Major S4
Summary: Having finished high school, Gorou Honda sets his sights on becoming a professional baseball player. His dreams are much more ambitious than becoming a Japanese Baseball League player, so he instead decides to move to the birthplace of his beloved sport, America, in order to play in the Major League.
However, Gorou finds that the Major League players are much faster, stronger, and more driven than he is. Nonetheless, he is eager to catch up with them. In order to do so, Gorou must first conquer the ranks of the Minor League, where numerous skilled players compete in the grueling rise to the Majors.
Gorou learns that he will have to adapt to the stark differences of American culture and push himself to new extremes as his race to join the Major League begins.
[Written by MAL Rewrite]
Description
Having finished high school, Gorou Honda sets his sights on becoming a professional baseball player. His dreams are much more ambitious than becoming a Japanese Baseball League player, so he instead decides to move to the birthplace of his beloved sport, America, in order to play in the Major League.
However, Gorou finds that the Major League players are much faster, stronger, and more driven than he is. Nonetheless, he is eager to catch up with them. In order to do so, Gorou must first conquer the ranks of the Minor League, where numerous skilled players compete in the grueling rise to the Majors.
Gorou learns that he will have to adapt to the stark differences of American culture and push himself to new extremes as his race to join the Major League begins.
[Written by MAL Rewrite]
Major S4 Pictures
Major S4 Review
Major S4 — Having finished high school, Gorou Honda sets his sights on becoming a professional baseball player. This overview is intentionally spoiler-free and focuses on tone and intent rather than plot specifics.
Thematically, It sits firmly within Sports conventions as a TV work and has garnered attention (MAL score: 8.18). 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, Major S4 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 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
Honda, Gorou
Main
Morikubo, Shoutarou
Japanese
Honda, Gorou
Main
Kumai, Motoko
Japanese
Jinnai, Alice
Main
Enomoto, Atsuko
Japanese
Jinnai, Alice
Main
Huang, Ting Yun
Mandarin
Sanders
Main
Ishii, Kouji
Japanese
Aguilera
Supporting
Nagasako, Takashi
Japanese
Andou
Supporting
Ishii, Takao
Japanese
Aota
Supporting
Kanemitsu, Nobuaki
Japanese
Blonde
Supporting
Kazama, Richa.
Japanese
Bolton
Supporting
Soya, Shigenori
Japanese
Butler
Supporting
Nakakuni, Takurou
Japanese
Carter
Supporting
Urayama, Jin
Japanese
Charlie
Supporting
Nakakuni, Takurou
Japanese
Dunston
Supporting
Kanemitsu, Nobuaki
Japanese
Fox
Supporting
Miyake, Kenta
Japanese
Fujii
Supporting
Kusao, Takeshi
Japanese
Gibson, Joe
Supporting
Ochiai, Kouji
Japanese
Gibson, Mrs.
Supporting
Hyoudou, Mako
Japanese
Gibson Jr., Joe
Supporting
Namikawa, Daisuke
Japanese
Gibson Jr., Joe
Supporting
Kimura, Akiko
Japanese
Staff
Fukushima, Toshinori
Director, Episode Director, Storyboard
Iizuka, Kouichi
Sound Director
Fukumoto, Kiyoshi
Episode Director
Kamata, Yuusuke
Episode Director, Storyboard
Koyata, Masahisa
Episode Director
Ooya, Mitsuko
Episode Director
Tatenaka, Junpei
Episode Director, Storyboard, Animation Director
Umemoto, Yui
Episode Director, Storyboard
Suenaga, Mitsuyo
Script
Yoshida, Reiko
Script
Fukushima, Kazumi
Storyboard
Iwanaga, Akira
Storyboard
Yoshikawa, Hiroaki
Storyboard
Morikubo, Shoutarou
Theme Song Performance
Ohguro, Maki
Theme Song Performance
Ootomo, Kouhei
Theme Song Performance, Theme Song Lyrics
The Loose Dogs
Theme Song Performance
Asakura, Noriyuki
Music
Emori, Mariko
Animation Director
Fukushima, Toyoaki
Animation Director