Kuroko no Basuke

It's a sports manga about basketball, with realism levels between Slam Dunk and Eyeshield 21. Still pretty much a shounen sports series in its core.

Short Summary is - the starting lineup of the greatest middle school basketball team in has gone on to high school, and each of the five starters have gone to different schools. The guy with the name in the title is Kuroko, the Phantom Sixth man of the so-called "Generation of Miracles".

It has an anime now as well!

Anyway, I'v watched the first two episodes (the animation is topnotch so far), but have caught up to the manga. What do you other viewers/readers think so far?

I'm not reading, just watching. I'd probably start reading it after the anime ends, since the anime would seem to end 2/3s through the manga thus far.

I am. I am at 10th volume now and so far I love it. I dislike how the anime sometimes messes up character proportions. Kagami looks a lot worse in anime.

I changed the thread name, as we got a request for that.

If I shouldn't have, PM me.

Nah, 'scool, 'scool.

I like the animation during the more fluid moments (especially the OP), but the episodes where they kinda skimp on the budget are pretty meh. I suppose all anime encounter this, but how bad is this compared to, say, Slam Dunk?

I haven't read/watched Slam Dunk so I can't tell.

I only watched the first two episodes and when Kise and Kagami played, the animation was just horrible. I don't understand why the latter's character design was changed in the anime.

Double post, heeya.

I don't know why, but this music feels appropriate whenever things get awesome in KNB. I mean, the music even has that basketball sound!

Well, I succumbed to the temptation and started reading the manga. LOL. I started in the chapter where the latest episode ended.

Yeaaaaah, you're in for a treat.

Up to which volume does the anime cover?

Episode 15 is roughly Volume 5 of the manga, I think.

I can't remember; is that the one where Seirin defeats Shuutoku?

Past that. It's the first few appearances of Aomine and Touou.

Oh, so the anime is not yet finished airing. This is planned for 24 episodes, isn't it? Well, that means the anime will end with Seirin getting curbstomped.

Ooh, this is going to be a pretty depressing season.

edited 24th Jul '12 8:04:55 AM by dRoy

I doubt they'll spread those chapters through more than 10 episodes in total just to finish that game.

They'd probably end the first season before the Kise v. Aomine game. And some of the preparations for the "Winter Cup". Then they'll start a second season...in Winter 2012/2013. LOL

edited 24th Jul '12 10:05:49 AM by entropy13

Oh man, that would be so appropriate.

Okay, I just finished volume 16. I like how now Kuroko is trying to learn more varied skills; first drive-in and now shooting.

edited 29th Jul '12 12:43:13 AM by dRoy

Well, episode 17 progressed through the middle part of the game, and with the preview of episode 18, specifically the final scoreline being shown, I'm thinking that my prediction of how the anime will end is on target.

I've read the latest chapter (175) right now, Rakuzan v. Shuutoku, Akashi v. Midorima, and the latter struck first. We have to wait for the next chapters to know more about the former.

edited 29th Jul '12 12:58:33 AM by entropy13

Any ideas on what's Akashi's broken-as-hell ability? I'm guessing either 1) super-speed, which may be unlikely because it's so ordinary, or a 2) Sharingan, which might be more along his alley.

Nah it's probably "just" a ridiculously high "basketball IQ." Your second suggestion implies mimicry akin to another player, but I doubt he's doing that too.

Hmmm, how should I explain this. Well, I'll try anyway with an example.

Ridiculously high "basketball IQ" is knowing the WHEN and the HOW, always, all of the time. For example, stealing. One can have ridiculous reflexes for that, not "b-ball IQ", while one can use misdirection for that, not "b-ball IQ". But having high "b-ball IQ" means you can make a steal even without ridiculous reflexes, and even without misdirection.

Now let's talk about passing. One can have "hawk/eagle eye" that enables you to "see" the court and make the right pass. Or you can use misdirection to make a pass. But having high "b-ball IQ" means you can make a pass even without ridiculous court vision, and even without misdirection.

tl;dr: He just...KNOWS. This would also explain his "certain victory" outlook. Because he already knows...

edited 29th Jul '12 11:33:43 PM by entropy13

New Chapter Is Up. The last of the Generation of Miracles has shown his trump card.

The page showing his steal on Midorima was epic. We did call Akashi's power to some extent, but I'm satisfied with the explanation; I doubt we'd be satisfied with anything else. Reminds me a bit of the body language bit in Ippo.

"Know your place", indeed.

New chapter out.

As expected, Kise's going to make his Perfect Copy last for the last four minutes, so Seirin will have to find a way to stop that.

Plus dealing with the growing chance of "leading team choking syndrome" they're foreshadowing for the last couple of chapters, although I honestly thought the Kyoshi/Hyuuga chapter dealt with that.

I think that will manifest as a fight to stop Kaijou from scoring. Defensive play, basically. Now that Kise can use Ignite Pass, Kise can expend less energy and make Perfect Copy last longer.

New chapter out.

Must know how Kise will be defeated.

That will have to wait. lol