The Prince of Tennis (film)
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is a 2006
2006 in film
- Highest-grossing films :Please note that following the tradition of the English-language film industry, these are the top-grossing films that were first released in the United States in 2006...

 live-action movie directed by Yuichi Abe and based on The Prince of Tennis
The Prince of Tennis
is a Japanese shōnen manga series written and illustrated by Takeshi Konomi. The title is often shortened to , a portmanteau of the two parts in the Japanese pronunciation of the words "Tennis Prince". The manga was first published in Japan in Shueisha's Weekly Shōnen Jump in July 1999, and ended...

manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...

 series by Takeshi Konomi
Takeshi Konomi
is a Japanese manga artist. He owns a cat named Kahluamilk whom he uses to assist him in drawing "Karupin", a character in his The Prince of Tennis. He has said that bathing inspires him to think of new ideas for manga..-Financial standing:...

. It condenses the storyline from when Ryoma arrives in Japan to the match against Hyotei Academy. The film was released in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

 on May 13, 2006.

Synopsis

Ryoma Echizen
Ryoma Echizen
is a fictional character and the protagonist of the manga and anime series The Prince of Tennis created by Takeshi Konomi. In the series, Ryoma is portrayed as a twelve-year-old tennis prodigy who won four consecutive Junior Tennis Tournaments in America. His father is Nanjiro Echizen, a former...

, a tennis prodigy, attends Seishun Academy (also known as Seishun Gakuen or Seigaku, for short), a school famous for its strong tennis club and talented players. Ryoma quickly defeats numerous upperclassmen shortly after entrance to secure himself a spot on the regulars team.

Plot

Twelve-year-old Ryoma Echizen is a tennis prodigy
Child prodigy
A child prodigy is someone who, at an early age, masters one or more skills far beyond his or her level of maturity. One criterion for classifying prodigies is: a prodigy is a child, typically younger than 18 years old, who is performing at the level of a highly trained adult in a very demanding...

 who has won four American Junior Tennis tournaments. His father, Nanjiroh, a famous tennis player, calls Ryoma back to Japan to attend the distinguished Seishun Academy. Ryoma, a first year, wants to be on the school team.

A girl watches Ryoma. Her name is Shioin Higaki, whose parents died in accident. She is mute. She first meets Ryoma when he protects her on a train from a loud group of boys.

Ryoma arrives at Seigaku, and is immediately challenged by Kaoru Kaidoh, a second year team regular, known as "the Viper," whose is known for his "Snake Shot". The members of the team watch the match: Vice-captain Shuichiro Oishi and his doubles partner Eiji Kikumaru; third year Shusuke Fuji, a tactical "genius"; Sadaharu Inui, who collects info on his opponents; and Takashi Kawamura
Takashi Kawamura
Takashi Kawamura refers to either:* Takashi Kawamura - fictional character* Takashi Kawamura - politician...

, whose personality instantly changes when he grabs his racquet
Racquet
A racquet or racket is a sports implement consisting of a handled frame with an open hoop across which a network of cord is stretched tightly. It is used for striking a ball in such games as squash, tennis, racquetball, and badminton...

. The other second year regular is Takeshi Momoshiro, known for his power plays. Ryoma surprises everyone by pulling off the Snake Shot himself, but says it's just the Buggy Whip Shot. Kaidoh and Ryoma's match is interrupted by Kunimitsu Tezuka
Kunimitsu Tezuka
is a fictional character in the manga and anime series The Prince of Tennis created by Takeshi Konomi, who described Tezuka as the character who he has the least in common with. In the story, he is introduced as the strict and serious captain of Seishun Academy's tennis team who enforces order...

, the nationally-ranked captain of the tennis club. Tezuka makes Kaidoh run laps for playing a match without an approval and takes an interest in Ryoma.

Ryoma is in time for the monthly ranking tournament, but due to his youth some do not take him seriously; during the tournament, Ryoma is quick to prove his skills and become the only first year on the team, just in time for the prefectural
Prefecture
A prefecture is an administrative jurisdiction or subdivision in any of various countries and within some international church structures, and in antiquity a Roman district governed by an appointed prefect.-Antiquity:...

 preliminary rounds.

