Jenny the tennis player - Aim for the Ace! the manga and anime series

Jenny the tennis player - Aim for the Ace! the manga and anime series

Jenny the tennis player (original title: エ ー ス を ね ら え! Ēsu or Nerae!, literally "Punta all 'asso! ") (English title: Aim for the Ace!) is a manga series written and illustrated by Sumika Yamamoto. The series tells the story of Hiromi Oka, a high school student who wants to become a professional tennis player as she struggles with mental weakness, anxiety and thwarted love. It was originally serialized in Shueisha's shōjo Margaret magazine from January 1973 to February 1980. Subsequently, Shueisha collected the chapters and published them in 18 tankōbon volumes.

The manga was adapted into an anime television series in 1973 by Tokyo Movie, which originally aired on the Mainichi Broadcasting System (MBS) between 1973 and 1974. Jenny the tennis player (Aim for the Ace!) also spawned another anime series and anime film in the 70s, two original video animations (OVAs) in the 80s, a live Japanese TV drama in 2004, and many types of tennis player Jenny (Aim for the Ace!).

The series is one of the best-selling shōjo manga series of all time, having sold around 15 million copies in Japan. It was also popular with anime viewers and became a hit in Japan, even among its non-target audience. It is considered a classic by anime and manga critics and has been very influential in the anime industry.

History

The story is about Hiromi Oka (岡 ひ ろ み, Oka Hiromi), a high school girl struggling to become a good tennis player. While dating Nishi (西 高), Hiromi starts playing tennis after being fascinated by Reika Ryūzaki (竜 崎 麗香, Ryūzaki Reika), an older girl who is the best player on the team and is nicknamed "Madame Butterfly" (お 蝶 夫人, Ochōfujin) thanks to its elegance and grace on the tennis court. The team gets a new coach, Jin Munakata (宗 方仁, Munakata Jin), who sees the potential in Hiromi and trains her to become a great tennis player.

Hiromi struggles to overcome her mental weakness. Later, she falls in love with another tennis player, Takayuki Tōdō (藤 堂 貴 之, Tōdō Takayuki), but coach Munakata tells her not to get too involved in her feelings and that she should forget him and work on her skills. her in tennis. Hiromi often loses faith in her playing skills, but with the support of her coach and her friends, he overcomes her anxiety. By training to become a better player, Hiromi becomes a mentally stronger person. Her enthusiasm, her love of tennis and the support of the people around her will help her become one of the best players in the world.

Characters

Hiromi Oka (Jenny Nolan)

Voiced by Kousaka Makoto (Japanese)
Voiced by Piera Vidale (1st Italian series)
Voiced by Susanna Fassetta (2nd Italian series)
(Jenny Nolan in the Italian version). A 14-year-old high school freshman who, like all her peers, is full of dreams and hopes. In the beginning, for her, joining the school's prestigious Tennis club just means being close to Takayuki Todo, whom she secretly loves, and following in the footsteps of her idol Reika Ryuzaki.
However, as time passes the passion for this sport will make her undertake a long and hard series of workouts under the watchful and scrutinizing eye of the inflexible coach Jin Munakata, who will become the most important and significant person in her life, who sees in her clear potential as a champion.
Despite her impulsive and somewhat childish character, the numerous sacrifices, the bitter defeats and the happy victories will never make her resign, to the point of achieving great results in the sports field.

Jin Munakata
Voiced by Nakata Kouji (Japanese)
Voiced by Riccardo Rossi (1st Italian series)
Voiced by Angelo Maggi (2nd Italian series)
(Jeremy in the Italian version). Tennis coach of Nishi High School, he suffers from an incurable leukemia that will lead to his death in three years, and is already diagnosed when he decides to devote himself body and soul to training a girl with a bright future like Hiromi. Despite his stern and inflexible nature, he will eventually become deeply attached to the girl.

