Blue Lock vs. U-20 Japan ブルーロック VS. U-20 JAPAN

2024 fall | Episodes: 14 | Score: 7.5 (100467)

Updated every Saturdays at 23:30 | Status: Finished Airing

Type: TV

Synopsis

The next phase of the controversial Blue Lock project is underway with the candidate pool being dwindled down to just 35. Out of the remaining strikers, only a select few will be chosen to play in an upcoming exhibition game against the current U-20 Japanese soccer team. Playing in this match comes with a caveat: winning will grant the players the right to represent the nation as the new U-20 team, but losing will bring an end to Blue Lock in its entirety. Among the ones left in the running is Yoichi Isagi, who is coming to terms with his own abilities. To further complicate matters, the six best players in the pool have already been named to the starting lineup and the remaining 29 will have to duke it out to claim a coveted spot. Each candidate must select a top six pairing to team up with for the selection to prove their competence. But if this mishmash of strikers wants to overthrow the current U-20 team, they will need to find a way to combine their playstyles effectively. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

Voice Actors

Ura, Kazuki

News

Reviews

Kranst
01/21/2025, 11:56 AM
The second season of Blue Lock had big expectations, capitalizing on the hype of the source material, but ultimately falling short because of production complications. Important moments were prioritized, many key-frames looked excellent, and thankfully the remaining two episodes reflected the quality of what should have been. But these aspects were unable to salvage the product completely. The pacing and animation left something to be desired. Static images left the movement, momentum, and impact of character actions feeling underwhelming, and further reduced many new characters to only be identified with their stereotypes. Nonetheless, you might still consider watching if you are invested in the series.
goyum2868
01/10/2025, 09:18 PM
Blue Lock Season 2 is here, and it’s just as wild as ever. As someone who watches a lot of football, let me say this upfront: it’s still not even close to realistic football. But honestly, that’s kind of the point. Blue Lock isn’t your typical sports anime about teamwork and heartwarming victories—it’s about ego, ambition, and doing whatever it takes to be the best. And that’s what makes it so different and fun to watch. The story this season is solid. The matches are intense, and the characters keep getting more interesting. The whole "survival of the fittest" vibe is still there, and it keepsyou hooked. You never really know what’s coming next, and the way the players clash with each other—both on and off the pitch—is just so entertaining. Now, about the animation... yeah, this is where people have issues. For me, it was fine. I didn’t mind it too much, but I can see why some fans are bugged by it. The animation doesn’t always match the hype of what’s happening in the story. There are moments where it feels like it could’ve been way better, and if the visuals had been top-notch, this season could’ve hit even harder. Overall, Season 2 sticks to what makes Blue Lock good: it’s different, it’s dramatic, and it’s not afraid to go all in on its over-the-top concept. If you’re expecting something like real football, you’re not gonna get it. But if you’re into the crazy story and unique vibe, it’s still a fun watch. Hopefully, they improve the animation next time because the series deserves it.
Hexdsid
01/08/2025, 10:10 PM
This is an implusive review, but I cant sit here and let the haters convince people not to watch this season Firstly, Animation was fine, it was actually great infact. If you arent hyper analysing each frame of the anime in the begining episodes the "poor" and "powerpoint" will go by quickly. Very soon it picks up and becomes something incredible and unquie. People had issues with dialouge, but i didn't at all. This is a shounen sports manga, and one of the most if not the most intense one out there right now. The dialouge serves it purpose to muster up hype and makes clenchyour buttcheaks in anticipation. Don't expect shakespere dialouge. That's just stupid and you aren't watching this show for the right reason Now what the anime did right: And its the chracters. Very well written, fantastic backstories that aren't dragged out at all. Amazing dyanamics between some of the characters that surprisingly aren't with the main character, Isagi. If you have to love this show for something, its the characters for sure. And that's all, don't be sheep and judge to quickly, because if you give Blue Lock Season 2 a chance, you will be very happy.
DoodieMan
01/08/2025, 12:17 PM
This is certainly one of the worst anime I have ever seen. 10% Animation 90% Powerpoint Presentation combined with hours of cringeworthy dialogues. Imagine watching this after watching JJK S2. As a sports anime, the lack of action and movement is baffling. Matches are overly focused on protagonist Isagi's internal analysis, making them unrealistic and static. Characters are one-dimensional, with a childish focus on "selfishness." The soundtrack is repetitive. Every episode would make you feel like the "My Disappointment Is Immeasurable And My Day Is Ruined" meme. This anime is enough to make you hate football.Overall, you would have more fun watching a blank motionless wall than this abomination.
natik_m_7
01/07/2025, 04:17 AM
I read manga of this, and story, plot, character design are on point, the only problem here is animation. The animation is so bad but still watchable, the first 6 episode are so bad after 6 to 10 episode it is still bad but it is still watchable and after 10 episode it is peak. and the 14th episode is the best thing I have ever seen the animation in the last was fire. Now the main point should you watch this or not: the answer is yes, just because of some bad animation I don't think that you want to miss this great story.And also the 2nd season is bad in animation but not the 1st one and we can't predict upcoming season but trust me u will not going to disappoint after watching this masterpiece. this anime is till in my top 30. and if you love soccer this anime will going to teach you something . this is must watch
sarybelle
12/31/2024, 12:17 PM
