Changes: Tenma Udai

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Tenma Udai (Japanese: 宇内 (うだい) 天満 (てんま) , Udai Tenma), also known as the Small Giant or Little Giant (Japanese: 小 (ちい) さな巨人 (きょじん) , Chīsana Kyojin), was the ace of Karasuno High's Boys' Volleyball Club. He is Shōyō Hinata's inspiration. As of November 2018, he is currently working as a manga artist.

Appearance

During his time in high school, Udai appears to be around less than 170 cm in height and has messy curly black hair similar to Hinata. In Saeko's flashback, he is also seen with dark grey.

Personality

Saeko Tanaka described him as a mischievous person and one of the "bad kids" whom she would've gotten along with;^[1] however, in the anime, she also claimed that he didn't stand out.^[2] When on the volleyball court, he radiated an intense aura of confidence and pride in being his team's ace whose teammates could rely on in games.

In the current day, he seems to be more relaxed and easy-going, possibly as a result of mellowing out in the past few years. He doesn't show a strong attachment to his past title of the "Little Giant", and freely admits that he wasn't as strong as he used to think he was, and that players such as Kōrai Hoshiumi are better than he ever was. While watching the game between Kamomedai and Karasuno, he mostly exhibits a light-hearted enjoyment of both sides' abilities without appearing too concerned about the outcome of the match.

Background

The Small Giant's intense gaze from Saeko's perspective.

Udai is an alumnus of Karasuno High School and its former Ace. According to Keishin Ukai, Karasuno was at its peak when Udai played for the team. Because Hinata was inspired to play volleyball after seeing the "Small Giant" play on TV, Udai is indirectly responsible for all the events of the story.

Initially, the Small Giant used to frequently get blocked, but halfway through his second year, his abilities started developing and he figured out a way to get through the blockers and hit the ball from above them every time they tossed to him.^[3]

SmallGiant1 — The Small Giant in action from Tsukishima's perspective.

There was one time in the past when he was not doing so well during a practice match.^[1] In the middle of the game, he was benched and went outside to the hallway to vent. Saeko Tanaka, who was watching the match, was standing near the lockers at that time. She observed as Udai kicked things around and banged his head against the lockers until he suddenly turned around and made eye contact with her. Saeko was taken aback by his intense expression and even now, remembers it vividly. She confessed it almost made her fall in love with him.

Plot

Tokyo Nationals Arc

Karasuno vs Kamomedai High

Udai is revealed to be the Small Giant when he attends the Spring Interhigh as a spectator after hearing about Karasuno making the quarter-finals. He manages to spot Akiteru from the crowd and accompanies the rest of the Karasuno alumni to the arena.^[4] Saeko introduces him to Hinata, who eagerly greets him and inquires about his current volleyball activities. However, Udai admits that he had stopped playing volleyball after he graduated high school due to other interests as well as not being invited to join a college team.

Statistics

He was blocked constantly during his first year and didn't develop his set of unique skills until his second year at Karasuno. However, after he improved his abilities, he became peerless in mid-air battles. He has been said to have incredible jumping ability. Since he was no match for the blockers in height, he developed a play style using block-outs, where he intentionally aims for the small gaps of a block and the blocker's fingertips so that the ball would ricochet. That was how he conceived his battle against other blockers.^[3]

Relationships

Ikkei Ukai

In the past, Ukai Ikkei gave the Small Giant additional training to help him develop other skills to make up for his lack of height. Karasuno had the best team in its history when the Small Giant was around.

Trivia

Nomenclature
- Udai (宇内) - Within the cosmo/sky.
- Tenma (天満) - Fulfilled heaven.

Quotes

"I also thought that I was strong." - (To Akiteru Tsukishima, Volume 39 Chapter 343)
"Throughout all of middle school, high school, and at a prefectural level, I felt that I was fairly good. I had the self-awareness and self-confidence that I was the ace. But at the Nationals, the higher you go, the bigger, faster, smarter, your opponents become. I thought that to make up for my lack of height, I'd fight with technical ability. But whether you're big or small, those who spent time polishing their technical ability were the ones who had skills and the feeling where you meet someone bigger or stronger than you, and for the first time, you realize how small and how weak you are." - (To Akiteru Tsukishima, Volume 39 Chapter 343)
"Understand your own weakness and take it in. Carefully, carefully hone all of the weapons you do have. That is the little giant." - (To himself, Volume 41 Chapter 362)

