BALLROOM E YOUKOSO
STATUS
RELEASING
VOLUMES
Not Available
RELEASE
Invalid Date
CHAPTERS
Not Available
DESCRIPTION
Fujita has drifted through middle school aimlessly, unable to find friends or anything that can hold his attention. Then, one day, he's attacked by a gang and saved by a mysterious man. But this isn't a karate master; it's a ballroom dance instructor! Reluctantly, Fujita takes a few beginner's classes, only to find his inspiration... an entrancing, teenage dance prodigy named Shizuku. It's Fujita's first step into the high-octane world of competitive dance!
(Source: Kodansha USA)
Note: Nominated for the 6th and 8th Manga Taisho Award.
CAST
Chinatsu Hiyama
Kiyoharu Hyoudou
Tatara Fujita
Shizuku Hanaoka
Kaname Sengoku
Mako Akagi
Masami Kugimiya
Gaju Akagi
Chizuru Hongou
Marisa Hyoudou
Akira Koumoto
Tamie Idogawa
Tamaki Tsuburaya
Tomochika Jinbo
Karen Banba
Tetsuo Fujita
Gorou Mine
Suzuka Houjou
Honda Chisei
Ema Kuruse
Koumoto
Tagami Makoto
Shiba Yuuri
Mejiro Houjou
Wabisuke Nekobuchi
CHAPTERS
RELATED TO BALLROOM E YOUKOSO
ANIME DramaBallroom e YoukosoREVIEWS
baba13
An Enchanting Journey and a Beautiful Love Letter to Ballroom Dancing.Continue on AniListIntroduction
Going to say it straight up, I adore this manga. There is always a weird, preconceived notion of sports manga-anime. As it revolves around, I don’t particularly enjoy watching this sport, so there is no point in experiencing it. It’s so weird because in most cases it does not matter in the slightest. These artists are fully aware that the readers aren't interested in the subject matter whatsoever. So, they frame the story in a certain light that is both compelling to the fans of the sport and people who aren't acquainted with it. I know people criticise the structure of this type of series, but one aspect that I love is that it gives me a new perspective on something I never thought about. An Example is the anime, Major. I generally don’t like watching baseball, despite the subject matter of Major being baseball I adore it and more importantly makes me respect the sport. It provides a perspective you would never get otherwise. The same can be applied to Hajime no Ippo, what it takes to be a pro boxer, and the sacrifices a person would make. The reason I recall this story is because this is the same experience, I felt reading this manga. I will never get out of my way to watch this sport, but I have a deep sense of respect that I would never have otherwise, if I didn’t read this brilliant piece of art.
Firstly, the sport is a character. It’s not like Ashita no Joe or REAL where the sport is a backdrop to facilitate psychological trauma or drama. It’s similar to Ippo or Baby Steps in that vein, but with less detail. I always found it interesting to explore why do people become an athlete or partake in a sport. I ain’t talking about surface-level observations but something more poignant. Seeing so many perspectives on one sport gives you that appreciation for it. Compared to any other genre, when this is executed well, it's just beautiful. We learn about Ballroom Dancing with Tatara and our conception of it grows as we continue reading the series.
Story
So, what is this story about? Honestly, I don’t want to talk about that aspect, as it's not that important. The general setup of a sports manga is pretty similar because it’s a structure that works. What is arguably more important is the execution. This is what I think the author nails. It's not super predictable, but there’re aspects you would anticipate (however it’s earned). You never groan about "oh they're doing this cliché “ etc. You will be so immersed it doesn’t matter. In terms of progression, it achieves this quite well. The main character has a certain goal he is achieving and character-wise and plot-wise he is advancing towards it. But of course, there going to be those downtimes for reflection and slice of life which is excellent. Honestly pretty impressive thinking back upon Tatara's journey from chapter 1 to the latest (chapter 63 for me). The amount he learns throughout the journey is part of the reason I love this genre. Because the framing of the narrative compliments that very well.
