Stars Align

"Stars Align" (Japanese: 星合の空, Hoshiai no Sora) is an original Japanese anime television series written and directed by Kazuki Akane and animated by Eight Bit. It premiered on October 10, 2019. The story revolves around the coming-of-age of boys in a junior high school's soft tennis club, which is on the verge of shutting down. To save the club, team captain Toma Shinjo desperately recruits transfer student Maki Katsuragi, recognizing his athletic talent. Maki agrees to join but demands payment from Toma for his participation and to cover the club's expenses. With Maki's arrival, his exceptional athleticism and quick learning skills immediately outshine the other members, sparking conflict within the team while motivating them to strive to keep up and take the sport seriously. The series not only focuses on the potential of the soft tennis club but also delves into the personal struggles and darker aspects of adolescence, including sensitive topics such as LGBTQ+, which earned it positive reviews and recognition as one of the best anime of the Fall 2019 season. Despite being initially planned for a two-cour run, it concluded with an abrupt ending.