Cross Game
Cross Game is an adorable, addictive series that mixes humor and sports (particularly baseball) with emotional experiences and personal relationships. The first episode was very touching and emotional, and I have found that each additional episode continued to be equally as entertaining.
Ko Kitamura is a normal elementary student who's parents own a sporting goods store. Living close by are the four Tsukishima sisters. Their family runs a batting cage with an attached coffee shop. Wakaba Tsukishima and Ko were born on the same day at the same hospital and are very close. In fact, Wakaba dreams of marrying Ko one day. This closeness angers Wakaba's younger sister, Aoba. She hates Ko for spending too much time with her sister. Sadly, Wakaba drowns in a swimming accident, but her memories live on throughout the series.
As the years pass, both Ko and Aoba have become very talented pitchers. Each belong to the baseball club at school. Unfortunately, a substitute principle, bent on winning no matter what the cost, has brought in ringers to play on the 1st string team. That leaves both Aoba and Ko struggling to prove their full potential. And there's much more drama to come.
Cross Game has simple, likeable animation quality. The character designs are comparable to the Detective Conan series.....notice the large ears. For Spring of 2009, I would consider Cross Game one of my top 5 favorites. Check it out.......I'm sure you'll agree.