Reika Ryuzaki

Voiced by Ikeda Masako (Japanese)
Voiced by Silvana Sodo (1st Italian series)
Voiced by Laura Lenghi (2nd Italian series)
(Reika Ross in the Italian version). Known and always called by everyone, she was almost her real name, with the nickname of Madame Butterfly for her elegant playing style similar to the fluttering of butterflies; she is the daughter of the president of the Japanese tennis federation and practically behaves like a real diva. Nationally famous, Reika will become very jealous of Hiromi, for her talent and because of the fact that Jin, whom she loves, is completely dedicated to her young woman, thus leaving her on the sidelines. Eventually, however, the two will learn to be friends.

Ranko Midorikawa
Voiced by Yanaga Kazuko (Japanese)
Voiced by "unknown" (1st Italian series)
Voiced by Stefania Patruno (2nd Italian series)
(Rosy O'Connors in the Italian version). Jin's half-sister, with whom she is deeply in love, Ranko is a member of the national tennis team. With a fiery and indomitable soul, she undergoes very hard training in order to be able to beat her opponent Reika, who despite everything is also her greatest friend. She has incredibly powerful service and physical prowess.

Evelyn
Voiced by "unknown" (Japanese)
Voiced by Stefania Giacarelli (1st Italian series)
Voiced by Antonella Rendina (2nd Italian series)
Character as sad as she is unknown, we know very little about her. Evelyn is a tennis partner of Hiromi and Madame Butterfly, towards whom she has a great admiration; in fact, her playing style turns out to be very similar to that of the diva. But to compete in the tournaments of the federation, Jin does not choose her to join Reika, but Hiromi himself.
This event will not initially go down to Evelyn who will try to tarnish Hiromi's name at all costs. But she is seriously ill in her right arm and soon she will have to stop playing: she wanted at all costs to take advantage of the little time she still had available to become a great tennis player, something that Hiromi, albeit involuntarily, prevented her. . Jin will act as a silent guide towards Hiromi's acceptance, of herself and of her most real qualities, making her change her spirit and become one of Hiromi's great admirers and friends.

Takayuki Todo

Voiced by Mori Katsuji (Japanese)
Voiced by Massimo Corizza (1st Italian series)
Voiced by "unknown" (2nd Italian series)
(Teddy in the Italian version). President of the student body and vice-captain of the men's tennis club and skilled player, a sensitive and sunny boy with whom Hiromi was initially in love. However, as Hiromi focuses more and more on the sport, her feelings for him will wane and Takayuki (who will sometimes fall in love with Hiromi) will simply become good friends with her.

Maki Aikawa
Voiced by "unknown" (Japanese)
Voiced by Monica Cadueri (1st Italian series)
Voiced by Stella Musy (2nd Italian series)
(Mary in the Italian version). Hiromi's best friend throughout the series. She is a nice and spontaneous girl who acts like a sister towards Hiromi. She is also a tennis player, but she will never be envious of the improvements made by her dear friend.

Takashi Chiba
Voiced by "unknown" (Japanese)
Voiced by Franco Latini (1st Italian series)
Voiced by Stefano Onofri (2nd Italian series)
(Paul, 1st series, Thomas, 2nd series, in the Italian version). Friend of Takayuki and Yuu, he is an amateur photographer who works for a sports magazine. Obviously his favorite subject is Hiromi, although he seems to have an infatuation with Reika.

Yuu Ozaki
Voiced by "unknown" (Japanese)
Voiced by Riccardo Rossi (1st Italian series)
Voiced by "unknown" (2nd Italian series)
(Norman in the Italian version). He is the captain of the Nishi High School Men's Tennis Club. Best friend of Takayuki and Takashi, he is also in love with Reika.

Manga

Jenny the tennis player (Aim for the Ace!) was written and illustrated by Sumika Yamamoto; its first chapter was published by Shueisha in the Japanese magazine Margaret in January 1973. Its serialization ended in 1975, but due to reader demand its publication resumed from 1978 to February 1980. Her first tankōbon (collected volume) was released by Shueisha on September 20, 1973 and the eighteenth and last was released on June 30, 1980. Shueisha reissued the series from December 31, 1978 to August 25, 1981.

A five-volume light novel was published by Shueisha under his Cobalt imprint from August 1983 to October 1984. The original manga was re-released twice in bunkoban format; Chuokoron-Shinsha published it from October 18, 1994 to April 18, 1995, in fourteen volumes, [8] [9] and Shueisha published it between June 18, 2002 and October 18, 2002, in ten volumes. The series was localized in Italy by Panini Comics and released under its Planet Manga line.

