Sports anime might be fundamentally similar to each other, but the writing and deliverance can differ a lot. Ao Ashi creates a world full of lessons and hardships, in both football and life. And like most sports anime, it doesn’t matter if you’re a fan of football to appreciate it. The characters are there, the build-up is there, and the emotions are there too, like in any other good anime. The main purpose of this review is to express how well Ao Ashi excels in certain things compared to other sports anime, what it lacks compared to them, and how good it really is overall.
The
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protagonist lives in Ehime, a prefecture of Japan that is located on an island and is not famous for its football players. Ashito, who is at a young age, is the best player in his school and is very passionate about football. He decides to try his luck and moves alone to Tokyo, to enter the football powerhouse called Esperion. What I love about Ao Ashi here is how well it portrays the hardships the athlete, their family and friends must struggle with, and how the athlete has to sacrifice everything and leave it all behind, focusing on a single thing – which is football, in our case. There is bittersweet drama and decent character writing. Other than that, there is the test Ashito must face as an outsider, the bullying, the rivalries, and the unsportsmanlike conduct of other players. While on the same time, he works hard, he progresses, and he makes friends and acquaintances.
Another point to be made about why Ao Ashi is such a good sports anime is the on-point portrayal of different behaviours inside the football world (coaches, players, managers, nutritionists, etc.) and how everyone plays their own role in the greater image. How Ashito, who wants to improve, will have to face other people who care solely for their own benefit. This is sometimes shown in a harsh way, but at the same time, there are beautiful moments of team spirit and emotions. After all, we are not alone, and we need the strength and faith of people who care about us; this is something else Ao Ashi does well.
But the most praiseworthy thing Ao Ashi succeeds in delivering is the difficulty of the sport. Most sports anime take their sports lightly and do not emphasize techniques and serious ways to improve, aside from team spirit and hard work. In Ao Ashi, we know how it is physically exhausting, mentally tiring, and may ruin both your body and psychology. How many techniques have to be taught, how much the athlete must do inside and outside the court, how he has to take care of himself and what huge an emotional capacity is needed. And at the same time, how the trainers can use you for their own benefit without caring about your opinions, and how your teammates can sabotage you or not care about you.
As far as character writing is concerned, the most common problem Ao Ashi watchers face is Ashito’s personality. I agree that his behaviour might be annoying at times, but let’s not forget that he’s an immature, ambitious 15-year-old. He is realistic and I hope to see development in his personality in the next seasons; I think it is hinted that there will be. The protagonist matures little by little and views differently his friends, his love interests and even football as a sport.
What about the side characters, though? Like I said before, we get to know all different perspectives and behaviours. The main and side casts are detailed, and everyone has a story to support and a dream to pursue. So, whether it is about the matches or the characters, it is not easy to get bored watching Ao Ashi. There is always something interesting going on, and the development is always there.
Now, it is worth mentioning that Ao Ashi’s animation is plain and simple, and people who care about flashy animation and non-stop motion often complain about it. To me, the colourful art and the good character designs are enough to make Ao Ashi good visually and aesthetically, so I think there is absolutely no problem with the animation not being fabulous.
In addition, the soundtrack is great and creates the perfect atmosphere. OST aside, the opening and ending songs are usually great. The opening sung by Alexandros in the first half is one of the best sports anime openings I have ever heard, since it fits the show’s vibes and radiates a feeling of “hype”. Sadly, the second opening song is not as good, but some people like it due to its good animation… while both ending songs are perfect for closing the episodes.
Finally, I would like to mention the original voice-acting cast. It does not feature the most famous names in the industry, but it gives chances to younger voice actors. I do not think the choices were not well-thought though, because the result is positive and I consider the cast great as a whole. Katou Wataru, Yashiro Taku, Oosozu Kouki are all names that could be frequently included in the most-awaited anime in the future.
So, what is it that Ao Ashi lacks?
As you can understand, since it focuses on a technical and psychological viewpoint this much, some other things are expected to be missing. The first comparison that comes to my mind is with Haikyuu: in the latter, the character dynamics and development during the matches feel stronger, in both main and opponent teams. This is because of the focus on teamwork and the classic “nakama power” that shounen anime tend to show.
On the other hand, there are also some scenes where a certain event has occurred before, or a certain technique has been explained to Ashito, and suddenly everyone starts talking about it in the matches – a kind of plot convenience to help the watcher learn more about the sport and see progress.
To sum up, to me, Ao Ashi’s pros outnumber its cons and are very interesting, so I consider Ao Ashi a “top tier” sports anime in its own way. It is very different from other sports anime in aspects I have mentioned above, but that’s what makes it worth watching. In the end, it is all a matter of taste and aesthetics, so it is up to the watcher to decide if Ao Ashi is interesting or not – but what it does in terms of writing, it does more than well.
Alternative Titles
Japanese: アオアシ
More titlesInformation
Type:
TV
Episodes:
24
Status:
Finished Airing
Aired:
Apr 9, 2022 to Sep 24, 2022
Premiered:
Spring 2022
Broadcast:
Saturdays at 18:25 (JST)
Producers:
Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Marvelous Entertainment, NHK Enterprises, Bandai Spirits
Licensors:
Crunchyroll
Studios:
Production I.G
Source:
Manga
Genre:
Sports
Theme:
Team Sports
Demographic:
Seinen
Duration:
24 min. per ep.
