Season
Episode
Player server
BLUE LOCK

BLUE LOCK

20228
AnimationDramaAction & Adventure
Released
Oct 09, 2022
Country
Japan
Productions
8bitKodanshaBandai Namco FilmworksBandai SpiritsCrunchyrollTV Asahi+2
High school soccer players from across Japan gather for a controversial project designed to create the best — and most egoistic — striker in the world.

About

Quick guide

Blue Lock is a 2022 anime that pits Japan’s top high‑school strikers in a brutal training program to forge a single, unstoppable striker.

Set after Japan’s disastrous 2018 World Cup exit, the anime follows 300 elite teenage attackers who are locked in a high‑stakes facility called Blue Lock. Under the supervision of the enigmatic Coach Jinpachi Ego, they are forced to compete against each other in a series of brutal challenges where the goal is to out‑grow, out‑score and out‑last all rivals. The narrative explores themes of ego, ambition and survival as the young players are pushed to their limits, both physically and mentally, while a national dream of a world‑class striker hangs in the balance.

What to know

  • 300 high‑school strikers are gathered in a sealed training facility.
  • The program is run by Coach Jinpachi Ego, who values ego over teamwork.
  • Each episode features elimination challenges that can cost a player a pro career.
  • The story focuses on individual ambition rather than team play.
  • The series is fast‑paced and features intense, realistic football action.
  • It includes psychological pressure and mature themes suitable for teens and adults.
  • The anime is adapted from a manga by Muneyuki Kaneshiro and Yusuke Nomura.
  • Episodes are available on Prime Video and other streaming services.

Watch if

If you enjoy competitive sports anime that subverts typical teamwork tropes, loves high‑stakes strategy, and can handle mature themes with fast‑paced action, Blue Lock offers a fresh take on the genre.

Skip if

If you prefer light, team‑centric sports stories with minimal conflict or are sensitive to intense psychological drama and mature content, this series may feel too harsh.

intense actionpsychological elementsmature themesfast paceddialogue heavydark tone
Overview
Blue Lock centers on Japan’s desperate quest to create the world’s best striker after a 2018 World Cup flop. The Japanese Football Union recruits 300 top high‑school players for a secretive training facility. Coach Jinpachi Ego forces them into brutal challenges that pit ego against survival.
Premise
The series subverts classic sports anime by prioritising individual glory over team cohesion. Each day, players face elimination; the last to be hit by the ball is sent home. Only the strongest survive to form a new national team striker.
Key Characters
Yoichi Isagi, the protagonist, seeks to prove himself. Supporting players include Meguru Bachira, a raw talent, and Rensuke Kunigami, a disciplined striker. Coach Jinpachi Ego, the mastermind, pushes the participants toward extreme egoism.
Training Challenges
The facility splits players into 25 teams of 12. Daily competitions range from tag‑style eliminations to group tournaments. Losing a match means forfeiting a professional career, raising the stakes to life‑or‑death intensity.
Themes & Tone
Blue Lock delves into psychological pressure, competitive ambition, and the cost of egoism. The tone is dark and fast‑paced, with intense action and dialogue‑heavy exchanges that keep viewers on edge.
Where to Watch
The first season is available on Prime Video, with additional episodes released through the same platform. Fans can also find the anime on licensed streaming services in their region.
Reception
Critics praise the show for its fresh take on sports anime, high‑energy action, and strong character development. Viewers appreciate the intense psychological battles and the series’ subversion of conventional team‑play narratives.