Let’s get the obvious out of the way: the animation for this season is absolute garbage for 90% of the show. There’s no getting around it, it’s bad. But putting that aside, this season of Blue Lock is the same as all the others. If you’re wanting an edgelord, Dragon Ball Z - esque battle shonen sports anime, this is still that. The animation is bad but the plot is still interesting, and at the end of the day that’s preferable to a garbage plot with good animation imo. The people who are acting like the entire story is ruined because of the animation arebeing dramatic.
dxzqtn
12/31/2024, 07:07 AM
As a fan of Blue Lock, the anticipation for the Blue Lock vs. U-20 Japan match was immense. The stakes were high, the characters had grown significantly, and the rivalry between the Blue Lock team and the U-20 squad promised some of the most intense soccer action yet. However, what should have been a thrilling and emotional confrontation turned into a frustrating spectacle, primarily due to the lackluster animation and the overuse of CGI, which detracted from the excitement and intensity of the match. First, let’s address the most glaring issue: the animation. Blue Lock has been known for its dynamic, fluid animation, especially in thesoccer matches, where the energy of the game is almost palpable. However, during the Blue Lock vs. U-20 Japan arc, the quality of animation took a serious hit. In particular, the frequent use of CGI was jarring and out of place. Instead of enhancing the action, it often felt like a cheap shortcut, pulling the viewer out of the experience. The CGI-rendered characters during key moments—especially when they were involved in high-speed action sequences—looked stiff and unnatural, completely undermining the fast-paced intensity that Blue Lock is known for. But what really took me out of the moment was the “PowerPoint” style animation that seemed to dominate large sections of the match. There were multiple moments where the characters' movements and facial expressions were so static, they resembled a PowerPoint presentation rather than a high-energy soccer game. The action sequences, instead of being fluid and dynamic, felt like a series of still frames strung together with minimal motion. This took a significant toll on the emotional impact of the game, as it became difficult to connect with the players or feel the weight of their decisions. Instead of feeling the heat of the competition, I was left distracted by the poor visual execution. The CGI wasn't just an aesthetic problem; it actually disrupted the storytelling. A soccer match, particularly one as intense as this, thrives on the emotional highs and lows of the characters, the drama of the game-play, and the tactical battles on the field. With the stiff, unnatural CGI and the flat animation, these emotional beats were severely weakened. Characters that I had come to care about were reduced to lifeless figures in a poorly animated slideshow, and the moments that should have been filled with excitement or tension simply fell flat. There’s also the issue of pacing. Even without the animation issues, the game itself felt rushed, as if the animators and creators were more concerned with quickly ticking off plot points than with creating an engaging, cohesive experience. The match lacked the depth of previous games in Blue Lock, where we were able to see characters evolve and grow through their play. Here, the focus seemed entirely on the spectacle, leaving little room for the character-driven moments that made the earlier episodes so compelling. Another frustrating aspect was the lack of fluid transitions between the action and the strategic moments, which were often portrayed with awkward visual cues and sudden shifts in perspective. The quick cuts between character reactions and game-play often left me disoriented, unable to fully immerse myself in the game. There was a clear sense that the production team was cutting corners, and it showed in every frame. While the core concept of Blue Lock remains as compelling as ever—the fierce competition, the desire to be the best striker, the personal growth—the execution of this match left much to be desired. The clash between the Blue Lock team and U-20 Japan had all the potential to be an emotional and visually stunning battle, but instead, it felt like a missed opportunity marred by poor animation choices and a lack of attention to detail. In conclusion, this anime was a major disappointment, especially for fans of the series who have come to expect high-quality animation and fluid action sequences. The overuse of CGI and the PowerPoint-like animation detracted from the experience, making it difficult to invest emotionally in the match. What should have been an epic showdown instead felt like a rushed, lackluster spectacle. If Blue Lock is to maintain its reputation as one of the best sports anime, it desperately needs to return to the dynamic, impactful animation that originally set it apart.
Trickl
12/30/2024, 10:28 PM
Third selection looks shit af (first 3 ep iirc), if you're watching this for the first time and want to keep watching the anime, stop at the end of episode 3 and watch this fan animation instead: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6ysp9lMN1Q It feels like they started animating the last episodes (mostly last 2) before the first episodes. I really feel like they could've made this season so much better if they had enough time for it. The buildup to the arena felt surreal. Everyone had their moments and it was so hype but episode 8 is so confusing to me. But at least they ended it with the last2 episodes being amazing. If we had consistent, good quality for the whole season 2 I would rate it 10 since the weight of the match and the story is just beautiful. But overall as a season it's just ok. Never do this again for the next season please because it gets better from here. :) (8bit higher-ups I swear I will hunt you and your families down if you fuck up the next season of my top 1 manga give animators more time pLEASE)
MrKessler
12/30/2024, 04:14 PM
The absolutely obvious production issues bring this down compared to the first season, for sure. In the second half of the last episode we see what this show could've looked like if it had just been given more time, but alas. Besides that, if you liked the dumb shit blue lock was doing in the first season, this season the shit has only gotten dumber to the point that it might pass the threshold of how ridiculous a show like this should be. For now it still has all the charm it had, but the stupid shit can only get it so far for me.I hope I don't have to see Blue Lock for a while so I know the animators actually cooked, because that makes all the difference, especially for a show like Blue Lock
