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Prince of Tennis: The National Tournament Finals




After all the trials Seishun Gakuen has gone through, they have finally reached the greatest trial of their journey. In this OVA, they face an old nemesis and the current champions Rikkaidai Fuzoku.

WARNING: SPOILERS!

Here are the highlights from each episode:

Episode 1: New opening and ending songs.

Sanada and Tezuka's match turned out to be a battle of wills (and with a little bit of luck). Tezuka lost although Sanada was also at his limit.

Episode 2: Ryoma has an amnesia. No one knows why.

Doubles match between Inui and Kaidoh versus Renji and Kirihara.

Inui's Data Tennis is challenged. He's forced to make the impossible possible. Seigaku forfeited the match due to Inui's condition.

Episode 3: It seemed like Fuji was losing to Niou - but it was all just Inui's dream.

Niou used the Tezuka illusion to challenge Fuji. The match is essentially a battle between Fuji and Tezuka. Later, Niou used a Shiraishi illusion but Fuji surprised everyone with his 6th Counter, the Hoshi Hanabi, and won.

Episode 4: The Golden Pair versus Jackal and Marui. They have been stalling all along to give Ryoma plenty of time to recover his memory. Most of the episode was about the events that transpired before Ryoma had his amnesia. Nanjiro was training him and asked if his son enjoys tennis.

Several players helped Ryoma by having matches with him.

Oishi and Eiji won by using Synchro.

Episode 5: First of the two-part episode of the match between Ryoma and Yukimura.

Since Ryoma was late, Kintaro had a chance to duel with Yukimura.

Ryoma showed his ability to redirect the aura at will.

Episode 6: Continuation of the match.

Ryoma lost his five senses. It seemed like Yukimura was going to win.

Then Ryoma remembered Nanjiro's words. The Final Door is opened - the Tenimouho no Kiwami or Flawless Unity.

The Prince prevails over the Demi-god and wins the championship for Seigaku.

***

This is a great ending to a great series. I love the simplicity of the explanation that Nanjiro has given to the other Seigaku players about achieving Flawless Unity. Just wanting to win the game and working hard are not enough. In Rikkai's determination to hold on to the title they forgot one important thing - enjoying the game itself. It's no longer about tennis for them. Instead it's just winning the title the 3rd straight time. Yukimura never lost a game and so he had one disadvantage. He does not know the feeling of having failed and risen up to take the challenge again and again.

It was also fitting that Ryoma finished the match with a new move - and splitting the ball too!

There are a few things I would have liked to see but overall, I'm quite satisfied with this OVA. I just wish they could have wrapped it up more nicely. Those reporters who have witnessed Seigaku's journey were not present in the ending. They could have had a line or two after the last match. They were important characters too. I didn't see Jyousei Shounan and why was Ryoma's mom absent?

It seemed like things happened so fast but I'm still giving this a 10 out of 10 rating.

~Thank you Takeshi Konomi for this great series!~
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