New Prince of Tennis: True Sequel or Something Made On A Whim?

[Brandnewkid]

I've been wondering, did Konomi really intend for PoT to be no more than a prologue? The way SPoT is written, it seems as if it was just an afterthought Konomi made just so he could make some more money. However, we have to consider that there are things that can argue for SPoT's place as a real "true story:"

- Konomi may had intended on SPoT being run in Weekly Jump, meaning the pace would've been the same as PoT;

- There are foreshadows of some elements in SPoT being present in PoT, and here's a fun fact that you all may have not known: Did you guys know that the first person ever seen to hit multiple balls at once was neither Tokugawa or Oni, but Akutsu? He was shown being able to return two balls like it was nothing against his coach Banji.

- Ryoma still hasn't played Nanjiro in a real match yet.

[Fuji Shusuke]

It was made out of fan service. I think Konomi said that he never expected to make a sequel to PoT.

[Airgrimes]

Total whim.
Think about it. Only certain characters have had power-ups, most MSers dragged to the camp have literally been dragged and done NOTHING.

The anime simply shows Ryoma, Tezuka, Kintaro and Tezuka a lot. Its total fan service. This series is nothing like Part I.

[perroloco]

Yeah.. I never knew Kintaro was that well liked? Wasn't Fuji liked way better (and Atobe too) than Kintaro or Tezuka? But well, Fuji hasn't done much on Shin Prince of tennis so maybe that's why he hasn't shown much in the anime..

I am pretty damn sure that when Konomi was ending PoT there was talk or at least an initiative for a sequel or spin-off or what have you..

Money-wise and Story-wise the franchise has soooo much more potential, and historically sport manga that are popular get extended, just not in the magazine they originally appeared, but in a magazine fit for the audience that grew while the original manga was being serialized.
What I mean is i.e. a 10 years old back when PoT began is now in his/her 20s so a sequel would be targeted into a Seinen or a Shonen magazine that has more "mature" titles.. in this case SQ, prior to SQ most mangas with continuations would go to other magazines but SQ seems like the new depositor of Weekly Jump titles.

As you guys have mentioned as it is now the story is more or less just fan-service.. heck.. but it has always been like that, hasn´t it? Even since Prince of Tennis the inclusion of Hyotei in the Nationals was just pure fan-service.

[Airgrimes]

Yeah.. I never knew Kintaro was that well liked? Wasn't Fuji liked way better (and Atobe too) than Kintaro or Tezuka? But well, Fuji hasn't done much on Shin Prince of tennis so maybe that's why he hasn't shown much in the anime..

I am pretty damn sure that when Konomi was ending PoT there was talk or at least an initiative for a sequel or spin-off or what have you..

Money-wise and Story-wise the franchise has soooo much more potential, and historically sport manga that are popular get extended, just not in the magazine they originally appeared, but in a magazine fit for the audience that grew while the original manga was being serialized.
What I mean is i.e. a 10 years old back when PoT began is now in his/her 20s so a sequel would be targeted into a Seinen or a Shonen magazine that has more "mature" titles.. in this case SQ, prior to SQ most mangas with continuations would go to other magazines but SQ seems like the new depositor of Weekly Jump titles.

As you guys have mentioned as it is now the story is more or less just fan-service.. heck.. but it has always been like that, hasn´t it? Even since Prince of Tennis the inclusion of Hyotei in the Nationals was just pure fan-service.

I have no idea how Konomi works.
Fuji has come 1st twice. With only Ryoma coming 1st more than him(3rd) Coz he is the main character.
With Sanada being only 19th right now and never even reaching the Top 10 while Marui, Shiraishi, Hiyoshi and Yukimura are in the Top 10 who all get far less screen time than Sanada.
Ive said this before but Zaizen is more popular than Sanada lol. Zaizen is yet to hit a ball in the manga.

Compared to other Sports Manga that get extended I have to say Storyline-wise PoT has done poorly on their sequel. Its definetely on a whim.
Examples being Inazuma 11 and Captain Tsubasa who have had successful sequels that didnt lack in storyline.

Also, Hyotei being included was necessary due to how popular they were. It would have been stupid of a mangaka not to.

[Brandnewkid]

Inazuma 11 is based on a video game that's basically a Super Mario Soccer RPG. Captain Tsubasa is . . . something else, that's for sure. It's folowed all the way to the main character's life in the pro leagues, and is still going IIRC.

[Tempest]

Ive said this before but Zaizen is more popular than Sanada lol. Zaizen is yet to hit a ball in the manga.

This.

I find it interesting how Konomi decided to group dorm rooms in the way he did- I am really curious about more info on the 2nd year room with all the future captains.

Anyhow, more on topic: I feel like Konomi planned a sequel, but the way he wanted to executed changed over the years the original series was progressing. Maybe he planned to have it as the same pace as the original series, but on the way because other characters were gaining a lot of popularity, he decided to write PoT 2 different. I don't find the fact that it focuses a lot on Kintaro get's a lot of limelight surprising- in the original series it was mentioned during his 1 point match against Ryoma that they were both "destined rivals" or something along that line. If Konomi decides on continuing the series after the U-17 camp during Kaidoh's time as captain, the rivalry between Ryoma and Kintaro will only continue to escalate (though, they will most likely remain friendly as well). Fuji is a popular character, yes, and I except him to be shown during the upcoming matches against the top 10, but if Konomi decides on expanding the series even more, Kintaro > Fuji.

[Airgrimes]

This.