bloop666
12/29/2024, 11:46 PM
Honestly they've messed up the animation all season except for the last episode the story's still really fun I was just going to give it a 7/10 but that last episode is so good that I literally have it an 8/10 for just that one moment anything anime that can make you scream like the character is is pretty solid. I will say that despite the fact that the animation made the pacing kind of clunky the actual story pacing was really good I'm so used to sports anime having these really long drawn out moments but the majority of the show felt like meaningfulmoments well paced if only the animation had made it more fluid I am still a little confused at why some of the characters are still around but I am excited for some of the hints that they gave for the next season
OshModi
12/29/2024, 10:00 PM
fun premise/story, shit animation, the last episode was the best one ig but didnt save it, chungus low taper fade is massive, very predictable but thats ok to me, blatant capitalist propaganda lol. 4/10, might be a 5 later on. Slideshow animation, my lego movie maker app movies had more frames. Isagi is a pretty good mc though relative to other mc's in other animes. Rin was whatever, not rly invested in his conflict. Aiku was pretty hot too ig. Shidou is weird, was not a fan personally. music was ok at times, but the edm was a bit too much sometimes, and it wasfunny because it felt like it got boosted mostly on peak slideshow moments.
ThisRealZero
12/29/2024, 07:22 PM
Blue Lock is a football insult I don't know what the author taking drugs This is a football insult Initially the project was looking for a striker but the midfield was forced to create a team, especially since the players agreed to play a position other than a striker, even though from the start they were told to be selfish strikers Football is a sport that prioritizes teamwork, but in this blue lock it doesn't show that, even though there are times when they work together, but after that they become selfish As a football fanatic, I felt amused watching this, especially the metaphorical dialogues like kill or destroy blahblah This is an edgy fiction that contains insult football The author BL doesn't care about the football elements, only shows that this edgy fiction prioritizes scoring goals that pubescent kids like Moreover, Ego Jinpachi doesn't explain tactics in detail, only basic tactics that everyone knows, the rest on the field is done by the players themselves Because their basic skills or techniques are above average And what's funnier or more embarrassing is that the Japanese U20 national team lost to a group of selfish striker kids who have only been playing positions other than strikers for 15 days lmao This is the U20 national team dude, not a bunch of selfish kids That’s author means to show that the national team or future players who carry the name of their country and nation are more trashy than a bunch of selfish kids who are all strikers lmao? If I were Japanese, I would definitely be angry because of this insult even though this is fiction Moreover, this anime S2 adaptation is very bad, almost all PPT or CGI in the football scene Only 1 good scene in episode 14, doesn't show that this adaptation is good, overall it's bad What’s good in blue lock is just the character design If you want to find fiction about players playing football, follow fiction Ao Ashi or about discussing football tactics in fiction Giant Killing
Hotaru111
12/29/2024, 10:46 AM
Let's discuss this anime in short, this anime is said to be disappointed by many people about the animation which they say is not intentional and instead becomes PowerPoint, but honestly because I watched this with subtitles so I didn't really pay attention to the animation, and I still enjoyed it even though this anime felt cringe in my eyes because the context of a football anime turned into a schizo anime like a monster and the wing effects etc. the conclusion is I still enjoyed watching this anime and want to know what happens next, but if you like anime about football you canglance at this one but if you prefer animation quality maybe you shouldn't watch it, but if you don't care about animation quality and story themes you might want to follow this anime, and this is also your taste, the choice is still in your hands but in my opinion this anime can be continued to season 3
Destructostorm
12/29/2024, 02:15 AM
Many will say that the animation that the show needed was bad for the entire season but actually that is not possible even if you give them more time. Blue Lock's manga has a lot of text (thinking and dialogues) between player movements which is almost 3 times as compared to other dynamic sports mangas like volleyball(Haikyu) or basketball(slam dunk, kuroko). So you actually cannot bring in any animation until its like filler which will break the movements or slow motion (which they added to the ball for saving budget and not the players). The writer actually has written with the manga only in mindand not an animation. This much text is good for static games like baseball (ace of diamond) or golf which has pauses but for football with very few stops it becomes an issue to animators. You can see this in the last episode which actually has a lot less text in the manga so Blue Lock entered into its FLOW. The animators also broke the chains like Chigiri and jumped up from a pool of dead corpses like Rin and Barou. CHILLLS. The problem is not just the studio but also the manga which is very text heavy for anyone to properly animate especially for this U20 arc. Only way is to change the narration that takes place which will be completely different from the manga then but many will oppose that too. So I don't think anything else could be done for this season actually. It was frankly a good effort by the studio
Weeb-OWO
12/29/2024, 12:13 AM
