Blue Lock might just be the most battle shonen anime to ever grace the sports genre. The whole premise is effectively a death game, albeit with the “death” part representing a footballer’s dream to play for Japan. Jinpachi Ego created the Blue Lock program in the hopes of discovering a talent who could lead the nation to a World Cup, and his goal is to assemble all of Japan’s greatest young strikers and force them into a battle royale-type situation. If they are eliminated, they can never play for the national team. Every player needs to grow quickly if they want to survive, all the while learning what their weapon is. Finally, they need to be able to access their Flow Zone (or Flow State).
So, what is Flow State? Well, it essentially means that you are so in the zone that you maximize your efficiency and performance, allowing for improved cognitive function and very quick development. Jinpachi’s Blue Lock is specifically designed to push its participants to the brink constantly, as they have to fight for their present and future. Nearly all the best players in Blue Lock achieve Flow State, but which ones are really in the zone?
Only characters who have been introduced in the anime will be considered. That said, please be warned of spoilers as references to things that happen after Blue Lock season 2 might be included.
Best Sports Anime Of All Time
Be it baseball, basketball, or boxing, the best sports anime deliver suspense, drama, action, and comedy.
8
Kenyu Yukimiya
Japan’s Best 1v1 Players
- Manga Debut: Chapter 93
- Anime Debut: Episode 24
- Age: 18-19
- Position: Center Back, Forward, Offensive Midfielder, Left Wing
Kenyu Yukimiya has optic neuropathy, but the challenge that it poses has failed to stop him from chasing his dreams and playing football at the highest level. He is not only regarded by Jinpachi as one of the best players at Blue Lock but also plays for Germany’s Bastard München as an offensive midfielder.
God only gives us trials that we can overcome.
In the flow state, Yukimiya can perform the La Croqueta consecutively at a high speed to completely break down the opposition’s defense and create goal-scoring opportunities. While he is already a talented player, when he is truly zoned in, it is almost impossible to stop him.
7
Oliver Aiku
The Forward-Turned-Defender
- Manga Debut: Chapter 110
- Anime Debut: Episode 25
- Age: 19
- Position: Forward, Center Back
Oliver Aiku started playing football, dreaming of becoming the best striker in the world. Unfortunately, circumstances beat that dream out of him, forcing him to evolve his game. Instead of giving up on football, Aiku adjusted his playing style and became a defender, hoping to achieve greatness.
The Best Anime Tournament Arcs, Ranked
Several prominent anime series have witnessed great tournament arcs. These examples are some of the best in the genre.
When Aiku enters the flow state, he is able to feel the gaps in his team’s defense to move ahead of the game and spoil any goal-scoring opportunities.
6
Rensuke Kunigami
Bastard München’s Clinical Finisher
- Manga Debut: Chapter 1
- Anime Debut: Episode 1
- Age: 16-17
- Position: Defensive Midfielder, Center Midfielder, Forward
Despite getting eliminated from Blue Lock, Kunigami makes a comeback in the Neo Egoist League, completely transformed after playing against Shido. Rensuke adopts an egotistical brand of football and evolves himself into an attacking player.
I will fulfill this dream of mine and fight against the world for it, fair and square. I don’t think there’s anything embarrassing about that.
Like some of his peers, he also manages to consciously and sometimes accidentally enter the flow state to control his team’s flow of offensive play. In the Neo Egoist League, he plays for Germany’s Bastard München as a center defensive midfielder.
5
Seishiro Nagi
Blue Lock’s Best Trapper
- Manga Debut: Chapter 22
- Anime Debut: Episode 1
- Age: 17
- Position: Goalkeeper, Forward, Right Wing, Offensive Midfielder
A creative midfielder and a dangerous forward, Seishiro Nagi is one of those rare footballers at Blue Lock who are naturally gifted. His perfect ball control and ability to score from anywhere make him an extremely challenging player to contain.
When he is in the flow state, Seishiro unleashes nearly impossible-to-replicate goals. One of them comes during the game between Team White and Team Red when Nagi performed the 2-stage fake volley shot under pressure to net the ball. In the Neo Egoist League, he went a step further and scored a goal with the five-shot revolver fake volley.
4
Shoei Baro
Ubers’ Dominating Striker
- Manga Debut: Chapter 5
- Anime Debut: Episode 1
- Age: 18
- Position: Right Wing, Forward
Shoei Baro is a dangerous striker who likes to dominate his rivals. He perceives himself as a king on the field and is one of the few players who can walk the talk when he gets going.
Blue Lock: New Generation World XI, Explained
The PIFA-selected new generation of footballers are expected to become superstars in the future.
In the flow state, Baro evolves dramatically and is able to use his weapons to good effect to convert even half-chances into goals. In the Neo Egoist League, he plays for the Ubers and has been able to prove himself to be an invaluable asset for the team by scoring several crucial goals.
3
Rin Itoshi
Sae Itoshi’s Younger Brother
- Manga Debut: Chapter 40
- Anime Debut: Episode 11
- Age: 16
- Position: Forward
Arguably Blue Lock’s most talented player, Rin has the uncanny ability to score goals at an astounding rate. Although he is initially driven by the desire to take revenge on his older brother, Sae Itoshi, Rin is slowly overcome by the passion to become the best striker in the world.
You guys don’t learn at all, do you? I’m staking my life on each moment here.
Rin, like some of his peers, has been able to fully access the flow state consciously in many instances. His variation, which is often called the Pure Destruction, is just an extension of his aggressive gameplay in which he pushes his opponents to play at their best before completely dominating them to not only net the ball but also achieve a ruthless psychological victory.
2
Ryusei Shido
Paris X Gen’s Explosive Center Forward
- Manga Debut: Chapter 88
- Anime Debut: Episode 24
- Age: 18
- Position: Forward, Center Forward
Very few players in the world in Ryusei’s age group can match his goal-scoring prowess and his ruthless playing style. While he is a naturally dangerous player, Shido truly explodes on the field when he achieves the flow state. When he is zoned in, Ryusei’s spatial awareness is pushed to the extreme, allowing him to score unconventional goals using the long-range bicycle kick.
1
Yoichi Isagi
Bastard München’s Talented Forward
- Manga Debut: Chapter 1
- Anime Debut: Episode 1
- Age: 16
- Position: Offensive Midfielder, Forward
Isagi is one of the rare players at Blue Lock who was handpicked by Jinpachi Ego. While he may not be as naturally talented as other players like Nagi or Rin, Yoichi makes up for it through his sheer desire to become the best in the world. In the Neo Egoist League, he plays for Bastard München and is rated as one of the most impactful players.
Isagi accidentally accessed the flow state as early as the First Selection. However, he only realizes its influence on his game and becomes more clinical in using it as he evolves as a player. Perhaps the most noteworthy instance of Yoichi entering the flow state is when he played against Manshine City during the Neo Egoist League.
- Release Date
-
2022 – 2024
- Directors
-
Tetsuaki Watanabe, Shunsuke Ishikawa
- Writers
-
Taku Kishimoto
