TV-Series
Description
Ann Tachibana is a fictional character who appears in the manga and anime series The Prince of Tennis. She is a thirteen-year-old student in her second year at Fudomine Middle School, where she is an active member of the girls tennis club. Ann is best known as the younger sister of Kippei Tachibana, the formidable captain of the Fudomine boys tennis team.
Physically, Ann is easily recognized by her large, dark, and slightly upturned eyes. Her signature hairstyle is a short bob with straight-cut bangs parted in the center, which leaves her forehead visible. She often secures her hair with distinctive pink barrettes, though she sometimes wears green ones when in her sports attire. While this is her usual look, she is comfortable adopting a more feminine style when she chooses. It is noted that during the time she lived in the Kyushu region, she used to wear her hair in twin tails. Ann stands 155 centimeters tall and weighs approximately 46 kilograms. Her birthday is March 21, though some video games list it as June 28, making her astrological sign Aries. Her blood type is O, and she is right-handed.
Ann possesses a very competitive, high-spirited, and strong-willed personality. She is defined by a powerful sense of justice and fairness, and she is never afraid to speak her mind or back down from a challenge. Despite having a boyish demeanor at times, she is unafraid to wear miniskirts, pink clothing, or dresses to showcase a more feminine side. However, she also has a rather explosive and even vicious temper. This anger can lead her to get into trouble, whether she is defending others or acting out of rage. Her deep care for her brother, Kippei, and her friends from both the Seigaku and Fudomine teams is a core part of her character, and she is known for being a strong and vocal supporter of the Fudomine boys team.
Ann is introduced early in the story when she approaches Takeshi Momoshiro and Ryoma Echizen at a fast-food restaurant to strike up a conversation about the Seigaku tennis team. Her connection to the main plot deepens during the match between Seigaku and Fudomine, where she defends Sakuno Ryuzaki from a bully, an act that leads to her properly introducing herself as Kippei Tachibana's sister. Throughout the series, her primary motivation is the well-being and success of her brother and the Fudomine team. She acts as an unofficial manager and a constant source of encouragement for the boys, driven by her loyalty and her own passion for tennis.
A significant part of Ann's role involves her relationships with players from other schools. She develops a very close friendship with Takeshi Momoshiro of Seigaku, whom she nicknames Momo-chan. Their bond is strong enough that they go on outings together, and there is a mutual, if unspoken, romantic interest between them, evidenced by Momoshiro's jealousy when others pay attention to her. She also has a close relationship with Akira Kamio, her brother's sub-captain, who has shown a clear romantic interest in her as well. Her care for Momoshiro is demonstrated when she helps him regain his place in the Seigaku regular lineup after he realizes a critical flaw in his playing style.
Ann experiences notable character development driven by her protective nature. After a match where Rikkaidai's Akaya Kirihara intentionally injures her brother, sending him to the hospital and forcing him to miss a crucial training camp, Ann develops an unusually violent hatred for Kirihara. This anger culminates at the camp when Kirihara insults her brother, causing Ann's rage to explode and resulting in her pushing Kirihara down a flight of stairs. Another player is initially blamed for the incident, but Ryoma Echizen discovers the truth after finding one of Ann's hair clips near the scene. When confronted, Ann confesses her actions, apologizes sincerely to everyone involved, and ultimately makes peace with Kirihara after he vows to change his ways.
Regarding her own abilities, Ann is a talented tennis player who holds a spot on her school's girls team. She is frequently seen practicing alone at local street courts, demonstrating her dedication to the sport. While she possesses no special techniques in some video game adaptations, in others she is shown to have moves such as the Apricot Return and the Feather Drop. According to Takeshi Momoshiro, despite her small size, Ann is capable of hitting the ball with a surprisingly heavy amount of force.
Physically, Ann is easily recognized by her large, dark, and slightly upturned eyes. Her signature hairstyle is a short bob with straight-cut bangs parted in the center, which leaves her forehead visible. She often secures her hair with distinctive pink barrettes, though she sometimes wears green ones when in her sports attire. While this is her usual look, she is comfortable adopting a more feminine style when she chooses. It is noted that during the time she lived in the Kyushu region, she used to wear her hair in twin tails. Ann stands 155 centimeters tall and weighs approximately 46 kilograms. Her birthday is March 21, though some video games list it as June 28, making her astrological sign Aries. Her blood type is O, and she is right-handed.
Ann possesses a very competitive, high-spirited, and strong-willed personality. She is defined by a powerful sense of justice and fairness, and she is never afraid to speak her mind or back down from a challenge. Despite having a boyish demeanor at times, she is unafraid to wear miniskirts, pink clothing, or dresses to showcase a more feminine side. However, she also has a rather explosive and even vicious temper. This anger can lead her to get into trouble, whether she is defending others or acting out of rage. Her deep care for her brother, Kippei, and her friends from both the Seigaku and Fudomine teams is a core part of her character, and she is known for being a strong and vocal supporter of the Fudomine boys team.
Ann is introduced early in the story when she approaches Takeshi Momoshiro and Ryoma Echizen at a fast-food restaurant to strike up a conversation about the Seigaku tennis team. Her connection to the main plot deepens during the match between Seigaku and Fudomine, where she defends Sakuno Ryuzaki from a bully, an act that leads to her properly introducing herself as Kippei Tachibana's sister. Throughout the series, her primary motivation is the well-being and success of her brother and the Fudomine team. She acts as an unofficial manager and a constant source of encouragement for the boys, driven by her loyalty and her own passion for tennis.
A significant part of Ann's role involves her relationships with players from other schools. She develops a very close friendship with Takeshi Momoshiro of Seigaku, whom she nicknames Momo-chan. Their bond is strong enough that they go on outings together, and there is a mutual, if unspoken, romantic interest between them, evidenced by Momoshiro's jealousy when others pay attention to her. She also has a close relationship with Akira Kamio, her brother's sub-captain, who has shown a clear romantic interest in her as well. Her care for Momoshiro is demonstrated when she helps him regain his place in the Seigaku regular lineup after he realizes a critical flaw in his playing style.
Ann experiences notable character development driven by her protective nature. After a match where Rikkaidai's Akaya Kirihara intentionally injures her brother, sending him to the hospital and forcing him to miss a crucial training camp, Ann develops an unusually violent hatred for Kirihara. This anger culminates at the camp when Kirihara insults her brother, causing Ann's rage to explode and resulting in her pushing Kirihara down a flight of stairs. Another player is initially blamed for the incident, but Ryoma Echizen discovers the truth after finding one of Ann's hair clips near the scene. When confronted, Ann confesses her actions, apologizes sincerely to everyone involved, and ultimately makes peace with Kirihara after he vows to change his ways.
Regarding her own abilities, Ann is a talented tennis player who holds a spot on her school's girls team. She is frequently seen practicing alone at local street courts, demonstrating her dedication to the sport. While she possesses no special techniques in some video game adaptations, in others she is shown to have moves such as the Apricot Return and the Feather Drop. According to Takeshi Momoshiro, despite her small size, Ann is capable of hitting the ball with a surprisingly heavy amount of force.