The Prince of Tennis
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The Prince of Tennis | |
Cover of the first manga volume featuring Ryoma Echizen | |
テニスの王子様 (Tenisu no Ōjisama) | |
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Genre |
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Manga | |
Written by | Takeshi Konomi |
Published by | Shueisha |
English publisher | |
Imprint | Jump Comics |
Magazine | Weekly Shōnen Jump |
Demographic | Shōnen |
Original run | July 19, 1999 – March 3, 2008 |
Volumes | 42 |
Anime television series | |
Directed by | Takayuki Hamana |
Written by |
|
Music by | Cher Watanabe |
Studio |
|
Licensed by | Funimation |
Original network | TV Tokyo |
English network | |
Original run | October 10, 2001 – March 30, 2005 |
Episodes | 178 |
Original video animation | |
A Day on Survival Mountain | |
Directed by | Takayuki Hamana |
Produced by |
|
Written by | Masashi Sogo |
Music by | Cher Watanabe |
Studio |
|
Licensed by | Funimation |
Released | 2003 |
Runtime | 35 minutes |
Anime film | |
The Prince of Tennis: Atobe Kara no Okurimono | |
Directed by | Takayuki Hamana |
Produced by |
|
Music by | Cher Watanabe |
Studio |
|
Licensed by | Funimation |
Released | January 29, 2005 |
Runtime | 30 minutes |
Original video animation | |
The National Tournament | |
Directed by | Shunsuke Tada |
Written by | Atsuhiro Tomioka |
Music by | Cher Watanabe |
Studio | M.S.C |
Licensed by | Funimation |
Released | March 24, 2006 – January 23, 2009 |
Runtime | 23 minutes |
Episodes | 26 |
Manga | |
The Prince of After School | |
Written by | Takeshi Konomi |
Illustrated by | Kenichi Sakura |
Published by | Shueisha |
Magazine | Jump Square |
Demographic | Shōnen |
Original run | November 4, 2008 – present |
Volumes | 6 |
Manga | |
The Prince of Tennis II | |
Written by | Takeshi Konomi |
Published by | Shueisha |
Magazine | Jump Square |
Demographic | Shōnen |
Original run | March 4, 2009 – present |
Volumes | 34 |
Original video animation | |
Another Story | |
Directed by | Shunsuke Tada |
Written by | Atsuhiro Tomioka |
Music by | Cher Watanabe |
Studio | M.S.C |
Licensed by | Funimation |
Released | May 26, 2009 – October 26, 2011 |
Runtime | 23 minutes |
Episodes | 8 |
Anime film | |
The Prince of Tennis: Eikoku-shiki Teikyū-jō Kessen! | |
Directed by | Shunsuke Tada |
Music by | Cher Watanabe |
Studio |
|
Licensed by | Funimation |
Released | August 14, 2011 |
Runtime | 88 minutes |
Anime television series | |
The Prince of Tennis II | |
Directed by | Hideyo Yamamoto |
Music by | Cher Watanabe |
Studio |
|
Licensed by | Funimation |
Original network | TV Aichi, TV Tokyo, TV Osaka |
Original run | January 4, 2012 – March 28, 2012 |
Episodes | 13 |
Original video animation | |
The Prince of Tennis II SPECIAL | |
Directed by | Hideyo Yamamoto |
Music by | Cher Watanabe |
Studio |
|
Licensed by | Funimation |
Released | April 20, 2012 – April 24, 2013 |
Runtime | 23 minutes |
Episodes | 7 |
Original video animation | |
The Prince of Tennis II OVA vs. Genius 10 | |
Directed by | Hideyo Yamamoto |
Music by | Cher Watanabe |
Studio |
|
Licensed by | Funimation |
Released | October 28, 2014 – June 26, 2015 |
Runtime | 23 minutes |
Episodes | 10 |
Original video animation | |
The Prince of Tennis: Best Games!! | |
Directed by | Keiichiro Kawaguchi |
Music by | Cher Watanabe |
Studio |
|
Licensed by | Funimation |
Released | August 24, 2018 – present |
Episodes | 3 |
Original net animation | |
The Prince of Tennis II: Hyotei vs. Rikkai Game of Future | |
Directed by | Keiichiro Kawaguchi |
Written by | Mitsutaka Hirota |
Music by | Chihiro Tamaki |
Studio |
|
Licensed by | Funimation |
Released | February 13, 2021 – April 17, 2021 |
Runtime | 48 minutes |
Episodes | 2 |
Anime film | |
Ryoma! Rebirth: The Prince of Tennis Movie | |
Directed by | Hiroshi Kōjina |
Produced by | Shuhei Arai |
Written by | Takehito Hata |
Music by | Kei Tsuda |
Studio |
|
Released | September 3, 2021 |
Related works | |
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The Prince of Tennis (Japanese: テニスの王子様, Hepburn: Tenisu no Ōjisama)[a] is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Takeshi Konomi. The manga was serialized in Shueisha's Weekly Shōnen Jump from July 1999 to March 2008. A total of 379 chapters were published and collected into 42 tankōbon volumes.
