Line #85 YMMV/ThePrinceOfTennis


1	* AssPull: The opinion of the fandom when Konomi introduced the concept of [[NewPowersAsThePlotDemands "The Tennis Pinnacles"]], with many of the fans labeling the series as "Tennis Franchise/DragonBall" after that point.
2	* AwesomeEgo: Atobe. The guy really knows how to put on a show, organize parties and make an entrance (by dropping to school in a parachute from a jet, mind you.)
3	* BaseBreakingCharacter:
4	** Ryoma. Some really like him as he is cute and a good player (it's debatable if this is thanks to the more sympathetic portrayal in the anime), others consider him a SmugSuper DesignatedHero Marty Stu, and there's also the small portion that just ignores him in favor of the other characters.
5	** Atobe. He is a great rival with an AwesomeEgo, good looks, and insanely rich, while others despise him for being an arrogant character.
6	** Horio. Just your regular TagalongKid or an annoying [[TheLoad load]] with a big mouth.
7	** Also Sakuno to a lesser extent. She is either bland, too girly, and shy to be with Ryoma or a very needed female character in a series full of guys who is loyal and a good foil to Ryoma.
8	** Tezuka has some detractors as well. He is either a determined captain with a stoic personality or a FlatCharacter whose lack of emotions makes him a boring character.
9	* BestKnownForTheFanservice: While many agree the series is not very well written, female fans admit they only read it because of the characters. This also is applied for the anime and, especially, the musicals.
10	* BishonenJumpSyndrome: By far, ''Prince of Tennis'' is the most infamous offender of this, since the cast is filled with pretty boys and handsome men getting sweaty over tennis. The series has attracted a huge EstrogenBrigade as a result.
11	* BrokenBase:
12	** Fans of the series are divided about the "Tennis Pinnacles". Some think it's a cool concept, while others consider the series "Dragonball Z with racquets" because of this.
13	** ''New Prince of Tennis''. Some fans are glad the series is continuing after the National Tournament, while others think it's just a lame attempt for Konomi to cash in with Fanservice.
14	* CoveredUp: We'll all forgive you for thinking the "Valentine•Kiss" singles originated from this series, given the double-digit amount of covers across the franchise's lifetime. The song by itself was originally written for and sung by Sayuri Kokusho and was popular in its own right.
15	* DracoInLeatherPants: A lot of people like to forget that Atobe in particular tried to ruin Tezuka's entire tennis career by wrecking his arm in their match, for no real reason other than he [[ForTheEvulz wanted to]]. Sure he comes to regret it and has [[PetTheDog a moment of redemption]], but it's a fact that seems to commonly slip from the memory of most.
16	%%** Atobe, Yukimura, Kite. ''And'' their teams.
17	* EnsembleDarkHorse:
18	** Hyotei. The entire team is the most popular rival school, to the point that Konomi managed to bring Hyotei back for the nationals. It's debatable if the fanbase is larger than Seigaku's. Special mention to Atobe and Oshitari, clearly the two most popular from the team.
19	** Almost as popular as Hyotei, there's also the Rikkaidai team. The eight of them ''HAVE'' to appear somehow in the series. Mainly Sanada, Yukimura and Kirihara, and close call to Niou as well.
20	** Another big example of this showcase is to count the returning characters for ''New Prince of Tennis''. If a character is in that training camp, there you have your Fan Favorites, including the return of former Seigaku Captain, Yamato Juudai, and CanonForeigner Ryoga Echizen.
21	** From ''New Prince of Tennis'', Irie Kanata is the only high schooler in the ranking poll, helped a lot by the fact that his voice actor is Hiroki Aiba (the third Fuji in the Tenipuri Musicals).
22	* EstrogenBrigade: Due to the CastFullOfPrettyBoys, girls flocked to the franchise in droves, and even more came when the musicals started catching fans' eyes. Once it became clear just how popular it was getting with girls, the series was marketed towards a female audience alongside the intended teen male audience; it's regularly advertised in shoujo magazines and magazines aimed at older female otaku, and there have been several {{Otome Game}}s made based on the series. In fact, most outsiders would probably laugh if you told them this is actually a shounen manga. We're tempted to say that there's so much fangirl squee, that whatever male audience is left is the ''PeripheryDemographic''!
23	* FanNickname:
24	** Atobe gets called "Ore-sama" by the fandom. "Monkey King", in canon.
