Anime Review: Ao Ashi, A Step into a World of Action, Romance, and Adventure!

 

Ao Ashi is a standout sports anime that truly stands out from the crowd. The story follows a young and passionate footballer named Ashito who moves from Ehime to Tokyo to pursue his dream of playing for the football superpower Esperion. This anime effectively captures the struggles and adversity that athletes, their families, and friends must face, as well as the sacrifice and dedication required to pursue a single goal. The drama and character writing are intense, making it easy to get invested in Ashito's journey. What truly sets Ao Ashi apart from other sports anime is its technical and psychological approach to the sport of football. The show accurately depicts the various roles and responsibilities within the football industry and how they all fit together to create a successful team. Ashito must navigate the challenges of being an outsider, rivalries, and unsportsmanlike behavior while striving to improve and reach his goals. The level of difficulty and effort required to succeed in the sport is also depicted in a realistic and compelling manner. The supporting cast is well-developed and diverse, with each character having their own motivational story and ambitions. The animation, while not flashy, is still attractive and vibrant, with excellent art and well-designed characters. The music, including the opening and closing songs, perfectly sets the mood for each episode. The original voice cast, although not made up of well-known names, does an excellent job bringing the characters to life. Overall, Ao Ashi is a must-watch for sports anime fans and those looking for a compelling and emotionally charged show. Despite some minor drawbacks, such as a lack of traditional "Nakama power" compared to other shounen anime, the positive qualities more than make up for it. With its focus on technical and psychological aspects of the sport, as well as its well-written characters and drama, Ao Ashi is a top-tier sports anime that is not to be missed.