Big Windup!

Well, if you don't let yourself get caught up on the fact that this is, in fact a Japanese anime title based on a long-standing American game, taking place in Japan but then exported into America, you end up with a surprisingly entertaining little story and a solid deal from Funimation.

Previously released as an online video-stream, Big Windup! was a Geneon property picked up by Funimation that's finally come to dvd format for those of us who prefer to enjoy our anime on the 42 inch plasma with surround sound (rather than in our media players through two tinny speakers that came with the computer monitor).

Coming at a total runtime of 315 minutes, Big Windup! Part 1 consists of 13-episodes spread across 2 discs packaged within a standard-size dvd case. The show wears an appropriate, if not slightly conservative TV 14 rating (no violence, nudity or foul language).

Extras are limited here to textless songs and a nice assortment of Funimation trailers on the second disc.

As is standard fair with sub & dub anime, the language options consist of the original Japanese dialog track (in stereo) and an English language dub presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround with the option of English subtitles available under either choice.

The story goes something like this: Young student Ren Mihashi is a huge baseball buff but unlike smug American kids, feels as if he isn't worthy to participate in the game. The year before found Ren as the starting ace pitcher in the middle school. Don't get too excited, it seems like everyone (including Mihashi himself) is convinced that the only reason he earned the much-desired field position was because his grandfather owned the team.

Long story short, they didn't do so well on the field or in the standings. Then it was off to high school for young Ren where the lovely Maria Momoe, (the team's coach) convinces him to get back out on the mound for the new team (which is seemingly no better than the one he left behind).

Expecting to be rejected by the coach the moment she witnesses his lack of skill, Ren (and the viewer) are surprised when she sees something special that had been lost to the ridicule of his teammates all along.

Ren's high school pitching career begins trail-by-fire-style with a practice game against his bitter ex-teammates while trying to learn to trust his new catcher and coach.

The story's an even-flowing, fun romp through the rigors of both school life and after school sports. It's a bright, clean and pleasant story that uses elements of team-building and personal growth as the backbone to a lot of baseball-game onscreen action sequences.

If this sounds a little odd, don't let the sports-themed arc to trip you up from enjoying a tasty little tale that works for the same reason shonen (fighting-themed anime) is so popular: the viewer ends up caring more about the characters than the specific forms of competition that are used to advance the plot. As it stands however, the baseball animation, scoring-system, and physics are exponentially more realistic (and relatable) than mystical fighting tournaments with monsters and magic spells.

The music is nothing overly dramatic or spectacular but it's catchy and rhythmic in all of the right places. Interestingly, when available as a video stream the only language option was the English dub. Funimation has wisely included the superior Japanese vocal track on this dvd set. Not to suggest that the English dub isn't worthy; the dramatic attempts just simply feel a bit less forced in the chipper and lively Japanese form.

In all, Big Windup! is a fun little show that makes use of some of the livelier aspects of popular shonen anime with a nice likeable cast of characters and some sports elements that nearly anyone can sit down and enjoy.