Konnichiwa everyone. I know the rules of soccer, this is Boss from Otaku Republic.

Konnichiwa everyone! I don’t the rules of soccer at all! This is Saori from Otaku Republic!

You must know little something though. How many members in a soccer team?

um? ......eight?

It’s 11. But you can enjoy this even if you don’t know soccer at all! Today, we are spotlighting this soccer anime from the 2022 fall anime!

【Anime 1st Episode】Good Presentation with More Intensity than the Manga Version! Soccer Manga also a Death Game, Blue Lock First Episode Released!

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Oh! Blue Lock, the anime’s finally started!

Yes I do! Because it’s a soccer manga that was pretty popular in Japan~!

What is soccer manga Blue Lock like?

It’s a soccer manga that started its series in 2018, but it caught a lot of attention as ‘fun for non-soccer reasons too’ and ‘has friendship and growth, which don’t ensure victory hence is controversial~!’

Yes. The first episode of the anime visualized manga version’s 1st and 2nd episode contents. Those who have seen it must have understood that ‘it’s not just a soccer manga!’

Difference between anime and manga version? This is what Blue Lock is about!

The 1st episode starts with the main character Isagi Yoichi’s defeat.

Yoichi-kun is crying with regret on his walk back home because his judgement error lead to his team’s defeat. (Honestly, I think it was the coach’s bad advice) He wants to eventually represent Japan at the nationals...... but that dream may never be realized. He felt that deeply and was crying.

Isagi Yoichi

Isagi Yoichi

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And at such moment, one invitation came.

Yes. He was given a chance to participate in a training regimen by an organization called Japan Football Union. Yoichi-kun honestly felt he doesn’t have enough skill to be selected, but...... he decided to give it a try anyway.

And at the training camp’s orientation...... he finds out that only the most famous high school soccer players were gathered! Among them was also Kira Ryosuke-kun who defeated Yoichi-kun at the recent game!

Then the manager Ego Jinpachi explains the Blue Lock plan. The plan is to create ‘the one and only strongest ace striker’ among the 300 18-and-below students gathered at the camp. Participation is free. However, if one chooses to participate and is defeated, they will lose the eligibility to be a soccer national representative for a lifetime......!

It’s such a brutal plan.

Yes, brutal. But Ego says that ‘that’ is exactly what the Japanese soccer industry is missing. Japan’s soccer industry is best in the world as an organization but is inferior in the ability to score points. Blue Lock plan is supposedly a plan to overcome that.

Of course, there were students who rebelled against it. Soccer is a teamwork sport. However, Ego claims that a teamwork-focused Japanese representative has never been the world top.

I get what both sides are saying. And for each side, its ultimate goal is to ‘make Japanese soccer industry the best.’ How ironic......

Yoichi-kun was also torn...... but he had inside of him a desire to be ‘Japan’s number one.’ And recently, he had experienced the possibility of not achieving this dream......

And when the start of the participation was announced, Yoichi-kun was the first to run. I think he knew the absurdity of the Blue Lock plan, but felt an urge to get stronger and understood that his dream will never come true if doesn’t go for it then and there.

And the latter half starts with the first ‘test’...... The first topic is, believe it or not, a ‘tag’!?

Appearance was brief, but I was happy to see the familiar characters from the manga version~! For the result of the first test, please see for your own eyes!

Kunigami Rensuke

Kunigami Rensuke

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Bachira Meguru

Bachira Meguru

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Overall Review!The animation makes the thrill and character’s inner thoughts more vivid! An episode recommended for watching regardless of knowing the soccer rules!

When compared to manga version’s first episode, there were some dialogue alteration (like cutting the names of existing soccer players), but all else was mostly the same!

Right~! By adding voice to the characters, I felt the ‘desperation’ much more than I expected!

Yeah of course! Every one of the 300 students want to be Japan’s number 1 striker, and don’t want to forever lose the eligibility! And the pain in one’s voice when facing the possibility of elimination is just so extreme......

Multiple Blue Lock Doujinshi also getting released! Check them out with anime’s 1st episode!

Blue Lock

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I definitely want people who may think ‘looks like a soccer thing and may not be my thing’ to check it out too. The 1st episode was really easy to understand!

Yup! This is a manga (anime) work where one can gain knowledge not only about soccer, but mentality, philosophy, winning methods, finding luck, and better decision making too. So those of you who have not seen the 1st and those who have, this is a trending work that we recommend that you check out the 2nd episode for sure!

Okie doke, that’s it for now! See you at the next article!

Bye~!