TV anime series

The first anime television series based on Jenny the tennis player (Aim for the Ace!) was produced by Tokyo Movie and first aired between October 5, 1973 and March 29, 1974 by Mainichi Broadcasting System (MBS). Osamu Dezaki was the general manager of all 26 episodes, which were dubbed into French, Spanish and Italian. Due to its poor initial ratings in Japan, the series was canceled with half the number of episodes originally planned. However, a few years later, with high ratings in reruns of the series, a remake was announced. The second anime series was also produced by Tokyo Movie and was directed by Minoru Okazaki. Titled Shin Ace or Nerae! (新 エ ー ス を ね ら え!, Shin Ēsu o Nerae !, lit. “New Ace o Nerae!”), Was broadcast on Nippon Television from October 14, 1978 to March 31, 1979.

Episodes of the first series were released in two DVD box sets by Bandai Visual on May 25, 2001 and August 25, 2001. Bandai Visual re-released the series between January 28, 2005 and February 24, 2005, on six DVD compilations. On January 20, 2012, Avex released a four-disc DVD box set containing the entire series. In France, Manga Distribution released the complete series in a DVD box set in 2006. Two DVD box sets containing all 25 episodes of the second series were released by Bandai Visual on March 25, 2002 and June 25, 2002. Nippon Columbia released the entire series in one DVD box set; first on 23 May 2007 and again on 21 January 2009.

Episode list

1 My Madame Butterfly
「テ ニ ス 王国 の シ ン デ レ ラ」 - tenisu ōkoku no Cinderella 5 October 1973
2 The tennis player is you
「選手 は お ま え だ!」 - senshu haomaeda! October 12, 1973
3 Aim for victory
「涙 の 地区 予 選」 - namida no chikuyosen October 19, 1973
4 Evelyn's Challenge
「テ ニ ス コ ー ト の 対 決」 - tenisukoto no taiketsu October 26, 1973
5 The revolt against the coach
「鬼 コ ー チ に ぶ つ か れ!」 - oni kochi nibutsukare! November 2, 1973
6 The day of the semifinals
「あ あ! 準 決勝 の 日」 - aa! junkesshō no nichi November 9, 1973
7 Rosy's services
「弾 丸 サ ー ブ お 蘭!」 - dangan sabu o ran! November 16, 1973
8 The challenge of red roses
「赤 い バ ラ の 挑 戦」 - akai bara no chōsen 23 November 1973
9 The key moment
「白熱 の マ ッ チ ポ イ ン ト!」 - hakunetsu no macchipointo! November 30, 1973
10 Sad farewell
「涙 の 退 部 と ど け」 - namida no taibu todoke 7 December 1973
11 A scary shot
「恐怖 の ス ピ ン ド ラ イ ブ!」 - kyōfu no supindoraibu! December 14, 1973
12 Reika vs Rosy
「決 戦! お 蝶 対 お 蘭」 - kessen! o chō mukao ran December 21, 1973
13 I'm crazy about Teddy
「す き! す き! す き! 藤 堂 さ ん」 - suki! suki! suki! tōdō san December 28, 1973
14 Special training
「燃 え ろ! 木 枯 し の 特訓」 - moe ro! kogarashi no tokkun January 4, 1974
15 The secret of a double
「ダ ブ ル ス コ ン ビ 誕生 の 秘密」 - daburusukonbi tanjō no himitsu 11 January 1974
16 A violent service
「恐怖 の 竜 巻 サ ー ブ!」 - kyōfu no tatsumaki sabu! January 18, 1974
17 Crazy service
「う な る! 魔 の ツ イ ス ト サ ー ブ」 - unaru! but no tsuisutosabu January 25, 1974
18 Against the black light
「黒 い ス パ イ を 叩 け!」 - kuroi supai or tatake! February 1, 1974
19 An exciting victory
「血 ぞ め の 大逆 転」 - chi zomeno daigyakuten February 8, 1974
20 In the bright morning light
「朝 や け の ラ リ ー」 - asa yakeno rare February 15, 1974
21 The final of the double
「あ や う し! ダ ブ ル ス 決勝」 - ayaushi! daburusu kesshō February 22, 1974
22 A goodbye without tears
「卒業 試 合 に 涙 は 無用!」 - sotsugyō shiai ni namida ha muyō! March 1, 1974
23 The crush
「打 ち こ め! こ の 一 球 を」 - uchi kome! kono ikkyū or March 8, 1974
24 Love on the pitch
「コ ー ト に 舞 う ラ ブ レ タ ー」 - koto ni mau rabureta 15 March 1974
25 Youth dedicated to tennis
「男子 テ ニ ス に 負 け る な!」 - danshi tenisu ni make rune! March 22, 1974
26 Jenny versus Madame Butterfly
「ひ ろ み 対 お 蝶! 最後 の 対 決」 - hiromi mukao chō! saigo no taiketsu March 29, 1974

