And the stage has been set for the soccer tryouts to begin! Aoashi Episode 2 shows just how chaotic and daunting a game can be. Let’s find out in this review!
Aoashi Episode 2 Overview
Aoashi, also referred to as Ao Ashi, is a sports anime based on a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Yūgo Kobayashi. It has been serialised in Shogakukan’s seinen manga magazine Weekly Big Comic Spirits since January 2015. It is being produced by Production I.G, who have great hits such as Guilty Crown, Psycho-Pass, Kuroko’s Basketball, Haikyuu!!, Psycho-Pass 3 and Moriarty the Patriot.
The anime is being directed by Akira Satou, who worked on previous projects such as Deadman Wonderland and Release the Spyce, with scripts written by Masahiro Yokotani, and Nakatake and Yamaguchi also serving as chief animation directors. This episode of the show is also known as Ao Ashi Episode 2.
– Aoashi Episode 2 Review does not contain any spoilers –
Aoashi Review – The Tryouts Begin!
Ao Ashi Episode 2 finds Aoi wide-eyed at Tokyo Station, as many youngsters from the smaller cities surely are on their first visit to the grand metropolis. He knows nothing about how this all works, consistent with the unusual route he took to land here. From feeling lost at the metro station to gazing at the so-called young stars on the field who are soon going to be his competitors, Aoi is left feeling awe-struck. And the first person he bumps into is none other than Tokyo City Esperion FC Youth’s coach-cum-manager Fukuda’s middle-schooler sister-in-law Hana Ichijo. Call it fate!
To say Ashito is a wide-eyed innocent here is an understatement. Just seeing the field with grass is a wonder for him. His unapologetic, friendly, small-city boy personality has managed to remain the same from the first time we saw him, yet there are already developments in his personality. He understands the other players are also good at the game and learns to not keep the ball to himself. When he made that shot, what a rush!
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When the news hits Aoi about how none of the players clearing the tryouts is entirely possible, Aoi seems shocked. This prompted the well-received yet sobering speech about the brutally competitive process they will have to undergo and how low their chances of standing out are. And honestly, this is a very accurate portrayal of how competitive the sports industry in real life is. One small mishap, one small injury, one wrong game- and it is all over for the player. Coupled with the level-headed protagonist, this soccer anime is hitting too close to home!
Ao Ashi Episode 2 shows the general sentiment the show is going to have. From the Fukuda’s comedic tit-bits to Aoi’s relentless and unremorseful outlook to the general positive yet nerve-wracking overview of the show, Aoashi is moving on a great path. Hana’s realisation of Aoi’s instincts seems like a sure-shot sign that Aoi is going to achieve something. But for a boy who was amazed at just the chance of playing football on a grass field, what could be the peak?
What is abundantly clear is Fukuda’s interest to nurture Aoi. Did Aoi stand a chance of being here if he hadn’t shown the bird-eye diagram to the coach? No. It is not fair. But Fukuda’s job is not to be fair, just to hunt and nurture raw talent. Experiencing such life lessons in a sports anime seems to shatter the normal main-character-is-a-gifted-genius genre. The momentum and development are very well-paced, and it does not feel that the main character is “suddenly powering up”.
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Aoashi uses almost exclusively an eagle eye’s perspective for all of the large motion scenes, along with some characters explaining the tactics making for an extremely accessible and easy-to-follow orientation. You won’t get lost in the build-up of fuzzy scenes. The art style is very refreshing. The opening theme song is energetic, assembling the show that is joining to follow and the ending theme song is relaxed and soothing, reminding us that the whole game is a marathon and not a sprint!
Verdict
Aoashi Episode 2 progressed steadily on Aoi’s soccer journey. With our protagonist tasting the true spirit of team-building, will Aoi make it into the next round? Stay tuned to find out!
Click here to read the review of the next episode!