I find it interesting how Konomi decided to group dorm rooms in the way he did- I am really curious about more info on the 2nd year room with all the future captains.

Anyhow, more on topic: I feel like Konomi planned a sequel, but the way he wanted to executed changed over the years the original series was progressing. Maybe he planned to have it as the same pace as the original series, but on the way because other characters were gaining a lot of popularity, he decided to write PoT 2 different. I don't find the fact that it focuses a lot on Kintaro get's a lot of limelight surprising- in the original series it was mentioned during his 1 point match against Ryoma that they were both "destined rivals" or something along that line. If Konomi decides on continuing the series after the U-17 camp during Kaidoh's time as captain, the rivalry between Ryoma and Kintaro will only continue to escalate (though, they will most likely remain friendly as well). Fuji is a popular character, yes, and I except him to be shown during the upcoming matches against the top 10, but if Konomi decides on expanding the series even more, Kintaro > Fuji.

Do you mean in strength or attention when you say Kintaro > Fuji?
Since Fuji like I said is the most popular character.

With the dorms, he is basically saying next years captains are: Kirihara - Rikkai Captain, Kaidoh - Seigaku Captain, Zaizen - Shitenhoji Captain, Hiyoshi - Hyotei Captain.
Easy and Simple hint.

---------- Post added at 03:39 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:38 PM ----------

Inazuma 11 is based on a video game that's basically a Super Mario Soccer RPG. Captain Tsubasa is . . . something else, that's for sure. It's folowed all the way to the main character's life in the pro leagues, and is still going IIRC.

I cant think of more that did sequels.

And yeah, Inazuma 11 went from Game -> Anime -> Manga as oppose to the usual Manga -> Anime -> Game. So its probably a different scenario.

[LunaLuca]

The best person to ask this question is Konomi himself. So here is answer:

This was excerpted from an interview between Konomi and Minagawa Junko (Ryoma's seiyuu) for the pamphlet of the TeniPuri Festa. The whole interview can be found here.

Konomi: It's because everyone held it together that "Shin Tenisu no Oujisama" (2) could start serializing in SQ. Even after the original ended, Tenipuri was still getting popular. In China, a TV series started, the musicals are getting exciting, the OVA is selling...I felt that the wind was still blowing Tenipuri's way. I wondered if I shouldn't have ended the original serialization. (laughs)

Minagawa: (laughs).

Konomi: The fans were making more noise too, so I thought I'd announce the new serialization quickly. The original ended in March. I announced the new serialization in November. The editorial department in SQ contacted me in June when the new serialization was decided on. I wonder if even the editorial department was surprised over this. (laughs)

Minagawa: It's wonderful that Sensei felt like drawing again!

Konomi: Actually, I was considering a different story.

Did you already draw it?

Konomi: I wanted to do a fantasy and gathered material for that. But even though Tenipuri already ended, I somehow drew three chapters of the continuation. But I wanted my new work to become No.1, so I was hesitant. At that time in May, there was a Tennis Event (3) where everyone put on a memorial panel for me. And then I came away thinking, "I work with such great people! I should revive Tenipuri after all." During the closing of the 100 Song Marathon, I promised a revival of Tenipuri.

Minagawa: Yeah!

Konomi: Now I'm truly glad I revived Tenipuri. Everyone's happy about it and the reactions have been great.

Minagawa: Because it's interesting. When it started again, I thought, "It's here!" I was so excited that I cried.

Konomi: I wanted to express Tenipuri's return, so I challenged myself with an unprecedented 13 color pages in chapter 1.

Minagawa: That was the coolest!!

Konomi: It took me 2 and a half months to draw that. The 2nd chapter took 1 and a half months too, so in many ways, I didn't even rest for half a year. (laughs)

It's most likely Konomi's way of granting fan requests. But I wonder if the three chapters he drew then was the actual chapter that came out...

[Tempest]

Do you mean in strength or attention when you say Kintaro > Fuji?
Since Fuji like I said is the most popular character.

With the dorms, he is basically saying next years captains are: Kirihara - Rikkai Captain, Kaidoh - Seigaku Captain, Zaizen - Shitenhoji Captain, Hiyoshi - Hyotei Captain.
Easy and Simple hint

I mean, if PoT were to continue until Ryoma is a 3rd year, Kintaro > Fuji. Fuji, by then, would be off in high school... and the rivalry between Ryoma and Kintaro will probably have escalated even more. Thus, Kintaro would be a "more important" character compared to Fuji if PoT were to continue for longer.

Hmh, I could guess that they were the future captains. What I mean was, it would be more interesting to see more action between the future captains whether it is in dorms or on court- I guess my usage of the world "info" was a bit confusing.

[Airgrimes]

I mean, if PoT were to continue until Ryoma is a 3rd year, Kintaro > Fuji. Fuji, by then, would be off in high school... and the rivalry between Ryoma and Kintaro will probably have escalated even more. Thus, Kintaro would be a "more important" character compared to Fuji if PoT were to continue for longer.

Hmh, I could guess that they were the future captains. What I mean was, it would be more interesting to see more action between the future captains whether it is in dorms or on court- I guess my usage of the world "info" was a bit confusing.

Til he is a 3rd year is just unrealistic. Continuing on for longer only means through this year. We are on a sequel and we arent even near the end of the year. There is still a lot of the school year left. I wasnt even thinking about years later and its currently irrelevant. I doubt Konomi is thinking about that either and I dont think it would have been a factor in this decision as if it was for years later it would mean he has all the time in the world to include Kintaro and could show Fuji in the meantime.