Anna Daniels
Taiyō Matsumoto is arguably the greatest living manga artist working today, an undeniable genius when it comes to comic book storytelling. Masaaki Yuasa is an absurdly creative visionary whose adaptations are so well-regarded that they sometimes overshadow the original author’s work. Ping Pong brought them together into a combination so impressive it makes the word “masterpiece” seem tame in comparison.
Every single detail of Ping Pong is nearly perfect. Yuasa’s work has never looked so fluid and emotive, while Matsumoto’s subtle character work in the manga perfectly balances with Yuasa’s frenetic pace. Even the score, composed by Kensuke Ushio, is masterful, giving each character a musical theme that melds and mixes with other characters as they play and interact.
The characters feel like friends, their joy is contagious, and their frustrations are heartbreaking. Even while adapting a work as beloved as the Ping Pong manga, Yuasa still manages to stay true to the themes that have stayed with him through his entire career. What meaning does a moment hold, especially when that moment doesn’t really decide your future? It’s a question without a real answer, but Ping Pong, and Yuasa’s career in total, seems to suggest that all the moments have meaning, individually and totally. It just requires you to realize that to change your life.
Written by: Looper
