Kids on the Slope English Sub & Dub

About Kids on the Slope

Kids on the Slope (Sakamichi no Apollon) blends school, romance and drama by MAPPA, Tezuka Productions (2012). Below is a fresh retelling of what the story is about. The setup: Introverted classical pianist and top pupil Kaoru Nishimi has just arrived in Kyushu for his first year of high school. Having constantly moved from place to place since his childhood, he abandons all hope of fitting in, preparing himself for another lonely, meaningless year.

Along the way, that is, until he encounters the notorious delinquent Sentarou Kawabuchi. Sentarou's immeasurable love for jazz music inspires Kaoru to learn more about the genre, and as a result, he slowly sets off to break out of his shell, making his very first companion. Kaoru begins playing the piano at after-school jazz sessions, located in the basement of fellow student Ritsuko Mukae's family-owned record shop.

As a school title, campus dynamics, friendships and rivalries set the day-to-day tone. This one is best suited to viewers who enjoy school-life settings.

Production & Appeal

Animation is handled by MAPPA, Tezuka Productions, so the studio's house style defines how Kids on the Slope looks and moves on screen. Within the school category, campus dynamics, friendships and rivalries set the day-to-day tone. A community score of 8.3/10 puts it among the better-received school titles. It aired in 2012, which makes it easy to place in the wider anime calendar.