Ping Pong the Animation  

Ping Pong, Пинг-понг анимацията, PPTA, ピンポン THE ANIMATION

"The hero comes. The hero comes. The hero comes." Repeat these words to yourself, and I'll surely come to you. This phrase is what Makoto Tsukimoto uses as motivation when he faces stress during grueling ping pong matches and challenging life situations. He isn't alone; his friend Yukata Hoshino, known as Smile and Peco respectively, has grown up playing ping pong together almost every day. While Peco is filled with confidence and aims to be the best table tennis player in the world, Smile shows little ambition. Despite their differences, they have a strong bond built on their shared love for this sport. Every year, students from across Japan participate in the inter-high table tennis competition, striving for national and international recognition. Through rigorous training and competition, only the most determined players succeed. Ping Pong The Animation, directed by Masaaki Yuasa of Tatami Galaxy, tells a story of ambition with its share of challenges along the way. No matter what obstacles come their way, Peco and Smile will face them together.

Ping Pong The Animation won the Animation of the Year award in the Television category for the Tokyo Anime Award Festival in 2015.