Early viral reviews have led to Acolyte levels of blind hate towards Blue Lock, and it is definitely unwarranted. The biggest gripe people have with the season is the animation on early episodes. Were they laughable and bad? Sort of? I didn’t really mind it that much because 1) these are low stakes, predicrable episodes. Why waste budget animating these scenes? 2) i honestly didn’t notice it that much, 3) a bunch of cool new characters were introduced which was more noticeable, and 4) I forgot all about that stuff when the U20 match started The anime score is slowly self-correcting itself, and I am glad peoplehave some common sense. If you liked season 1, season 2 has a huge payoff in the final 2 episodes that is absolutely worth watching. I would give it more of a 7.5/10 but will round down because the esrly episodes are just not good enough to warrant a 8.
sukisan1
12/28/2024, 10:32 PM
I thought this season was fantastic I can't believe people are complaining so bad about the animation. Yeah the animation was t great in some parts but I'd still rather watch blue lock in any form than most other boring anime with ugly character designs that are so overhyped. I loved this season and the last episode was animated so well it was a masterpiece. The characters still looked amazing even if the soccer play was poorly animated. If you like the manga or the first season you should still watch it and not be off put by others opinions. It was my favorite animethis season
dravice
12/28/2024, 04:19 PM
In this season the animation was very bad and the main reason why the anime didn't do well. The art style and story was amazing. Personally I would say that the story carried the anime other wise many people would have dropped it.They only animated the goals well other part were slideshow basically Most of the characters had good character and backstory as mostly focus on Rin's backstory and the hate towards his brother.I would they were able to show it well in the anime.There are times in anime that character do crazy shit which makes the anime more immersing. (Conclusion) But the animators despitehave terrible management someone managed to animate few scene which made every episode watchable. All the goals scored had good animation and last episode of the anime was peak cinema.If and only if the animation was better this would have been the best anime released this year
DemonLmao
12/28/2024, 02:37 PM
I was genuinely hesitant to watch this season of Blue Lock after seeing all the memes about the 'PPT animation.' However, I finally gave it a chance, and to my surprise, it turned out to be pretty decent. While the animation, especially the 3D segments and the leg shots, left a lot to be desired (the CGI in those scenes was downright awful), the story itself managed to shine through. The animation quality was wildly inconsistent. Some scenes were visually stunning, while others had goofy CGI characters running around, which could be quite distracting. That said, if you’re able to overlook these moments and come toterms/cope with the animation, it’s a great watch overall. The hype moments genuinely delivered, and the last few episodes felt like the entire season’s budget had been poured into them. If you’re hesitant about continuing Blue Lock, I’d personally recommend giving it a shot. I found myself adjusting to the animation quirks after about 4-5 episodes. Overall, I’d rate this season a 7/10. The last two episodes, especially the flashbacks, were a standout—those deserve a solid 9/10!
Ataba
12/28/2024, 09:34 AM
Blue Lock season 2 started on the wrong foot and kept getting better throughout the season. Animation 6/10: if you have watched the first few episodes you would normally ask why is the rating so high, well that is because there were wonderful animations at the end of the season, especially the last episode, so naturally I had to give it a 6 because it contained 3/10 animations as well as 10/10 animations, the reason for the bad animation is not so clear, it is either the studio rushed the anime or according to internet info only one person animated the season which is not possible. Story8/10: The hype of the story is still there and has not faded. I don't have anything to comment on other than the fact that the season delivered on crucial moments, and I was not let down in the slightest—well, just a little bit—because of some bad animation moments. Characters 8/10: with the introduction of new characters the season dived into some of their backstory not leaving us wondering what are they doing in Blue Lock, and already established characters have been made into a better version of themselves with redemption stories and such. overall if you have watched season 1 and wondering why the first few episodes look so bad don't, because the more you progress through the season the better the quality gets, but that is not an excuse for the horrendous job that the animators did with this season, I even had a hard time watching the first couple of episodes having to wait each week to just watch a PowerPoint presentation of the manga, I hope that they stop rushing animations and take their time with the 3rd season because it has a lot more crucial moments, and I don't mind waiting two or three years for it. overall 6.5/10
MajiMaestro
12/28/2024, 09:18 AM
As someone who's reading Blue Lock weekly, I've had mixed feelings on Blue Lock season 2 as I've been watching it, but these feelings slowly started to organize themselves as we approached the finish line. In contrast to the common reaction and very logical conclusion that Blue Lock season 2 animation is... lackluster, I find that if anything it's brutally minimalistic, rather than lazy. This season still manages to flow with the dramatic moments just as well as before, and the action, while presented through a lot of stills, still has the pacing that makes each offensive exciting to watch unravel. And, putting the animation topicaside, all the drawings and illustrations of the characters in the season look incredible, it's absolutely spot-on and fully realized visually, it's the characters I know and love from the manga. One big improvement I find from season 1 is that now they've spliced in split-second shots of much better CGi movement to properly visualize the dribbles and tricks that players do to get past each other, compared to season 1's either pathetic or shoddily presented attempts. As a dedicated Blue Lock fan, I've gone from lamenting this season, to finding a mutual understanding with it instead. It's still Blue Lock to me, and I feel like it can still be Blue Lock to a lot of people if you give it a chance. There's still love in this adaption, which can be seen in the effort put into the most exciting parts of the arc.