Shin Ace or nerae! (25 episodes)

1 「ひ ろ み と お 蝶 と 鬼 コ ー チ」 - hiromitoo chō to oni kochi 14 October 1978
2 「選手 と 迷惑 と 藤 堂 さ ん」 - senshu to meiwaku to tōdō san 21 October 1978
3 「仮 病 と い じ わ る と 思 い や り」 - kebyō toijiwaruto omoiyari October 28, 1978
4 「試 合 と ケ イ レ ン と 自 転 車 に の っ て」 - shiai to keiren to jitensha ninotte 4 November 1978
5 「ひ ろ み と 妬 み 心 と 消 え た ラ ケ ッ ト」 - hiromito netami kokoro to kie ta raketto 11 November 1978
6 「特訓 と ね ば り と あ つ い ま な ざ し」 - tokkun tonebaritoatsuimanazashi 18 November 1978
7 「お 蘭 と 素質 と 白 い コ ー ト」 - o ran to soshitsu to shiroi koto 25 November 1978
8 「不安 と 不安 と 赤 い バ ラ」 - fuan to fuan to akai bara 2 December 1978
9 「涙 と 退 部 と 恋 し い コ ー ト」 - namida to taibu to koishi i koto 9 December 1978
10 「カ ム バ ッ ク と 情 熱 と お 蝶 夫人」 - kamubakku to jōnetsu too chō fujin December 16, 1978
11 「憎 し み と お 蘭 と 冬 の 風」 - nikushimi too ran to fuyu no kaze 23 December 1978
12 「ひ ろ み と ダ ブ ル ス と コ ー チ の 秘密」 - hiromito daburusu to kochi no himitsu December 30, 1978
13 「愛 と 闘 志 と 宗 方仁」 - ai to tōshi to munakata hitoshi January 6, 1979
14 「握手 と ひ け め と 私 の テ ニ ス」 - akushu tohikemeto watashi no tenisu 13 January 1979
15 「恋 と パ ワ ー と 軽 井 沢」 - koi to pawa to karuizawa January 20, 1979
16 「自信 と 過 保護 と 例外 メ ン バ ー」 - jishin to kahogo to reigai menba January 27, 1979
17 「強敵 と 二 敗 と 愛 の 翼」 - kyōteki to nihai to ai no tsubasa February 3, 1979
18 「人 気 と メ ダ ル と 狙 わ れ る 女」 - ninki to medaru to nerawa reru onna 10 February 1979
19 「コ ン パ と 抱擁 と 板 ば さ み」 - konpa to hōyō to ita basami February 17, 1979
20 「ひ ろ み と 海外 遠征 と コ ー チ の 計画」 - hiromito kaigaiensei to kochi no keikaku February 24, 1979
21 「ひ ろ み と 固 い 絆 と 南十字 星」 - hiromito katai kizuna to minamijūjisei March 3, 1979
22 「恋 と 挫折 と 再 出 発」 - koi to zasetsu to saishuppatsu March 10, 1979
23 「衝 撃 と 波紋 と お 蝶 夫人」 - shōgeki to hamon too chō fujin March 17, 1979
24 「愛 と 自 覚 と 不 吉 な 予 感」 - ai to jikaku to fukitsu na yokan 24 March 1979
25 「輝 く 未来 と 永遠 の 別 れ と 宗 方仁」 - kagayaku mirai to eien no wakare to munakata hitoshi March 31, 1979

