Plot

The show has a more interesting premise than a typical sports anime: a facility for high school boys to test and train them to be the next best striker for the Japanese football team. This premise seemed very promising in the start. Ego’s blunt and objective speeches coupled with the mysterious nature of Blue Lock made the show intriguing. Soon, we slowly learn more about the characters, their motives and strengths. The first half was highly dramatic and there was some suspense created. The scoring system for the team knockout round raised the stakes and this is what made the show so exciting to watch. Would players prioritise themselves or decide to move forward with their team? I enjoyed the strategies that Team Z came up with and how they try to improve themselves after every match.

The second selection was slightly more uneventful since the way to progress was more straightforward. Moreover, they played in small teams so we saw the same faces appearing repeatedly. The matches lasted around 2-3 episodes so there was a bit of drag. Nevertheless, I felt they upped the notch for the animation in this selection as things got more heated and the teams were truly neck and neck. It was in this stage where the players’ egos were amplified and evolved. In general, the pacing of the show was good as we were taken through the process of what it takes to be the best striker.

Characters

Characters were given equal importance and had their time to shine in the spotlight. However, Isagi remained the main character throughout the whole show. At the start, he did not appeal to me that much: he seemed bland and the typical main character in a shounen anime. Eventually his true colors came through in the second selection. He went through major improvement and his ego inflated as well to become the best version of himself. His character development was really well done and it was nice to see him grow as a player. At the start, he seemed intimidated by strong opponents but later he wanted to fight them head on, like with Barou and Rin. He was always strategizing and thinking of ways to level up his weapons and saw every match as a learning opportunity.

Other main characters like Bachira, Nagi, Chigiri, Kunigami and later on Barou and Rin, were well written. Their backstories were a bit cliche but that is not a big issue. The dialogues were the most egoistic as possible and the trash talk that happened is part of the enjoyable experience. I liked that they showed their individual strengths clearly and they were all distinct. It was satisfying to see these players play as a team and form the “chemical reactions'' that leads to them scoring goals. When push comes to shove, we get to witness the hidden talent of these players.

Animation

The animation was great. Symbolism was very well done and helped with characterisation. From the blue flames in Isagi’s eyes to the chains for Chigiri to Bachira’s monsters, our viewing experience was elevated thanks to these representations. I particularly liked Barou’s lion and the lightning, which heightened the drama of the match. I can safely say presentation is the speciality of Blue Lock. I particularly liked the use of puzzle pieces to creatively explain Isagi's thought process on the field. There was some obvious CGI during the matches but that was not a huge concern. Voice acting was also notable. Background music added to the intensity of the matches OP and ED were memorable too and complimented the show.

Overall, Blue Lock is a unique sports anime which has its own philosophy and its own definition for football success. It challenged the idea that teamwork is key to success and pushed the "zero to one" strategy that was clearly explained. You do not need to be a football fan to enjoy the drama, the seriousness and ideas that are presented in the show.