It has been announced that the second season of the TV anime "Blue Lock" will air on TV Asahi's new anime slot "IMAnimation" (every Saturday at 11:30 PM) from October 5th, spanning a total of 14 episodes.

＞＞Blue Lock Episode 25 (Season 2, EP1) Synopsis & Scene Images Released

Additionally, new characters and their cast members, who will challenge the Blue Lock members led by Isagi, have been revealed. Satoshi Hino will voice Oliver Aiku, the captain of the U-20 Japan national team known for their "Diamond Generation" with formidable defense and great talent. Akihisa Wakayama will voice Shuto Sendou, the ace of the U-20 Japan national team and a regular forward in Japan's top league, known for his high skills.

"Blue Lock" is based on the manga of the same name serialized in "Weekly Shonen Magazine." It is a soccer series that aims to produce a forward player with overwhelming egotism, something the Japanese national team lacked in their World Cup defeat. Japan launches a nationwide high school player development project.

The story follows the journey of 300 high school forwards gathered for this project, with only one emerging as the revolutionary striker for Japanese soccer, sacrificing the soccer careers of the other 299. The manga has surpassed 30 million copies in circulation.

The TV anime started airing in October 2022, and the second season is set to begin in October 2024. Currently, the movie "Blue Lock -EPISODE Nagi-" is being screened in theaters.

Comments from Satoshi Hino, Voice of Oliver Aiku

—Impression of the work:
My first impression upon reading the original was that it was a work with very strong individual characters and a unique charm. Not only the work itself but also each character's strong individuality fascinated me as they asserted their own beliefs while growing as a team.

—Impression and enthusiasm for the character:
Oliver Aiku, as the captain of the U-20 Japan national team, values teamwork and unity while also pursuing his ideal form of soccer. He is a reliable yet somewhat egotistical character. He also exudes a mature charm, and I hope to bring out these aspects fully.

Comments from Akihisa Wakayama, Voice of Shuto Sendou

—Impression of the work:
Focusing on the generally negative concepts of "ego" and "egotism," this work portrays them as key elements of failure, challenge, and growth within the team sport of soccer without any unpleasantness, making it an incredibly exciting and interesting story. I am excited to see how these strong individual characters change within the group and have found myself eagerly following the latest chapters despite usually preferring collected volumes.

—Impression and enthusiasm for the character:
As the ace striker of the U-20 Japan national team facing off against the Blue Lock team, my first impression of Sendou was that he seemed surprisingly mentally weak and had a bit of a small-time or underdog feel. However, he is not just an underdog. Sendou is a character who could be the protagonist in a different story, so I aim to convey his appeal to the fullest. Look forward to seeing how Sendou evolves in the matches and how he challenges the Blue Lock team.

Source : ORICON NEWS