Ace or nerae 2! (Jenny, Jenny) (13 episodes)

1 The rising star
「無二 の 親友 の 約束」 - muni no shinyū no yakusoku 25 July 1988
2 The departure
「岡 、 エ ー ス を ね ら え!」 - oka, esu wonerae!
3 First successes
「コ ー チ の い な い 海外 遠征」 - kochi noinai kaigaiensei
4 A sad secret
「哀 し み の ニ ュ ー ヨ ー ク」 - kanashi mino nyuyoku
5 The revelation
「残 さ れ た 日記」 - nokosa reta nikki
6 Goodbye Jeremy
「さ よ な ら コ ー チ」 - sayonara kochi
7 Jenny goes to the temple - part I
「悲 し み の 中 へ」 - kanashimi no naka he
8 Jenny Goes to the Temple - Part II
「宗 方仁 の ラ ケ ッ ト」 - munakata hitoshi no raketto
9 A new morning
「傷 だ ら け の コ ー ト」 - kizu darakeno koto
10 The rivals
「ラ イ バ ル た ち」 - raibaru tachi
11 Exhausting workouts
「決 戦 前夜」 - kessen zenya
12 The tournament
「弾 丸 サ ー ブ ・ 復活!」 - dangan sabu. fukkatsu!
13 The fight
「き っ と… 見 て い る」 - kitto… mild iru 25 October 1988

Ace or nerae! Final Stage (Jenny, Jenny) (12 episodes)

1 I love you Jenny
「僕 は 好 き だ 、 君 が!」 - bokuha suki da, kun ga!
2 Return to the temple
「19 才 の 夏」 - 19 sai no natsu
3 I miss you Teddy
「NEVER SAY GOOD BYE」 - never say good bye
4 A great desire for Teddy
「会 い た い 、 藤 堂 さ ん ...」 - ai tai, tōdō san ...
5 New York arrival
「も う 引 き 返 せ な い」 - mō biki kaese nai
6 An unexpected visit
「ニ ュ ー ヨ ー ク 、 藤 堂 さ ん の い る 街」 - nyuyoku, tōdō sapiru machi
7 The first victory
「ADVANTAGE…」 - advantage…
8 Jenny comes home
「最後 の 敗者 復活 戦…!」 - saigo no haishafukkatsu sen…!
9 Queen 90 Cup
「ク イ ー ン ズ カ ッ プ '90 開幕!」 - kuinzukappu '90 kaimaku!
10 Rosy's challenge
「チ ャ レ ン ジ ャ ー ・ 蘭 子!」 - charenja. ranko!
11 The last flight
「も う 、 翔 べ な く な り ま し た…」 - mō, tobe nakunarimashita…
12 An overwhelming ending
「FINAL STAGE」 - final stage

The Artistic Line - Short documentary

A 24-minute animated short film entitled Ace o Nerae! Tenis Ōkoku no Cinderella (テ ニ ス 王国 の シ ン デ レ ラ), derived from a television series, was released in theaters by Toho in Japan on December 20, 1973.

With the popularity of Shin Ace or Nerae !, the studio decided to produce an anime film adaptation. The film was directed by Osamu Dezaki, written by Keisuke Fujikawa, music by Kōji Makaino and produced by Yutaka Fujioka. It was produced at Tokyo Movie and was released in Japanese theaters by Toho on September 8, 1979. It was released in DVD format by Bandai Visual on November 25, 2001 and March 27, 2005. In April 2008, Banda Visual announced the 'intention to distribute the film in Blu-ray format; was released on September 26, 2008 and re-released on July 22, 2016.

