Cross Game
Summary: Kou Kitamura and Aoba Tsukishima are often at odds—even though their families happen to be close friends and business partners. Although the only child of a sports shop owner, Kou has never been interested in playing baseball. Despite this, he possesses an impressive batting ability honed by frequent visits to the local baseball batting center run by the Tsukishima family. On the other hand, Aoba loves to play baseball and is a star player with exceptional pitching form.
However, these two seemingly complete opposites share something very important to them—Wakaba Tsukishima, Aoba's older sister and Kou's destined sweetheart. Admired by the quarrelsome duo, Wakaba often finds herself the catalyst to their never-ending rivalry. But whether or not they realize that they have more in common than either would care to admit, only time will tell. The game of baseball may just be what the pair needs to ultimately overcome their own personal struggles.
[Written by MAL Rewrite]
Description
Kou Kitamura and Aoba Tsukishima are often at odds—even though their families happen to be close friends and business partners. Although the only child of a sports shop owner, Kou has never been interested in playing baseball. Despite this, he possesses an impressive batting ability honed by frequent visits to the local baseball batting center run by the Tsukishima family. On the other hand, Aoba loves to play baseball and is a star player with exceptional pitching form.
However, these two seemingly complete opposites share something very important to them—Wakaba Tsukishima, Aoba's older sister and Kou's destined sweetheart. Admired by the quarrelsome duo, Wakaba often finds herself the catalyst to their never-ending rivalry. But whether or not they realize that they have more in common than either would care to admit, only time will tell. The game of baseball may just be what the pair needs to ultimately overcome their own personal struggles.
[Written by MAL Rewrite]
Cross Game Pictures
Cross Game Review
Cross Game — Kou Kitamura and Aoba Tsukishima are often at odds—even though their families happen to be close friends and business partners. This overview is intentionally spoiler-free and focuses on tone and intent rather than plot specifics.
Thematically, It sits firmly within Drama, Romance, Sports conventions as a TV work and has garnered attention (MAL score: 8.37). This work explores character dynamics, tonal shifts, and the interplay between narrative ambition and execution. The story's pacing and tonal choices are crafted to complement the central ideas, often emphasizing atmosphere and emotional truth over explicit exposition. The show's ability to evoke a consistent mood — whether melancholic, exuberant, or contemplative — is a recurring strength, and the scenes are constructed so viewers can infer stakes without needing explicit spoilers.
Characterization is a core pillar here. Protagonists and supporting figures are written with distinct motivations and narrative roles; even when archetypal, the series invests in small behavioral details that make choices feel earned. Character arcs are handled with an eye for gradualism: development often arrives through incremental beats rather than abrupt, expository shifts. The interactions between characters create texture, and relationships are used to illuminate both personal flaws and larger thematic concerns.
On the visual front, production values play a significant role. The animation quality varies by sequence but frequently showcases thoughtful direction and composition. Background art, framing, and color palettes are used deliberately to support tone — quieter scenes favor muted palettes while action or heightened emotional beats employ brighter, more kinetic visuals. Direction choices, such as camera movement and shot selection, often elevate scenes beyond their raw script, creating moments that linger in the viewer's mind.
The soundscape — score, incidental music, and sound design — complements the visual language. Music cues are placed to maximize emotional resonance without manipulating the audience with melodrama; this restraint often leads to more authentic emotional payoff. Sound design punctuates key moments, and when the series leans on silence, those quieter moments are given weight by measured audio choices.
Pacing and structure are handled with craft. Episodes are arranged to build tension and release methodically, and the narrative rarely rushes through important emotional beats. That said, the deliberate pacing may feel slow to viewers who prefer faster plot turnover; the reward is greater nuance and an accumulation of meaning across the series. Accessibility is generally good — one can appreciate surface-level pleasures, while repeat or attentive viewing reveals additional layers.
No title is without flaws. Occasional unevenness in subplots or variable animation across episodes can be distracting. Some tonal shifts might feel abrupt if you expect uniformity; others will argue that those shifts are purposeful. These are worth noting, but they seldom undercut the larger achievements of the work.
In sum, Cross Game offers a rich experience for viewers who value character-driven storytelling, considered visual design, and a soundtrack that supports rather than overwhelms. For fans of Drama, Romance, Sports, this is an especially rewarding watch. It's recommended for those who appreciate layered narratives and artistry in animation, and best approached with patience and attention to nuance.
Characters & Voice Actors
Kitamura, Kou
Main
Irino, Miyu
Japanese
Kitamura, Kou
Main
Eom, Sang Hyeon
Korean
Tsukishima, Aoba
Main
Tomatsu, Haruka
Japanese
Tsukishima, Aoba
Main
Yang, Jeong Hwa
Korean
Akaishi, Osamu
Supporting
Nomura, Kenji
Japanese
Asami, Kikuji
Supporting
Asou, Tomohisa
Japanese
Asami, Mizuki
Supporting
Kakihara, Tetsuya
Japanese
Asami, Mizuki
Supporting
Shin, Yong Wu
Korean
Asami, Tokie
Supporting
Nozawa, Masako
Japanese
Asami, Isamu
Supporting
Azuma, Junpei
Supporting
Madono, Mitsuaki
Japanese
Azuma, Junpei
Supporting
Choi, Han
Korean
Azuma, Yuuhei
Supporting
Sakurai, Takahiro
Japanese
Azuma, Yuuhei
Supporting
Kim, Yeong Seon
Korean
Daimon, Shuugo
Supporting
Furusawa, Tohru
Japanese
Daimon, Shuugo
Supporting
Pyo, Yeong Jae
Korean
Ehara
Supporting
Kawakami, Takafumi
Japanese
Fukuda, Hiromi
Supporting
Sudou, Erika
Japanese
Hama
Supporting
Ishiguro, Minoru
Supporting
Suzuki, Kyosuke
Japanese
Staff
Aoki, Shunji
Producer
Furuichi, Naohiko
Producer
Sakurai, Ryousuke
Producer
Kyoutani, Tomomi
Assistant Producer
Saitou, Masahiro
Assistant Producer
Sekita, Osamu
Director, Episode Director, Storyboard
Takadera, Takeshi
Sound Director
Fujimoto, Yoshitaka
Episode Director, Storyboard
Habara, Kumiko
Episode Director
Kawaguchi, Keiichirou
Episode Director, Storyboard
Matsumoto, Masayuki
Episode Director
Ogata, Takahide
Episode Director, Key Animation
Onoda, Yuusuke
Episode Director
Suzuki, Takaaki
Episode Director
Fukuda, Hiroko
Script
Shirane, Hideki
Script
Suenaga, Mitsuyo
Script
Tsuchiya, Michihiro
Script, Series Composition
Fukuda, Michio
Storyboard
Kodera, Katsuyuki
Storyboard