Rating:
PG-13 - Teens 13 or older
Statistics
Ranked:
#4562
2
based on the top anime page. Please note that 'Not yet aired' and 'R18+' titles are excluded.
Popularity:
#1104
Members:
239,651
Favorites:
3,329
Available AtResourcesStreaming Platforms | Reviews
Filtered Results: 83 / 102
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Your Feelings Categories Sep 24, 2022
Sports anime might be fundamentally similar to each other, but the writing and deliverance can differ a lot. Ao Ashi creates a world full of lessons and hardships, in both football and life. And like most sports anime, it doesn’t matter if you’re a fan of football to appreciate it. The characters are there, the build-up is there, and the emotions are there too, like in any other good anime. The main purpose of this review is to express how well Ao Ashi excels in certain things compared to other sports anime, what it lacks compared to them, and how good it really is overall.
The ... Apr 23, 2022
since when was the last time we got a good football anime ? anyone remember ?
I can name several a good football anime, but many of them forgettable series. if you ask to someone " is there any good football show ? " atleast they will answer you with Captain Tsubasa or Inazuma Eleven. it's a good show but that's not what kind show what i want. I want some football series grounded in reality, not a super power one. if you same like me then try Ao Ashi, I can guarantee this show will fulfill what you wish when it comes to football show. what ... May 1, 2022
Far from the clever, critical touch that most reviewers here enjoy, and far from the deep observation of things. I'm here to give my superficial and emotionally affected opinion.
Unlike the cool anime dudes that were fortunate enough to be born in the golden era of DVD, I was born in 2000, I spent a fair portion of my childhood watching and loving the anime of my time. Some of the cool DVD guys who have watched this anime, or at any rate have reviewed it, have found it below mid, and I have no reason to protest since we did not grow up watching the ... Sep 24, 2022
I like Ao Ashi.
What I like about Ao Ashi is the emphasis that in the world of football, not everyone is instantly a top star football player who only plays in the frontline like Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo. In the world of football, a team consisting of multiple talented players in different positions is what makes different players stand out and valuable in the eyes of many football enthusiasts. When a show like Ao Ashi breaks this false perception in the established norm media, it’s a welcoming thing to see because that means a show like Ao Ashi can explore other aspects of ... Apr 25, 2022
It might be a bit too early to place a review, but as of now, the anime adaptation does a fantastic job cutting down the nitty-gritty stuff compared to the manga.
The first thing to know is that the series isn't a superpowered, supershots type of anime, instead, it focuses on realistic soccer(comparable to Haikyu!!). The anime does a good job balancing the story and the soccer portions, making it easy and enjoyable to watch. In terms of the soccer portions, the anime emphasizes soccer theories and tactics used in the actual sport while often referencing notable soccer players in the current and past generations (ex. ... Jun 11, 2024
I watched Blue Lock a couple of months back and I thought it stood alone as a great soccer/football (however you wanna call it) anime. I was wrong, Ao Ashi is a severely underrated anime that adds realism and a better story than Blue Lock. While I still do think Blue Lock is a bit better than Ao Ashi, I believe that Ao Ashi has potential to become a much better anime because of its character development and public views of what soccer is.
Aoi Ashito, the protagonist of the show, is similar to Haikyu's Hinata in the sense that they are always excited for a ... Apr 23, 2022
For a football fan, its a must watch!
A reality-based soccer anime without any superpowers. The basic concept is quite average, our protagonist is going to try his luck at a test game that will be crucial to his football career. The basic concept is true that it is not particularly outstanding, the details are what make it really enjoyable, it is what sets it apart from other works. It highlights the peculiarities of the game well and places great emphasis on its tactical side. The specific but realistic abilities of the characters are presented with interesting metaphors. Music About the music, the opening is kinda banger, ... May 9, 2022
Ao Ashi... finally a sports anime with realistic, and I mean realistic approach in a world of sports and athletes. I'm so tired of seeing shounen sports animes where everyone is friendly, everyone are friends which is stupid.
You think aiming to become pro is easy? You think when you joined a club or a team that aims to the world stage, you will be friends to all? That you will be chillin' with your bros? Fucking not! You have friends yes, but even you're own friends, teammates, even your own self can be your downfall. You need to be very strong physically and mentally. ... May 1, 2022
Ao Ashi - A simple anime about youth football and about dreams of going pro.
