English Dub Review: Akebi’s Sailor Uniform “Fight On! Fight On!”

Overview (Spoilers Below):
Summer has come, marked by the switch to summer uniforms. Practices for the athletic festival have begun, and in addition to her other events, Komichi is in charge of the cheer squad.

Our Take:
Summer has officially begun at Roubai Academy, but that doesn’t mean it’s time to relax in the sun. This episode has the Roubai students practicing their athletic skills for the festival, ranging from basketball to tennis. Here, we see Komichi and the others practicing their cheers to get the other students motivated for the event, while another student struggles with her confidence.
“Fight On! Fight On!” is another charming episode where Komichi’s determination and heartfelt nature inspire those around her, especially in her cheerleading outfit. More importantly, it sheds light on a cheer squad’s significance in any event. Sure, all they do is just dance around and shout positive chants loudly, but there’s more to it than that. It’s a way of expressing spirit and faith to the athletes and the school they represent, giving them the confidence they need to “fight on”. While far from a perfect representation, it’s still a great approach to something that resembles the missing piece of the school’s puzzle.
The best example of this direction is Riona Shijou (Amber Lee Connors), another student who shares the spotlight with Komichi. Shijou is a member of the school’s tennis club who struggles to play the sport effectively, thanks to her doubt. However, after her brief cheerleading experience with Komichi, Shijou regains her confidence and her love for tennis. It’s a sweet and sometimes comical segment that emphasizes the episode’s theme and is backed up well by Connors’ voice performance.
Overall, “Fight On! Fight On!” delivers the right amount of motivation to keep the narrative going strong. It’s more like an anime version of the “Bring It On” movies, but without the school drama and the cruddy direct-to-video sequels. For a harmless show like this, it’s good enough to keep myself going until the end. “Go, team, go”, indeed.