The manga was adapted into an anime television series directed by Takayuki Hamana, animated by Trans Arts and co-produced by Nihon Ad Systems and TV Tokyo. The anime was broadcast on TV Tokyo from October 2001 to March 2005, spanning a total of 178 episodes, as well as a theatrical film. In April 2006, an original video animation (OVA) continuation of the anime began to be released on DVD. The beginning of the second OVA series was released in June 2007, roughly three months after the end of the first. The second OVA ended in January 2008, and the third and final OVA started in April 2008.
The series developed into a media franchise and has had numerous other adaptations outside of the animated incarnation. Since April 2003, more than fifteen stage musicals have been produced for the series. An animated film was released in 2005, as well as a live-action film in 2006. The franchise has also had a long-running radio show, numerous video games, well over 250 soundtracks and CDs, and other merchandise. A sequel titled The Prince of Tennis II, began serialization in Jump Square in March 2009, with the story taking place several months after the end of the original manga.
In North America, Viz Media licensed the manga and Funimation licensed the anime. As of January 2012, the manga had over 51 million copies in circulation.
A 3DCG film has been announced and is scheduled to be released in Japan on September 3, 2021.
Plot[]
The series is primarily set in Tokyo, and centers around Ryoma Echizen, a tennis prodigy who attends Seishun Academy (青春学園, Seishun Gakuen), or Seigaku (青学) for short, a school is known for its strong tennis club and talented players. Ryoma quickly defeats numerous upperclassmen shortly after entrance to secure himself a spot as one of the team's regulars. In pursuit of their ultimate goal of winning the National Middle School Tennis Championship, members of the team make new friends while learning and mastering increasingly complex techniques. Ryoma also begins to develop his own style of tennis and eventually realizes what the sport really means to him.
The Prince of Tennis II is set shortly after the end of the original manga. Ryoma returns to Japan after his trip to America as a candidate for the Japanese U-17 (under 17) High School Representatives Selection Camp, along with 50 other middle school tennis players.
Media[]
Manga[]
The Prince of Tennis is written and illustrated by Takeshi Konomi. The manga was first published in Shueisha's Weekly Shōnen Jump in Japan on July 19, 1999.[3] The series was put under hiatus when Konomi was injured in an accident during July 2006, but publication resumed in September 2006.[4] The series finished on March 3, 2008,[5] Shueisha collected its 379 individual chapters into forty-two tankōbon volumes published from January 7, 2000 to June 4, 2008.[6][7]
In North America, Viz Media announced the acquisition of the series in February 2004.[8] The first volume was released on April 21, 2004.[9] As of July 5, 2011, the forty-two volumes have been published.[10]
A 4-panel manga parody, entitled The Prince of After School, began on November 4, 2008 in Jump Square.[11][12]
A sequel to the manga series, entitled The Prince of Tennis II, was announced in the December issue of Jump Square, published on November 4, 2008.[13] The series began serialization in Jump Square on March 4, 2009. The story is set several months after the end of the first manga, and features Ryoma returning to Japan after his stay in America.[14]
Anime[]
An anime television series animated by Trans Arts, co-produced by Nihon Ad Systems and directed by Takayuki Hamana, was broadcast on TV Tokyo from October 10, 2001 to March 30, 2005, spanning a total of 178 episodes.
In April 2006, an original video animation (OVA) continuation of the anime began to be released over a span of seven DVDs. The beginning of the second OVA series was released on June 22, 2007, roughly 3 months after the end of the first. The second OVA finished on January 25, 2008, containing six episodes over a span of three DVDs. The third OVA started on April 25, 2008, and finished on January 23, 2009. A fourth OVA titled "Another Story" was released on May 26, 2009, which included two episodes: "Fū'un Shōnen Atobe" which showed Hyotei's current team's freshman years, and "Naniwa no Ōjisama", where Seigaku goes to Osaka for a practice match with Shitenhoji. The second DVD in "Another Story" was released on September 25, 2009.
