Return to Blue Lock and replay the events of season 1 through the eyes of the sometimes uninterested but incredibly skilled Nagi. Blue Lock The Movie Episode Nagi is anything but boring as Nagi enters Blue Lock and history is made.
Blue Lock The Movie Episode Nagi Review
Have you ever watched a soccer match and thought, these players must have some sort of superpower? BLUELOCK envisions a world where the most talented players take the pitch and dominate thanks to their special egos (powers). Some see the game like a puzzle to be solved while others play as if a demon is fueling their moves. No matter their skill, they all have one goal in mind– to become the greatest striker Japan has ever seen. The combatants must endure grueling training sessions and fierce competitions in order to survive Blue Lock. If they can manage it, the final team will face the pros and go on to represent Japan on the world's stage.
Episode Nagi takes us back to the events of season 1 to show the story from the point of view of Seishiro Nagi. A mix of recap and new content gives viewers a chance to see what led Nagi, someone who would rather game on his phone than in real life, to compete to become Japan's best striker. Unlike many other anime films, Episode Nagi is canon to the main story, much like Jujutsu Kaisen 0 or Demon Slayer's Mugen Train. Plus, since it's essentially a different version of season 1, no prior knowledge of Blue Lock is necessary, making it an easy entry point for curious anime fans.
Nagi is a second-year high schooler who has little motivation to do anything besides play games on his phone. His life is pretty dull until he becomes friends with Reo Mikage. Reo has dreams of winning the World Cup and pushes Nagi into joining the soccer team once he discovers Nagi has some hidden talents. Though he still isn't excited about playing, Nagi can't help but be supportive of Reo. Soon the two are seen as a formidable team which lands them at the mysterious Blue Lock. The friends are determined to survive Blue Lock together, proving they are the best of the best. It won't be easy and Nagi will still have to push past his boredom in order to make it through to the end.
Despite being a retelling of events, there is still plenty of fresh content to keep even the most diehard fans engaged. It's intriguing to get a more in-depth look at both Nagi and Reo, along with their friendship. Those early moments feed the emotional core of the film that goes beyond just becoming a great striker. When the confrontation inevitably comes, it's easy to feel the pain that comes from feeling betrayed and the fire that it lights within them to become even stronger than before. Much of the film is spent inside Nagi's head as we hear him narrate his inner struggles. Why doesn't he have the drive of his friend? Is it worth exerting effort to prove something he doesn't necessarily care about? He also works to decipher his opponents moves and motivations in an effort to understand them and himself better.
In the anime, Nagi seems to one day just wake up, ready to become the greatest. He's still slightly aloof but more determined than ever. However in EPISODE NAGI, we see that this change happened gradually as a result of a lot of time spent thinking about himself and others. It becomes clear why Nagi made the choices he made not only in his game with Isagi but the ones after that as well. It was the right move to adapt this into a film, as it gives much needed insight into Nagi's character. Now this person who is important to the series overall is more relatable and understandable.
I also found it exciting to relive familiar moments from the anime but from Nagi's point of view. The soccer tag game that starts everything off is just as adrenaline-fueled as ever but this time we get to see how Nagi and his team deal with the teams Isagi confronted on the show. It adds nuance to the later confrontations and feelings that fuel Nagi's actions. At times the animation is similar to that of the show but in others the feature film budget shines through. Nagi's skull motif and blue flames are vibrant and detailed. The animation also elevates the moments where he is scanning the field, analyzing everything and everyone before making his move.
Verdict
Ultimately, BLUELOCK THE MOVIE -EPISODE NAGI is exciting, entertaining, and interesting as it shifts the focus from Isagi to Nagi. There is enough new here both in terms of story and viewpoints to keep even the most diehard fan engaged until the end. As someone who has always enjoyed time spent with characters adjacent to the MC of any given anime, this was right up my alley. Nagi is an intriguing character, opposite in so many ways to Isagi, that it was refreshing to see his take on the insanity that is the Blue Lock program. His reluctance to find his ego turning into an almost inhuman drive to push past his limits is fascinating to watch.
Everything from the animation to the score comes together to elevate the story and deliver that signature superhero feel of Blue Lock, culminating in a final scene that bridges the gap between the end of season 1 and season 2. It's a tease for sure, but one that will have longtime fans begging for the season to hit Crunchyroll sooner rather than later.
Blue Lock The Movie- Episode Nagi releases in North American theaters June 28, 2024. It will be available in both Japanese with English subtitles and English dub versions. Stream the first season of the anime on Crunchyroll.
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