(Disclaimer: If you hold me in high respect, please stop reading now, because you will lose all respect for me by the end of this article. In fact, just forget that I wrote this article. However, if you are going to continue reading, just remember that I warned you.)
Every few seasons, there is an anime that amazes otaku from every corner of the world and defines an entire era-- "Dragon Ball," "Evangelion," "Naruto," "Attack on Titan," and the list continues to grow. This Fall 2016 anime season, there is one particular series that is blowing everyone’s collective mind. It is a series with heart and meaning accompanied by beautiful art and fluid animation that defines the medium. No, I am not talking about “Yuri!!! on Ice.” If you want to read about that series, you should probably check out this article by my friend, Ashley Colombo. I am talking about the anime that has everyone and their mothers excited…”Keijo!!!!!!!!!”
Do you like “Free!”? Do you like “Haikyuu!!”? Do you just like exclamation points? Of course you do, because everyone knows that exclamation points are a huge indicator as to whether a sports anime is good or not. That is how you can tell “Keijo!!!!!!!!” is worth watching, because it does not have just one exclamation mark, or two, or even three. No, “Keijo!!!!!!!!” has eight exclamation marks, meaning that it is eight times as magnificent as an anime with only one. That is just some basic math.
You are probably feeling hyped-up now, and demanding in a frenzy, “Andrew! Tell me more about “Keijo!!!!!!!!” What is it about?” Well, let me tell you. “Keijo!!!!!!!!” is about Nozomi Kaminashi, a skilled gymnast who wants to become one of the greatest keijo players so she can make enough money to help her family out of poverty. But what exactly is the sport of keijo? Well... it involves girls knocking each other off platforms and into a pool, and that is all I will say because if I describe it in any more detail, I am going to blush way too much. You can either accept my vague description, or just read about it on Wikipedia.
So, what sets “Keijo!!!!!!!!” apart from the slew of other sports anime out there? Why is “Keijo!!!!!!!!” so beloved? It is obviously the focus on friendship and teamwork that is always missing from sports anime. Nozomi and her friends have to practice and work together if they want to achieve their dreams of becoming great keijo players.
“Keijo!!!!!!!!” does not only touch the heart, but it is also pleasing to the eyes. Why? “Keijo!!!!!!!!” has quality animation that is just incredible to look at. If you thought the fight scenes of “One Punch Man” were unbelievably epic, you are going to be blown away and starstruck by the high-intensity sport scenes that “Keijo!!!!!!!” has to offer with every single episode.
If I have not sold you on “Keijo!!!!!!!!” yet, I doubt that I ever will, but you will be missing out on an experience that only comes once every few years. Who knows when the world will see an anime the likes of “Keijo!!!!!!!!” again? If you do take my advice, however, do not forget that you are the one who chose to watch it, and you have only yourself to thank for the grace and power that is “Keijo!!!!!!!!”
(Second Disclaimer: If you actually did read this article, please do not judge me too harshly. You should probably not watch “Keijo!!!!!!!!” because it is just so stupid. Unless you like stupid, then “Keijo!!!!!!!!” is probably something you will enjoy, I mean, that’s why I watch it... and not for any other reason.)