Blue Lock vs. U-20 Japan ブルーロック VS. U-20 JAPAN

2024 fall | Episodes: 14 | Score: 7.5 (100467)

Updated every Saturdays at 23:30 | Status: Finished Airing

Type: TV

Synopsis

Voice Actors

Ura, Kazuki

News

Reviews

Kranst
01/21/2025, 11:56 AM
The second season of Blue Lock had big expectations, capitalizing on the hype of the source material, but ultimately falling short because of production complications. Important moments were prioritized, many key-frames looked excellent, and thankfully the remaining two episodes reflected the quality of what should have been. But these aspects were unable to salvage the product completely. The pacing and animation left something to be desired. Static images left the movement, momentum, and impact of character actions feeling underwhelming, and further reduced many new characters to only be identified with their stereotypes. Nonetheless, you might still consider watching if you are invested in the series.
goyum2868
01/10/2025, 09:18 PM
Blue Lock Season 2 is here, and it’s just as wild as ever. As someone who watches a lot of football, let me say this upfront: it’s still not even close to realistic football. But honestly, that’s kind of the point. Blue Lock isn’t your typical sports anime about teamwork and heartwarming victories—it’s about ego, ambition, and doing whatever it takes to be the best. And that’s what makes it so different and fun to watch. The story this season is solid. The matches are intense, and the characters keep getting more interesting. The whole "survival of the fittest" vibe is still there, and it keepsyou hooked. You never really know what’s coming next, and the way the players clash with each other—both on and off the pitch—is just so entertaining. Now, about the animation... yeah, this is where people have issues. For me, it was fine. I didn’t mind it too much, but I can see why some fans are bugged by it. The animation doesn’t always match the hype of what’s happening in the story. There are moments where it feels like it could’ve been way better, and if the visuals had been top-notch, this season could’ve hit even harder. Overall, Season 2 sticks to what makes Blue Lock good: it’s different, it’s dramatic, and it’s not afraid to go all in on its over-the-top concept. If you’re expecting something like real football, you’re not gonna get it. But if you’re into the crazy story and unique vibe, it’s still a fun watch. Hopefully, they improve the animation next time because the series deserves it.
Hexdsid
01/08/2025, 10:10 PM
This is an implusive review, but I cant sit here and let the haters convince people not to watch this season Firstly, Animation was fine, it was actually great infact. If you arent hyper analysing each frame of the anime in the begining episodes the "poor" and "powerpoint" will go by quickly. Very soon it picks up and becomes something incredible and unquie. People had issues with dialouge, but i didn't at all. This is a shounen sports manga, and one of the most if not the most intense one out there right now. The dialouge serves it purpose to muster up hype and makes clenchyour buttcheaks in anticipation. Don't expect shakespere dialouge. That's just stupid and you aren't watching this show for the right reason Now what the anime did right: And its the chracters. Very well written, fantastic backstories that aren't dragged out at all. Amazing dyanamics between some of the characters that surprisingly aren't with the main character, Isagi. If you have to love this show for something, its the characters for sure. And that's all, don't be sheep and judge to quickly, because if you give Blue Lock Season 2 a chance, you will be very happy.
DoodieMan
01/08/2025, 12:17 PM
This is certainly one of the worst anime I have ever seen. 10% Animation 90% Powerpoint Presentation combined with hours of cringeworthy dialogues. Imagine watching this after watching JJK S2. As a sports anime, the lack of action and movement is baffling. Matches are overly focused on protagonist Isagi's internal analysis, making them unrealistic and static. Characters are one-dimensional, with a childish focus on "selfishness." The soundtrack is repetitive. Every episode would make you feel like the "My Disappointment Is Immeasurable And My Day Is Ruined" meme. This anime is enough to make you hate football.Overall, you would have more fun watching a blank motionless wall than this abomination.
natik_m_7
01/07/2025, 04:17 AM
I read manga of this, and story, plot, character design are on point, the only problem here is animation. The animation is so bad but still watchable, the first 6 episode are so bad after 6 to 10 episode it is still bad but it is still watchable and after 10 episode it is peak. and the 14th episode is the best thing I have ever seen the animation in the last was fire. Now the main point should you watch this or not: the answer is yes, just because of some bad animation I don't think that you want to miss this great story.And also the 2nd season is bad in animation but not the 1st one and we can't predict upcoming season but trust me u will not going to disappoint after watching this masterpiece. this anime is till in my top 30. and if you love soccer this anime will going to teach you something . this is must watch
sarybelle
12/31/2024, 12:17 PM
Let’s get the obvious out of the way: the animation for this season is absolute garbage for 90% of the show. There’s no getting around it, it’s bad. But putting that aside, this season of Blue Lock is the same as all the others. If you’re wanting an edgelord, Dragon Ball Z - esque battle shonen sports anime, this is still that. The animation is bad but the plot is still interesting, and at the end of the day that’s preferable to a garbage plot with good animation imo. The people who are acting like the entire story is ruined because of the animation arebeing dramatic.
dxzqtn
12/31/2024, 07:07 AM
