Bluelock: Discover the anime for soccer fans

If you're a soccer fan or just looking for an exciting anime, you must check out Bluelock. With stunning animation, interesting characters and an exciting plot, read on to learn more about this must-see anime.

Bluelock Key Facts

Muneyuki Kaneshiro created Bluelock and managed to first publish the manga in Weekly Shonen Magazinen on July 31, 2018. He had the honor of winning a Kodansha award in 2021, in the shonen category.

Its first and, so far, only anime season began broadcasting on October 09, 2022 thanks to the production of 8-Bit. It has a total of 24 episodes, available to watch on Crunchyroll.

Synopsis of Blue Lock

This story begins with the elimination of Japan's soccer team from the 2018 World Cup. In order to have better results, the Japanese Football Federation begins a program to search for players in various high schools to finally achieve the long-awaited victory in a World Cup.

Isagi Youichi, a striker, receives an invitation to this program shortly after his team lost its chance to go to the Nationals. The coach, Ego Jinpachi, takes charge of this team and intends to "destroy Japanese losing soccer" by introducing a radical new regime.

In a prison-like institution called Blue Lock (hence the name of this anime), 300 young strikers are brought together to create the "best selfish striker in the world". This is achieved through an arduous routine to develop that quintessential striker while increasing his individualism.

Baro Shoei, one of the most arrogant strikers in the team, with one of the best technique and physique in Japan. Rensuke Kunigami, a rare type of striker and high-powered left-footed shooter. Nagi Seishirou, a creative playmaker, with perfect ball control and technical ability, but cannot change the course of a game.

Blue Lock Characters

It presents a very different plot from what we had been presented in other sports anime, with a unique and even drastic concept to get that star player. All this is achieved with the set of characters involved and we will tell you a little about them below:

Baro Shoei

A striker who is dominated by selfishness and arrogance in the enclosure, he has exceptional physical and technical skills. Often plays individualistically rather than following the team plan, but managed to qualify as one of the best players after the Blue Lock Eleven played against Japan U-20. 

Although he is not treated as the best player in this soccer jail, he stands out for his ability to hold the ball, compete physically with other players, dribble and get opportunities for himself.

Rensuke Kunigami

Despite being eliminated during the final games of the Second Selection, Kunigami did not leave the facility and entered a mysterious "Wild Card" door that was open without supervision.

As a high-powered left-handed shooter, he emerges as a rare striker and the top scorer for Team Z during the First Selection. Coming out of the Wild Card gate, his physical skills improved significantly and he ranked among the top three players in the entire stratum in training, easily keeping up with Germany U-20 players.

Nagi Seishirou

Member of Team V and soon became the best player in his stratum. Once he plays against Japan's U-20 team, he manages to qualify as one of the best players in the venue.

He excels in perfect control, flexibility and exceptional technical skills, making the most difficult plays and scoring the most incredible goals in soccer prison.

Despite his great ability to finish and control the ball, he cannot turn the tide of a game on his own, which prevents him from ranking at the top.

Oliver Aiku

Oliver Aiku (you're sure to be familiar with this name, excellent nod to Super Champions), one of the best defenders of the Japan U-20 team at the venue.

This is due to his versatility in sweeping the ball and shutting down opposing offenses with solid defense. He becomes a defender, even though he was previously considered a recognized striker. This helped him in becoming Japan's brightest talent, becoming captain of the U-20 team and even got an offer to play for a professional club in Italy. 

Rin Itoshi

Rin Itoshi, considered the best striker of all the national teams. His obsession was to get revenge on his brother for abandoning their shared dream, but when he plays against Japan's U-20 team, he decided to let go of his revenge and focus on being the best.

Rin becomes the captain and center forward of the Blue Lock Eleven, selected as one of the 300 forwards for the project. At the end of the game, the public considers him as one of the best players.

Why has Bluelock become so popular?

The popularity of this animation is due to several reasons.

First of all, the anime has an exciting plot that focuses on the competition and training of the most talented soccer strikers, which appeals to sports fans.

It features interesting and well-developed characters, each with unique skills and personalities that set them apart from the rest. Viewers can connect with them and get excited about their accomplishments and advancements in the field.

High-quality animation and well-choreographed action scenes have contributed to the good reception. The series uses impressive visual effects to showcase the characters' skills on the soccer field, making it a visually appealing and exciting story.

The anime has a fast pace that keeps viewers on edge and hooked to the plot. It is also full of unexpected twists and exciting moments, leaving you wanting to see more.

Why is Bluelock recommended?

It is recommended, first of all, because the plot is exciting thanks to the fact that it is full of moments of tension, action and drama that keep the viewer interested in the story.

It features a unique soccer competition that focuses on training the best strikers, which makes the plot original and interesting. If you are a fan of Captain Tsubasa (better known as Super Champions) you will love this anime.

In summary, it is recommended for its exciting plot, well-developed characters, interesting themes and animation quality. Undoubtedly, it captivates both anime fans and sports fans, making it an ideal choice for those looking for an exciting and entertaining story.

What differentiates the anime from the Bluelock manga?

Both follow the same story, but there are some notable differences between the two versions.

First of all, the anime focuses on the most exciting aspects of the story, such as the soccer matches and the competitions between the strikers. This makes the series more engaging and exciting.

The print format, on the other hand, has more time to develop the characters and story in more detail. This means that manga can emote with greater depth than anime, making it a good choice for those who prefer more complete stories.

Another difference, the anime may include some additional scenes that are not in the manga, or may alter the sequence of events to better suit the animation format. In addition, the anime may also include original music and sound effects that are not present in the manga.

What does the future hold for Bluelock?

Currently, it is uncertain how many seasons it will have in total. However, the manga story is not yet finished and is currently ongoing in Japan.

The manga continues to be published in Kodansha's Weekly Shonen Magazine. So far, 13 volumes have been published in print format, and the story continues to progress.

In conclusion

Don't miss this anime with a history sporty and quite original, with characters that have incredible personalities, spectacular animation and plot twists that will blow your mind.