Tsurune – The Linking Shot –
Genre: Drama, SportsKazemai High School Archery Club emerged victorious in the prefecture tournament. Tsujimine High School Archery Club, which no one has ever heard of, suddenly participates in the regional tournament. Eisuke Nikaido, a member of Tsujimine, stands before Minato and the others with a fearless smile.
"I've persevered in Japanese Archery to crush you all. Don't belittle me."
Their thoughts, turned into arrows, are released from the bow. When these shots clash, yet another answer, unbeknownst to all, will be born.
EPISODES
#1 Acclamations Towards Summer
Kazemai High School Archery Team has won the prefectural tournament. Having regained momentum, Minato Narumiya is determined to remember the sensation of his draw back. Meanwhile, a sports tournament is being held at the school, and all club activities are suspended. While all the students are training for their respective events, Minato is nowhere to be seen. Just then, Ryohei Yamanouchi, Kaito Onogi, Nanao Kisaragi, and Seiya Takehaya hear a familiar tsurune…
#2 Spirits Taken Up a Notch
Kirisaki High School Archery Team was the runner-up at the national tournament, although they were expected to win. However, they may be granted special entry to the national tournament if they win the regional tournament, and the team feels the pressure. Shu has been deeply reflecting upon how he had let his emotions get in the way of his shot at the prefectural tournament. On the other hand, Minato is in tip-top condition, stirring his emotions into each shot as he gears up for the tournament. A heated battle is about to begin as Kazemai, Kirisaki, and other prestigious schools from other prefectures flock to the tournament venue.
#3 The Gloves Come Off
Eldemade Dityjon, one of the Four Evil Kings, appears in front of Anos as a teacher at the Demon King Academy after preventing war between demons and humans. He names himself Nousgalia, the Heavenly Father God, and reveals that he is a new “Child of God” who has come to annihilate the tyrannical demon king. The misfit who overcomes all odds heads on towards a new battle.
#4 Episode 4
Eldemade Dityjon, one of the Four Evil Kings, appears in front of Anos as a teacher at the Demon King Academy after preventing war between demons and humans. He names himself Nousgalia, the Heavenly Father God, and reveals that he is a new “Child of God” who has come to annihilate the tyrannical demon king. The misfit who overcomes all odds heads on towards a new battle.
#5 Episode 5
Eldemade Dityjon, one of the Four Evil Kings, appears in front of Anos as a teacher at the Demon King Academy after preventing war between demons and humans. He names himself Nousgalia, the Heavenly Father God, and reveals that he is a new “Child of God” who has come to annihilate the tyrannical demon king. The misfit who overcomes all odds heads on towards a new battle.
#6 Thrown a Curve
Eldemade Dityjon, one of the Four Evil Kings, appears in front of Anos as a teacher at the Demon King Academy after preventing war between demons and humans. He names himself Nousgalia, the Heavenly Father God, and reveals that he is a new “Child of God” who has come to annihilate the tyrannical demon king. The misfit who overcomes all odds heads on towards a new battle.
#7 Resonating Feelings
Eldemade Dityjon, one of the Four Evil Kings, appears in front of Anos as a teacher at the Demon King Academy after preventing war between demons and humans. He names himself Nousgalia, the Heavenly Father God, and reveals that he is a new “Child of God” who has come to annihilate the tyrannical demon king. The misfit who overcomes all odds heads on towards a new battle.
#8 On the Same Path
Masaki arranges for Kazemai and Kirisaki to practice together, and Kazemai visits Kirisaki High School’s Archery Club. Kazemai has found their way to be in sync, and Minato has become calmer while handling his bow. Shu, Sen’ichi, and Man’ichi sort their differences while warming up, and Kirisaki’s members begin to have a different aura around them. After being surprised at one another during practice, the boys take their positions as they hold a mock match between both schools.
#9 Unrestrained Will
Eldemade Dityjon, one of the Four Evil Kings, appears in front of Anos as a teacher at the Demon King Academy after preventing war between demons and humans. He names himself Nousgalia, the Heavenly Father God, and reveals that he is a new “Child of God” who has come to annihilate the tyrannical demon king. The misfit who overcomes all odds heads on towards a new battle.