As a fan of Blue Lock, the anticipation for the Blue Lock vs. U-20 Japan match was immense. The stakes were high, the characters had grown significantly, and the rivalry between the Blue Lock team and the U-20 squad promised some of the most intense soccer action yet. However, what should have been a thrilling and emotional confrontation turned into a frustrating spectacle, primarily due to the lackluster animation and the overuse of CGI, which detracted from the excitement and intensity of the match. First, let’s address the most glaring issue: the animation. Blue Lock has been known for its dynamic, fluid animation, especially in thesoccer matches, where the energy of the game is almost palpable. However, during the Blue Lock vs. U-20 Japan arc, the quality of animation took a serious hit. In particular, the frequent use of CGI was jarring and out of place. Instead of enhancing the action, it often felt like a cheap shortcut, pulling the viewer out of the experience. The CGI-rendered characters during key moments—especially when they were involved in high-speed action sequences—looked stiff and unnatural, completely undermining the fast-paced intensity that Blue Lock is known for. But what really took me out of the moment was the “PowerPoint” style animation that seemed to dominate large sections of the match. There were multiple moments where the characters' movements and facial expressions were so static, they resembled a PowerPoint presentation rather than a high-energy soccer game. The action sequences, instead of being fluid and dynamic, felt like a series of still frames strung together with minimal motion. This took a significant toll on the emotional impact of the game, as it became difficult to connect with the players or feel the weight of their decisions. Instead of feeling the heat of the competition, I was left distracted by the poor visual execution. The CGI wasn't just an aesthetic problem; it actually disrupted the storytelling. A soccer match, particularly one as intense as this, thrives on the emotional highs and lows of the characters, the drama of the game-play, and the tactical battles on the field. With the stiff, unnatural CGI and the flat animation, these emotional beats were severely weakened. Characters that I had come to care about were reduced to lifeless figures in a poorly animated slideshow, and the moments that should have been filled with excitement or tension simply fell flat. There’s also the issue of pacing. Even without the animation issues, the game itself felt rushed, as if the animators and creators were more concerned with quickly ticking off plot points than with creating an engaging, cohesive experience. The match lacked the depth of previous games in Blue Lock, where we were able to see characters evolve and grow through their play. Here, the focus seemed entirely on the spectacle, leaving little room for the character-driven moments that made the earlier episodes so compelling. Another frustrating aspect was the lack of fluid transitions between the action and the strategic moments, which were often portrayed with awkward visual cues and sudden shifts in perspective. The quick cuts between character reactions and game-play often left me disoriented, unable to fully immerse myself in the game. There was a clear sense that the production team was cutting corners, and it showed in every frame. While the core concept of Blue Lock remains as compelling as ever—the fierce competition, the desire to be the best striker, the personal growth—the execution of this match left much to be desired. The clash between the Blue Lock team and U-20 Japan had all the potential to be an emotional and visually stunning battle, but instead, it felt like a missed opportunity marred by poor animation choices and a lack of attention to detail. In conclusion, this anime was a major disappointment, especially for fans of the series who have come to expect high-quality animation and fluid action sequences. The overuse of CGI and the PowerPoint-like animation detracted from the experience, making it difficult to invest emotionally in the match. What should have been an epic showdown instead felt like a rushed, lackluster spectacle. If Blue Lock is to maintain its reputation as one of the best sports anime, it desperately needs to return to the dynamic, impactful animation that originally set it apart.
Trickl
12/30/2024, 10:28 PM
Third selection looks shit af (first 3 ep iirc), if you're watching this for the first time and want to keep watching the anime, stop at the end of episode 3 and watch this fan animation instead: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6ysp9lMN1Q It feels like they started animating the last episodes (mostly last 2) before the first episodes. I really feel like they could've made this season so much better if they had enough time for it. The buildup to the arena felt surreal. Everyone had their moments and it was so hype but episode 8 is so confusing to me. But at least they ended it with the last2 episodes being amazing. If we had consistent, good quality for the whole season 2 I would rate it 10 since the weight of the match and the story is just beautiful. But overall as a season it's just ok. Never do this again for the next season please because it gets better from here. :) (8bit higher-ups I swear I will hunt you and your families down if you fuck up the next season of my top 1 manga give animators more time pLEASE)
MrKessler
12/30/2024, 04:14 PM
The absolutely obvious production issues bring this down compared to the first season, for sure. In the second half of the last episode we see what this show could've looked like if it had just been given more time, but alas. Besides that, if you liked the dumb shit blue lock was doing in the first season, this season the shit has only gotten dumber to the point that it might pass the threshold of how ridiculous a show like this should be. For now it still has all the charm it had, but the stupid shit can only get it so far for me.I hope I don't have to see Blue Lock for a while so I know the animators actually cooked, because that makes all the difference, especially for a show like Blue Lock
bloop666
12/29/2024, 11:46 PM
Honestly they've messed up the animation all season except for the last episode the story's still really fun I was just going to give it a 7/10 but that last episode is so good that I literally have it an 8/10 for just that one moment anything anime that can make you scream like the character is is pretty solid. I will say that despite the fact that the animation made the pacing kind of clunky the actual story pacing was really good I'm so used to sports anime having these really long drawn out moments but the majority of the show felt like meaningfulmoments well paced if only the animation had made it more fluid I am still a little confused at why some of the characters are still around but I am excited for some of the hints that they gave for the next season