25	** Niou is known as MagnificentBastard, due to him being... well, a magnificent bastard. A running gag in the fandom is that Niou is planning all the events in the series.
26	** [[TheScrappy Richard]] is known as "Lost to [[InformedAbility Sengoku]] 6-4"
27	** Shitenhouji's vice-captain Kenjirou Koishikawa was nicknamed by the Shitenhouji fans as "Banira Aisu" for his resemblance to [[Music/VanillaIce a certain rapper]].
28	** The Japanese fandom has tons of these. "Muda-sama" for Saeki and "Be-sama" for Atobe (as well as several variations depending on the context, such as "Ahobe" when he's being an idiot), just to name a few.
29	%%* FauxSymbolism:
30	%%** The Tezuka/Fuji duel in the anime is chock-full of symbolism slipping dangerously into HoYay territory.
31	%%** Krauser's special technique... ''crucifies'' people.
32	* ItsTheSameNowItSucks: A considerable amount of fans and casual viewers seem to think this about ''New Prince of Tennis'', since it's still the same plot from the original series with some aesthetic changes and ''a lot more new characters''. From the same portion, some people also think it's SoBadItsGood, since it also feels like the series is now self-aware of its own tropes, without taking itself so seriously.
33	* LauncherOfAThousandShips:
34	** Atobe's most popular ships include Tezuka, Sanada, Ryoma, Oshitari, Kabaji, Jirou, and many others in a lesser dregree (Shishido, [[PassingTheTorch Hiyoshi]], [[CrackPairing Sengoku]]). As of New Prince of Tennis, Yukimura and Niou were also added to his list.
35	** Tezuka is mostly paired with Fuji, Ryoma, Atobe, Sanada. Other less popular pairs include Inui, Oishi, and Eiji.
36	** Shuusuke Fuji's most popular pairs include Tezuka, Kawamura, [[IncestYayShipping Yuuta]], [[ChildhoodFriends Saeki]], [[BestFriend Eiji]], Ryoma, Shiraishi and Yukimura.
37	** Also Ryoma, naturally due to being the main character and by far the prominent shota of the series. His most popular pairs are Tezuka, Momoshiro, Fuji, Kintaro, [[IncestYayShipping Ryoga]], [[FoeYayShipping Atobe, Sanada, Yukimura, and all his other rivals]], and Sakuno.
38	** Kirihara counts as well. He's been paired with his whole team (mainly with Renji, Sanada, Yukimura, and Marui), Ryoma, Hiyoshi, Kaidoh, and Zaizen.
39	** Momoshiro has been shipped with Ryoma, [[TheRival Kaidoh]], Eiji (and Oishi as an [=OT3=]), [[FoeYayShipping Sengoku, Oshitari, Kamio]], and An Tachibana.
40	* LikeYouWouldReallyDoIt: In New Prince of Tennis, half of the middle schoolers are eliminated from the U-17 Camp (among them there're Sanada, Niou, Inui, Kaidoh, Momoshiro, etc. and even Ryoma and Kintaro). You knew they would endure the TrainingFromHell and return to the Camp somehow!
41	%%* LGBTFanbase: Oh there was ''plenty'' of gay male fans for this show in its heyday. It still has a gay following somewhat. (Zero-context example)
42	* MemeticMolester:
43	** From the anime, Professor Hanamura Aoi, from Jousei Shounan. She's creepily attached to her tennis team and is constantly fawning over them and Ryoma.
44	** Also Konjiki Koharu, who aside from doing gay jokes with his doubles partner Hitouji Yuuji, is constantly fawning over Kaidoh or other hot guys. In the Pair Puri omakes, he has been seen having crushes on [[AwesomeEgo Atobe]], [[TheStoic Tezuka]], Kamio, [[NiceGuy Saeki]] and [[HandsomeLech Sengoku]].
45	* MisaimedFandom: [[spoiler: An Tachibana]]'s actions during the Senbatsu arc were not supposed to be seen as "awesome" and "proper of a strong female character". They were supposed to be a part of AnAesop in regards to how [[spoiler: seeking a violent resolution to a conflict is not worth it.]] Especially considering that [[spoiler: Kirihara could have died after that StaircaseTumble--and that almost everyone blamed Kamio for the incident!]] And that [[spoiler: An herself broke down crying in regret when Ryoma unmasked her and Kamio called her out!]]