Characters
Beyond representing the sports correctly with respect, characters are the most important aspect of a sports manga. If you do not connect with the characters, what’s the point? I adore most of the characters and all of them have their own personal demons, reasons why they practice the sport or do not. In general, I think characters are very nuanced and not given enough credit. One of my fav characters is Chinatsu, at the offset she is just a tsundere. But once you understand the character from subtle details or the flashbacks you understand all her actions. Honestly, she is an incredibly realistic person and a fascinating individual. Even characters like Hanaoka could be perceived as a typical romantic interest, though the author doesn’t focus on her too heavily, you notice she isn’t one-note. Some characters treat her as such, but she calls out certain behaviours and welcomes certain challenges. Almost every character here has characteristics that can be perceived as one-note (or archetypal) but Tomo goes the extra mile giving that added level of complexity. Even random side characters that are one-off, characters rarely feel disposable.
Art
How do you describe the art beyond just saying it's breathtaking. Well, yes, it's bloody breathtaking, stunning, and gorgeous. There are so many adjectives to describe it, that I might not do it justice. I will try to articulate why it’s those adjectives, firstly you will notice the eyes. Tomo Takeuchi understands what makes a piece of art just so vivid and alive. You will first notice the eye slashes and then you will see the pupils and then it strikes you. There is a specific technique she employs that’s very different from the rest of her peers. Specific linework that makes her art style so distinct. If you’re a well-read reader of manga, there is a specific character design for male protagonists that’s very standard (and honestly interchangeable) this does not employ that at all. Everyone has a unique character design and evokes something about their character from subtle details. Because this is about Ballroom Dancing, posture and showcasing backs are something you must capture correctly and she does it. At times, some drawings will make you awestruck. So, she captures the human anatomy pretty well, at least I have nothing to complain about on that front. I guess people complain about the necks, which I didn’t find to be an issue. The anime is jarring but that’s mainly because it's an art style best suited to its medium (manga). Her art style honestly feels somewhat incompatible with anime it’s tough to convey because of the unique aspects of her style specifically. So, the final thing about the art I will talk about is the shading. The movement that is conveyed is incredible because of the beautiful shading. On her Twitter, she does break-downs of her storyboards to the final piece and it's glorious.
p.s. The clothing are stunning and very accurate, you can just tell the author had a blast. The attention to detail for this aspect hasn’t gone out unnoticed.
Panel Work
Like the art, as she has been drawing this manga for over a decade. This fundamental component improves significantly over time. Even from the offset, the panel work never felt cluttered, certain drawings have a great sense of flow. For sports manga, understanding how to convey movement and good panel work are key and yeah, she accomplishes it very well. A lot of moments would lose that impact if it wasn’t framed in a certain light. The exposition never felt clunky, just the right number of doses. A lot of the drawings-panel work adds to characterisation. The amount of personality that can be conveyed through the languages of the eyes is more than you would think. Overall, this is an aspect that just gets better the more you read. One of my favourite examples of how to use this medium.
Conclusion
This is one of my favourite series in general. At the offset, it can be perceived as a very generic beat by beat sports series, but once you dive deeper you understand it's not that at all. If you are into fantastic characters that seem archetypal at first but you realise have a lot of depth. Exploring a sport in depth and coming to appreciate it and a fantastic coming of age of sorts plus just something beautiful to look upon. If the aspects of my review sound intriguing definitely give it a shot, it's well worth the ride.
Thank You for reading this Review.
Waldir
An amazing manga about finding yourself in danceContinue on AniListWelcome to Ballroom is a manga about ballroom dancing, following our protagonist Tatara as he begins to dance and find himself in this artistic world of dance. It's a high-quality manga with interesting characters, a dramatic and engaging story, and wonderfully beautiful art.
Characters
The characters are multidimensional; they aren't one-dimensional in the sense that you'll find characters with a huge spectrum of emotions and actions. Obviously, some emotions will be more prominent than others depending on the character, but in any case, these characters exhibit a rare emotional depth in manga. They seem like real people, not just heroes or villains; they are people with certain interests that sometimes go against our protagonist. The evolution of the characters and Tatara is palpable in the sense that just by his posture it's possible to distinguish how far he's come from the beginning. The intimacy that Tatara slowly develops with the other characters is also spectacular, as our protagonist begins to see others not as gods because they know how to dance better, but as human beings, with fears, envy, and so on.