OshModi
12/29/2024, 10:00 PM
fun premise/story, shit animation, the last episode was the best one ig but didnt save it, chungus low taper fade is massive, very predictable but thats ok to me, blatant capitalist propaganda lol. 4/10, might be a 5 later on. Slideshow animation, my lego movie maker app movies had more frames. Isagi is a pretty good mc though relative to other mc's in other animes. Rin was whatever, not rly invested in his conflict. Aiku was pretty hot too ig. Shidou is weird, was not a fan personally. music was ok at times, but the edm was a bit too much sometimes, and it wasfunny because it felt like it got boosted mostly on peak slideshow moments.
ThisRealZero
12/29/2024, 07:22 PM
Blue Lock is a football insult I don't know what the author taking drugs This is a football insult Initially the project was looking for a striker but the midfield was forced to create a team, especially since the players agreed to play a position other than a striker, even though from the start they were told to be selfish strikers Football is a sport that prioritizes teamwork, but in this blue lock it doesn't show that, even though there are times when they work together, but after that they become selfish As a football fanatic, I felt amused watching this, especially the metaphorical dialogues like kill or destroy blahblah This is an edgy fiction that contains insult football The author BL doesn't care about the football elements, only shows that this edgy fiction prioritizes scoring goals that pubescent kids like Moreover, Ego Jinpachi doesn't explain tactics in detail, only basic tactics that everyone knows, the rest on the field is done by the players themselves Because their basic skills or techniques are above average And what's funnier or more embarrassing is that the Japanese U20 national team lost to a group of selfish striker kids who have only been playing positions other than strikers for 15 days lmao This is the U20 national team dude, not a bunch of selfish kids That’s author means to show that the national team or future players who carry the name of their country and nation are more trashy than a bunch of selfish kids who are all strikers lmao? If I were Japanese, I would definitely be angry because of this insult even though this is fiction Moreover, this anime S2 adaptation is very bad, almost all PPT or CGI in the football scene Only 1 good scene in episode 14, doesn't show that this adaptation is good, overall it's bad What’s good in blue lock is just the character design If you want to find fiction about players playing football, follow fiction Ao Ashi or about discussing football tactics in fiction Giant Killing
Hotaru111
12/29/2024, 10:46 AM
Let's discuss this anime in short, this anime is said to be disappointed by many people about the animation which they say is not intentional and instead becomes PowerPoint, but honestly because I watched this with subtitles so I didn't really pay attention to the animation, and I still enjoyed it even though this anime felt cringe in my eyes because the context of a football anime turned into a schizo anime like a monster and the wing effects etc. the conclusion is I still enjoyed watching this anime and want to know what happens next, but if you like anime about football you canglance at this one but if you prefer animation quality maybe you shouldn't watch it, but if you don't care about animation quality and story themes you might want to follow this anime, and this is also your taste, the choice is still in your hands but in my opinion this anime can be continued to season 3
Destructostorm
12/29/2024, 02:15 AM
Many will say that the animation that the show needed was bad for the entire season but actually that is not possible even if you give them more time. Blue Lock's manga has a lot of text (thinking and dialogues) between player movements which is almost 3 times as compared to other dynamic sports mangas like volleyball(Haikyu) or basketball(slam dunk, kuroko). So you actually cannot bring in any animation until its like filler which will break the movements or slow motion (which they added to the ball for saving budget and not the players). The writer actually has written with the manga only in mindand not an animation. This much text is good for static games like baseball (ace of diamond) or golf which has pauses but for football with very few stops it becomes an issue to animators. You can see this in the last episode which actually has a lot less text in the manga so Blue Lock entered into its FLOW. The animators also broke the chains like Chigiri and jumped up from a pool of dead corpses like Rin and Barou. CHILLLS. The problem is not just the studio but also the manga which is very text heavy for anyone to properly animate especially for this U20 arc. Only way is to change the narration that takes place which will be completely different from the manga then but many will oppose that too. So I don't think anything else could be done for this season actually. It was frankly a good effort by the studio
Weeb-OWO
12/29/2024, 12:13 AM
Early viral reviews have led to Acolyte levels of blind hate towards Blue Lock, and it is definitely unwarranted. The biggest gripe people have with the season is the animation on early episodes. Were they laughable and bad? Sort of? I didn’t really mind it that much because 1) these are low stakes, predicrable episodes. Why waste budget animating these scenes? 2) i honestly didn’t notice it that much, 3) a bunch of cool new characters were introduced which was more noticeable, and 4) I forgot all about that stuff when the U20 match started The anime score is slowly self-correcting itself, and I am glad peoplehave some common sense. If you liked season 1, season 2 has a huge payoff in the final 2 episodes that is absolutely worth watching. I would give it more of a 7.5/10 but will round down because the esrly episodes are just not good enough to warrant a 8.
sukisan1
12/28/2024, 10:32 PM
I thought this season was fantastic I can't believe people are complaining so bad about the animation. Yeah the animation was t great in some parts but I'd still rather watch blue lock in any form than most other boring anime with ugly character designs that are so overhyped. I loved this season and the last episode was animated so well it was a masterpiece. The characters still looked amazing even if the soccer play was poorly animated. If you like the manga or the first season you should still watch it and not be off put by others opinions. It was my favorite animethis season
