through the course of battles he has gone through. As a tennis player, Ryoma is an all-rounder otherwise known as an “all-court” type.
He is able to use techniques from different playing styles depending on the situation. He is able to copy a technique by just seeing them a couple of times.
Stamina, control and even his tennis sense is extraordinary. He is known for notoriously using the twist serve, wherein it is meant to hit his opponent’s face making it that much harder to return.



UPDATE:

A number of original video animations have been released since then mostly featuring the National Tournament.
According to release dates: The National Tournament (March 2006-March 2007) with 13 episodes, The National Tournament Semifinal (June 2007-January 2008) with 6 episodes and The National Tournament Final (April 2008-January 2009) with 7 episodes.
A sequel to the previous installments was also worked on entitled as “The New Prince of Tennis” which was scheduled to broadcast from January 2012 to March 2012 with 13 exhilarating episodes.
Other similar works includes an animated film, a live-action movie and several games on a wide variety of platforms.


Other similar themed anime titles that is similar to Tennis no Ouji-sama include Aim for the Ace, Softenni, Teekyu and the recently broadcasted Baby Steps. All of which are anime shows in the sports of tennis.


source: Zerochan; written by carllustre87