On April 24, 2007, Viz Media released the first The Prince of Tennis box set in the United States.[15] Viz Media has also opted to not include the Japanese opening and ending themes, instead using electric guitar music. However, the original music themes can be found in the DVD extras of disc 3.[16] As of January 15, 2008, four box sets have been released by Viz. The four box sets contain the first 50 episodes of the series.[17] In contrast, Japan has released a total of 45 DVD volumes for the entire 178 episodes of the anime series. On April 2, 2021, Funimation announced they had licensed the series, and it would stream on their website with a new English dub.[18]
The Prince of Tennis II, a sequel anime that picks up where the previous series ended, ran from January 4, 2012 to March 28, 2012.[19]
Musicals[]
Beginning in 2003, a series of Prince of Tennis musicals began. Each year sees two musicals based on the storyline come out in the summer and winter, with a 'Dream Live' performance each Spring, featuring numerous actors and past songs. Each storyline musical adapts a single arc of the manga, typically one specific match against a team. Due to the aging of the actors, all the main characters have been recast several times.
Films[]
The Prince of Tennis: Futari no Samurai (テニスの王子様 二人のサムライ The First Game, Tennis no Ōjisama Futari no Samurai The First Game, lit. "The Prince of Tennis – The Two Samurai: The First Game") is the first animated film of the series. It was released in Japan on January 29, 2005, and co-aired with a short film, Tennis no Oujisama: Atobe Kara no Okurimono (跡部からの贈り物, lit. "The Prince of Tennis: A Gift from Atobe").
On May 13, 2006, the live-action adaptation film, The Prince of Tennis, was released in Japan.
The Prince of Tennis: Tennis no Ouji-sama Eikoku-shiki Teikyū-jō Kessen! (テニスの王子様 英国式庭球城決戦! The Junior Tournament, lit. "The Prince of Tennis – The Battle of the British City") is the second film directed by Shunsuke Tada.[20] It was released in Japan on August 14, 2011.
At the Jump Festa '19 event, a new film titled Ryōma! Shinsei Gekijōban Tennis no Ōji-sama (Ryoma! Rebirth: The Prince of Tennis Movie) was announced. The film would feature an original story set between the end of The Prince of Tennis manga and the start of The Prince of Tennis II manga. The film is in 3DCG, and is directed by Hiroshi Kōjina and animated by The Monk Studios and Keica with cooperation by Studio Kai. Takehito Hata is writing scripts, Kei Tsuda is composing the music, and Konomi himself is supervising the film and writing all insert songs. It was initially scheduled to be released in Spring 2020, but it was delayed to September 3, 2021.[21][22][23]
Video games[]
The Prince of Tennis franchise has spawned many different video games. The vast majority of these are either tennis games or dating sims, and they are spread across several different video game consoles. The first of these games was released for the PlayStation console on February 20, 2002, and is the only game which holds the simple Prince of Tennis title – all of the following game titles are preceded by the "Prince of Tennis" title. This was followed by Genius Boys Academy, which was released for the Game Boy Advance on April 25, 2002. Since then, several other video games have been released for different gaming consoles, including one more PlayStation game, three Game Boy Advance games, five Nintendo DS games, thirteen PlayStation 2 games, and one mobile game. The latest game to be released was New Prince of Tennis: Rising Beat in 2017, a rhythm-based mobile game developed by Bushiroad. This game is currently in Japanese only.[24]
Additionally, characters from The Prince of Tennis appeared in the Shōnen Jump based video games Jump Super Stars and Jump Ultimate Stars. All of the games have so far only been released in Japan.
Dramas[]
There also are two Chinese dramas based on "The Prince of Tennis" story, with the titles of "The Prince of Tennis" (Mandarin: "网球王子"; Pinyin: "Wang Qiu Wang Zi") and "Go for It! The Prince of Tennis" (Mandarin: "加油! 网球王子"; Pinyin: "Jia You! Wang Qiu Wang Zi"). The first is the first season, while the second is the second season. There are some differences due to localization for names and cultural themes, including all the characters being renamed, but is still recognizable from its story and the characters' portrayal. The first season covers from when Ryoma first appears in the series up to the end of their equivalent of the Tokyo Prefecturals, while the second season picks up from the end of the first season and goes to the end of their equivalent of the Kanto Tournament. Due to being based on the anime, Josei Shonan is included. In addition, hints of the live-action film is present.