dravice
12/28/2024, 04:19 PM
In this season the animation was very bad and the main reason why the anime didn't do well. The art style and story was amazing. Personally I would say that the story carried the anime other wise many people would have dropped it.They only animated the goals well other part were slideshow basically Most of the characters had good character and backstory as mostly focus on Rin's backstory and the hate towards his brother.I would they were able to show it well in the anime.There are times in anime that character do crazy shit which makes the anime more immersing. (Conclusion) But the animators despitehave terrible management someone managed to animate few scene which made every episode watchable. All the goals scored had good animation and last episode of the anime was peak cinema.If and only if the animation was better this would have been the best anime released this year
DemonLmao
12/28/2024, 02:37 PM
I was genuinely hesitant to watch this season of Blue Lock after seeing all the memes about the 'PPT animation.' However, I finally gave it a chance, and to my surprise, it turned out to be pretty decent. While the animation, especially the 3D segments and the leg shots, left a lot to be desired (the CGI in those scenes was downright awful), the story itself managed to shine through. The animation quality was wildly inconsistent. Some scenes were visually stunning, while others had goofy CGI characters running around, which could be quite distracting. That said, if you’re able to overlook these moments and come toterms/cope with the animation, it’s a great watch overall. The hype moments genuinely delivered, and the last few episodes felt like the entire season’s budget had been poured into them. If you’re hesitant about continuing Blue Lock, I’d personally recommend giving it a shot. I found myself adjusting to the animation quirks after about 4-5 episodes. Overall, I’d rate this season a 7/10. The last two episodes, especially the flashbacks, were a standout—those deserve a solid 9/10!
Ataba
12/28/2024, 09:34 AM
Blue Lock season 2 started on the wrong foot and kept getting better throughout the season. Animation 6/10: if you have watched the first few episodes you would normally ask why is the rating so high, well that is because there were wonderful animations at the end of the season, especially the last episode, so naturally I had to give it a 6 because it contained 3/10 animations as well as 10/10 animations, the reason for the bad animation is not so clear, it is either the studio rushed the anime or according to internet info only one person animated the season which is not possible. Story8/10: The hype of the story is still there and has not faded. I don't have anything to comment on other than the fact that the season delivered on crucial moments, and I was not let down in the slightest—well, just a little bit—because of some bad animation moments. Characters 8/10: with the introduction of new characters the season dived into some of their backstory not leaving us wondering what are they doing in Blue Lock, and already established characters have been made into a better version of themselves with redemption stories and such. overall if you have watched season 1 and wondering why the first few episodes look so bad don't, because the more you progress through the season the better the quality gets, but that is not an excuse for the horrendous job that the animators did with this season, I even had a hard time watching the first couple of episodes having to wait each week to just watch a PowerPoint presentation of the manga, I hope that they stop rushing animations and take their time with the 3rd season because it has a lot more crucial moments, and I don't mind waiting two or three years for it. overall 6.5/10
MajiMaestro
12/28/2024, 09:18 AM
As someone who's reading Blue Lock weekly, I've had mixed feelings on Blue Lock season 2 as I've been watching it, but these feelings slowly started to organize themselves as we approached the finish line. In contrast to the common reaction and very logical conclusion that Blue Lock season 2 animation is... lackluster, I find that if anything it's brutally minimalistic, rather than lazy. This season still manages to flow with the dramatic moments just as well as before, and the action, while presented through a lot of stills, still has the pacing that makes each offensive exciting to watch unravel. And, putting the animation topicaside, all the drawings and illustrations of the characters in the season look incredible, it's absolutely spot-on and fully realized visually, it's the characters I know and love from the manga. One big improvement I find from season 1 is that now they've spliced in split-second shots of much better CGi movement to properly visualize the dribbles and tricks that players do to get past each other, compared to season 1's either pathetic or shoddily presented attempts. As a dedicated Blue Lock fan, I've gone from lamenting this season, to finding a mutual understanding with it instead. It's still Blue Lock to me, and I feel like it can still be Blue Lock to a lot of people if you give it a chance. There's still love in this adaption, which can be seen in the effort put into the most exciting parts of the arc.

Blue Lock vs. U-20 Japan ブルーロック VS. U-20 JAPAN

'Blue Lock vs. U-20 Japan' Announces Additional Cast

In Pursuit of Egoism: The Essence of 'Blue Lock'

Fall 2024 Simulcast List [Update 10/7]

Fall 2024 Preview

'Blue Lock 2nd Season' Announces Pair of Additional Cast

'Blue Lock 2nd Season' Unveils Additional Pair of Cast, Main Staff, Fall 2024 Premiere

'Blue Lock' Gets Second Season, 'Episode Nagi' Spin-off Gets Movie Adaptation

Blue Lock vs. U-20 Japan ブルーロック VS. U-20 JAPAN

'Blue Lock vs. U-20 Japan' Announces Additional Cast

In Pursuit of Egoism: The Essence of 'Blue Lock'

Fall 2024 Simulcast List [Update 10/7]

Fall 2024 Preview

'Blue Lock 2nd Season' Announces Pair of Additional Cast

'Blue Lock 2nd Season' Unveils Additional Pair of Cast, Main Staff, Fall 2024 Premiere

'Blue Lock' Gets Second Season, 'Episode Nagi' Spin-off Gets Movie Adaptation