The Paris Olympics have officially started, and the excitement following the once-in-a-four-year event has got the fans jumping with amusement. The rain dampened their enjoyment of the opening ceremony, but it did not detract from their enthusiasm for supporting their country.
If the Olympic fever has not caught hold of you, let us introduce you to one hidden gem in the realm of anime, Backflip. Though series like Blue Lock and Haikyu deserve all the love in the world, this gymnastic series will take you on a rollercoaster of emotion with its storyline.
Following the heroic comeback of the men’s Japanese gymnastics team against China, Backflip might be the show that becomes another popular addition to your favorite sports anime collection.
Blue Lock and Haikyu Have Another Competitor
In the realm of sports anime, there have been a ton of anime and manga titles that revolve around various popular sports, but the series based on these two sports has managed to stand out; it’s none other than Blue Lock and Haikyu!
These two titles have become infectiously popular as these two series have taken a different approach to showcasing the narrative of being the best. Though Haikyu had introduced the concept, the 2022 series reinvented it by pushing the boundaries of narration and showcasing an athlete’s life, both good and bad.
This complex theme is also showcased in Backflip, which was released in 2022, the same year as Blue Lock was released. The anime revolves around the life of Shotaro Futaba, who discovers the beauty of gymnastics and falls in love with the sport. He enrolls at Ao High and chooses to join the boy’s gymnastics club, where he meets a variety of people.
The series takes its viewers on emotional highs and lows as it showcases frustration and emotional turmoil, leading to fights. Nevertheless, these boys would work together and form a bond that would bring them closer to their goal.
Why Backflip Is Meant To Ignite Your Olympic Fever?
A ton of sports anime series is often based on mainstream sports such as football, boxing, volleyball, baseball, and many more, which puts sports like gymnastics on the sidelines. Hence, this is one of the reasons that very few people have heard about the series, let alone watched it.
Even though the series is based on an overlooked sport, it does not cut corners because it goes all out in telling the story of underdogs who want to make it big! The show will hook its audience from the very first episode with its animation and soaring soundtrack, which cannot be described with any combination of words.
The storyline might feel a tad bit quirky and different due to the rhythm, but the storytelling techniques infused with mesmerizing animation and smooth movement would leave you starstruck, craving for more. But what makes the series more appealing is the fact that Backflip features original characters with an almost ’80s-esque look to them.
Almost all of them can feel relatable to the viewers and develop chemistry as the plot progresses. The show can go from colorful to dramatic, which, in my opinion, adds a layer to it, making it subtle yet striking.
The anime series will not feature something flashy like Blue Lock or Haikyu, but it will showcase numerous breathtaking moments that are carefully crafted to give it an unpretentious approach that will surely make it stand apart if you give it a chance.
Backflip can be streamed on Crunchyroll.