A third Chinese drama, produced by Netflix in 2019, is called The Prince of Tennis (奋斗吧,少年!or Forge On, Young Men). It is set in China. A reticent talented teenage tennis player returns to China after spending his childhood overseas—the show does not specify where he spends his childhood—but he is trapped under the shadows of his father who used to be a top tennis player. When he joins a high school in China, he learns the importance of friendship and teamwork, and perhaps even gains his self-identity.
Other media[]
The series has produced a half-hour weekly radio show, over 300 music CDs and a large selection of merchandise. Including a trading card game[25] and figures.[26] Three live events, "TeniPuri Perfect Live" in 2003, "The 100 song marathon" in 2008 and "Tenipuri Festa" in 2009, were held by the TeniPuri voice actors and Konomi Takeshi himself.
The 1986 J-pop song "Valentine Kiss" by Sayuri Kokushō was covered multiple times by multiple characters in the series. From February 2004 through February 2010, a total of nine different versions of the song were released (seven individually, and the final two together). The first one, featuring the character Keigo Atobe (voiced by Junichi Suwabe) reached No. 14 on the Oricon charts.[27]
Reception[]
The Prince of Tennis has become a successful franchise. As of March 2008, the first 40 volumes of the manga had sold over 40 million copies in Japan.[5] As of January 2012, the manga had over 51 million copies in circulation.[28]
Carl Kimlinger from Anime News Network reviewed the first DVD box set released by Viz Media, and commented that "Prince of Tennis is among the dregs of the genre." They go on to say that it is "boring" and "lacks the human drama necessary to get audiences to care who wins or loses."[16] 'Anime on DVD', however, comments that the show "takes the usual themes in sports shows and applies them masterfully."[29] DVD Talk takes more of a nonchalant view, commenting that the "series is okay but not great" and that it has some charm, which will make you not regret watching it.[30] Active Anime also gave praise to the series, saying that it "holds some surprising twists to the regular sports drama formula", and praised the suspenseful matches and innovative techniques.[31]
Despite the reviews, the series is popular in Japan. When TV Asahi, a television network in Japan, conducted a survey for the one hundred most popular animated television series, The Prince of Tennis anime came in twenty-seventh place.[32] They also conducted an online web poll, in which The Prince of Tennis placed eighteenth.[33] Nearly a year later, TV Asahi once again conducted an online poll for the top one hundred anime, and this time, The Prince of Tennis anime advanced in rank and came in eighth place. They also surveyed Japanese celebrities for their favorite anime, where the series only came in sixty-eighth out of the top one hundred.[34]
Notes[]
- ^ The title is often shortened to TeniPuri (テニプリ), a blend of the words "Tennis Prince".
References[]
- ^ "Cartoon Network and VIZ Media Announce Broadband Joint Venture, Toonami Jetstream". Anime News Network. April 26, 2006. Retrieved July 28, 2018.
- ^ "The Official Website for The Prince of Tennis". Viz Media. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
- ^ 週刊少年ジャンプ 1999/07/19 表示号数32. Media Arts Database (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Archived from the original on May 2, 2019. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
- ^ "Prince of Tennis Mangaka Ill". ComiPress. July 24, 2006. Retrieved May 4, 2019.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Loo, Egan (March 3, 2008). "Japan's Shonen Jump Ends Prince of Tennis, Muhyo & Roji". Anime News Network. Retrieved May 4, 2019.
- ^ テニスの王子様 1 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Retrieved December 8, 2019.
- ^ テニスの王子様 42 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Retrieved May 4, 2019.
- ^ "Viz Announces Prince of Tennis & Bleach Manga". Anime News Network. February 10, 2004. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
- ^ "The Prince of Tennis, Vol. 1". Viz Media. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
- ^ "The Prince of Tennis, Vol. 42". Viz Media. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
- ^ Loo, Egan (November 3, 2008). "Ken-ichi Sakura Confirmed for Prince of Tennis Tribute". Anime News Network. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
- ^ Loo, Egan (May 30, 2014). "Prince of Tennis 4-Panel 'Tribute' Manga Gets Flash Anime". Anime News Network. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
- ^ Loo, Egan (October 30, 2008). "New Prince of Tennis Manga to Reportedly Start in March". Anime News Network. Retrieved May 4, 2019.
