ベイビーステップ
Season: 1
Episode: 1
Tennis and Notes
Air Date:06/04/2014
Maruo Eiichiro is an honor student in his first year of high school. He's a very methodical person who keeps two sets of notes for class and focuses entirely on his studies. One day, Eiichiro decides to participate in a free trial at South Tennis Club (STC) because he needs some exercise. There, he meets school idol and sweetheart Takasaki Natsu. Eiichiro has taken his first step into the world of tennis
Crew
Name: Masahiko Murata
Role: Director
Department: Directing
Name: Katsuhiko Chiba
Role: Writer
Department: Writing
Name: Masayuki Kouda
Role: Animation Director
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Anna Yamaguchi
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Daisuke Tsumagari
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Koji Yabuno
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Masaharu Tada
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Naoto Yoshida
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Shinpei Koikawa
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Masahiko Murata
Role: Storyboard Artist
Department: Art
Name: Yasunori Aoki
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Retsu Ohkawara
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Hiromi Okazaki
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Toshiro Fujii
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Episode: 2
Methodical and Unorganized
Air Date:13/04/2014
Eiichiro is unable to answer Natsu when she asks him what he enjoys doing most. He becomes interested in tennis and returns to STC for another free trial.
Crew
Name: Katsuhiko Chiba
Role: Writer
Department: Writing
Name: Maki Kodaira
Role: Director
Department: Directing
Name: Chiyuki Tanaka
Role: Animation Director
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Takanori Saito
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Shota Tsukiyama
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Yoshiyuki Tomita
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Takanori Suzuki
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Toshifumi Kusunose
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Ayumi Tsukamoto
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Teruyo Kato
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Yumiko Kinoshita
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Yoko Suzuki
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Rie Arakawa
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Maki Kodaira
Role: Storyboard Artist
Department: Art
Episode: 3
The Contest Is a Fight
Air Date:20/04/2014
Eiichiro is unable to forget how good it felt when he successfully returned Takuma's serve, and he spends all of his time practicing against the wall. After seeing Eiichiro practice against the wall non-stop for six hours on a Sunday, Natsu predicts that he will quickly improve.
Crew
Name: Chuji Nakajima
Role: Animation Director
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Hideaki Shimada
Role: Animation Director
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Masayuki Kouda
Role: Supervising Animation Director
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Katsuhiko Chiba
Role: Writer
Department: Writing
Name: Ai Yamazaki
Role: Animation Director
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Yoshiyuki Kikuchi
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Momoko Nagakawa
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Saya Endo
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Yumehito Yamaguchi
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Rika Kanetaka
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Rikumi Sasahara
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Hiroaki Kawaguchi
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Toshinori Narita
Role: Storyboard Artist
Department: Art
Name: Rikumi Sasahara
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Qiu Mingzhe
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Masumi Hattori
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Toshihiko Masuda
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Kiyoshi Murayama
Role: Director
Department: Directing
Episode: 4
Face of Conviction
Air Date:27/04/2014
Eiichiro finds himself in a contest with Takuma. Eiichiro has fifty tries to return Takuma's serve. One successful return and Eiichiro wins. However, despite Eiichiro's best attempts to follow his notes and stick to the basics, he can do nothing against one of the strongest serves in the country.
Crew
Name: Katsuhiko Chiba
Role: Writer
Department: Writing
Name: Anna Yamaguchi
Role: Animation Director
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Masayuki Kouda
Role: Animation Director
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Yoshihiro Yanagiya
Role: Director
Department: Directing
Name: Shoko Yasuda
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Seiko Asai
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Makiko Fujiwara
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Mitsuhiro Okumura
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Shinichi Wada
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Hideo Maru
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Yoshihiro Yanagiya
Role: Storyboard Artist
Department: Art
Name: Masako Onozawa
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Sachiyo Matsubayashi
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Keita Watabe
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Noriaki Kobayashi
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Episode: 5
A First Match Full of Surprises
Air Date:04/05/2014
Eiichirō is about to play his first match. He receives advice from the other STC members, but it only makes him more nervous. He doesn't get a chance to calm himself down as he's soon called to the tennis court.
