Oh Cross Game. Where do I even begin? This wasnt just my first anime from Mitsuru Adachi it was a revelation an introduction to a storyteller who in my humble opinion perfected his craft with this very series. I know I know the common refrain is that Adachis characters can look a bit similar across his vast manga library. And yes initially I had that thought too. But let me tell you that concern simply evaporated once I immersed myself in Cross Game. Its like he took all his recurring themes and ideas and distilled them into this single sublime narrative. This truly feels like the definitive version of his artistic vision. As a diehard fan of sliceoflife anime Cross Game was a mustwatch for me. And heres the kicker: I absolutely detest sports a personal quirk stemming from... well personal things. So I walked into this series with a builtin bias wondering if even my love for sliceoflife could overcome my sports aversion. The answer? A resounding joyful yes. How much did I love it? Enough to rewatch all 50 episodes 68 times. Thats not just a casual recommendation thats a testament to its irresistible charm. And that first episode? Mindblowing. Seriously its one of the strongest most impactful anime openings Ive ever seen. Im not going to give you any hints about it because you absolutely need to experience it fresh. My strongest recommendation is to go in completely blind. Dont read a single synopsis dont even look too closely at the cover art trust me some of those can contain spoilers for the first episode and Im incredibly paranoid about spoiling this particular series debut. Just watch Episode 1 and pay close attention. Dont let the small details catch you off guard. Once youre done with the anime if youre anything like me youll want to read the manga. Its a wonderful way to visualize the story in a new light and revisit all those cherished moments. The anime is incredibly faithful by the way 49 out of 50 episodes are pure canon and even the bonus episode ties in beautifully. Its perfectly sized at 50 episodes. This series is a glorious blend of comedy romance drama and baseball action all wrapped up in one perfect package. Please please dont skip it based on any of those genres alone or youll genuinely miss out on an absolute treasure. Lets talk sound. The opening song Summer Rain isnt just a theme it is the very essence of the anime perfectly setting the mood. And thankfully they never changed it. The first ending songand no I wont tell you its name dont even think about looking it up before finishing the first episodeis equally perfect. The second one Orange Days is a rap song. A rap song in this anime? Its a little baffling Ill admit but honestly for a gem like Cross Game I can easily forgive that one peculiar choice. Its not a bad song just an unexpected fit. The third ending Moeru You na Koi Janai Kedo has a lovely beat and a gentle rhythm. And the final ED song? Youll have to discover that one too The cast of Cross Game is without a doubt one of the most memorable in all of anime. Each and every character is developed with such incredible depth that you wont find a single one you dislike. Their rich characterization will leave you constantly wanting more and the names of the lead characters? Youll remember them forever. The show patiently takes its time allowing us to slowly get to know them through their daily routines their heartfelt interactions with others and a multitude of incredibly wellplaced flashbacks. This thoughtful approach lets them grow far beyond typical character archetypes giving every character the space they need to truly evolve and shine. While some might find Cross Game a tad predictable at timesmuch like life itself right?it is executed with such remarkable skill that its simply a joy to watch. I absolutely adore the art style it perfectly suits the shows charming everyday setting. And heres the magic trick: even though this isnt a baseballonly anime it made me appreciate sports enough to actually seek out and watch a proper sports anime. This show can get genuinely sad but it also delivers the most wonderfully cute and comforting scenes. Its like that perfect anime hug when youre feeling down. In terms of sports and animation this story isnt about being the absolute best or about some unbelievable prodigy. Its about real relatable goals. This anime portrays sports as authentically as it gets. If youre chasing that prodigy narrative Major is probably your goto. For its time 2009 the animation quality was excellent and consistently maintained. It complements the shows overall soothing atmosphere perfectly with no noticeable dips or highs. Its just consistently good. The pacing of Cross Game is slow for a sports anime but its so wellexecuted. You never feel like anything is being skipped which is a huge plus. And heres the beautiful truth: you dont watch this show for the baseball though you certainly can and its welldone. Its not primarily about the sport itself. Baseball acts as a central pillar something for the characters to strive for to aim at a setting that you the viewer will come to deeply love by the end of the series. It fits Cross Game like a glove. And you know what else fits perfectly? That terribly drawn cat as some reviews inexplicably call it that pops up for clumsy transitions. Honestly? Thats one of the most charming things about the entire anime Youll come to absolutely adore those brief moments with that cat. Its on screen for literally a second or two. I totally love that adorable little neko Its an obvious 10/10 for me. Do I want a remake? Maybe but then again probably not. I think this achieved perfection. Do I want a dub? Please no. I understand the argument for wider reach and there are many fantastic dubs out there but I truly believe Cross Game is best experienced in its original Japanese with subtitles. Im not here to start a sub/dub war but for this series subs are the way to go. What I really want is for this show to get more attention so more people can discover its magic. TLDR: This anime is all about character development and being a beautiful slice of life. Dont let the sports genre or romcom tag deter you. Just give it a shot. Im confident that after just two episodes youll know if youre going to fall in love. And if you make it past two youre driving all the way to the end. And honestly I just cant imagine a person hating this anime enough to actually write a negative review about it. Its simply too wonderful.