Show cover for Ping Pong the Animation

The Best Episodes of Ping Pong the Animation Season 1

Every episode of Ping Pong the Animation Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Ping Pong the Animation Season 1!

Makoto 'Smile' Tsukimoto and his friend Yutaka 'Peco' Hoshino have been playing table tennis together since they were kids, but as they enter high school, they find that the game, and how they see it, has changed. Peco, brimming with confidence and energy, wants to be the best in the world, but the reserved Smile has little fighting spirit and doesn't want to sacrifice others' happiness just to win, despite his innate talent. As the two grow, and experience the ups and downs of the sport – and life – they try to figure out exactly who they really are and what drives them to play.

Genres:AnimationDrama
Network:Fuji TV

Season 1 Ratings Summary

The best episode of "Ping Pong the Animation" season 1 is "The Wind Makes It Too Hard to Hear", rated 7.9/10 from 219 user votes. It was directed by Takehiro Kubota and written by Masaaki Yuasa. "The Wind Makes It Too Hard to Hear" aired on 4/11/2014 and is rated 0.4 point(s) higher than the second highest rated, "Smile Is a Robot".

  • The Wind Makes It Too Hard to Hear
    7.9/10 219 votes

    #1 - The Wind Makes It Too Hard to Hear

    Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 4/11/2014

    Two old friends go to spy on a new table tennis champ at a rival high school, but meanwhile their own team is falling apart.

    Director: Takehiro Kubota

    Writer: Masaaki Yuasa

  • Smile Is a Robot
    8.3/10 205 votes

    #2 - Smile Is a Robot

    Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 4/18/2014

    Coach Koizumi has started working Smile hard, and he definitely doesn't appreciate the extra attention.

    Director: Hideki Ito

    Writer: Masaaki Yuasa

  • Staking Your Life on Table Tennis Is Revolting
    8.4/10 197 votes

    #3 - Staking Your Life on Table Tennis Is Revolting

    Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 4/25/2014

    All the teams gather at the prefectural qualifiers, and China gets to play Smile at last.

    Director: Masatsugu Arakawa

    Writer: Masaaki Yuasa

  • The Only Way to Be Sure You Won't Lose Is to Not Fight
    8.1/10 190 votes

    #4 - The Only Way to Be Sure You Won't Lose Is to Not Fight

    Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 5/2/2014

    Peco learns a hard lesson from someone he never took seriously enough, and then we finally see how Dragon earned his name.

    Director: Fumihiro Ueno

    Writer: Masaaki Yuasa

  • Where Did I Go Wrong?
    7.8/10 184 votes

    #5 - Where Did I Go Wrong?

    Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 5/9/2014

    Dragon's obsession with Smile prompts Akuma to do something rash.

    Director: Masaki Utsunomiya

    Writer: Masaaki Yuasa

  • You Love This Sport More Than Anyone!!
    8.3/10 203 votes

    #6 - You Love This Sport More Than Anyone!!

    Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 5/16/2014

    Five athletes have five very different Christmas Eves, and Peco gets a wake-up call.

    Director: Takehiro Kubota

    Writer: Masaaki Yuasa

  • Yes, My Coach
    7.8/10 182 votes

    #7 - Yes, My Coach

    Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 5/23/2014

    Players, coaches, captains, and their families.

    Director: Ryota Itoh

    Writer: Masaaki Yuasa

  • The Hero Appears
    8.6/10 196 votes

    #8 - The Hero Appears

    Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 5/30/2014

    Smile, Peco, Dragon, and China begin another prefectural qualifier. Will the results be different this year?

    Director: Ho Pyeon-gang

    Writer: Masaaki Yuasa

  • Gonna Cry a Bit
    8.6/10 198 votes

    #9 - Gonna Cry a Bit

    Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 6/6/2014

    In the third round, Dragon has an unexpected visitor, Sanada questions himself, and Peco scares lots of people in lots of ways.

    Director: Ryota Itoh

    Writer: Masaaki Yuasa

  • I Thought You Were the Hero!!
    9.1/10 258 votes

    #10 - I Thought You Were the Hero!!

    Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 6/13/2014

    Peco and Dragon tackle the question of whether only birds can fly.

    Director: Eunyoung Choi

    Writer: Masaaki Yuasa

  • Blood Tastes Like Iron
    9.0/10 239 votes

    #11 - Blood Tastes Like Iron

    Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 6/20/2014

    The final match is on.

    Director: Masaaki Yuasa

    Writer: Masaaki Yuasa