Sports Anime can be exciting, lovable, upbeat, emotional, and in some ways much better than the actual sport. But many shows fall into a tired trap: having a protagonist who is really good at their respective sport from the start. What does SK8 the infinity so refreshing. The show have a sports miracle, but Reki, the one Protagonist of SK8 the infinityis not the child prodigy itself – and it makes all the difference
When Studio Bones and creator Hiroko first introduced Utsumi Reki, he told audiences how some people define happiness as rich, famous, or respected. Although he does not give an answer to what he thinks is lucky, his actions speak for themselves. The next thing we see of him is taking part in the exciting, highly illegal and very dangerous skateboard race track called “S.” Although Reki doesn’t have any remarkable skill or typical trick or fantastic personality, he finds happiness through the thrill and challenge that comes with skating.
However, things change when a new kid arrives in town and joins their class. Langa is a half-Japanese boy returning from Canada, where his father taught him to snowboard. That would do in one go Johnny Tsunami Langa prides itself on being the skateboarding prodigy and effortlessly transferring his snowboarding skills to asphalt and concrete to become S.’s hottest new sensation. Reki and Langa become friends, although it becomes clear early on that Langa’s abilities quickly outgrow anything Reki can teach him. But the bond the two share about skating takes precedence over any kind of rivalry.
As with most other sports films and TV shows, sports anime is all about following an underdog who is capable of becoming the best (like no one ever was). After all, what would have become Ashita no Joe What if Joe Yabuki had never won a fight? Even when the Karasuno High School volleyball team was out Haikyuu !! When they lose a big game, part of the fun is knowing they’ll recover, train harder, and come back stronger than before in round two. But what does SK8 the infinity The special thing is how early it becomes clear that Reki will never be on the same level as the other superstars from “S.”.
Although the series’ early episodes didn’t make much of this difficulty distinction, episodes 7 and up began to shift gears, emphasizing Reki’s feelings of being left out, possibly inevitably due to the competitive nature of the sport. No matter how much Reki loves skating, the show makes it clear that being surrounded by so many great talents turned him into Cheat Syndrome. The greatest risk to Reki’s athletic livelihood is losing sight of his own talents – no matter how hard Langa and her friends try to convince him otherwise.
While simpler dramas might portray Reki as jealous, SK8 the infinity shows the skater and Langa’s shared passion, which of course has changed and deepened alongside their friendship. After Langa won several races against big skaters, including going from head to toe with the mastermind behind “S”, a masked skater named Adam, he is no longer satisfied with just skating. he needs more Langa is at it now to push himself to his limits just because he does it canHe is facing increasingly dangerous opponents because he now knows that he has what it takes to catch up with them. But he could also lose his friend if he pursues a view of skating that Reki cannot follow.
The show almost offers a little inspiration or a possible solution to Reki’s confidence when he watches a television interview in episode 8 where a not-so-talented distance runner found his passion for making shoes to support other athletes. Reki has always been great at helping others, not just by example of teaching Langa to skate, but also by building Langa a skateboard that was specifically designed for his snowboarding skills. That doesn’t mean he has to quit skateboarding to become a craftsman, but this does SK8 builds up at a later moment of realization. Reki has to find a way to enjoy the sport again out of love for sport and stop being so aware of his own abilities.
For most people, their relationship with sports is one in which they see and evaluate others while sharing their excitement, but never really being in the spotlight. SK8 the infinity builds itself into a sports anime show that is different from few others: one that recognizes the excitement of sharing your passions with others, as well as the frustration of realizing you, may never be the best at what You love. So far, SK8 It’s about the different things people love about skating – the thrill of surpassing yourself, the fame and respect that comes with being good – but that we don’t need anything special to be happy either. Reki just has to skate.
SK8 the infinity Streams on Funimation.