FAQ

51 Q&A
Who is Nagi Seishiro?
Nagi Seishiro is a super talented soccer player who loves to sleep and play video games. He joins Blue Lock because his friend, Reo, wants him to. He has amazing ball control.
What are the rules of Blue Lock?
Blue Lock is a training program to find the best striker in Japan. Players have to score goals and win matches. If they lose too much or don't meet certain goals, they get kicked out. They play different matches and train hard.
What is Bachira's special skill?
Meguru Bachira's special skill is his incredible dribbling ability. He can weave through opponents like a dancer, and he feels a mysterious "monster" inside him that helps him play soccer.
What is Isagi's ultimate weapon?
Yoichi Isagi's ultimate weapon is his ability to adapt and learn. He can copy and improve the skills of other players he sees, and his greatest strength is his spatial awareness, allowing him to find the best position to score.
Who is the strongest player in Blue Lock?
The strongest player in Blue Lock is debated, but many consider Rin Itoshi to be the most powerful due to his skill, intelligence, and ego. However, other players like Nagi and Isagi are also very strong and improving.
Who is the main character of Blue Lock?
The main character of Blue Lock is Yoichi Isagi. He is a young striker who joins the program hoping to become the best in the world.
Who is the best striker in Blue Lock?
The goal of Blue Lock is to find the best striker, and many players are aiming for that title. Rin Itoshi is often seen as a top contender, but Yoichi Isagi is the main character who is constantly growing and challenging others.
What is Blue Lock's goal?
Blue Lock's goal is to create the world's greatest striker. It's a program designed to push egoistic forwards to their limits to find one player who can lead Japan to win the World Cup.
What does 'Blue Lock' mean?
'Blue Lock' refers to a special prison for egoistic strikers. The program locks these talented players together, forcing them to compete fiercely against each other to develop into the ultimate forward.
Who is the coach of Blue Lock?
The coach and director of Blue Lock is Jinpachi Ego. He is a former soccer player who believes Japan needs a selfish, egoistic striker to win the World Cup.
How does Blue Lock work?
Blue Lock gathers 300 of Japan's best young strikers. They live together and play intense soccer matches against each other. The goal is to eliminate players until only one, the best striker, remains.
What is Chigiri's dream?
Hyoma Chigiri's dream is to become the fastest soccer player in the world. He initially gave up on his dream but is inspired to pursue it again at Blue Lock.
What is Rin's goal?
Rin Itoshi's goal is to become the best striker in the world. He believes that only by being the most egoistic and skilled player can he achieve this and lead Japan to victory.
What are the different teams in Blue Lock?
In Blue Lock, players are grouped into different teams for matches. These teams change based on the selection process, with players forming new teams to compete against each other in various challenges.
Who is Yoichi Isagi's rival?
Yoichi Isagi's main rival is Rin Itoshi. They push each other to become better strikers, and their competition is a central part of the Blue Lock story.
Who is Hyoma Chigiri?
Hyoma Chigiri is a fast and skilled player at Blue Lock. He has a dream of being the fastest soccer player and initially hides his true potential but later decides to fight for his dream.
How does the Neo Egoist League work?
The Neo Egoist League is a stage in Blue Lock where players face top young forwards from other countries. It's a way to test and improve their skills against world-class talent, earning "weapons" and "playstyles" along the way.
What is Ego Jinpachi's role?
Jinpachi Ego is the mastermind behind Blue Lock. His role is to find and train Japan's most egoistic and talented striker by putting them through extreme competition and challenging their beliefs about soccer.
What is Blue Lock about?
Blue Lock is about a group of talented young soccer players who are gathered to find Japan's best striker. They compete in a series of intense challenges and matches, pushing their egos and skills to the limit.
Who is Rin Itoshi?
Rin Itoshi is a highly skilled and egoistic striker who is considered one of the best in Blue Lock. He has a complex past and is driven by a strong desire to prove himself as the world's number one.
What happens in the third selection?
The third selection in Blue Lock involves players forming teams of four to compete in a special match. The goal is to score a certain number of goals, and those who fail are eliminated from the program.
Who is Isagi Yoichi?
Isagi Yoichi is the main character of Blue Lock. He's a striker who initially lacked confidence but discovers his potential and grows by learning from and competing against other talented players.
What is the Blue Lock's second selection?
The second selection in Blue Lock involves players forming teams of two. They have to complete a mission to survive, and the results determine their ranking and if they get to continue in the program.
