Baby Steps

Description

Maruo Eiichirou (Ei-Chan), a first-year honour student, one day decides he's unhappy with the way things are and lacks exercise. His mother then gives him a flyer for the local Tennis Club, he decides to check it out and he's instantly captivated by it. With no prior experience and poor physical conditioning, join Ei-Chan as he embarks on a tennis journey using his smarts, dedication and work ethic.

Note: Won the 38th Kodansha Manga Award in the Best Shōnen Manga category in 2014.

Type

Manga

Related Series

N/A

Associated Names

Langkah Bayi

Маленькие шаги

خطوات صغيرة

เบบี้ สเต็ป (VBK)

ベイビーステップ

網球優等生

网球优等生

베이비 스텝

Groups Scanlating

Latest Release(s)

c.435 by Fallen Angels 2 years ago

c.434 by Fallen Angels 2 years ago

c.433 by Fallen Angels 3 years ago

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Status in Country of Origin

47 Volumes (Complete)

Completely Scanlated?

Yes

Anime Start/End Chapter

Starts at Vol 1, Chap 1 (S1) / Vol 8, Chap 73 (S2)

Ends at Vol 8, Chap 72 (S1) / Vol 19, Chap 181 (S2)

User Reviews

N/A

Forum

5 topics, 14 posts

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User Rating

Average: 8.7 / 10.0 (762 votes)

Bayesian Average: 8.61 / 10.0

37%

24%

22%

10%

Last Updated

February 26th, 2025 2:12pm PST - 2 months ago

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Genre

Comedy Drama Romance School Life Shounen Slice of Life Sports
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Categories

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Recommendations

Author(s)

Artist(s)

Year

Original Publisher

Kodansha

Serialized In (magazine)

Shuukan Shounen Magazine (Kodansha)

Licensed (in English)

Yes

English Publisher

K Manga (455 Chapters - Complete)

Activity Stats (vs. other series)

Weekly Pos #757

(+1)

Monthly Pos #1523

(-153)

3 Month Pos #2683

(-180)

6 Month Pos #3429

(+150)

Year Pos #3693

(+543)

List Stats

On 3637 reading lists

On 947 wish lists

On 253 completed lists

On 110 unfinished lists

On 517 custom lists

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Forum Posts Click to view the forum

"Baby Steps" Manga Ends

7 years ago

Season 2 end.

10 years ago

2nd Baby Steps Season Slated to Premiere on April 5

10 years ago

Baby Steps Gets Anime Next Spring

11 years ago

more life

12 years ago

User Comments [ Order by time added ]

I don't see a single one of these bad reviews

by Hell_Clues
10 years ago

Rating: 4.0 / 10.0

so I'll add one. I've read plenty of sports manga. Few are the way these people seem to describe the majority. Even hajime is actually pretty much closer to reality. It's just effects. There's only one type of modern manga that's anything how these people describe and that's the various baki type(and it's not that modern). Honestly most old manga wasn't anywhere as unrealistic as people seem to think. Most of ashita no joe is fairly realistic, as is most of ganbare genki that I've read.

The praise this gets is so weird. I'm struggling to make it past the early volumes. I just don't feel it. I've never not felt it more than this except with stuff that's outright off putting like baki or that one girl mma.

If you truly want realistic, watch the sport. Especially since the reviews seem to say it only focuses on them. But really I was going to recommend all rounder meguro which is much better than this in every way. It's not realistic to not focus on how things effect other parts of your life.

Didn't this kid get superior eyesight from randomly watching trains out of nowhere... that rubbed me the wrong way.

There's also something incredibly generic about the designs. I don't usually care but the main character looks almost inhuman but not in a endearing way like the kid from that bicycle manga.

I've never had an interest in prince of tennis(and never ever want to) though I've watched the classic aim for ace so I can't compare the two.

There's something lifeless about the main character. I feel the opposite of most people, this story pumps him up too much. Maybe it's the same as other sports characters but it feels odd. He rubs me the wrong way. He honestly doesn't seem like a tennis player and more like he should be a manager. Plus wouldn't someone like this just have gone to a gym.

Now his whole life is about tennis. Look... that's normal for a sports manga but it comes off wrong here for whatever reason.

Some people say he comes off like an everyday person but he doesn't. One review said he can't see him much like a man or boy and then proceeded to say some stupid things about what constitutes that. I don't agree with the latter half but the way this kid thinks seems inhuman.

He also just moves too fast to playing seriously. Who picks up a hobby to get exercise and already does it so seriously. It's like the skipped a whole phase.

Green boy is a better manga even if it doesn't focus on the sport.

That's the general sentiment I have with this manga. It's not offensive but it's bland. It might be called rounded, but there are manga that do aspects of this better and are better for it! Being realistic, focusing on the characters, presentation, character designs, love, comedy, you name it.

The only claim to fame might be that it only focuses on the matches but I can't even reach that point because the beginning is killing me. It has been for years.

Well I don't think I can stop anyone, not sure if I'm trying. You can only experience how you feel about this from trying it. And like I said, it's inoffensive. But if you're wavering from trying it from what you know of it, I think you can safely put it at the bottom , it's a low priority. If you're thinking of giving up on it, I feel you.

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Just watch real Tennis instead

by bahram
7 years ago

Rating: 1.0 / 10.0

I don't really get the point of manga like this. 99% of it is just Tennis. The side characters are never developed and Maruo pretty much has no life outside of Tennis. At that point, why wouldn't you just watch the actual real sport? Go turn on your tv and watch the real sport instead

... Last updated 7 years ago

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