Crew
Name: Katsuhiko Chiba
Role: Writer
Department: Writing
Name: Masayuki Fujita
Role: Animation Director
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Koichiro Kuroda
Role: Director
Department: Directing
Name: Tadayoshi Okimura
Role: Animation Director
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Masaru Hamada
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Akira Ono
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Katsutoshi Kobayashi
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Kaori Nakamura
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Noboru Okada
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Kazunori Ota
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Kazuyuki Ikai
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Masahiko Murata
Role: Storyboard Artist
Department: Art
Name: Masatsugu Takeda
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Tadayoshi Okimura
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Episode: 6
Diamond in the Rough
Air Date:11/05/2014
It is down to the final match of the set. Eiichirō trails 5 games to 1, but with a determination to stay on the court as long as possible Eiichirō begins to push Oobayashi.
Crew
Name: Daisuke Tsumagari
Role: Animation Director
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Chiyuki Tanaka
Role: Animation Director
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Masayuki Kouda
Role: Animation Director
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Heo Pyoung-kang
Role: Director
Department: Directing
Name: Heo Pyoung-kang
Role: Storyboard Artist
Department: Art
Name: Nobutaka Masuda
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Masaharu Watanabe
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Junki Takegami
Role: Writer
Department: Writing
Name: Seiko Asai
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Kazuyuki Matsubara
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Arisa Kajiyama
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Michiyo Hirabayashi
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Ai Mochida
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Ryo Kodama
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Yasunori Aoki
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Masashi Nishikawa
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Episode: 7
Nine-Square and Reality
Air Date:18/05/2014
In order to improve Eiichirō's playing, Coach Miura has him learn control on a 9-square court. After getting the basics done, Eiichirō is forced into a match against Takuma.
Crew
Name: Natsuko Suzuki
Role: Animation Director
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Masayuki Kouda
Role: Supervising Animation Director
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Shin'ichi Masaki
Role: Director
Department: Directing
Name: Junki Takegami
Role: Writer
Department: Writing
Name: Hiroshi Maejima
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Yoshitaka Sato
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Masahiro Furihata
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Atsushi Shibata
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Yoshimi Imagawa
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Shin'ichi Masaki
Role: Storyboard Artist
Department: Art
Name: Rika Kanetaka
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Koichi Hayami
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Masumi Koketsu
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Kaoru Nagakawa
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Yuki Bessho
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Episode: 8
One Year and Twenty Notebooks
Air Date:25/05/2014
Maruo Eiichirō continues his training at STC as he tries to master every shot. At smaller tournaments he begins advancing to the third round but is unable to go further. His mother worries that Eiichirō is spending too much time on tennis when he drops out of cram school to practice more.
Crew
Name: Masayuki Kouda
Role: Supervising Animation Director
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Katsuhiko Chiba
Role: Writer
Department: Writing
Name: Kumi Ichiguchi
Role: Director
Department: Directing
Name: Retsu Ohkawara
Role: Animation Director
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Shota Tsukiyama
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Yukihiro Matsushita
Role: Storyboard Artist
Department: Art
Name: Taichiro Kohara
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Eri Kamiyama
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Yoshiaki Matsuda
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Hideyuki Sugiura
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Shinya Kameyama
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Hiroyuki Hojo
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Fumiko Kon
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Yuri Kotake
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Takayoshi Hayashi
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Episode: 9
Diligence is My Style
Air Date:01/06/2014
Eiichirō returns to the Kanagawa Junior Circuit. His first match is up against fellow high school student Koshimizu Nariyuki, a man whom is always trying to compete with Eiichirō for the top scores.
Crew
Name: Masayuki Kouda
Role: Supervising Animation Director
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Katsuhiko Chiba
Role: Writer
Department: Writing
Name: Hiromichi Matano
Role: Director
Department: Directing
Name: Toshiya Koike
Role: Animation Director
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Koji Kataoka
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Arisa Kajiyama
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Toru Iino
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Motonori Nishibe
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Saburo Masutani
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Itaru Yawata
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Akihiko Oka
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Takahiro Ninagawa
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Noriyuki Nakamura
Role: Storyboard Artist
Department: Art
Name: Tatsuhiro Nagaki
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Takashi Otsuka
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Episode: 10
Unease on the Edge
Air Date:08/06/2014
The match between Eiichirō and Miyagawa begins with each holding serve. However Eiichirō feels that something is off. After studying his notes, Eiichirō realizes that Miyagawa has been studying his shots, and with a 4-3 lead he plans on making his move in the eighth game.