References

[c.78.-1] 1.0 ^1.1 Volume 9 Chapter 78

[e.2.4-2] Season 2 Episode 4

[c.30.-3] 3.0 ^3.1 Volume 4 Chapter 30

[c.338.-4] Volume 38 Chapter 338

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

@@ Line 4: / Line 4: @@
 |japanese name = 宇内 天満
 |translation name = Udai Tenma
-|other names = Little/Small Giant
+|other names = Little/Small Giant<br/>Tiny Giant (anime)
-Tiny Giant (anime)
 |gender = Male
 |age = 21
+(current)
 |height = 170 cm (5' 6.9")
 |home town = Miyagi Prefecture
@@ Line 17: / Line 17: @@
 |chapter = [[Endings and Beginnings]]
 |episode = [[Endings and Beginnings (Episode)|Endings and Beginnings]]
+|occupation = Manga artist (Nov 2018)}}
-}}{{translation|'''Tenma Udai'''|{{Ruby|宇内|うだい}} {{Ruby|天満|てんま}}|Udai Tenma}}, also known as the {{translation|'''Small Giant''' or '''Little Giant'''|{{Ruby|小|ちい}}さな{{Ruby|巨人|きょじん}}|Chīsana Kyojin}}, was the ace of [[Karasuno High]]'s Boys' Volleyball Club. He is [[Shōyō Hinata]]'s inspiration.
+{{translation|'''Tenma Udai'''|{{Ruby|宇内|うだい}} {{Ruby|天満|てんま}}|Udai Tenma}}, also known as the {{translation|'''Small Giant''' or '''Little Giant'''|{{Ruby|小|ちい}}さな{{Ruby|巨人|きょじん}}|Chīsana Kyojin}}, was the ace of [[Karasuno High]]'s Boys' Volleyball Club. He is [[Shōyō Hinata]]'s inspiration. As of November 2018, he is currently working as a manga artist.
 == Appearance ==
-During his time in high school, Udai appears to be around less than 170 cm in height and has messy curly black hair similar to Hinata. In Saeko's flashback, he is also seen with dark grey eyes.
+During his time in high school, Udai appears to be around less than 170 cm in height and has messy curly black hair similar to Hinata. In Saeko's flashback, he is also seen with dark grey.
 == Personality ==
-[[Saeko Tanaka]] described him as a mischievous person and one of the "bad kids" whom she would've gotten along with<ref name="Chapter 78">Chapter 78</ref>; however, in the anime<ref>Season 2, Episode 4</ref>, she also claimed that he didn't stand out. When it comes to volleyball, he becomes a focused person due to the incredible intensity he emits while playing. He took immense pride in being his team's ace and his teammates relied on him on many occasions.
+[[Saeko Tanaka]] described him as a mischievous person and one of the "bad kids" whom she would've gotten along with;{{Ref|c|78}} however, in the anime, she also claimed that he didn't stand out.{{Ref|e|2|4}} When on the volleyball court, he radiated an intense aura of confidence and pride in being his team's ace whose teammates could rely on in games.
+In the current day, he seems to be more relaxed and easy-going, possibly as a result of mellowing out in the past few years. He doesn't show a strong attachment to his past title of the "Little Giant", and freely admits that he wasn't as strong as he used to think he was, and that players such as [[Kōrai Hoshiumi]] are better than he ever was. While watching the game between [[Kamomedai High|Kamomedai]] and Karasuno, he mostly exhibits a light-hearted enjoyment of both sides' abilities without appearing too concerned about the outcome of the match.
 == Background ==
 [[File:Image.jpg|thumb|left|190px|The Small Giant's intense gaze from Saeko's perspective.]]
-Udai is an alumnus of Karasuno High School and its former Ace. According to [[Keishin Ukai]], Karasuno was at its peak when Udai played for the team. Initially,<ref name="Chapter 30">Chapter 30</ref> the Small Giant used to always get blocked but halfway through his second year, his abilities started developing and he figured out a way to get through the blockers and hit the ball from above them every time they tossed to him.
+Udai is an alumnus of Karasuno High School and its former Ace. According to [[Keishin Ukai]], Karasuno was at its peak when Udai played for the team. Because Hinata was inspired to play volleyball after seeing the "Small Giant" play on TV, Udai is indirectly responsible for all the events of the story.
+Initially, the Small Giant used to frequently get blocked, but halfway through his second year, his abilities started developing and he figured out a way to get through the blockers and hit the ball from above them every time they tossed to him.{{Ref|c|30}}
 [[File:SmallGiant1.png|thumb|220x220px|The Small Giant in action from Tsukishima's perspective. ]]
-There was one time in the past when he was not doing so well during a practice match<ref name="Chapter 78" />. In the middle of the game, he was benched and went outside to the hallway to vent. Saeko Tanaka, who was watching the match, was standing near the lockers at that time. She observed as Udai kicked things around and banged his head against the lockers, until he suddenly turned around and made eye contact with her. Saeko was taken aback by his intense expression and even now, remembers it vividly. She confessed it almost made her fall in love with him.
