Title: Bakuten!! (Backflip!!) Author: Kei Mochizuki Genre: Sports, Drama, School Life, Slice of Life
If you are looking for a sports manga that breaks away from the typical "power of friendship" tropes found in shonen battle manga and focuses instead on realistic athletic growth, Bakuten!! is a must-read.
Rating: 8.5/10
BookWalker is a dedicated anime/manga digital storefront. It is a fantastic option for mobile readers.
1. A Fresh Subject Matter Most sports manga focus on baseball, soccer, or basketball. Bakuten!! centers on Men’s Rhythmic Gymnastics (MRG). It is a fascinating deep dive into a sport that requires a blend of brute strength, balletic grace, and extreme precision. The manga does an excellent job of explaining the rules and the scoring, making the routines easy to follow even if you have zero prior knowledge of gymnastics.
2. The Artwork: Movement and Anatomy Kei Mochizuki’s art style is distinct from the "blocky" styles of Haikyuu!! or Slam Dunk. It is delicate and fluid, perfectly suited for capturing the movements of gymnastics.
3. Character Dynamics The protagonist, Shotaro Futaba, is refreshing because he is not a prodigy. He starts with raw physical ability but lacks the technical skill and discipline. His journey is one of grinding practice and self-discovery.
4. Pacing and Tone The manga is shorter than many of its peers (it serves as a prequel and side-story to the anime). Because of this, the pacing is tight. It captures the anxiety of high school competition and the beauty of finding something you are willing to dedicate your life to. It is less about "winning the nationals" and more about "landing the perfect routine."
For casual readers who want to read on their phone without installing a niche app, Google Play and Apple Books carry the Kodansha translation.
At its core, Bakuten!! is a classic "zero-to-hero" story, but it distinguishes itself through its specific focus on a niche sport: men's rhythmic gymnastics. The protagonist, Shotaro Futaba, is a boy searching for a place where he belongs. He lacks the confidence and the history in the sport that his peers possess, but he is captivated by the beauty of the performance. bakuten backflip manga read online
The narrative follows Shotaro as he joins the rhythmic gymnastics club at Ao High. Unlike typical shonen sports manga where the protagonist might start with an innate, overpowered talent, Shotaro is defined by his hard work and his awe of his seniors. The manga brilliantly captures the "softness" of men's rhythmic gymnastics—a sport often stereotyped as feminine. It recontextualizes the discipline as one requiring immense upper-body strength, coordination, and a terrifying lack of fear.
Reading the manga allows fans to digest the internal monologues of the characters that sometimes move too quickly in the anime. You get a closer look at the pressures facing the third-year students (Masamune, Shichigahama, and others) as they approach their final chance at glory.
It is vital for the longevity of the series that fans support the creators. The anime and manga industries rely on revenue to produce sequels and new content. Because Bakuten!! is a somewhat niche title, every read counts.
1. BookWalker (Global) As a Kadokawa property, Bakuten!! is heavily featured on BookWalker, Kadokawa’s official digital bookstore. This is often the best place for international fans to read the manga legally. They offer a user-friendly app that allows for seamless reading across devices. Purchasing volumes here directly supports the publisher.
2. MangaPlus (by Shueisha) Depending on the serialization rights at the time, related chapters or promotional one-shots may appear on MangaPlus. While the main series is Kadokawa-centric, keeping an eye on this platform for potential crossovers or special chapters is always a good idea.
3. Comixology / Amazon Kindle For Western readers, the licensed digital volumes are often available through Amazon’s Comixology or Kindle platforms. This is the easiest way to support the official English localization if one has been licensed in your region.
**4.
While there is no single official "full essay" published for
(Backflip!!), the series is a highly regarded modern sports anime and manga that explores themes of passion, teamwork, and the specific beauty of men's rhythmic gymnastics. Series Overview Protagonist The Verdict: A Hidden Gem of Sports Manga
: Shotaro Futaba, a middle schooler who has never found a sport he’s passionate about until he witnesses a rhythmic gymnastics performance. : Shotaro joins the Soshukan Private High School (Ao High) boys' gymnastics club, a small, undermanned team. : A manga adaptation by Kei Sakuraba was serialized in Kodansha's magazine from January to September 2021. : Produced by studio
, the 12-episode anime is praised for its "sky blue" aesthetic and clean, impressive animation of gymnastics routines. Where to Read and Watch Online
Because the manga was serialized in a specific magazine, reading options vary by region and licensing: Official Manga : You can check for digital availability on platforms like Comixology
. Some fan translations for early chapters have appeared on community sites like p e k o's Tumblr Anime Streaming : The full anime series is available for legal streaming on Crunchyroll Funimation : A follow-up film, Eiga Bakuten!!
, continues the story as the team participates in national competitions. Key Themes for Analysis
If you are writing or looking for an essay on the series, consider these focal points: Finding "The Spark"
: The narrative focuses on the transition from "going with the flow" to finding a singular, life-changing passion. Visual Language
: Critics note how the animation uses color and composition to evoke a feeling of being "ready to take flight". Team Dynamics
: Much of the conflict arises from the team being short-staffed and the need for six members to avoid point deductions. draft an original essay based on these themes, or are you looking for a specific existing article Pros: Frequent cashback campaigns; you can read it
Bakuten!! Manga Chapter 1 (Part 6) Final English... - p e k o
While there is no official English digital platform currently hosting the Bakuten!! (Backflip!!)
manga for free reading, you can find the Japanese version through digital storefronts or watch the original anime on streaming services. Where to Read the Manga
manga is an adaptation of the original anime and was serialized in Kodansha's Official Japanese Digital Outlets
: Japanese readers can access it via various digital book outlets. English Release
: Currently, there is no official English localization or digital simulpub for the manga. Import Options
: You may find physical or digital copies of the Japanese volumes through international retailers like BookWalker Amazon Japan Where to Watch (Official Source)
Since the manga is based on the anime, watching the series is the best way to experience the full story in English. Crunchyroll
: Streams the complete 12-episode anime series and the sequel movie, Backflip!! The Movie Key Series Information : Sports (Men's Rhythmic Gymnastics), Coming-of-Age.
: Follows Shotaro Futaba, a high school student who becomes captivated by rhythmic gymnastics and joins the Soshukan High School team despite having no prior experience. Manga Status
: Serialized from January to September 2021, consisting of 2 volumes illustrated by Kei Sakuraba. or similar sports manga recommendations available in English?