Crew
Name: Masahiko Murata
Role: Director
Department: Directing
Name: Katsuhiko Chiba
Role: Writer
Department: Writing
Name: Mai Toda
Role: Animation Director
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Kenta Taniguchi
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Seiko Asai
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Takayuki Gotan
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Shogo Nishi
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Shiori Nakasone
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Hideo Maru
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Masahiko Murata
Role: Storyboard Artist
Department: Art
Name: Tomoko Hayashi
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Yuki Masuda
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Toshiro Fujii
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Noriaki Kobayashi
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Episode: 11
Risk and Possibility
Air Date:15/06/2014
After managing to hold serve Eiichirō starts looking for an opportunity to break Miyagawa. Both hold serve and force a tiebreaker. With the score 6-5 Maruo in the tiebreaker Eiichirō decides to try and gamble to use his full stroke and steal a point.
Crew
Name: Masayuki Kouda
Role: Supervising Animation Director
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Katsuhiko Chiba
Role: Writer
Department: Writing
Name: Ai Yamazaki
Role: Animation Director
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Chuji Nakajima
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Yukari Kobayashi
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Saya Endo
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Hiroaki Kawaguchi
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Toshinori Narita
Role: Storyboard Artist
Department: Art
Name: Rikumi Sasahara
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Qiu Mingzhe
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Masumi Hattori
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Hideo Amemiya
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Kiyoshi Murayama
Role: Director
Department: Directing
Episode: 12
Improvement by Memory
Air Date:22/06/2014
After defeating Miyagawa, Eiichirō returns to STC for some training that will make him better in 1 day. Eiichirō is teamed up with a Coach Mike from Florida who specializes in pyschological training.
Crew
Name: Katsuhiko Chiba
Role: Writer
Department: Writing
Name: Maki Kodaira
Role: Director
Department: Directing
Name: Chiyuki Tanaka
Role: Animation Director
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Toshifumi Kusunose
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Shoko Yasuda
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Yumiko Kinoshita
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Makoto Shimojima
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Miyuki Inoue
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Masashi Nishikawa
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Masumi Koketsu
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Atsuko Sugawara
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Atsushi Kasano
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Toshiro Fujii
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Maki Kodaira
Role: Storyboard Artist
Department: Art
Episode: 13
Art and Technique
Air Date:29/06/2014
The match between Hiromi and Eiichirō begins. Everytime Eiichirō tries to go on the attack, Hiromi hits a shot Eiichirō can't reach.
Crew
Name: Masayuki Kouda
Role: Supervising Animation Director
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Katsuhiko Chiba
Role: Writer
Department: Writing
Name: Masayuki Fujita
Role: Animation Director
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Noriyuki Nomata
Role: Director
Department: Directing
Name: Tadayoshi Okimura
Role: Animation Director
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Masaru Hamada
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Akira Ono
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Katsutoshi Kobayashi
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Noboru Okada
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Kazunori Ota
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Masatsugu Takeda
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Takao Ozone
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Fumiko Kon
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Tadayoshi Okimura
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Yoshiki Mizuno
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Akihiro Enomoto
Role: Storyboard Artist
Department: Art
Episode: 14
Putting the Pieces Together
Air Date:06/07/2014
It is match 10 of a 1-set match, and Eiichirō leads 5 games to 4. Eiichirō begins to up his speed against Hiromi, and with it he stays even at 30-30. Just then Hiromi's legs cramp up, allowing Eiichirō to get two easy aces and win the match 6-4.
Crew
Name: Katsuhiko Chiba
Role: Writer
Department: Writing
Name: Yoshihiro Yanagiya
Role: Director
Department: Directing
Name: Retsu Ohkawara
Role: Animation Director
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Anna Yamaguchi
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Daisuke Tsumagari
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Nobutaka Masuda
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Shoko Yasuda
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Takayuki Gotan
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Tamotsu Ogawa
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Yoshihiro Yanagiya
Role: Storyboard Artist
Department: Art
Name: Keita Watabe
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Episode: 15
Plan to be Forceful
Air Date:13/07/2014
Eiichirō overhears Araya telling Takuma that if he loses to him this tournament, he will retire from tennis. His plan is to defeat Takuma and then announce he is going pro. Takuma agrees to tell Eiichirō Araya's weaknesses.
Crew
Name: Takayoshi Hayashi
Role: Animation Director
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Masayuki Kouda
Role: Supervising Animation Director
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Katsuhiko Chiba
Role: Writer
Department: Writing
Name: Shigeki Awai
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Koji Kataoka
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Yukihiro Matsushita
Role: Storyboard Artist
Department: Art
Name: Ryoichi Murata
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Taichiro Kohara
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Hideyuki Sugiura
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Shigemi Aoyagi
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Shinya Kameyama
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Hiroyuki Hojo
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Fumiko Kon
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Hiroshi Tanabe
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Kiyoshi Murayama
Role: Director
Department: Directing
Episode: 16
Beast and Initiative
Air Date:20/07/2014
After going up Love-15, Araya uses a number of service aces to go up 3-1 in set 2. Eiichirō holds serve, and as he gains a 30-40 advantage in Game 6 of Set 2, Araya punches himself in his face to eliminate his emotions from the game.
