SK8 the Infinity - Characters & Cast

Initially, Reki's motivation is the pure, unadulterated fun of skateboarding and sharing it with others. This becomes corrupted by his feelings of inadequacy when he compares himself to Langa. His motivation then shifts to a desperate need to prove he isn't just a sidekick. Ultimately, his motivation comes full circle, returning to the simple desire to skate 'infinitely' with his best friend, which he realizes is his true source of happiness.

Reki begins as a cheerful, energetic skater who loves everything about the sport, especially building boards. He introduces Langa to skateboarding and finds immense joy in his friend's progress. However, as Langa's natural talent eclipses his own, Reki falls into a deep depression, feeling inadequate and left behind. His arc is about overcoming this profound inferiority complex and realizing his self-worth isn't measured by talent alone. He learns that his passion, his craft, and his friendship are his true strengths. He ultimately finds his own unique way to stand beside Langa, not as a lesser skater, but as an equal partner, reaffirming that skating is, above all, about having fun together.

Langa is initially motivated by a search for the adrenaline and thrill he lost after he stopped snowboarding. He is looking for a feeling, a rush. As the series progresses, his motivation shifts entirely. He is no longer just chasing a feeling; he is driven by his desire to skate with Reki. This is solidified in the finale when he realizes winning against Adam is meaningless if it means losing the fun he shares with Reki.

Langa arrives in Okinawa feeling emotionally numb and disconnected after his father's death, having lost his passion for snowboarding. Through Reki, he discovers skateboarding and adapts his old skills, becoming an overnight sensation at 'S'. His arc is a journey of emotional reawakening. While he masters the technical skills of skating, he must learn the emotional core of the sport. He is initially driven by the adrenaline rush, which he equates to the feeling of snowboarding. Through his conflict and reconciliation with Reki, he learns that the true joy comes from the connection and shared experience with his friend. He evolves from a solitary talent into a person who prioritizes friendship over victory.

Adam is motivated by a deeply twisted and lonely desire for 'love,' which he confuses with the thrill of a high-stakes, dangerous skate battle. He wants to find his 'Eve,' an equal partner who can skate with him in his garden of Eden ('S'). This stems from his abusive upbringing, where the only attention he received was painful, causing him to associate love with pain and control. He seeks to dominate his opponents to feel a connection, however warped.

Adam is the flamboyant and twisted founder of 'S'. In his public life, he is Ainosuke Shindo, a charismatic politician from an abusive, restrictive family. Skateboarding was his only escape and form of self-expression, but his family's harsh discipline warped his understanding of love into a desire for control and dominance. His arc is a tragic exploration of how passion can become corrupted by trauma. He initially seeks a worthy opponent, his 'Eve,' in Langa, believing their clash will be the ultimate expression of love. Through his final race with Langa, who refuses to skate with hatred or fear, Adam is reminded of the original, pure fun of skating he once shared with his old friends, Joe and Cherry, taking a small step away from his destructive solitude.