46	* {{Moe}}: Sakuno and Tomoka, who are regarded as cute even by the series detractors (helped by the fact that there are barely any female characters in the series), especially during the Jyousei Shounan anime arc, where both are in cheerleader outfits.
47	* {{Narm}}: Shishido's ImportantHaircut is supposed to show his determination in improving himself to rejoin the team, but the horrible OffModel animation dampers the serious mood it's supposed to convey.
48	* OneTrueThreesome:
49	** The fandom likes the idea of building an infamous [=OT5=] between Atobe, Fuji, Ryoma, Sanada, and Tezuka to avoid ShipToShipCombat. Sometimes they ''also'' add Yukimura to the mix.
50	** There's also the Rikkai Troica variant where Sanada hooks up with ''both'' Yanagi and Yukimura.
51	** After the last episode of the series, there was also de "Future Captains Ensemble", which consists of Hiyoshi, Kirihara, Kaidoh, and Zaizen.
52	* QuestionableCasting:
53	** For the Tenimyus, most of the Seigaku 2nd Cast (except for Yuu Shirota, Creator/HirokiAiba, Kosuke Kujirai, and Hirofumi Araki, who were good singers and actors) the others were ''horribly out of tune''. There were many instances where it was painful to hear them reach high notes (most notably all the songs that featured Osamu Adachi and Hiroki Suzuki singing).
54	*** It was justified with Kotaroh Yanagi (Ryoma) because his voice was affected by his car accident, but still no excuse for the others. Many fans still forgive his performance because of this.
55	*** Even though Hirofumi Araki was a very decent singer (he even had a solo), fans still were fixated on the fact that he was very short to be playing Inui since even Fuji (who is supposed to be the shortest of the seniors) was taller than him (also justified since Hiroki Aiba is taller).
56	*** The one who got more criticism was Adachi Osamu as Kikumaru since he didn't look like the character at all, even with the wig on. Not helped by the fact that he wasn't a very good singer either.
57	** For the Live-Action film, even if the film adaptation did not do an AgeLift, it was an abuse of Suspension of Disbelief in the casting of RIKIYA as Egate Mcleod Higaki. You can seriously reassure the guy looks 15-19? That's also applied to the cameos of the rivals, many Tenimyu actors who were in their early/mid-twenties
58	* RemadeAndImproved: Some changes made in the anime adaptation are approved by many of the fans.
59	** One thing fans agree is that Ryoma gets more humanized in the anime version, as he is shown having a wider emotional range, more interests outside tennis, moments of genuine friendship with his teammates, and stuff he isn't good at (volleyball, billiards, bowling, etc.)
60	** When the [=OVAs=] start covering the Nationals arc and get praise for portraying some rather... polemic manga scenes [[AdaptationExpansion in a much more understandable and sympathetic light.]] I.e., [[spoiler: Ryoma cutting Atobe's hair when he's still almost unconscious]] in the manga is switched to [[spoiler: Ryoma having second thoughts about it, Taki offering to have his own hair cut instead to spare Atobe the humiliation... and then Atobe swiping Ryoma's razor and willingly cutting his own hair.]] Or [[spoiler: the rendition of the Rikkai matches, which also include flashbacks of the Rikkai regulars anxiously waiting for Yukimura in the hospital, remarking on their TrueCompanions bond.]]
61	* RescuedFromTheScrappyHeap: Sakuno's manga incarnation. Lots of people who don't stomach her in the anime adore her in the manga. Conversely, other people bash her YamatoNadeshiko manga self, while saying that her ShrinkingViolet anime self is [[ThisLoserIsYou a more realistic portrayal of girls her age.]]
62	* RetroactiveRecognition:
63	** From the Musical: Hajime Mizuki [[Series/KamenRiderGaim would go on to form a dance team in Zawame City]]. Meanwhile, Kunimitsu Tezuka is [[Series/UchuuSentaiKyuranger the Space Bu-Star, Houou Soldier]]![[note]]Coincidentially enough, Yutaka Kobayashi, Hajime's actor, almost got the part of another Red Sentai Ranger, [[Series/KaizokuSentaiGokaiger Captain Marvelous]], after he was cast after auditioning for the role, but turned it down for another project[[/note]].