Crew
Name: Masayuki Kouda
Role: Supervising Animation Director
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Katsuhiko Chiba
Role: Writer
Department: Writing
Name: Hiromichi Matano
Role: Director
Department: Directing
Name: Toshiya Koike
Role: Animation Director
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Hiroshi Kimura
Role: Storyboard Artist
Department: Art
Name: Koji Kataoka
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Arisa Kajiyama
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Toru Iino
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Motonori Nishibe
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Saburo Masutani
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Itaru Yawata
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Akihiko Oka
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Takahiro Ninagawa
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Tatsuhiro Nagaki
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Takashi Otsuka
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Episode: 17
Pro At My Age
Air Date:27/07/2014
Araya and Eiichirō end up at deuce after neither player can gain an advantage. An ace end up being huge for Araya give him the match point advantage, and despite his best efforts a lucky bounce proves to be the end for Eiichirō as he loses 6-1, 6-4. The finals are held between Araya and Takuma.
Crew
Name: Katsuhiko Chiba
Role: Writer
Department: Writing
Name: Kumi Ichiguchi
Role: Director
Department: Directing
Name: Anna Yamaguchi
Role: Animation Director
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Daisuke Tsumagari
Role: Animation Director
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Masaharu Watanabe
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Kenta Taniguchi
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Yukihiro Matsushita
Role: Storyboard Artist
Department: Art
Name: Masayuki Kouda
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Tamotsu Ogawa
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Shiori Nakasone
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Tomoko Hayashi
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Ryo Suzuki
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Yuki Masuda
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Toshiro Fujii
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Yo Abe
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Episode: 18
Determination and Presentation
Air Date:03/08/2014
Eiichirō investigates going Pro, but his reaction from his parents is less than he expected. Eiichirō joins Natsu at the first round of the All Japan Pro to watch the debut match of Ike Souji.
Crew
Name: Daisuke Tsumagari
Role: Animation Director
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Heo Pyoung-kang
Role: Director
Department: Directing
Name: Retsu Ohkawara
Role: Animation Director
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Heo Pyoung-kang
Role: Storyboard Artist
Department: Art
Name: Daisuke Tsumagari
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Chiyuki Tanaka
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Kumiko Katou
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Masaharu Tada
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Junki Takegami
Role: Writer
Department: Writing
Name: Seiko Asai
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Ai Mochida
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Kyohei Oyabu
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Wako Gotan
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Naoyuki Asano
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Episode: 19
Resolve and Hell
Air Date:10/08/2014
Eiichirō manages to steal 1-point in the 10-minute match with Ike before his coaches reappear and make him stop playing a match. Afterwards Eiichirō is sent home to rest. The next day Eiichirō begins a brutal practice regimen that will recondition his body into that of a pro's.
Crew
Name: Masayuki Kouda
Role: Supervising Animation Director
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Katsuhiko Chiba
Role: Writer
Department: Writing
Name: Yukari Kobayashi
Role: Animation Director
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Kiyoshi Murayama
Role: Director
Department: Directing
Name: Kazuya Komai
Role: Storyboard Artist
Department: Art
Name: Shinpei Koikawa
Role: Animation Director
Department: Visual Effects
Episode: 20
Meat Buns and Yakisoba
Air Date:17/08/2014
Eiichirō participates in a tournament after 3 months of hellish training. He learns about active rest while participating in the tournament and makes it to the final. Terashima is his opponent.
Crew
Name: Maki Kodaira
Role: Director
Department: Directing
Name: Chiyuki Tanaka
Role: Animation Director
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Toshifumi Kusunose
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Ayumi Tsukamoto
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Shoko Yasuda
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Yumiko Kinoshita
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Hideo Maru
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Yasunori Aoki
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Miyuki Inoue
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Masashi Nishikawa
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Atsuko Sugawara
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Atsushi Kasano
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Maki Kodaira
Role: Storyboard Artist
Department: Art
Name: Natsuko Takahashi
Role: Writer
Department: Writing
Episode: 21
Consistency and Change
Air Date:24/08/2014
Eiichirō continues his practice and gets his next tournament schedule. As the last player to qualify he is placed up against the 1-seed, Yu Nabae. Eiichirō begins to look for weaknesses from Yu on tape, but what he finds is a highly adaptive style that could easily beat him if he doesn't come up with a few tricks.