#10 A Convenient Dawn
Eldemade Dityjon, one of the Four Evil Kings, appears in front of Anos as a teacher at the Demon King Academy after preventing war between demons and humans. He names himself Nousgalia, the Heavenly Father God, and reveals that he is a new “Child of God” who has come to annihilate the tyrannical demon king. The misfit who overcomes all odds heads on towards a new battle.
#11 Episode 11
Eldemade Dityjon, one of the Four Evil Kings, appears in front of Anos as a teacher at the Demon King Academy after preventing war between demons and humans. He names himself Nousgalia, the Heavenly Father God, and reveals that he is a new “Child of God” who has come to annihilate the tyrannical demon king. The misfit who overcomes all odds heads on towards a new battle.
#12 Episode 12
Eldemade Dityjon, one of the Four Evil Kings, appears in front of Anos as a teacher at the Demon King Academy after preventing war between demons and humans. He names himself Nousgalia, the Heavenly Father God, and reveals that he is a new “Child of God” who has come to annihilate the tyrannical demon king. The misfit who overcomes all odds heads on towards a new battle.
CHARACTERS
A first year student at Kazemai High School. Charmed by the beauty of Japanese Archery after watching a tournament with his mother, he started Japanese archery as an elementary school student. Ever since he was defeated at his final middle school tournament due to personal reasons, he lost confidence and grew distant from Japanese Archery, but… He lives near Seiya, his childhood friend and best friend. He gets along well with the Takehaya household's dog, Kuma.
A first year student at Kazemai High School. Childhood friends and best friends with Minato. Captain of the Japanese Archery club. An elite student serving as the freshmen representative. He has a mature personality, but at times loses his cool when it comes to matters concerning Minato. He usually wears glasses, but puts on contact lenses when doing archery. Owner of a huge dog named Kuma. His comes from a family of doctors that owns an orthopedic clinic.
A first year student at Kazemai High School. Friendly, outgoing and straightforward. Ryohei grew up with Minato and Seiya when they were in elementary school. He later transferred schools, and they met each other again in high school by chance. His interest towards Japanese Archery started in middle school. Although he has held the bow and arrow during martial arts classes, it is only during high school that he seriously started Japanese Archery, and thus is the least experienced among the club members.
A first year student at Kazemai High School. Kaito's cousin. He is often the mediator when Kaito picks a quarrel with Minato. He uses a mysterious and original greeting, "Mehhaa". He is a showy and seemingly shallow person, but is actually a person who can calmly judge things. He is popular enough with girls that he has a "Nanao Fanclub" in school. For some reason, he cannot seem to get animals to like him.
A first year student at Kazemai High School. Nanao's cousin. He used to always follow Nanao around when they were young. Behaves as though he has seen the world. He is hot-blooded and takes Japanese Archery very seriously, which is why he does not want to accept Minato who has once turned his back on Japanese Archery. He loves reading. He has a cat named Lucy. Animals tend to like him.
A mysterious man Minato met at an archery range, “Yata no Mori”. His archery skills are superb and elegant, though he somewhat behaves like an old man. When no one is at the archery range at night, he practices with a target of 10,000 shots.
A first year student at Kirisaki High School. His grandfather is British. A noble bloodline flows in him as he draws the bow in a flamboyant style, thus gaining himself the title, “the young nobleman”. Even within the Kirisaki High School's Japanese Archery club, which is considered a powerhouse, his ability is outstanding. He was teammates with Minato and Seiya during their middle school days. He likes to eat Japanese food.
CREW
Kotoko Ayano
Animation Studio
Kyoto Animation
Director
Takuya Yamamura
Script
Michiko Yokote
Artists Voice
Yuto Uemura as Minato Narumiya
Aoi Ichikawa as Seiya Takehaya
Shintaro Asanuma as Masaki Takigawa
Kensho Ono as Shu Fujiwara
Shogo Yano as Nanao Kisaragi
Kaito Ishikawa as Kaito Onogi
Ryota Suzuki as Ryohei Yamanouchi
Jun Fukuyama as Eisuke Nikaido
Artists Opening
"℃" by Luck Life
Artists Ending
"Hitominaka (ヒトミナカ)" by Tei