I’m going to squeeze as many of these first impressions posts in as a can so as not to have a horrific backlog when Anime Expo is over. Teppeki Danshi Aoyama-kun was one of the more anticipated shows in my second tier, based if nothing else on that fact that it looked the closest thing to a true sports anime on the schedule. I liked the premiere a lot, but I’m now thinking maybe that title ought to fall to Ballroom e Youkoso.
Make no mistake about it, this story about a germaphobic high school soccer boy is a comedy first, soccer series second. If anything it reminds me a bit of Sakamoto Desu ga? in terms of comedic style and tone. Absurdity is the order of the day here, right down to a team full of high schoolers played by famous seiyuu a generation or two older making no effort to disguise their generous supply of tree rings.
There’s nothing truly exceptional in this premiere, but the comic moments work pretty consistently. My favorite among the cast is Tomokazu Seki as Zaizen Kaoru, the old-school tough guy who’s appalled at the prospect of a super-talented (he even plays for the national U-17 team) teammate who won’t head the ball, won’t tackle, and won’t get his uniform dirty until the last five minutes of the match. There are a lot of deformed character shots and face-pulls and such, and the climactic gag of the episode (the reason Aoyama-kun chose Fujimi High School) is a great payoff. I think my favorite part of the episode, though, is the ED – which gloriously recalls the glory days of sports anime in the 70’s, with tongue firmly in-cheek.
I don’t know if this gag style of humor is going to hold up well for a full cour, or whether it’ll lend itself to blogging. But for a week at least, it was quite enjoyable.
elianthos80
July 3, 2017 at 3:35 amAhhh I’m tempted to check this one out for that jewel of an ED alone: uber vintage visuals (and EYEBROWS and MANPAIN RIVERS and the benevolently stalkerish/pining love interest wannabe peeking from behind a tree! a classic XDDD ) + at least one Captain Tsubasa-flavoured Easter egg in just a handful of screenshots. Be still my Methuselah heart.
EDIT/P.S.: old school fujo friends are raving about the exhibitionist six packer too, ahah.
Zilla
July 3, 2017 at 6:06 amI thought this one was mostly “meh, with a few chuckles”. We’ll see how it pans out.
Ja
July 3, 2017 at 7:34 amLoved the “Akakichi no Eleven” ED homage! I wonder if it will stick or if they’ll pay respect to different series every ED?
Ronbb
July 3, 2017 at 2:12 pmHmmm…judging from first impressions, I prefer Youkai Apato better, but this show is okay to hang around for a little longer, especially when the schedule is pretty sparse this season. I’m feeling that the bob cut girl will annoy me, but will see how this show unfolds.
ruicarlov
July 4, 2017 at 6:58 amLooks like the oposing team’s leader is a faithful student of the Hosaka chest-baring school.
Miaa blue
August 14, 2017 at 6:09 amActually I was laughing too much when I watched the first 2 episodes of Aoyama-kun keppeki danshi, but after founding out that this story just a slice of life, after such a good background characters and story … I’m so disappointed now.