Crew
Name: Masayuki Kouda
Role: Supervising Animation Director
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Masayuki Fujita
Role: Animation Director
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Tadayoshi Okimura
Role: Animation Director
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Sumito Sasaki
Role: Director
Department: Directing
Name: Junji Uesugi
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Junki Takegami
Role: Writer
Department: Writing
Name: Masaru Hamada
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Akira Ono
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Katsutoshi Kobayashi
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Noboru Okada
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Kazunori Ota
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Masatsugu Takeda
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Akihiro Enomoto
Role: Storyboard Artist
Department: Art
Name: Keiko Fukumoto
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Ayataka Tanemura
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Shinpei Koikawa
Role: Animation Director
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Kenichiro Ogata
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Episode: 22
Fundamentals are the Weakness
Air Date:31/08/2014
Yu Nabae matches up with Eiichirō and realizes they really are two players that are virtually the same. He realizes that what Eiichirō lacks is experience with the fundamentals, as he has never played anyone like himself, and after losing the first set Nabae begins to pull away and goes up 5-2.
Crew
Name: Katsuhiko Chiba
Role: Writer
Department: Writing
Name: Yoshihiro Maeda
Role: Animation Director
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Yoshihiro Yanagiya
Role: Director
Department: Directing
Name: Retsu Ohkawara
Role: Animation Director
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Kumiko Katou
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Takayuki Gotan
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Ai Mochida
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Yoshihiro Yanagiya
Role: Storyboard Artist
Department: Art
Name: Masumi Koketsu
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Toshiro Fujii
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Juuji Mizumura
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Yuichiro Miyake
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Tomonori Mine
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Episode: 23
Reckless 100-Square
Air Date:07/09/2014
In an effort to try and reverse the tide, Eiichirō decides to go back to his idea of having 100-squares to aim for instead of 9.
Crew
Name: Masayuki Kouda
Role: Supervising Animation Director
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Ryoichi Murata
Role: Animation Director
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Hiroki Abe
Role: Animation Director
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Shigeki Awai
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Junki Takegami
Role: Writer
Department: Writing
Name: Koji Kataoka
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Yukihiro Matsushita
Role: Storyboard Artist
Department: Art
Name: Taichiro Kohara
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Hideyuki Sugiura
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Shinya Kameyama
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Takayoshi Hayashi
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Kururu Shiozawa
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Yukie Murata
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Kiyoshi Murayama
Role: Director
Department: Directing
Name: Shinpei Koikawa
Role: Animation Director
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Tamako Miyanishi
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Haruka Suzuki
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Episode: 24
Duty and Desire
Air Date:14/09/2014
Eiichirō runs to watch Natsu's match when he learns she is in danger of losing. Afterwards they return to STC where he Ryuhei Aoi, a man who will become his new coach.
Crew
Name: Anna Yamaguchi
Role: Animation Director
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Daisuke Tsumagari
Role: Animation Director
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Yoshinori Odaka
Role: Director
Department: Directing
Name: Yukihiro Matsushita
Role: Storyboard Artist
Department: Art
Name: Shiori Nakasone
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Tomoko Hayashi
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Toshiro Fujii
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Noriaki Kobayashi
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Tadashi Matsuzaki
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Masahiro Neriki
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Natsuko Takahashi
Role: Writer
Department: Writing
Name: Hisashi Eguchi
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Miyako Tsuji
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Tadakatsu Yoshida
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Episode: 25
Eiichiro and Natsu
Air Date:21/09/2014
Eiichirō and Natsu go out on their first date. When Eiichirō asks Natsu what she thinks about him, she tells him he is cheating. Afterwards Eiichirō is allowed to resume practice.
Crew
Name: Masahiko Murata
Role: Director
Department: Directing
Name: Katsuhiko Chiba
Role: Writer
Department: Writing
Name: Masayuki Kouda
Role: Animation Director
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Anna Yamaguchi
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Daisuke Tsumagari
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Nobutaka Masuda
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Maki Kodaira
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Shiori Kobayashi
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Takayuki Gotan
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Ai Mochida
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Masahiko Murata
Role: Storyboard Artist
Department: Art
Name: Masashi Nishikawa
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Toshiro Fujii
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects
Name: Mai Toda
Role: Key Animation
Department: Visual Effects