Ping Pong: The Animation, and The Value of Understanding Your Motivations
In nature, we as humans come to understand winning as a good thing, and losing as a bad thing. However, it’s not shocking to be told that statement isn’t completely true, and an argument could be made that it may be the other way around in some scenarios.
Ping Pong: The Animation argues, neither are correct, or wrong. Winning and losing as a concept is meaningless, without stakes or context. What the anime encourages more, is an understanding of your motives or reasons for wanting either one, without judgment.
There isn’t anything wrong with wanting to win. There isn’t anything wrong with being okay with losing. What is encouraged to be focused on is knowing your reasons. That is easier said than done, but it’s crucial that your reasons are truthful and internal for this to be possible. An internal conflict of misunderstood motivations and fixation on unappreciated results can easily lead to frustration and self-doubt.
PPTA demonstrates this by staying unbiased towards its characters. It doesn’t try to tell you that talent in table tennis makes a character better than another. The anime plainly shows how each character benefited from a deeper understanding of their motivations and biases, without demonizing or glorifying any of them for their choices, motivation, or even their lack of introspection.
The anime doesn’t demand you to be more introspective. Instead, it politely encourages that you look into your hobbies, talents, and aspirations. Ask yourself if you enjoy something, and dig deep into why you do. Free yourself from shackles of self-imposed expectations, if they don’t align with what fulfills you. Success, talent or skill in anything you do, will be a weight of expectations if you attribute it to your self worth. To reiterate, it’s not a bad mindset, if that fulfills you.
But only if that truly fulfills you.
We as people are more than our talents, careers, or achievements. Our humanity at its core, resides in our uniqueness through our personalities. Our soul. Money, medals, and awards, aren’t tied to something as personal as your soul.
Love yourself, be true to yourself, understand yourself, and you will naturally be yourself.
EDIT: Some rewording and grammar changes
Ping Pong: The Animation argues, neither are correct, or wrong. Winning and losing as a concept is meaningless, without stakes or context. What the anime encourages more, is an understanding of your motives or reasons for wanting either one, without judgment.
There isn’t anything wrong with wanting to win. There isn’t anything wrong with being okay with losing. What is encouraged to be focused on is knowing your reasons. That is easier said than done, but it’s crucial that your reasons are truthful and internal for this to be possible. An internal conflict of misunderstood motivations and fixation on unappreciated results can easily lead to frustration and self-doubt.
PPTA demonstrates this by staying unbiased towards its characters. It doesn’t try to tell you that talent in table tennis makes a character better than another. The anime plainly shows how each character benefited from a deeper understanding of their motivations and biases, without demonizing or glorifying any of them for their choices, motivation, or even their lack of introspection.
The anime doesn’t demand you to be more introspective. Instead, it politely encourages that you look into your hobbies, talents, and aspirations. Ask yourself if you enjoy something, and dig deep into why you do. Free yourself from shackles of self-imposed expectations, if they don’t align with what fulfills you. Success, talent or skill in anything you do, will be a weight of expectations if you attribute it to your self worth. To reiterate, it’s not a bad mindset, if that fulfills you.
But only if that truly fulfills you.
We as people are more than our talents, careers, or achievements. Our humanity at its core, resides in our uniqueness through our personalities. Our soul. Money, medals, and awards, aren’t tied to something as personal as your soul.
Love yourself, be true to yourself, understand yourself, and you will naturally be yourself.
EDIT: Some rewording and grammar changes
Commentaires
It’s certainly the only one I’ve seen with that kind of character growth.
the development of the characters was sparked by their losses, which gave them perspective. they were forced to ask themselves why they werent fulfilled by the game they came to love and enjoy as kids.
Smile didnt throw the last game at all. Pecos overtraining led to a weak knee that progressed throughout the tournament, and Smile told his coach and team he would target that weakness. most likely, because he knew Peco would be able to keep up regardless, or would win anyway. the guy literally dove into barriers to return the ball, and got up immediately to rush back to the table.
Peco (who im assuming youre referring to) was held back by his own stubborn ego. he was naturally good at table tennis, but saw training as something for untalented people to do to catch up to his level.
natural talent can exist, and some people just simply arent cut out for certain things (which the anime explores through Sakumas arc.)
the reason i disagree with your take is because not all characters at the end in the time skip were fulfilled or happy in life because of talent, like Smile and Sakuma.
the art style and animation not being your taste is understandable, and its not wrong to dislike it.
however, talent ≠ happiness, and imo the anime made that pretty clear. the anime rewarded characters for their losses with perspective, and thats the only thing it favors heavily, introspection and self understanding.
I also loved the art. I know it's not for everyone, but it's a clear style choice, not sloppy.