Baby Steps (2014)
A straight-A student trades his notebooks for a racket and discovers that tennis rewards the same analytical mind he has always relied on.
Baby Steps - Series Information
- Original Title: ベイビーステップ
- First Air Year: 2014
- Last Air Year: 2015
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Animation, Comedy
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode: 25 minutes
- Number of Seasons: 2
- Number of Episodes: 50
- Status: Ended
- Original Language: Japanese
- Spoken Languages: Japanese
- First Air Date: April 6, 2014 (Australia - PG)
- Networks: NHK Educational TV
- Alternative Titles: 网球ACE (CN), Beibî suteppu (FR)
- Production Companies: Pierrot, NHK, NHK Enterprises
- Production Countries: Japan
Baby Steps - Plot
Eiichirō Maruo (nicknamed "Ei-chan" for his grades being straight "A") is an honor student, bookworm, and is not interested in anything other than studying. In order to solve his problem of lacking physical strength, he enrolled a tennis school and soon found the fascinating side of tennis. Being a tennis newbie lacking physical strength, he supplement his shortcomings with his excellent observing and analyzing skills.
Baby Steps - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and see Ei-chan's tennis journey begin:
Baby Steps - Cast & Crew
Main Cast
- Taishi Murata
- Minako Kotobuki
- Daisuke Namikawa
- Asami Seto
- Hiro Shimono
- Taiten Kusunoki
- Takuma Terashima
- Tetsuya Kakihara
- Chisa Yuuki
- Kohsuke Toriumi
Writers
- Katsuhiko Chiba
- Junki Takegami
- Shin Yoshida
- Natsuko Takahashi
Baby Steps - FAQs
Is Baby Steps based on a manga?
Yes, Baby Steps is adapted from the manga series of the same name by Hikaru Katsuki, serialized in Weekly Shonen Magazine from 2007 to 2017. The manga ran for 47 volumes and is widely praised for its realistic, detail-oriented portrayal of tennis and athletic development.
Will Baby Steps get a third season?
As of now, no third season of Baby Steps has been announced. The anime ended in 2015 after two seasons covering 50 episodes, and the series has since concluded. Fans have long hoped for a continuation, but no official production has been confirmed by NHK or studio Pierrot.
What is Baby Steps about?
Baby Steps follows Eiichiro Maruo, a straight-A student with no athletic background who joins a tennis school to improve his fitness. He discovers a passion for the sport and compensates for his lack of natural talent with meticulous note-taking, sharp analytical thinking, and relentless dedication to self-improvement.
Who are the main voice actors in Baby Steps?
The main voice cast includes Taishi Murata as protagonist Eiichiro Maruo, Minako Kotobuki as Natsu Takasaki, Daisuke Namikawa as Takuma Egawa, Asami Seto as Himeko Sasami, Hiro Shimono as Yukichi Fukasawa, and Taiten Kusunoki as Coach Yusaku Miura.
When did Baby Steps first air?
Baby Steps first aired on April 6, 2014, on NHK Educational TV in Japan. The series ran for two seasons, with Season 1 premiering in 2014 and Season 2 following in 2015, concluding the same year with a total of 50 episodes across both seasons.
How many seasons and episodes does Baby Steps have?
Baby Steps has 2 seasons and a total of 50 episodes. Season 1 and Season 2 each consist of 25 episodes. The series aired on NHK Educational TV in Japan between 2014 and 2015 before concluding. Each episode runs approximately 25 minutes.
What genre is Baby Steps?
Baby Steps is a sports anime series categorized under Animation and Comedy. It focuses primarily on tennis and coming-of-age themes, blending athletic competition with personal growth and light romantic elements. It is particularly noted for its realistic and methodical approach to sports storytelling.
How was Baby Steps received by critics and fans?
Baby Steps earned a positive reception among sports anime fans for its grounded, realistic depiction of tennis and its unusually analytical protagonist. Viewers praised its attention to technique and character development. It is frequently recommended as one of the more intellectually engaging entries in the sports anime genre.
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