World
The world is somewhat closed off, as it practically only has three spaces: the school, the competition venue, and the training area. But honestly, this doesn't affect the manga's experience that much because the manga is so focused on what's happening that the world doesn't need to develop the environments, as there isn't much space like in Goodnight Punpun, for example, which has a lot of silence and reflection.
Pace
Frenetic, terribly frenetic. Something is always happening; there's no moment to breathe properly, always moving forward quickly. But it's a pace that fits the story well, as it serves wonderfully to convey the emotion of the competition, the dance, and the connection between the characters.Story
The story is very dramatic, but equally good and engaging. It's wonderful to see the evolution of the characters, the competitions, and the whole environment itself. Again, there's a lot of drama, fights, and emotional nuances of the characters involving each character's past (which are incredible, as they greatly increase their depth).Conclusion
I conclude by saying that Welcome to the Ballroom is very good; it's an extremely competent manga in conveying diverse emotions, very fun and tense. Lots of speech bubbles, lots of text; it's a complicated read, even worse if you read it fast. It gave me a headache at one point, but it's very worthwhile. It made me want to dance again, it was so good.(Translated with Google Translate, I originally wrote it in Portuguese)
inukag
Dreams, Passion, & Self-discovery through the art of dancingContinue on AniListSpoilers ahead!
This will always be one of my top favourites of mine. One of the many things I loved about this manga, aside from my obvious adoration in its magnificent art (especially its motion art) is how it explores the intricacies of finding your own dreams for yourself. Tatara is on a constant pursuit of understanding himself as he digs into ballroom on a deeper lens; the becoming of a pair with Chinatsu being the fire that ignited Tatara’s self-discovery, how his realizations in staying in the ballroom world & encountering more people- especially Bres arc- is foisting him to ruminate on his dreams, purpose, motivation, and the courage to keep up despite it being a place that is still so enigmatic & distant from his own grasp. There are lots of chapters that have been introspective & I really love ALL of the characters (they’re all so beautiful) I can’t wait to see how Tatara’s experiences in ballroom will mould his growth as a dancer & as himself. I still don’t understand why they cut a certain scene from the manga in the anime considering Tatara’s feelings & admiration for Shizuku is imperative for his quest in entering ballroom dancing. esp. how he views his own motivation as asinine (and acknowledges it as part of his self discovery).
One of my favourite chapters includes the one with Chinatsu- Tatara on his quest for the essence of dancing, confronting his qualms about himself leading up to a harmonious moment with Chinatsu and becoming one with her. Their growth as a dynamic has been wonderful, I love them so much (and before everything has been said and done, I am a platonic!chitara admirer). I also love the way Tatara has been recognizing ballroom as a bridge that connects him to the people he admires until he met these people who provoke his convictions to himself… now that he’s gained awareness, he HAS to fundamentally think about his own dreams for himself.
After Bres, Tatara’s growth is discernible as seen through different lenses (Chinatsu, Kiyoharu, Marisa). His ruminations about his motivations in ballroom and seeking what’s beyond it allowed him to flourish & I can’t wait to see how it’ll pan out for him. Also side note, I just wanna reiterate how much I appreciate Tatara & Kurauchi’s relationship. They met not too long ago but the influence they’ve had on each other through their conversations alone have been so meaningful, and how much of their multifaceted layers of themselves are being constantly uncovered.
I want to see Tatara face his love for Shizuku & realize it’s fine that his feelings for her, wherever it might come from, is his reason why he dances! That after all, ballroom is the pathway that makes way for him to reach the people he admires. So happy that he always has convos with Kurauchi that hinders him from running away from his feelings & finally confront it. Tatara's feelings for Shizuku, I think, whether it comes from a place of profound admiration or romantic love, is a lot deeper (doesn't mean it's romantic, it also doesn't necessarily have to be, but it's definitely an immense feeling that is significant to him). I’d love to see how Tatara will address these feelings & if this will bloom into a new approach with dancing.
Tatara has been building his self-confidence through dancing, & to me he is constantly learning to love ballroom through the people he started it for & the people he dance with. Which is so interesting!!! I’d love to see more of his growth as a leader too, and Tatara who has his own sense of pride as a dancer.
I hope we get to see more from Takeuchi-sensei, as it really has been a great manga on passion. Wishing the author sound health and well-being!
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- (4.1/5)
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