Sure its for children but the sub plot about the corruption of football association, match fixing, cheating outside of pitch are relatable with our football shenanigans right now
kennnychen1232026-01-19 19:39
Yeah but the real shit was when it got wild as shit. It’s why IE season 2, Chrono Stone, and Galaxy are my top 3.
kennnychen1232026-01-19 19:39
Yeah but the real shit was when it got wild as shit. It’s why IE season 2, Chrono Stone, and Galaxy are my top 3.
kaori_cicak9902026-01-20 02:12
Yeah i still laugh when the og cast (the main MC GK) against alien and even angel/devil.
That wild ride lmao 🤣🤣
SirePuns2026-01-20 09:46
Never watched the anime but the games are pretty GOATed.
Personally with football anime I vibe more with stuff like Aoashi or Aoki Densetsu Shoot.
LostLab88522026-01-20 14:19
Wait there's games why have I not known this 😭
HollywoodGrimReaper2026-01-20 17:30
Eyeshield 21 is the elite football anime.
abandoned_idol2026-01-19 18:11
I also watched the author's math-themed "Shokugeki no Souma" clone (let me know if the trope/premise/genre has a name), "Fermat Kitchen". Fermat was much sillier though.
I liked both anime :D
bitter_personw2026-01-20 04:45
Damn, didn't know Fermat Kitchen is by the same author, I already have it on my list, but now I'm more excited to watch it.
abandoned_idol2026-01-20 05:23
I was all like "why does Fermat make me think about Ao Ashi?" only to be flabbergasted by my keen eye during my google search.
And then I ended up binging Golden Kamuy (anime) at the exact same time as Dogsred (manga). "Why do both of these manga talk about deer dung in Hokkaido? I was certain they were the same author once I saw a number of iconic reused character designs (the afro shared by the hunter and coach chars).
polmeeee2026-01-20 05:45
Math themed Shokugeki no Souma? Damn I gotta watch it.
abandoned_idol2026-01-20 05:48
**clicking SFX**
the_48thRonin2026-01-20 13:23
Thanks for the reco.
Swimming-Elk67402026-01-19 18:25
This show was pretty ass, all things considered. If this is considered “the better football anime”, then we need a new one.
abandoned_idol2026-01-19 18:55
It has characters passing the ball to each other and learning to correct poor/disadvantageous habits during the game.
I dislike Soccer itself (find it boring) and really liked Ao Ashi, which is incredibly ironic (anime fixes almost anything).
Man, I wish they'd announce a new season already. I miss this anime.
ItsMasterMo2026-01-19 19:01
They already did announce a second season. Should be airing later this year.
abandoned_idol2026-01-19 19:06
My wish retroactively came true! Thanks for sharing the good news.
Yunoox32026-01-20 03:55
Sorry to be that guy but they changed studios to TMS Entertainment. Not necessarily a good sport anime studio
Powerful-Walk40632026-01-19 18:33
What are you talking about? Of course I've already watched Inazuma Eleven!
Sondaica2026-01-19 18:33
I really liked this one as well
exswoo2026-01-19 18:46
So…this isn’t about Eyeshield 21?
Zerthix2026-01-20 01:46
Banger Manga
cheesechimp2026-01-20 05:43
It's not freedom speak, so it's not about UFO Warrior Dai Apolon either.
Brokenpipeisbroken2026-01-20 12:41
no, it's about football, not eggball
zool7142026-01-19 19:02
Yeah I dunno if I’d call it better cos Blue Lock definitely has better numbers but Ao Ashi does feel a bit deeper and grounded. Actual techniques are used. Very minimal flashy, unrealistic moves. A glimpse into youth club football and the social dynamics.
And of course the drama that comes with the positional switch which I’m familiar with cos when I tried joining an amateur team, I was deemed not good enough as a striker but I had the attributes of a wingback.
But hype sells in the end. You can write the most realistic manga about football, with technical accuracy, real-life references and it would still lose out to hype
maewemeetagain2026-01-20 06:17
"Better numbers" are irrelevant to the discussion of which is better. Popularity is not indicative of quality.
HarshTheDev2026-01-20 08:14
And quality itself is subjective so what's even the point?
SaxLeo2026-01-19 19:14
Why good animes like this doesnt get enough attention?
sheepyowl2026-01-20 01:46
Animation brings in a lot more viewers that story.