In a crucial match against Fudomine Middle School, Ryoma injures his eye, but his determination to finish the match helps Seigaku advance to the Kanto Tournament. Tezuka is deeply troubled by Ryoma's style; it's an exact copy of his father's. He is also worried about his injured arm. Tezuka plays Ryoma and beats him, disregarding his physician's advice. He tells Ryoma to develop his own style of tennis.

As the Kanto Tournament draws near, Seigaku learn of their first opponent: rivals Hyotei Academy. All the regulars are chosen except Momoshiro, as Echizen is chosen over him. However, Echizen says he has to go back to America. Momoshiro is angry and refuses the jersey Ryoma offers. Egate Mcleod Higaki of Hyotei tries to provoke the players until Tezuka tells him to leave. Echizen goes to the park to think about his decision, and Shioin, Egate's little sister, comes by and plays her flute. The music reaches Echizen's ears, and he makes his choice.

At the Kanto Tournament, Momo still has decided not to come. Oishi and Eiji play Doubles 2. They begin a losing streak until Momo reveals himself in the cheering crowd for Seigaku. With new confidence from their returning teammate, the Golden Pair make a comeback, but lose to Hyotei 5-7. In the crowd, Kaidoh finds Echizen, who decided to stay. Kaidoh and Inui begin their Doubles 1 match. Kaidoh continually takes all the shots and uses his Boomerang Snake, while Inui stands and watches. Finally, he tells Kaidoh he has their opponents' data and they win the match 7-5. Kawamura plays Singles 3 and tries his Hadokyuu, but his big opponent copies the move. They both keep using Hadokyuu until Kawamura does the unthinkable: the dangerous one-handed Hadokyuu. His opponent copies, and both keep hitting until both of them drop their racquets, their hands and racquet handles covered in blood. The match is considered a No Game. Fuji, playing Singles 2, borrows Kawamura's racquet, and amazes his opponent with his Disappearing Serve and his Hakugei Triple Counter; he wins 6-0. Tezuka plays Singles 1 against the popular Atobe; Echizen comes and takes his place as bench coach, and, despite some of the other Seigaku players, Tezuka allows him to rejoin the team.

Atobe seems to gain the early lead, but Tezuka comes back with his Tezuka Zone and Drop Shot. Tezuka gets to match point, but as he tries to serve, his arm gives out. Tezuka continues to play as Echizen takes off his jacket, revealing his Seigaku uniform, and goes to practice. Tezuka loses in the tiebreak, 6-7. Because both teams have two wins, their reserve players will determine the winner. Echizen faces off against Egate, and wins the first game using his teammates' moves. However, as an eclipse passes over the court, Egate uses his brutal tennis form and injures Echizen's leg. Remembering his vow to become stronger, Echizen surprises everyone by using the COOL Drive attack to come back, break the eclipse, and win. Shioin finally cheers. Tezuka rewards Echizen with his Seigaku jacket he kept for him.

As Echizen looks up in the stands at their future opponents, his only reply to them is, "mada mada da ne" (a long ways to go).

Cast

Role Actor
Ryoma Echizen
Ryoma Echizen
is a fictional character and the protagonist of the manga and anime series The Prince of Tennis created by Takeshi Konomi. In the series, Ryoma is portrayed as a twelve-year-old tennis prodigy who won four consecutive Junior Tennis Tournaments in America. His father is Nanjiro Echizen, a former...

Kanata Hongo
Kanata Hongo
is a Japanese actor and model. He is part of Stardust Talent agency and has appeared several times in music videos, movies, TV series, and magazines. His major breakthrough role was as the anime character Ryoma Echizen in the film adaptation of The Prince of Tennis, and became even more widely...

Kunimitsu Tezuka
Kunimitsu Tezuka
is a fictional character in the manga and anime series The Prince of Tennis created by Takeshi Konomi, who described Tezuka as the character who he has the least in common with. In the story, he is introduced as the strict and serious captain of Seishun Academy's tennis team who enforces order...

