This year, Blue Lock—a popular soccer anime—came out with its second season. The anime was inspired by the Blue Lock manga, which was the best selling manga in 2023 with 10.5 million copies sold. The first season came out in 2022 and many fans have been anticipating the release of the anime’s second season in 2024. However, the change in animation style had a varied response from fans.
“I feel the new season is over hated, the new animation is certainly a drop in quality from the last season,” senior Maximus Josue said. “However, the special effects and ability to portray the manga perfectly are impressive given the time constraints and working conditions of the animation team. They managed to pull through during certain vital scenes that make watching the show and waiting for two years worth it.”
While most sports anime emphasize themes which revolve around hard work, friendship and teamwork, Blue Lock takes a different approach. The plot encourages the characters to score points for themselves and not for the good of a team. The show’s themes of egotism, self-evolution and ambition were what drew many watchers.
Another part of season one’s explosive popularity in undoubtedly its animation. Specifically, the animation employed for individual character moments. However, to many fans, the new season’s animation is seen as subpar to season one’s, with many calling it cheap or a “slide show animation.”
“I haven’t reached the new season of Blue Lock, but the jokes about its horrible animation are making the anime seem less and less appealing. Especially in comparison to some of the shows in the industry getting so much more funding, Blue Lock pales in comparison,” senior Eliana Park said.
Animators of the show have suggested that this season has had worse animation due to a combination of too much work and too little time given to the animation team of the new season. Animators had to complete work on multiple episodes at the same time on a tight schedule. Despite the reduced animation quality, some at New Hyde Park believe that the plot and character moments of the recent season, especially fan favorite character Seishiro Nagi in episode seven, is enough to keep them watching in the hope of better animation to come.
“I watched the new season of Blue Lock, but not before reading the manga. Seeing the adaptation of something written so well turn into a cheap, almost unfinished-looking animation is a bit annoying to me as the announcement of the animation had excited many readers. It’s a bit disappointing so far, but I am still anticipating what’s to come after the most recent episode,” senior Samir Bushati said.