+There was one time in the past when he was not doing so well during a practice match.{{Ref|c|78}} In the middle of the game, he was benched and went outside to the hallway to vent. [[Saeko Tanaka]], who was watching the match, was standing near the lockers at that time. She observed as Udai kicked things around and banged his head against the lockers until he suddenly turned around and made eye contact with her. Saeko was taken aback by his intense expression and even now, remembers it vividly. She confessed it almost made her fall in love with him.
 == Plot ==
@@ Line 35: / Line 40: @@
 '''Karasuno vs Kamomedai High'''
-Udai is revealed to be the Small Giant when he attends the Spring Interhigh as a spectator after hearing about Karasuno making the quarter finals. He manages to spot [[Akiteru Tsukishima|Akiteru]] from the crowd and accompanies the rest of the Karasuno alumni to the arena. [[Saeko Tanaka|Saeko]] introduces him to [[Shōyō Hinata|Hinata]], who eagerly greets him and inquires about his current volleyball activities. However, Udai admits that he had stopped playing volleyball after he graduated high school due to other interests as well as not being invited to join a new team.
+Udai is revealed to be the Small Giant when he attends the Spring Interhigh as a spectator after hearing about Karasuno making the quarter-finals. He manages to spot [[Akiteru Tsukishima|Akiteru]] from the crowd and accompanies the rest of the Karasuno alumni to the arena.{{Ref|c|338}} Saeko introduces him to [[Shōyō Hinata|Hinata]], who eagerly greets him and inquires about his current volleyball activities. However, Udai admits that he had stopped playing volleyball after he graduated high school due to other interests as well as not being invited to join a college team.
 == Statistics ==
-He was blocked constantly during his first year and didn't develop his set of unique skills until his second year at Karasuno. However, after he improved his abilities, he became peerless in mid-air battles. He has been said to have incredible jumping ability. Since he was no match for the blockers in height, he developed a play style using block-outs, where he intentionally aims for the small gaps of a block and the blocker's fingertips so that the ball would ricochet. That was how he conceived his battle against other blockers.<ref name="Chapter 30" />.
+He was blocked constantly during his first year and didn't develop his set of unique skills until his second year at Karasuno. However, after he improved his abilities, he became peerless in mid-air battles. He has been said to have incredible jumping ability. Since he was no match for the blockers in height, he developed a play style using block-outs, where he intentionally aims for the small gaps of a block and the blocker's fingertips so that the ball would ricochet. That was how he conceived his battle against other blockers.{{Ref|c|30}}
 == Relationships ==
 ===[[Ikkei Ukai]]===
 In the past, Ukai Ikkei gave the Small Giant additional training to help him develop other skills to make up for his lack of height. Karasuno had the best team in its history when the Small Giant was around.
+==Trivia==
+*'''Nomenclature'''
+**Udai (宇内) - Within the cosmo/sky.
+**Tenma (天満) - Fulfilled heaven.
 == Quotes ==
-*"''I also thought that I was strong.''" - To [[Akiteru Tsukishima]] ([[Little Giants|Chapter 343]])
+*"''I also thought that I was strong.''" - (To [[Akiteru Tsukishima]], {{Link|c|343}})
-*"''Throughout all of middle school, high school, and at a prefectural level, I felt that I was fairly good. I had the self-awareness and self-confidence that I was the ace. But at the Nationals, the higher you go, the bigger, faster, smarter, your opponents become. It thought that to make up for my lack of height, I'd fight with technical ability. But whether you're big or small, those who spent time polishing their technical ability were the ones who had skills and the feeling where you meet someone bigger or stronger than you, and for the first time, you realize how small and how weak you are.''" - To [[Akiteru Tsukishima]] ([[Little Giants|Chapter 343]])
+*"''Throughout all of middle school, high school, and at a prefectural level, I felt that I was fairly good. I had the self-awareness and self-confidence that I was the ace. But at the Nationals, the higher you go, the bigger, faster, smarter, your opponents become. I thought that to make up for my lack of height, I'd fight with technical ability. But whether you're big or small, those who spent time polishing their technical ability were the ones who had skills and the feeling where you meet someone bigger or stronger than you, and for the first time, you realize how small and how weak you are.''" - (To [[Akiteru Tsukishima]], {{Link|c|343}})
+*"Understand your own weakness and take it in. Carefully, carefully hone all of the weapons you do have. That is the little giant." - (To himself, {{Link|c|362}})
 ==References==