Look at *this* anime season. People are praising oh how we are so blessed. It's all just amazingly well animated, barely service-able stories.
(Of course some level of animation is required OnePunchMan, but amazing stories don't bring nearly as many viewers as amazing animation)
WuvRice2026-01-20 02:29
the animation in ao ashi is better than blue lock lmao
blue lock just is more flashy but has so many moments where players are standing around for 10 seconds+ which just makes no sense in a football game
DemonSlyr0072026-01-20 07:12
I think what the meant is the animation style. Ao Ashi looks, idk, older? It went for a more stylized, classic approach. Reminds me of Ace of the Diamond. Blue Lock, on the other hand, looks new. Its got the flashy colors and the edgier look that new animes have.
Thats all I could try and defend them on. If they legitimately meant better animation, idk about that. I love blue lock and think a lot of the hate is blown out of proportion, but it is definitely not as smooth as Ao Ashi
HarshTheDev2026-01-20 08:15
It's really not all that deep. Blue lock is just more engaging/novel and hooks you right from the start.
MochiDomain2026-01-20 04:39
It did receive a lot of attention just not nearly like blue lock.
SirePuns2026-01-20 09:43
Cuz people prefer *hype* and *power fantasy* over *good*. Along with the obvious fact that whether something is or isn’t good is subjective as fuck and it’s “tainted” by people’s many biases.
hinakura2026-01-20 17:59
The manga sold a lot and it was animated by Production IG (the goats of sports anime). But it's not mainstream because it's a seinen.
ZeroLunatique2026-01-19 21:33
Didn’t like the main character: super annoying, imagine the worst parts of kageyama and hinata (haikyuu) combined to one without the other to balance him out. Premise of the youth team was they select based on pure skill instead of potential, but mc was incredibly raw and chosen for potential
It seemed to me that they ignored the general shonen tone - so ‘hype’ moments came in infrequent spikes - in favor of basic soccer.
I dropped this after like a dozen eps. But I gotta accept that ppl do like this show and I’m in the minority
YoloJoloHobo2026-01-19 23:32
Probably doesn't follow general Shonen tones because it's a Seinen
ZeroLunatique2026-01-20 07:43
Whoops used the wrong term lol
xNesku2026-01-19 22:48
When I went to Japan, it blew my mind how popular Blue Lock was. Every store had Blue Lock promotionals plastered all over them.
That being said, as someone who's a fan of the sport. Ao Ashi is miles above Blue Lock. But unfortunately people are fans of things that isn't the essence of football itself.
Massive_Weiner2026-01-20 04:17
People like Blue Lock the same way they like Kuroko’s Basketball: sport + superpowers.
Mfs got Stands in Blue Lock. It’s the most over the top depiction of “athleticism” you can imagine, and some really go in for that kind of spectacle.
AriaoftheSol2026-01-20 07:54
Blue Lock has superpowers the same way Demon Slayer has superpowers, they have superhuman feats with flourish only visible to the audience.
Inazuma Eleven serves as the JJK (or some other shonen) equivalent, actual superpowers tailored to the character that are real, sometimes even changing the background akin to Domains. They have stands too.
Massive_Weiner2026-01-20 08:01
Blue Lock is at the point now where players are seeing monsters on the field based purely off aura, and high level players manifest their own [mythical beasts](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ2GDrE5fwOiTc8Vx4lvXMCPBcux4LEwzpOX7Ljkoa25eT06yY56h38Co0&s=10) because apparently ego is a power system.
But Demon Slayer straight up does use elemental attacks. Fire and Water have tangible effects on the world and opponents. It’s not just a visual reference.
Merpninja2026-01-20 17:56
The author of Demon Slayer has said the effects you see in the manga are just eye candy for the audience. Fire, Water, Love, Rock, etc refer to their sword stances and fighting styles.
Massive_Weiner2026-01-20 17:57
Is there a source on that?
Merpninja2026-01-20 18:08
[Manga Spoilers](https://screenrant.com/demon-slayer-anime-breathing-styles-not-real-fake/). It is a fairly ridiculous statement for the author to make given the superhuman feats of the characters that are related to the elements of their breathing styles, but they have not backtracked on it.
