Bouncing about
The idea of sports comics has always appealed to me. I wish we had more of them. Okay, any of them. Sports is such a great method of portraying action without having the characters fight each other (by only having them metaphorically fight).
But Japan, with its vast array of comics subject matter, has the flare to not only pull off a sports manga but make it innovative and cutting-edge. And now that the live-action version of Ping Pong is coming out, many are doubtless eager to see how it lives up to the original.
Folks in New York, Chicago and Seattle will get that chance, as Viz Pictures will be screening the comedic sports film for limited runs in those cities over the next couple of months. In New York, you can catch it at the ImaginAsian starting on April 6; in Chicago it debuts at Facets Cinematheque on April 27; and in Seattle it’ll be at the Grand Illusion Cinema beginning May 25 (which is a bit far in the future so no info is available yet on their site).