Extreme Hearts

When you first click on this show you may think you're getting an idol anime based on the art but once you start the first episode you immediately think it's going to be a sports anime. Well this show does BOTH, and it does it to the EXTREME!

I would describe this show like a hearty pot of curry. The premise of the show is simple and easy to accept, the main character is immediately likable, and the supporting cast is so diverse that each character feels like a distinct separate ingredient that you wouldn't enjoy the dish without. Every episode is interesting and the storytelling is done so skillfully it's as though a chef were tending to the curry rather than set it and forget it.

I'll come back to saying that this show excels at both genres now. What generally defines a sport anime is the accuracy to the real life counterpart and the competitive spirit, both of which this show demonstrates with aplomb. As far as being an idol anime, the basic tenets are a group that goes through emotional growth, good group dynamic, good dance animation(a poor cg can ruin the whole watch experience of a good idol anime) as well as superb music. This show checks all those boxes as well, with a bonus THE DANCE ANIMATIONS ARENT CG!!! And lastly, the most important thing for both idol and sports anime is the underdog story, and I don't believe I've ever watched a greater underdog story since "ascendance of a bookworm". Also anyone who has ever had the "pleasure" of conversing about Bookworm with me knows that i don't think there's much at all that can stand toe to toe with it. And yet here this show is.

Somehow this show was from 2022 and flew completely under the radar, literally one review on YouTube, and I stumbled on it by complete accident.

I can't suggest this show enough, even if you aren't big on idol anime's the sports story will carry you all the way through till episode 12.

9.7/10 I absolutely recommend you watch this.

There are plenty of sports anime series and plenty of idol series; this one mixes the two. It is centred on Hiyori Hayama, an aspiring singer, who can't break into the industry. There is another route to fame though; 'Extreme Hearts'. This is a sports tournament where teams of would be idols must compete in a variety of sports. They wear special equipment that enhances their abilities. She joins a team called RISE; over the course of the series she makes friends with her team mates as go from being also rans to possible contenders.

I didn't expect much of this series but ended up enjoying it more than I expected. It isn't great but it is rather fun. The characters are rather fun and the games manage to be exciting even if no one will seriously doubt the outcome. The nature of the competition also means we see a variety of sports. The characters are all likeable with decent, if fairly generic designs. Overall I'd say this is a fun little series; hardly a must see but it passes the time nicely.

These comments are based on watching the series in Japanese with English subtitles.