Massive_Weiner2026-01-20 18:10
That’s so bizarre, considering that characters can actually *see* the [elements](https://static0.cbrimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Demon-Slayer---Tanjiro---Fire-Breathing.jpg?q=50&fit=crop&w=825&dpr=1.5).
Gotouge wants it to simultaneously be in and out of universe.
EvilJAR2026-01-20 04:21
Blue lock is for people who like power fantasy shounen. Ao ashi is for people who likes football. It's not a dig on anyone, but something that I have observed irl and on social media. All my friends who like football like ao ashi way more. It's goes way more in depth with the techniques and the world of the sport.
redwingz112026-01-20 05:12
then theres inazuma eleven if you want smtg sillier (and less edgy), straight up using super power
SirePuns2026-01-20 09:41
Inazuma Eleven is basically shounen football at its silliest. It’s like how some folks used to exaggerate Captain Tsubasa’s absurdness. You’d get Inazuma Eleven.
I do love the games though, JRPG football manager is surprisingly a lotta fun.
redwingz112026-01-20 10:43
the newest game is nice, but it take forever to play ball on story mode. if not palying ball its just rock paper scissor and running around, mega boring
polmeeee2026-01-20 05:48
This so much, was just there recently and noticed it, Blue Lock merch is everywhere.
zool7142026-01-20 09:20
I wonder if there’re people who enjoy the sport, and I’m not talking just bantering online or playing FIFA, I mean people who go out to play the game and watch the game and try to understand the game or understand the intricacies of playing. I wonder if there are people who appreciate the sport that way actually preferring Blue Lock over Ao Ashi.
Like don’t get me wrong, I’m all for joining the Blue Lock hype, but I appreciate Ao Ashi a lot more
AirCheap40562026-01-20 09:42
I don't like football at all, I like Blue Lock a lot, and not for the football, it's a football themed battle show.
mr_beanoz2026-01-19 23:47
Speaking of football, anyone remembers Giant Killing? It's a coach focused series, that makes it different to most sport themed series that are focused on the players on the field.
antononon2026-01-20 10:01
Think that one is my favourite football anime.
nightlink0112026-01-20 15:42
I would argue Giant killing is the best football manga for anyone that likes football (and a top sports manga) , it's really well written, and puts into perspective a whole team and the support around it, the whole vibe of it is really accurate, and it's really rare to see it.
The anime is fine, just ends fairly early into the story.
Terrible-Ideal-73422026-01-20 00:23
Whistle, Al Ashi, Giant Killing, Knight in the Area, Days. Hell Ginga e Kickoff too. Blue Lock is bottom of the barrel when it comes to football anime.
Yunoox32026-01-20 03:54
Hungry Heart is up there, probably my favorite one except Ao Ashi.
mickmaster1202026-01-20 01:18
I don't think people watch Blue Lock to see grounded football play. I watch Blue Lock to see a bunch of barely-contained psychopaths trying to "kill" each other on a soccer field.
MenardiParty2026-01-20 05:33
Right now you've turned your back on a soldier with a loaded weapon type shit.
catarxcts2026-01-20 02:26
The manga is fucking incredible. I can say the first season was weak, but hopefully they get to animate 75% (or even the entirety) of the story because as the skill level of players gets higher, the animation should be better
icchann2026-01-20 03:16
Blue Feet sucked.
ClubHauntedHouseVIP2026-01-20 03:24
I wish it had another season. Little bummed where the manga ended but oh well.
abandoned_idol2026-01-20 03:25
Season 2 is airing this year ~
Titronnica2026-01-20 04:06
Ao Ashi is tough to get into. The MC is very, very unlikeable. Selfish, self absorbed, not a good teammate, and quite the jerk. He stands in very stark contrast to the rest of the cast.
It's not surprising this would turn off folks--while Blue Lock establishes right from the get go, everyone is a selfish prick seeking their own glory, all turned up to 11. That's a much easier premise to settle into, especially when it's just a battle shounen with a soccer skin.
That being said, yes, Ao Ashi has been a revelation not just in characrer development, but also serving as a love letter to the sport. It takes time to get it's grive, but you can tell it's a labor of love about learning how to adapt your skills in ways you didn't think you could use them, all while benefitting your team.
