How a Japanese manga series evolved into a global under-17 tennis tournament saga
In short: Following the conclusion of the original series, The New Prince of Tennis shifts the focus to a high-stakes selection camp. Ryoma Echizen returns to Japan to compete against fifty other middle schoolers for a spot on the national under-17 team, launching a sprawling narrative of international competitive tennis.
Written and illustrated by Takeshi Konomi, the manga series known in Japan as Shin Tennis no Ōjisama began serialization in the magazine Jump Square on March 4, 2009. Over the next seventeen years, the story expanded significantly, eventually spanning 48 collected volumes before concluding its run on August 4, 2026. The narrative picks up shortly after the events of the original manga, centering on the intense pressure of the Japanese U-17 High School Representatives Selection Camp.
The franchise successfully transitioned into a long-running anime presence. The initial television adaptation, produced by Production I.G and M.S.C, aired in early 2012. Beyond the standard television format, the series utilized various media, including original video animations like the ten-episode vs. Genius 10 released between 2014 and 2015, and the two-part original net animation Hyotei vs. Rikkai Game of Future in 2021.
In recent years, the scope of the anime has broadened to focus on international competition. The U-17 World Cup arc debuted in 2022, followed by the U-17 World Cup Semifinal in 2024. The latest installment, focused on the selection of members for the World Cup finals, premiered on TV Tokyo in October 2026. These productions have consistently featured elaborate musical themes, with voice actors often performing as specialized units to provide opening and ending tracks for the various seasons.
The series maintains a strong international distribution footprint, with Crunchyroll streaming multiple iterations of the anime, including the recent World Cup-themed sequels. The franchise has become a significant cultural touchstone for sports-themed manga, blending the technical aspects of tennis with the dramatic intensity of high-school competition, all while maintaining a consistent production schedule that has spanned nearly two decades of Japanese media history.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: The Prince of Tennis II
- Also: Wikidata — The Prince of Tennis II · CC0
- Also: Wikidata — The Prince of Tennis II · CC0
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