Ashi- Meaning "Reed". “Man is but a reed, the feeblest one in nature; but he is a thinking reed.” —Blaise Pascal, a simple phrase that is used in the series a lot. The anime is about a boy name Aoi Ashito who aspires to become a football pro, he's passion for football and love for his family is what drives him to grow as a person and player. The series is very interesting and really captures the viewer leaving them on a cliff hanger every episode ( at the time of writing 4 ... Sep 24, 2022
As a sports connoisseur, I would like to ask you a genuine question: "When was the last time that we actually got a really good sports show, most particularly concerning about soccer/football?" Sure, you have the constant answers of either the modern Inazuma Eleven or the much beloved classic Captain Tsubasa series, but if both aren't your cup of tea, there should be something on the plane of a realistic, young adult-ish setting that showcases all the nerfs of growing in a soccer team. And no, I'm not talking about superpower types like Blue Lock (which is coming next season) nor this season's original "reboot"
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Jun 22, 2022
Exciting, fun, realistic and educational. Ao Ashi has all the elements that I'm looking for in a sports anime. As expected from Production IG, they animated another good sports series where they represent a certain sport (football in ao ashi) seriously and in a very cool way.
Story 10/10: Just watching the first episode, I can immediately tell that this anime has a great plot/storyline. We follow Ashito's journey as a youth football player in Esperion, a youth team, as he grows and develop his skills in order to become a professional football player. But the story provides us more than just following Ashito's journey: every ... Mar 3, 2024
This is my first review .It's been a long time since i saw an good sport anime, there have been some but not like this.This anime brings back the feelings Haikyuu gave me a few years back,that feeling of hard work and people trying to get to know each other so they can play better and win.No superpowers or anything like that ,just plain old football with a little bit of anime plot.I wish to see a season 2 of this one and fast .This deserver many seasons.The animation was good,just what i expected from an sport anime,maybe even better.I think if you liked Haikyuu
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Jun 15, 2022
I am a Japanese who is a big fan of the original manga. People who know soccer will definitely enjoy this anime, and people who don't know soccer will enjoy the real game more in the future if they watch it.
So far, those who have watched up to 10 episodes seem to have mixed reviews. However, it is from episode 11 that this anime becomes more interesting. It will definitely be exciting from the next episode where the main character learns the first step of what soccer is all about. There is an original manga, and it is very interesting from volume 7 onward. The ... Sep 30, 2022
The best football anime I've ever seen.
As a fan of this sport living in a soccer country like Argentina, I can say that it is the most real thing you will see on a field. The characters can be annoying or they are not to your liking but the best thing about this is how their skills, mentality, leadership, competitive, camaraderie, strategist, vision and among many things you need to be a soccer professional are gradually developed. On top of that what broke my heart the most is the bond that a mother has with her son, my favorite chapter without a doubt. This Anime deserves a lot ... Apr 30, 2022
I think this anime is very underrated, especially in a genre where football is barely even touched upon. If you have played football growing up and thought about going pro this can be a really fun show to watch. The characters are well thought out and are funny and interesting. The only gripe I have so far is the lack of detail from his background but it comes with time probably. The football part of the show is quite good even though sometimes it seems a little silly the way things happen in the game. I can't complain its been very entertaining and one episode
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Jan 2, 2024
I always thought the sports anime genre lacked a good football show and i'm glad i found Ao Ashi. Sure we have Blue Lock but i think this show really shows what football is and what is really all about.
Ao Ashi has it all when we talk about sports anime. Good plot, funny moments, good drama moments, excellent characters and perfect football knowledge. This is a show you actually hear about the tactics used, why something work and something doesn't, how moral affects the athletes performances. Even in trainings, they will do something and explain to the viewer why they are doing it, what's ... Sep 24, 2022
The story follows Ashito Aoi, the protagonist of the story, who is arrogant and self-centered. He initially thought his ability to score goals would be the difference-maker for his team, but eventually realized the value of playing as a team, now his prior understanding of football has to be revised. However, because of his stubbornness and his unwavering desire to succeed as a professional football player so that he can support his family, he is very dedicated to learning and making a career in football work.
The story feels realistic, with solid character development and decent pacing. Life isn't a Disney ride, if you want ... May 8, 2022
As a fan of soccer anime after going through Hungry Heart: Wild Striker , Giant Killing , Area no Kishi , inazuma eleven , Days etc in the category of realistic Anime I feel the freshness of this anime in particular. Unlike the " newbie main protagonist with hidden potential and a central rival" plotline , it has a different take very unconventional one but refreshing and different which is really enjoyable to watch.
The way characters have been developed in just 5 episodes are really commendable and its rare to see in Anime nowadays. Hats-off to the Art and story team a commendable job done ... May 22, 2022
I never had this much fun watching a football anime!
The characters are so fun and nice to watch. The manager is not just there to look good and actually doing something. The other boys are all unique. And the main character is really relatable for most of us I would say. It has some diamond no ace vibes- so if you liked this one you will love Ao Ashi!:) Lots of stuff will be explained, so that even people with nearly 0 knowledge about football will find it enjoyable. No super special moves like Inazuma Eleven, or people being super special like Blue Lock. Sep 24, 2022
THIS ANIME WAS GASSSSSSS! I can’t lie I didn't hear a lot about Ao Ashi before I saw that Production IG got it. That and the fact that we haven’t gotten a good soccer anime in a pretty long time, but this had to be the surprise of the season for me. It covered most of the boxes for me and is a really nice underdog story. I personally hope and can’t wait for a season 2.
Art: 8 So the actual animation was a little lackluster at times, but almost everything else was perfect. I think the art style really complimented the anime and the ... |