MajorNo68602026-01-20 07:50
Ao Ashi was seriously overlooked. Read the whole manga (it is finished) and it is up there with other greats like Haikyuu for me (and yes, I'm not making this comparison lightly as Haikyuu is my personal absolute favourite).
darksecretsss2026-01-20 14:13
I can also confirm that Ao Ashi can stand with the other greats of sports manga. The story gets better as it goes on and ended on a nice note, one of the rare good manga endings!
xXKingLynxXx2026-01-20 07:57
I did. I like both and its weird people are treating Ao Ashi like its so much better than Blue Lock. Its good and its more realistic but they provide different things and can both be good.
Neither are Haikyuu or Slam Dunk writing wise.
Queue_Jumping_Quack2026-01-20 08:00
I did in fact watch it, and very much preferred it to Blue Lock. Glad we are getting a second season.
SirePuns2026-01-20 09:37
I did. And funnily enough I 100% agree that Aoashi is the better **football** anime.
Can’t wait for the next season, this shit is among my favorite sports anime.
Animatrix_Mak2026-01-21 07:10
Good review. I'm an avid football watcher and love Ao Ashi bcoz of that. It's for people who love football blue lock is for people who love power fantasy, but I'm still happy that it got so popular even in a very niche genre
Commentaires
Sure its for children but the sub plot about the corruption of football association, match fixing, cheating outside of pitch are relatable with our football shenanigans right now
That wild ride lmao 🤣🤣
Personally with football anime I vibe more with stuff like Aoashi or Aoki Densetsu Shoot.
I liked both anime :D
And then I ended up binging Golden Kamuy (anime) at the exact same time as Dogsred (manga). "Why do both of these manga talk about deer dung in Hokkaido? I was certain they were the same author once I saw a number of iconic reused character designs (the afro shared by the hunter and coach chars).
I dislike Soccer itself (find it boring) and really liked Ao Ashi, which is incredibly ironic (anime fixes almost anything).
Man, I wish they'd announce a new season already. I miss this anime.
And of course the drama that comes with the positional switch which I’m familiar with cos when I tried joining an amateur team, I was deemed not good enough as a striker but I had the attributes of a wingback.
But hype sells in the end. You can write the most realistic manga about football, with technical accuracy, real-life references and it would still lose out to hype
Look at *this* anime season. People are praising oh how we are so blessed. It's all just amazingly well animated, barely service-able stories.
(Of course some level of animation is required OnePunchMan, but amazing stories don't bring nearly as many viewers as amazing animation)
blue lock just is more flashy but has so many moments where players are standing around for 10 seconds+ which just makes no sense in a football game
Thats all I could try and defend them on. If they legitimately meant better animation, idk about that. I love blue lock and think a lot of the hate is blown out of proportion, but it is definitely not as smooth as Ao Ashi
It seemed to me that they ignored the general shonen tone - so ‘hype’ moments came in infrequent spikes - in favor of basic soccer.
I dropped this after like a dozen eps. But I gotta accept that ppl do like this show and I’m in the minority
That being said, as someone who's a fan of the sport. Ao Ashi is miles above Blue Lock. But unfortunately people are fans of things that isn't the essence of football itself.
Mfs got Stands in Blue Lock. It’s the most over the top depiction of “athleticism” you can imagine, and some really go in for that kind of spectacle.
Inazuma Eleven serves as the JJK (or some other shonen) equivalent, actual superpowers tailored to the character that are real, sometimes even changing the background akin to Domains. They have stands too.
But Demon Slayer straight up does use elemental attacks. Fire and Water have tangible effects on the world and opponents. It’s not just a visual reference.
Gotouge wants it to simultaneously be in and out of universe.
I do love the games though, JRPG football manager is surprisingly a lotta fun.
Like don’t get me wrong, I’m all for joining the Blue Lock hype, but I appreciate Ao Ashi a lot more
The anime is fine, just ends fairly early into the story.
It's not surprising this would turn off folks--while Blue Lock establishes right from the get go, everyone is a selfish prick seeking their own glory, all turned up to 11. That's a much easier premise to settle into, especially when it's just a battle shounen with a soccer skin.
That being said, yes, Ao Ashi has been a revelation not just in characrer development, but also serving as a love letter to the sport. It takes time to get it's grive, but you can tell it's a labor of love about learning how to adapt your skills in ways you didn't think you could use them, all while benefitting your team.
Neither are Haikyuu or Slam Dunk writing wise.
Can’t wait for the next season, this shit is among my favorite sports anime.