In the past few years, shows like Aoashi, Birdie Wing: Golf Girls, Backflip, and Haikyu have helped bring back sports anime. But with the release of Blue Lock today, there could be a new contender for the best sports anime of all time.
With a plot that sounds a lot like a mix of Deadman Wonderland and Aoashi, this football (soccer) series has gotten a lot of attention worldwide. Here is everything you need to know about Blue Lock, including the story, the number of episodes, and, most importantly, when it will be available to stream internationally.
WHAT IS THE PLOT OF THE BLUE LOCK?
Studio Eight Bit is making an anime version of Muneyuki Kaneshiro‘s manga series Blue Lock, a sports thriller (TenSura, Encouragement of Climb and The Irregular at Magic High School S2). The series tells the story of the Japanese football team, which embarrassed itself by coming in 16th place at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
The Japanese Football Union needs a drastic plan, so they hire the mysterious and slightly crazy Ego Jinpachi to find a new superstar striker for the team. His plan is called “Blue Lock.” Its goal is to make the most egotistical striker in the world by locking 300 young football players in a prison-like facility and letting them fight to see who is the best goal scorer in the country.
The winner will be the striker for the national team, but anyone who fails the test will be banned for life. Yoichi Isagi, our main character and a high school student was chosen as part of this plan. He is very talented, but he can not get over the fact that he lost at school tournaments in the past.
He jumps at the chance to become the best striker in the country, but can he get rid of his demons and unlock Japan’s, Blue Lock?
BLUE LOCK: STREAMING RELEASE DATE AND TIME
The first episode of Blue Lock’s first season is set to air everywhere on Saturday, October 8. The anime will only be available to watch at the same time on the Crunchyroll streaming platform, which has monthly plans for £4.99 (Fan), £5.99 (Mega-Fan), or £59.99 (Mega-Fan for a year).
Crunchyroll’s 2022 Fall anime line-up poster confirms that Blue Lock episode 1 will come out at the following times around the world:
- Pacific Time: 9:30 AM PDT (October 8th)
- Central Time: 11:30 AM CDT (October 8th)
- British Time: 5:30 PM GMT (October 8th)
- European Time: 6:30 PM CEST (October 8th)
- Indian Time: 10:00 PM IST (October 8th)
- Eastern Time: 12:30 PM EST (October 8th)
HOW MANY EPISODES ARE IN SEASON 1?
The official Japanese Blue Lock website has confirmed that there will be 24 episodes in season 1 of the anime. The series will be shown over two consecutive courses or three-month blocks of programming. This means that Blue Lock will air from October 2022 to March 2023.
WHO IS INCLUDED IN THE CAST OF THE ANIME SERIES?
- Masatomo Nakazawa as Wataru Kuon
- Yoshitsugu Matsuoka as Jingo Raichi
- Shoya Chiba as Yudai Imamura
- Shugo Nakamura as Gin Gagamaru
- Daishi Kajita as Asahi Naruhaya
- Ryunosuke Watanuki as Okuhito Iemon
- Aoi Ichikawa as Gurimu Igarashi
- Kenichi Suzumura as Ryosuke Kira
- Eri Yukimura as Anri Teieri
