REVIEW: ‘SK8 The Infinity Extra Part OVA’ Reminds Us Why We Love These Characters

It’s been four years since the Season 1 finale of the endlessly infectious studio bones series Sk8 the Infinity created by Hiroko Utsumi. Now, the series returns for a charming and adorable OVA, Sk8 the Infinity Extra Part, which serves as an engineered path to a potential Season 2 and a reminder of how much we adore these characters—well, most of them.

The 30-minute Sk8 the Infinity Extra Part is divided into four mini-stories. There’s “Rain and a Cat, Soda Ice Cream from the Convenience Store” featuring Reki (Tasuku Hatanaka), Langa (Chiaki Kobayashi), and Miya (Takuma Nagatsuka). “Becoming Really Serious About Things” dives into Kaoru Sakurayashiki/Cherry Blossom (Hikaru Midorikawa) and Kojiro Nanjo’s/Joe’s (Yasunori Matsumoto) high school days. “Morning Routine” highlights the strange dynamic between Adam’s (Takehito Koyasu) and Tadashi’s (Kensho Ono) everyday life. At the same time, “Hiromi, Do Your Best” sees Shadow (Kenta Miyake) without the face paint as he tries to charm his manager.

Not every vignette is created equal, if only because bandwidth for Adam will vary based on how tedious you found him in the original series. Frankly, I’d hoped he would be written out, considering his big joke is him leering over the teenaged Langa, but alas. Seems we’re stuck with him.

The rest of the stories, however, range from adorable to informative to adorably informative. Shadow gets the least screen time, but the contrast between his ‘S’ look and his day-to-day flower shop appearance continues to be a delightful joke. Especially considering he only breaks out his intimidating aura to stand up for an older woman who is cut off in line. More than anything, his story showcases the elasticity of the artistry, playing fast and loose with realism in favor of heightened motion to help highlight his enthusiasm and dismay.

Joe and Cherry Blossom get their flashback moment. 

The Joe and Cherry flashback wonderfully explores the two’s dynamic and competitive nature, which helped form the ‘S’ competition. Sk8 the Infinity Extra Part seems tailor-made for this section as it helps tie together the series’ overarching plot. The animation is playful and buoyant as the two squabble during their school day. The escalation of their showdown in the classroom is hilarious, and it follows them outdoors as they compete during a physical exam.

But their friendship shines through, though neither is quite ready to admit it. The character designs are a fun contrast to their modern-day looks, where they continue to contrast and complement each other. Seeing a little Reki carrying around his friend after losing a bet sweetens the story, as we know their paths will merge together later down the line. It also mirrors the first story, which is, of course, the best.

Reki and Langa, even within the brevity of Sk8 the Infinity Extra Part, are the series’ heart. Tasuku Hatanaka’s performance as Reki is particularly charismatic, anchoring the series with his integral character who the rest orbits. Langa, removed from the competition with Adam, is back to his sillier, more comedic self, working with Miya as the three mourn the loss of a skateboarding day to rain. The three return to Reki’s, where they engage in a game of Karuta, a Japanese card game.

An abundance of personality and kinetic fluidity fuels this snapshot. From the posters that adorn Reki’s walls and the chipped wood of the skateboards he’s working on, there’s proof of life in his room that is lacking in many other anime contemporaries. It feels lived in and worn, made more so by the room growing increasingly cramped as Reki’s younger sisters barrel in.

Personality shines through in Sk8 the Infinity Extra Part.

That constant flow of movement injects life into the OVA even as they sit and play a card game. However, that tactile motion is most evident once Reki and Langa lose the game and must carry one another to the convenience store for ice cream as their penalty.

This sequence is brief, but simple gestures and clever direction highlight the duo’s close friendship. It’s the best type of character dynamics that demonstrates the strength of the writing, and the simple act of giving a piggyback is enough to express their personalities and how they come together. The affection for these characters is evident as Langa carries Reki, the latter unable to sit still as he pushes his head onto Langa’s.

Directed and written by Tomoyo Kamoi (Children of the Sea, Banana Fish), Sk8 the Infinity Extra Part is filled with these little instances and interactions that build off of the dynamics and relationships we got to know in the original series. Those moments and the electric and detailed animation allow the series and the OVA to soar. Because there’s a deep-rooted understanding that the complexities of these characters are found in those rich, microscopic details and movements that are otherwise forgotten.

Sk8 the Inifity Extra Part doesn’t offer greater depth to the overall narrative series, but it doesn’t have to. It’s a delightful excuse to spend more time with these lovable characters with understated yet striking animation that instantly, once again, draws us in. Now, if only there were an official announcement for Season 2.

Sk8 the Inifity Extra Part is available now on Crunchyroll.