Fans are eagerly anticipating the release of the upcoming Ippon Again anime, which centers around the sport of judo and features female main characters. It’s rare to see an anime focused on sports with a strong female lead who takes the sport seriously and doesn’t rely on cuteness. The anime aims to realistically depict the experience of a high school girl who practices judo. The anime adaptation of the manga series, previously known as “Mou Ippon,” was announced earlier this month.
The announcement that the anime adaptation of “Mou Ippon” manga is in the works was made by the anime’s editor-in-chief on his official Twitter account, following several recent announcements about anime adaptations of comics set to air in the first week of July. The manga, written by Muraoka, has been serialized in Akita Shoten’s weekly magazine and has already been published in three volumes.
Ippon Again Anime Official Announcement
Subway Daydream has been chosen to compose the theme music for “Mou Ippon” as they understand the importance of a dramatic and impactful score in a sports anime. The latest promotional trailer for the anime features a preview of the show’s upbeat opening theme song, “Stand By Me”. The music is a perfect match for the show’s story.
The trailer shows the main character, Michi Sonoda, training with her friends, Sanae, Towa, and Anna, who is a member of the kendo club and tries to recruit Michi. The story takes place in high school but begins with Towa defeating Michi in a middle school tournament, which causes Michi to consider giving up judo but is inspired to continue training by Towa and Sanae.
Ippon Again Anime Plot
In Ippon Again Michi quits judo following her defeat in the championship round of her last competition, feeling embarrassed. With high school activities and entrance exams taking up her time, she felt she couldn’t continue pursuing the martial art she loved. However, she is reminded of her passion for judo upon meeting Towa, the girl who defeated her in their last fight. Despite feeling the need to put aside childhood passions as she matures, Michi wants to continue doing judo, even more so now that she has reconnected with Towa.
Towa is determined to start a judo club at their school but needs additional members to make it happen. Together, they will use their shared passion for judo to succeed in the sport. “Ippon!” is a 20-volume sports drama manga series written by Yu Muraoka, which debuted in Akita Shoten’s Weekly Shonen Champion.
Ippon Again Anime Release Date and Where to watch
A new trailer has been released for the anime, featuring the first single of the series-opening song performed by Subway Daydream. “Ipponmichi” is sung by the fictional Aobanishi High School Judo Club. The air date for the anime in Japan is set for January 8, 2023. The availability of anime on French platforms is currently unknown. Along with the new series, HIDIVE has 14 new titles scheduled to premiere in the Winter of 2023. Keep an eye out for updates on the streaming availability of “Ippon!” on HIDIVE.
For more updates, check out Anime Daily.