The Prince of Tennis - TV-PG

Court-set anime is hit or miss for tweens.

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Common Sense rates it
2
Seen the show?
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details
  • TV Rating: TV-PG
  • Network: Cartoon Network
  • Cast: Kirk Thornton, David Neil Black, Adam Lawson
  • Genre: Children, Cartoons, & Animation

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that this sports-centric anime series focuses on a tennis prodigy and his teammates and opponents. The competition in his often-fierce matches can be brutal, with plenty of battle metaphors and mean, grimacing faces. Unlike the other players, the main character is a good sport (though even he can sometimes be sort of snotty toward his opponents). Female characters are usually on the sidelines, and at least one has a giant crush on the main male character (she jumps up and down when he wins and gets googly-eyed).

Families can talk about what sets this show apart from other anime series. Are there other anime programs that focus on things like sports rather than sci-fi and monsters? What do you think the show's goal is? What messages is it sending? What lessons can kids learn from playing sports? Can you imagine a non-anime cartoon all about tennis (or another sport)? How would it be similar to and different from this show?

Message

Social Behavior:

The main character is a quick learner and good sport who works hard. Other characters are sometimes jealous, mean, or vindictive. Lots of copmetition, given that the show is all about sports. Female characters usually appear only on the sidelines.

Consumerism:

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

Violence

Intense competition during tennis matches, with some war metaphors. At the end of one match, the sore loser hits his knee with racquet until it bleeds.

Sex

Eigth grade girls get giddy over a boy. Very brief scene in which a teen girl catches her uncle reading a girly magazine (the cover is briefly visible; it has pictures of women/girls wearing revealing clothing in sexy poses, but nothing over-the-top risque).

Language

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Sierra Filucci

THE PRINCE OF TENNIS, an anime series based on the popular manga series created by Takeshi Konomi, follows young tennis prodigy Ryoma Echizen (voiced by David Neil Black) as he starts attending Seishun Academy -- where he soon defeats many of the excellent tennis program's star players. In one episode, for example, Echizen plays a particularly nasty opponent with a famous shot that's known for being particularly difficult to return. Not only does Echizen return most of the shots, but he soon learns how to do it himself, turning his opponent's weapon against him. Other characters include Echizen's team members, a reporter and photographer from a tennis magazine, admiring girls, and others who are awed by the young player's talents. Echizen himself is somewhat mysterious, in that his abilities don't match his enthusiasm for the game; his classmates wonder why he isn't interested in pursuing professional-level tennis, but the answer might lie within his family's history. ...

Is it any good?

2

Since some episodes focus almost entirely on tennis matches, The Prince of Tennis can be quite dull for those without an interest in racquet sports or anime. The show's action revolves primarily around tennis matches; a lot of screen time is spent showing specific tennis shots and listening to onlookers describe these shots in great detail. Those looking to explore anime might want to start elsewhere, but the show has a loyal following -- so fans have clearly found something compelling about the story.

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Parents and kids say

All Reviews

There are 2 reviews.

5


Posted on 05/27/07 by princessoftennis Kid contributor, age 14

My Fave!

Man this is my favorite show EVER! its pretty funny since im almost 15, and most of my friends arent into this kind of suff but hey, i dare to be different! im a big anime junki and i have seen some pretty bad stuff in some, such as intense violence, perversion, launguage ect. but Prince of tennis has None of that and it still Sweeps me off my feet everytime! the show motivates me to get off my feet and get outside and play. The show has a good storyline while adding humor everywhere. Great morals throughout the series and teaches good lessons almost every episode. A++ Watch it if you get a chance ^-^
5


Posted on 04/06/07 by yankee01 Kid contributor, age 12

a good show

i love this show so much and its my saturday night show on cartoon network. other kids who like this show might want to try naruto and mar

Adult Reviews

There are 0 reviews.

There are no adult reviews.

Kids Reviews

There are 2 reviews.

5


Posted on 05/27/07 by princessoftennis Kid contributor, age 14

My Fave!

Man this is my favorite show EVER! its pretty funny since im almost 15, and most of my friends arent into this kind of suff but hey, i dare to be different! im a big anime junki and i have seen some pretty bad stuff in some, such as intense violence, perversion, launguage ect. but Prince of tennis has None of that and it still Sweeps me off my feet everytime! the show motivates me to get off my feet and get outside and play. The show has a good storyline while adding humor everywhere. Great morals throughout the series and teaches good lessons almost every episode. A++ Watch it if you get a chance ^-^
5


Posted on 04/06/07 by yankee01 Kid contributor, age 12

a good show

i love this show so much and its my saturday night show on cartoon network. other kids who like this show might want to try naruto and mar
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