What happens to players who lose in Blue Lock?
Players who consistently lose or fail to meet the requirements in Blue Lock are eliminated. They are sent home and can no longer participate in the program to find the world's best striker.
Who is Meguru Bachira?
Meguru Bachira is a vibrant and skilled soccer player in Blue Lock known for his amazing dribbling and unique "monster" intuition on the field. He is a close friend and teammate of Yoichi Isagi.
What is the final goal in Blue Lock?
The final goal is to create the world's best striker by having 300 high school forwards compete against each other.
What happens after Blue Lock ends?
The manga is ongoing, so the end of Blue Lock has not happened yet.
What are the fan theories about Blue Lock characters?
Fan theories often focus on character backstories, potential future developments, and the hidden abilities of players.
Are there any character relationships people misunderstand?
Misunderstandings can arise about the depth of certain rivalries and friendships, as well as the true intentions behind some character interactions.
What are some fun facts about Blue Lock characters?
Fun facts might include surprising origins, unique training methods, or unexpected skills possessed by the characters.
What's the deal with Kaiser's eyeliner?
Kaiser's eyeliner is a distinctive visual element that adds to his confident and somewhat theatrical persona on the field.
Is there a Blue Lock movie?
Yes, there is a Blue Lock movie titled "Blue Lock: Episode Nagi," which focuses on the character Nagi Seishiro.
What are some filming secrets for Blue Lock?
As an anime and manga, Blue Lock does not involve filming secrets in the traditional sense. Its creation involves animation and drawing processes.
Is Blue Lock realistic?
Blue Lock takes liberties with soccer realism to emphasize ego and individual brilliance, making it more of a heightened, dramatic sports fantasy.
What does Reo want to achieve?
Reo Mikage wants to become the best player in the world and win the World Cup.
Why are some characters not used much?
Some characters might have limited roles early on to build suspense or because their specific skill sets are not immediately relevant to the ongoing challenges.
Who is the creator of Blue Lock?
Blue Lock was written by Muneyuki Kaneshiro and illustrated by Yusuke Nomura.
Are there any plot holes in Blue Lock?
While generally well-received, discussions among fans sometimes point out minor inconsistencies or questions about character progression that could be seen as plot holes.
Who is Shoei Barou?
Shoei Barou is a striker in Blue Lock known for his powerful physique and ego-driven playing style, often referred to as "The King."
What makes Blue Lock unique?
Blue Lock is unique for its focus on fostering individual ego and "selfishness" in strikers, rather than traditional teamwork, to create the ultimate offensive player.
What is the finale of Blue Lock about?
The finale of Blue Lock, as the series is ongoing, has not yet occurred. The story is building towards a final selection and potential international matches.
Who is Reo Mikage?
Reo Mikage is a talented and versatile player in Blue Lock who initially aimed to be an all-rounder before focusing on becoming a top striker.
What are the biggest problems with Blue Lock?
Some criticisms revolve around the extreme emphasis on ego, which some viewers find unrealistic or less appealing than traditional sports narratives.
What is the meaning behind Blue Lock's characters?
The characters represent different facets of ambition, ego, and the drive to become the best, exploring what it truly means to be a world-class striker.
What is Nagi's motivation?
Nagi's initial motivation was a lack of interest in soccer due to his incredible natural talent making it too easy. He later develops a desire to win and prove himself.
What inspired Blue Lock?
Blue Lock was inspired by the idea of creating a "god-like" striker by having multiple talented forwards compete and develop their ultimate ego.
Who are the main characters in the Blue Lock movie?
The main characters in the Blue Lock movie "Blue Lock: Episode Nagi" are Nagi Seishiro and his friend Reo Mikage.
How was the Blue Lock movie filmed?
The Blue Lock movie was animated, not filmed. It was produced by Eight Bit studio.
Where was Blue Lock filmed?
Blue Lock is an anime and manga series and was not filmed in a physical location.
What is Barou's ego?
Barou's ego is centered around his belief that he is the absolute best and destined to be the king of the soccer field, demanding the ball and glory.
Will there be more seasons of the Blue Lock anime?
Yes, a third season of the Blue Lock anime has been announced and is currently in production.

Actors

Kazuki Ura
Kazuki Ura
Yoichi Isagi (voice)
Tasuku Kaito
Tasuku Kaito
Meguru Bachira (voice)
Yuki Ono
Yuki Ono
Rensuke Kunigami (voice)
Soma Saito
Soma Saito
Hyoma Chigiri (voice)
Junichi Suwabe
Junichi Suwabe
Shoei Baro (voice)
Nobunaga Shimazaki
Nobunaga Shimazaki
Seishiro Nagi (voice)
Yoshitsugu Matsuoka
Yoshitsugu Matsuoka
Jingo Raichi (voice)