Original video animations

To serve as a sequel to the anime series and to wrap up the manga's story, two original video animations (OVAs) were produced. The first OVA, Ace or Nerae! 2 (エ ー ス を ね ら え! 2, Ēsu or Nerae! 2), consisting of thirteen episodes, was produced by Tokyo Movie and directed by Noboru Furuse, with “Total Supervisor” credit given to Osamu Dezaki. It was released by Bandai Visual between 25 July 1988 and 25 October 1988, on six VHS videotapes, and as a DVD compilation on 23 May 2005. It was also released in France by Manga Distribution in 2008. The first OVA was followed. from Ace or Nerae! Final stage (エ ー ス を ね ら え! フ ァ イ ナ ル ス テ ー ジ, Ēsu o Nerae! Fainaru Sutēji), composed of 12 episodes directed by Osamu Dezaki. It was originally released by Bandai Visual in six VHS videos from October 23, 1989 to April 24, 1990, and a DVD box set was released on September 26, 2003.

Technical data

Manga

Author Sumika Yamamoto
Editor Shueisha
Magazine Margaret
Target shoujo
Date 1st edition January 1973 - February 1980
Tankōbon 18 (complete)
Italian publisher Panini Comics - Planet Manga
1st Italian publisher series Manga masterpieces
Date 1st Italian edition August 28, 2003 - April 21, 2006
Italian periodicity monthly
Italian volumes 25 (complete)

Anime TV series Jenny the tennis player

Author Sumika Yamamoto
Regia osamu dezaki
Film script Mitsuru Majima, Tatsuo Tamura, Toshio Takeuchi
Char. design Akio Sugino, Takeo Kitahara
Music Katsuhiro Mizawa
Studio tokyo movie
Network MBS
Date 1st TV October 5, 1973 - March 29, 1974
Episodes 26 (complete)
Episode duration 25 min
Italian network Italia 1
Date 1st Italian TV 1982 – 1983
Italian dubbing studio Cinitalia editions

Anime TV series Shin Ace or black!

Author Sumika Yamamoto
Regia osamu dezaki
Char. design Akio Sugino
Studio Tokyo Movie Shinsha
Network Nippon television
Date 1st TV October 14, 1978 - March 31, 1979
Episodes 25 (complete)
Episode duration 25 min
Italian episodes unprecedented

Jenny the tennis player - the movie

Author Sumika Yamamoto
Regia osamu dezaki
Film script Keisuke Fujikawa
Char. design Akio Sugino
Music Koji Makaino
Studio Tokyo Movie Shinsha
Date 1st edition 8 October 1979
Duration 88 min
Italian publisher ITB, Yamato Video, Mondo TV

OAV anime series Jenny, Jenny

Author Sumika Yamamoto
Regia osamu dezaki
Char. design Akio Sugino
Music Hiroaki Serizawa
Studio Tokyo Movie Shinsha
Date 1st edition July 25 - October 25, 1988
Episodes 13 (complete)
Episode duration 30 min
Italian network Italia 1
Date 1st Italian edition 1990
Italian dubbing studio Teleas
Double Dir. it. Graziano Galoforo

OVA Jenny, Jenny

Author Sumika Yamamoto
Regia osamu dezaki
Film script Hiroyuki Yano, Makiko Mikami, Masami Mori
Char. design Akio Sugino
Music Hiroaki Serizawa
Studio Tokyo Movie Shinsha
1 edition October 23, 1989 - April 24, 1990
Episodes 12 (complete)
Duration ep. 30 min
Italian network Italia 1
1st Italian edition 1992 – 1993
Double studio it. Teleas
Double Dir. it. Graziano Galoforo

Ace or Nerae anime series!

Original title Aim for Ace!
Country Japan
Year 2004
Format TV series
Gender sporty, dramatic
Seasons 1
Episodes 9 + 1 SP
Duration 45 min.
Language Japanese original
Regia Matsuda Hidetomo, Muguruma Shunji (六 車 俊 治), Kobayashi Yoshinori
Subject Yamamoto Sumika
Screenplay Takigawa Akiyo Takayama Naoya, Kanasugi Hiroko
Music Sumitomo Norihito
Producer Miwa Yumiko (三輪 祐 見 子), Moriyasu Aya (森安 彩)
Premiere From 15 January 2004 to 11 March 2004
Television network Asahi TV

Source: https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jenny_la_tennista https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aim_for_the_Ace!