'Burning Kabaddi' Sputters Out

Burning Kabaddi follows Tatsuya Yoigoshi, a once well-renowned soccer star during middle school who has since been turned off of the sport and all sports for that matter.  Now a freshman in Noukin High School, he’s been constantly asked by the soccer club to join them, but he strongly refuses each time, adamant about renouncing sports forever, as he would rather put his time into his new hobby, livestreaming.

But then, another sports club starts recruiting Tatsuya – the kabaddi club.  After some bribery that benefits his livestreaming and some minor blackmail, Tatsuya is swayed to give kabaddi a shot, although he insists that he’s never going to join their club regardless.  However, after witnessing and then participating in kabaddi for the first time, he’s become intrigued of it.  In the following days, the more he hangs out with the club, the more he finds it intriguing.  Soon enough, he finds himself getting invested into this new sport, and becomes an official member of the club.  Rediscovering the competitive spirit and athletic talents he developed as a soccer genius, and repurposing them into kabaddi, he progresses at a rapid pace, that he soon becomes one of the team’s best players.

I love sports anime.  Most of the time, the reason I got to understand and adore a sport in real life is because I saw an anime about it – basketball, volleyball, sumo, to name a few.  Sports anime really does a great job in selling the sport they’re featuring.

Burning Kabaddi didn’t do that for me with kabaddi.  In the first place, I’ve already found kabaddi entertaining prior to watching Burning Kabaddi (encountered some tournament highlights in Youtube a few years ago).  Still, I hoped it could bring my appreciation of the sport to the next level.  Unfortunately, it didn’t.

I think the reason it didn’t is because it was unable to make kabaddi exciting enough in how it presented it.  And the reason I think it failed to make it exciting is because it’s just a middle-of-the-pack kind of anime.

The narrative as a whole is as cliché as a typical sports anime story can be.  That alone is actually not a problem.  Sports anime do thrive in its done-to-death tropes.  What’s arguably more important for a sports anime is that the direction, visuals, and music make the sport action moments hyped.  An average sports anime story can be significantly elevated by sakuga matches.  Burning Kabaddi, in particular, can’t afford to have its matches be lesser than engrossing, spectacular set pieces since its featured sport is not that popular.  But yeah, its matches don’t cut the mustard.  Production value and execution are actually alright, but being alright is not really enough for this anime’s case.

When everything is summed up, the overall product just doesn’t leave an impact.  However, there are times, especially during the earlier episodes, where it felt like there was a chance I could grow fond of this anime.  It definitely has some aspects of promise.

The characters, in particular, are somewhat noteworthy.  Like all memorable anime sports team, the players of Noukin High School Kabaddi Club, from the least to the best, have distinctive personalities and well-defined roles.

The team’s captain and ace, Masato Ohjo, especially, is quite cool.  Despite being physically frail, which is uncharacteristic for a contact sport like kabaddi, he still dominates the game.  Once he starts playing, his personality and presence transform into that of horror villain – intimidating, guileful, and slithery.  Sports anime are known for its over-the-top characters with stylized abilities, and Masato is at least A-tier by its standards.

Alas, the promising characters couldn’t thrive in this mediocre show.

But that’s just my personal opinion.  For others, Burning Kabaddi may have already done enough to make kabaddi fascinating and be a worthwhile watch.  That’s fine.  To each his own.  I, however, probably won’t watch a season 2.