Yuu Shirota
Shuichiro Oishi Hiroki Suzuki
Hiroki Suzuki
is a Japanese actor and singer from Kitakami city, Iwate Prefecture. He is known most notably for his roles as Shuichiro Oishi in The Prince of Tennis , and as Jyan Kandou in the tokusatsu television series, Juken Sentai Gekiranger...

Shusuke Fuji Hiroki Aiba
Hiroki Aiba
is a Japanese actor, dancer and singer. He is best known for his role as Shusuke Fuji in The Prince of Tennis musical series, Tenimyu, and the live film adaptation. He was also part of a young men's 3-member streetdancing group called Brights, which was disbanded in 2004...

Eiji Kikumaru Osamu Adachi
Osamu Adachi
is a Japanese actor and a member of the acting group D-BOYS. He is best known for his role as Eiji Kikumaru in The Prince of Tennis musical series, Tenimyu, and in the live film adaptation.- Career :...

Sadaharu Inui Hirofumi Araki
Hirofumi Araki
is a Japanese actor and singer. He is known most notably for his roles as Sadaharu Inui in The Prince of Tennis , and as The Black Lion Rio in the tokusatsu television series Juken Sentai Gekiranger...

Takashi Kawamura
Takashi Kawamura
Takashi Kawamura refers to either:* Takashi Kawamura - fictional character* Takashi Kawamura - politician...

Yoshikazu Kotani
Yoshikazu Kotani
is a Japanese actor and singer from Tokyo. He is known most notably for his role as Takashi Kawamura in The Prince of Tennis musical series, Tenimyu, and the live film adaptation.-Biography:...

Takeshi Momoshiro Masaki Kaji
Masaki Kaji
is a Japanese actor and singer. He is known most notably for his role as Takeshi Momoshiro in the Prince of Tennis musical series, Tenimyu, and the live film adaptation...

Kaoru Kaidoh Kousuke Kujirai
Kousuke Kujirai
is a Japanese actor and singer. He is known most notably for his role as Jenath Dira in the Get Ride! Amdriver anime series and Kaoru Kaidoh and The Prince of Tennis musical series, Tenimyu, and the live film adaptation, and as Panther in Eyeshield 21.-Career:He works primarily in stage...

Keigo Atobe Ryuji Sainei
Egate Mcleod Higaki RIKIYA
Yuushi Oshitari Daiki Nakae
Ryoh Shishido Junpei Suzuki
Choutarou Ohtori Koji Date
Koji Date
is a Japanese actor and singer. He is known most notably for his role as Ohtori Chotarou in The Prince of Tennis movie and The Prince of Tennis musicals...

Gakuto Mukahi Tokio Emoto
Jiroh Akutagawa Genki Ishii
Munehiro Kabaji Kazutoshi Yamakawa
Nanjiroh Echizen Goro Kishitani
Sumire Ryuzaki Hitomi Shimatani
Hitomi Shimatani
, is a female pop singer signed to the Avex Trax label.Shimatani started her career as an Enka singer with the release of her debut single in 1999, but later decided to get into the dance/pop style for her music. Shimatani's music has also appeared in video games and also anime series.- Early life...

Shinji Ibu Yasuka Saitoh
Yasuka Saitoh
is a Japanese actor, best known for the role of Masumi Inou in the 2006–2007 tokusatsu series GoGo Sentai Boukenger.-Television:* Hana Yori Dango * GoGo Sentai Boukenger as Masumi Inou/Bouken Black...

Akira Kamio Yuuki Fujiwara
Genichirou Sanada Eiji Moriyama
Eiji Moriyama
is a Japanese stage actor and seiyū. Moriyama is also a member of the entertainment group *pnish*. He is best known for his stage works as Takeshi Momoshiro of the first generation Seigaku cast of the Prince of Tennis musical series, Tenimyu, and as Renji Abarai in Rock Musical BLEACH series.-...

Renji Yanagi Mamoru Miyano
Mamoru Miyano
is a Japanese voice actor, actor, and singer from Saitama. He is best known for his roles on Ouran High School Host Club, Death Note, Mobile Suit Gundam 00, and Kōtetsu Sangokushi. At the 2007 Seiyu Awards he was nominated for two awards for his role as Light Yagami in Death Note, and in 2008, he...