64	** In fact, many Tenimyu actors went on to be tokusatsu actors. The second Shusuke Fuji became [[Series/SamuraiSentaiShinkenger Shinken Blue]], four of Keigo Atobe's actors [[Series/KamenRiderKabuto became Kamen]] [[Series/KamenRiderDecade Riders in]] [[Series/KamenRiderGaim different series]] [[Film/KamenRiderTheNext and movie]], the first Genichiro Sanada [[Series/KamenRiderZiO is the main antagonist trying to wipe out the history of the Heisei Riders]], Gakuto Mukahi [[Series/ResshaSentaiToqger became the leader of the Toqgers]], even the 3rd and 5th generations of Ryoma Echizen went onto become [[Series/KamenRiderDenO Ryotaro Nogami's grandson from the future]] and [[Series/KamenRiderFourze a key helper to Gentaro Kisaragi]], respectively.
65	* RonTheDeathEater: While Ryoma can be a jerk sometimes, his anti-fans are rabid against him, especially when he's against [[EnsembleDarkhorse ATOBE]].
66	* RootingForTheEmpire: Many fans actively bash Seigaku for being too overpowered or just less interesting than the rival teams. Often, merely because it's the team that [[CreatorsPet Echizen]] belongs to.
67	%%* ShipsThatPassInTheNight: Happens a lot in fanfiction, given that there are A LOT of pretty boys to pair up, even if they haven't had canon interactions. With that said, that didn't stop Konomi from making all those omakes...
68	%%** There're also other fans who ship the coaches Hanamura and Sakaki.
69	* SignatureSong: ''Tenimyu'''s "He Will Become the Prince of Tennis" practically represents the whole musical franchise, as it's not only shown up in some capacity in most of the popular Website/NiconicoDouga "Suites", but also saw a lot of parody online.
70	* TakeThatScrappy: For the ones who hated Ryoma, Tezuka bitchslapping him in the anime filler so he wouldn't play against Kevin is definitely this.
71	* TheUntwist: For some, it was fairly obvious, since the latest chapter where it's revealed that [[spoiler:Tezuka would be playing for Team Germany, right after it was revealed that Ryoma could switch to Team America just by location]].
72	* TheyChangedItNowItSucks:
73	** Rikkai fans have been whining for several ''years'' about how the team was portrayed in the anime and about [[spoiler: ''The Switch'' between Yagyuu and Niou not being featured in their match]]. Lots of fans of the manga often say it of the original after the Hyoutei arc (the anime had caught up to the manga, and changes started to be made), while viewers who know about the tennis rules argue that [[ArtisticLicense the switch doesn't make sense]].
74	** The Film Adaptation does a lot of this:
75	*** Replacing Wakashi Hiyoshi with a [[CanonForeigner new character]], [[CardCarryingVillain Egate Mcleod Higaki]], who was a villain even ''better than Atobe''. Many fans of the series saw him as a stereotypical FinalBoss, and fans of Hyotei and Hiyoshi's character hated him for being an out-of-place character that didn't match Hyotei's team dynamics.
76	*** On the same page, [[ShrinkingViolet Sakuno]] was replaced by Shion Higaki, who was Egate's ''CuteMute'' sister. Many saw this as an unnecessary change since she doesn't have chemistry with Ryoma or helps to develop either Ryoma or Egate's characters.
77	*** Also the inverted AgeLift and AdaptationalAttractiveness of [[CoolOldLady coach]] [[TeamMom Sumire Ryuzaki]] (played here by Hitomi Shimatani), making her Nanjiro's ''kohai'' and [[DemotedToExtra demoting her role to the background]]. Unlike the original show where coach Ryuzaki serves as the adult figure of a team full of teenagers, she does nothing during the movie.
78	* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot: As WebVideo/YRulerOfTime points out on many occasions, the show presents more interesting characters that could have been better leads than what we get with Seigaku:
79	** The Fudomine entire team, since they fit more into the Shonen-Team archetype: They are a No-Name school with a group of underdogs and a new inspiring captain with a DarkAndTroubledPast.
80	** Yuuta's brother complex and his desire to step out of his prodigy, big brother's shadow.
81	** Miyuki Chitose, being a tomboy girl with stage-fright trying to be the best at tennis.
82	** Kintaro's journey, who has an even more cheerful and interesting personality than Ryoma.
83	** Even from Seigaku itself fans are more interested in the other regulars' backstories or {{Character Development}}s than Ryoma.

Context YMMV / ThePrinceOfTennis