- ^ "American Artist Assists on New Prince of Tennis Manga". Anime News Network. March 6, 2009. Retrieved March 7, 2009.
- ^ "The Prince of Tennis, Vol. 1 (DVD Box Set)". Viz Media. Archived from the original on January 20, 2008. Retrieved February 13, 2008.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Kimlinger, Carl (June 26, 2007). "Review – The Prince of Tennis DVD – DVD Box Set 1". Anime News Network. Retrieved February 13, 2008.
- ^ "The Prince of Tennis, Vol. 4 (DVD Box Set)". Viz Media. Archived from the original on February 19, 2008. Retrieved February 13, 2008.
- ^ "The Prince of Tennis Joins the Funimation Family, Starting With Game of Future OVAs". Funimation. April 2, 2021. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
- ^ "New Prince of Tennis Manga Gets TV Anime". Anime News Network. August 22, 2011. Retrieved October 12, 2011.
- ^ "2011 Prince of Tennis Film Event to Be Streamed Live". Anime News Network. September 1, 2011. Retrieved October 12, 2011.
- ^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (December 21, 2018). "Prince of Tennis Manga Franchise Gets New Anime Film in Early Spring 2020". Anime News Network. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
- ^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn; Loo, Egan (December 21, 2019). "Prince of Tennis 3D CG Anime Film Delayed to 2021". Anime News Network. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
- ^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (December 19, 2020). "Prince of Tennis 3DCG Film Reveals Visual, Teaser Video, September 3 Premiere (Updated)". Anime News Network. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
- ^ "新テニスの王子様 RisingBeat(ライジングビート)". risingbeat.bushimo.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved December 10, 2020.
- ^ "Buy The Prince of Tennis Trading Card Game Booster Pack Vol. 11 – Order Now". PlayAsia. Retrieved November 2, 2008.
- ^ "Prince of Tennis Figure #2: A Kunimitsu". Hobby Link Japan. Retrieved October 21, 2008.
- ^ バレンタイン・キッス/跡部景吾 with 氷帝学園中 [Valentine Kiss / Keigo Atobe with Hyotei Academy Chū]. Oricon Style (in Japanese). Archived from the original on April 22, 2008.
- ^ 新テニスの王子様 : 女性人気の秘密 キャラにチョコ7000個、「テニミュ」は120万人動員. Mainichi Shimbun Digital (in Japanese). January 15, 2012. Archived from the original on November 4, 2013. Retrieved November 28, 2013.
- ^ "AnimeOnDVD Review – Prince of Tennis Box Set 01 (of 0)". animeondvd.com. April 4, 2007. Retrieved February 13, 2008.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "DVD Talk Review – The Prince of Tennis Box Set, Vol. 1". DVD Talk. April 24, 2007. Retrieved February 13, 2008.
- ^ "ActiveAnime.com:: Prince of Tennis Box Set 1 (Advanced Review)". ActiveAnime. April 4, 2007. Archived from the original on September 23, 2012. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
- ^ "TV Asahi Top 100 Anime Part 2". Anime News Network. September 23, 2005. Retrieved February 13, 2008.
- ^ "TV Asahi Top 100 Anime". Anime News Network. September 23, 2005. Retrieved February 13, 2008.
- ^ "Japan's Favorite TV Anime". Anime News Network. October 13, 2006. Retrieved February 13, 2008.
External links[]
- Official sites
- Animax's official Prince of Tennis website (Archived) (in Japanese)
- TV Tokyo's Prince of Tennis Site (in Japanese)
- Shin Prince of Tennis website (in Japanese)
- Official Prince of Tennis Site (in Japanese)
- Viz's Shonen Jump's The Prince of Tennis Site (Archived)
- Profiles
- The Prince of Tennis (manga) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
- The Prince of Tennis at IMDb
- Manga series
- 1999 manga
- 2001 anime television series
- 2003 anime OVAs
- 2006 anime OVAs
- 2008 manga
- 2009 manga
- 2009 anime OVAs
- 2012 anime television series
- 2012 anime OVAs
- 2014 anime OVAs
- 2018 anime OVAs
- The Prince of Tennis
- 2007 anime OVAs
- 2008 anime OVAs
- Coming-of-age anime and manga
- Funimation
- Manga adapted into films
- Production I.G
- Shōnen manga
- Shueisha franchises
- Shueisha manga
- Studio Kai
- Tennis in anime and manga
- Tezuka Productions
- TV Tokyo original programming
- Viz Media anime
- Viz Media manga