Kintarou Tooyama Masato Wada
Masato Wada
is a Japanese actor and singer. He is known most notably for his role as Sengoku Kiyosumi in The Prince of Tennis musical series, Tenimyu...

Shioin Higaki Sayuri Iwata
Sayuri Iwata
, born July 21, 1990, is a Japanese actress and J-Pop artist with Giza Studio.- Singles:*[2005.02.23] *[2005.03.30] *[2005.07.27] *[2005.11.09] Thank You for Everything-Albums:*[2005.05.25] *[2005.12.07] Thank You For...*[2008.06.04] Best +-TV shows:...

Aoi Kentarou Daiki Sano
Hikaru Amane JURI
Jüri
Jüri is a small borough in Harju County, northern Estonia. It's located southeast of the capital Tallinn, by the Tallinn–Tartu road , directly after the intersection with Tallinn Ring Road . Jüri is the administrative centre of Rae Parish...

Masaya Sakurai Shun Takagi
Sasabe Mitsuyoshi Shinoda
Mitsuyoshi Shinoda
Mitsuyoshi Shinoda is a Japanese actor. He was born in Kanagawa Prefecture, and used to be a member of the group "JackJack".-Television dramas:* Lipstick Regular* Fly(2000, NHK)...

Sasabe's friend #1 Kenta Kamakari
Kenta Kamakari
is a Japanese actor, voice actor and singer, famous for his role as Ryo Shishido in the Prince of Tennis Musicals. He was hospitalized on April 21, 2007 and was unable to play the role of Minami Itsuki in Musical Air Gear vs. Bacchus Super Range Remix and appear in Dream Live 4 ~Extra~. As he...

Sasabe's friend #2 Takashi Nagayama
Takashi Nagayama
is a Japanese actor. He is probably best known for his roles as Eiji Kikumaru in The Prince of Tennis musical series, Tenimyu, when he replaced Yamazaki Ichitaro , and Tōshirō Hitsugaya in "Rock Musical Bleach". During his run in Tenimyu, he garnered the nickname "Nagayan", which he is still...

Referee Yusuke Ishibashi
Bystander Ruito Aoyagi
Ruito Aoyagi
is a Japanese actor and singer. He is best known for his role as Gakuto Mukahi in the The Prince of Tennis musicals. He is managed by Amuse, Inc.-Musicals:...

Bystander Takumi Saito
Takumi Saito
is a Japanese actor, model and singer.-Movies:* Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - The Movie as Miles Edgeworth* Saijo no Meii as Saijo Mikoto* Space Battleship Yamato as Yamamoto...

Bystander Ryou Washimi
Bystander YOH
Kite Eishiro Yuichi Tsuchiya
Yuichi Tsuchiya
Yuichi Tsuchiya is a Japanese actor and full-time member of the 4-man theatre troupe *pnish*. His nickname is "Tuti"...

Shiraishi Kuranosuke Noboru Washio

Original Soundtrack

The soundtrack is composed by Tarō Iwashiro
Taro Iwashiro
is a Japanese composer.-Career:He has worked on music for many Japanese Television Series but is most well-known for his musical scores for film...

 and was released in Japan on May 12, 2006. It also features music from the group, Yellow Cherry.

The track listing is as follows:

Alterations from the Anime/Manga

The movie was a condensed version of the manga and anime series, thus a lot of the events that happen were condensed and characters were changed.
  • Sumire Ryuzaki's age was changed so that instead of being a grandmother (and Nanjiro's junior middle school coach), she became a year younger than Nanjiro and became a former junior middle school student with him. She says that Nanjiro was her inspiration to play tennis.
  • The character of Wakashi Hiyoshi from the Hyotei school was replaced by Egate Mcleod Higaki, who was created as an original character for the movie. His sister, Shioin Higaki, is also an original character that was not in the manga/anime series, replacing Sakuno Ryuzaki.
  • In the film, the Seigaku uniforms have a little flap on the back of the jackets (which were featured in the anime, but slowly disappeared in later episodes), and the blue colors are much brighter. Also, Echizen's shirt that he wears in the beginning is of a different design and colors.
  • In the movie, the Oishi/Kikumaru pair takes on the Oshitari/Mukahi pair, while originally it was the Momoshiro/Kikumaru pair who did so. Also, the results of their match and that of Inui and Kaidoh are reversed; in the movie, they lose and the Inui/Kaidoh pair win, while in the manga/anime the opposite happened. Likewise, Fuji wins 6-0 in the movie, while the manga/anime has Jirou Akutagawa, his opponent, take one game before Fuji shuts him out.
  • The entire prefectural tournament, along with the matches against St. Rudolph and Yamabuki, are skipped over in the movie.
  • In the manga/anime, Echizen faces against Arai, another member of Seigaku's tennis club but not on the regular team, prior to becoming a regular. In the movie, Kaidoh is the first to challenge Echizen. Because of this change, when Echizen plays in the ranking matches, he faces against Momoshiro and Inui. In the manga/anime, his second match was with Inui, but the first match was with Kaidoh.
  • In the ranking match, Momoshiro has already developed the Jack Knife.
  • Just before his match with Egate, Ryoma uses a line from the anime that Fuji said to Akaya Kirihara of Rikkaidai, "A dog that doesn't bite barks the most."

Schools

  • Schools that appear in the movie besides Seigaku and Hyotei are Fudomine Middle School, Rokkaku Middle School, Higa-Chuu, Rikkai Daigaku Fuzoku and Shitenhōji.

Cast Background

  • The whole Seigaku cast is the same second musical cast from Tenimyu
    Tenimyu
    The Prince of Tennis Musical , also known as "TeniPuri Musical," "Tenimyu," or "GekiPuri" , is a series of live action stage musicals directed by Yukio Ueshima based on manga series The Prince of Tennis created by Takeshi Konomi and serialized by Shueisha in Weekly Shonen Jump.The first musical...

    , except Ryoma, who was recast due to Kotaro Yanagi's accident, as well as to cast an actor closer to the character's age. However, the only members of another team from the musicals to reprise their roles were Koji Date
    Koji Date
    is a Japanese actor and singer. He is known most notably for his role as Ohtori Chotarou in The Prince of Tennis movie and The Prince of Tennis musicals...

     as Choutaro Ohtori and Shun Takagi as Masaya Sakurai. Every other role in the movie was entirely recast. For most of these actors, this film was their first major appearance in the film industry.
  • Several former members of the musical cast make cameo appearances in the movie, though not in the roles they played in the musicals (i.e.: Eiji Moriyama, who played Momoshiro in the first TeniMyu cast, makes an appearance as Genichirou Sanada from Rikkai; Yuichi Tsuchiya, who played Oishi in the first cast, appears as Eishirou Kite from Higa).
  • Many cast members were former and future actors from the Super Sentai
    Super Sentai
    The is the name given to the long-running Japanese superhero team genre of shows produced by Toei Co., Ltd., Toei Agency and Bandai, and aired by TV Asahi...

    series. Ryuji Sainei (Keigo Atobe) played Banban Akaza/DekaRed in 2004's Dekaranger. Yasuka Saitoh (Shinji Ibu) was playing Masumi Inou/BoukenBlack from Boukenger at the time the movie was released. Following the film, Hiroki Suzuki (Shuichiro Oishi) and Hirofumi Araki (Sadaharu Inui) played Jan Kandou/GekiRed and Rio respectively in 2007's Gekiranger. Hiroki Aiba (Shusuke Fuji) later played Ryūnosuke Ikenami/ShinkenBlue in the Samurai Sentai Shinkenger
    Samurai Sentai Shinkenger
    is the title of Toei Company's thirty-third entry in its long-running Super Sentai Series of Japanese tokusatsu television series. It premiered on February 15, 2009, the week following the finale of Engine Sentai Go-onger, and ended on February 7, 2010...

    in 2009.

Box office

The movie debuted #10 in the Japanese Box Office.

DVD release

The DVD was released on September 28, 2006, in two editions: Premium Edition (9240 yen) and Regular Edition (4935 yen).

Prior to the movie's release at the Japanese box office, a "making of" DVD entitled Prince of Tennis Navigate was also released for fans to purchase.
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