Blue Lock

Blue Lock

Company type	Manga series
Industry	Manga, anime, entertainment
Founded	2018
Founder	Muneyuki Kaneshiro (writer), Yusuke Nomura (illustrator)
Headquarters	Tokyo , Japan
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Muneyuki Kaneshiro (creator), Yusuke Nomura (illustrator)
Products	Manga volumes, anime series, film, stage plays, video games
Owner	Kodansha
Parent	Kodansha
Website	blue-lock.jp

Blue Lock (stylized as BLUELOCK) is a Japanese manga series created by writer Muneyuki Kaneshiro and illustrator . It has been serialized in Kodansha's Weekly Shōnen Magazine since August 2018, with a total of 34 volumes published as of June 2025.

The anime adaptation, produced by studio Eight Bit, was broadcast from October 2022 through March 2023. A film adaptation of the Episode Nagi spin-off premiered in April 2024, followed by a second anime season titled vs. U-20 Japan, which aired between October and December 2024.

By March 2025, Blue Lock had surpassed 45 million copies in circulation worldwide, placing it among the top-selling manga series globally. The series earned the 45th Kodansha Manga Award in the category in 2021.

Plot

Following Japan’s 16th-place finish at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the Japan Football Union recruits football strategist Jinpachi Ego to implement Blue Lock, an intense training program designed to produce the world’s ultimate egotistical striker. Players who do not succeed in Blue Lock are prohibited from representing Japan internationally. Yoichi Isagi, a relatively unknown high school footballer uncertain about his playing style, enters the competition alongside 299 others vying for the top striker position.

Manga

Blue Lock, written by Muneyuki Kaneshiro and illustrated by , debuted on August 1, 2018, in Kodansha's Weekly Shōnen Magazine. Kodansha collects the chapters into tankōbon volumes, with the first volume released on November 16, 2018. As of June 17, 2025, there are 34 volumes available.

In January 2021, Kodansha USA acquired the rights for English digital distribution in North America, launching on March 16, 2021. Print editions were announced a year later in January 2022. Kodansha USA also disclosed plans in July 2025 to release an omnibus edition starting in Q2 of 2026.

A spin-off manga focusing on Seishiro Nagi, titled , was serialized in Kodansha's Bessatsu Shōnen Magazine from June 9, 2022, until July 9, 2025. This series is penned by Kaneshiro and illustrated by Kōta Sannomiya. It comprises seven volumes as of May 16, 2025; the eighth and final volume is scheduled for release on August 12, 2025. Kodansha distributes this spin-off in English through its K Manga platform and announced print editions in October 2023; the first volume was published on October 15, 2024.

Anime

An anime adaptation was confirmed on August 12, 2021. The series was produced by Eight Bit and directed by Tetsuaki Watanabe. Key staff members included assistant director Shunsuke Ishikawa; series scriptwriter Taku Kishimoto; character designer and chief animation director Masaru Shindō; chief action director Hisashi Tojima; and composer Jun Murayama. The initial season consisted of 24 episodes aired from October 9, 2022, to March 26, 2023, within TV Asahi's programming block. The opening theme was "Chaos ga Kiwamaru" performed by Unison Square Garden, while the ending theme was "Winner" by Shugo Nakamura. The second opening theme featured "Judgement" by Ash Da Hero, and the second ending theme was "Numbness Like a Ginger," also by Unison Square Garden.

Subsequent to the first season, a second season entitled vs. U-20 Japan aired from October 5 to December 28, 2024, on TV Asahi’s newly established IMAnimation block. The opening theme for this season was "Bōjaku no Charisma" by Unison Square Garden, accompanied by the ending theme "One" performed by Snow Man.

English Distribution

The series was licensed by Crunchyroll for streaming, with the English dubbed version debuting on October 22, 2022. Subsequently, the company issued the series across two Blu-ray Disc collections, released on November 14, 2023, and May 28, 2024.

For the Asia-Pacific territory, licensing rights are held by Medialink. The anime aired on Animax Asia and was available for streaming through Ani-One Asia, thereby broadening its audience throughout the region.

Movie Adaptation

After the conclusion of the initial season, an anime film adaptation based on the Episode Nagi manga was announced. The project retained the original production team and voice actors, with Shunsuke Ishikawa directing and manga author Muneyuki Kaneshiro overseeing the storyline. The film premiered in Japanese cinemas on April 19, 2024. Its theme track, titled "Stormy," was performed by Takahiro Nishijima (Nissy) alongside Mitsuhiro Hidaka (Sky-Hi).

In April 2024, Crunchyroll secured theatrical rights for North America and select international markets, releasing the film in the United States and Canada on June 28. Meanwhile, Pioneer Films handled distribution in the Philippines on July 31.

Theatrical Productions

A stage play adaptation of the manga was announced by Kodansha in December 2022. The production ran from May 4 to 7, 2023, at Sankei Hall Breeze in Osaka and from May 11 to 14 at Sunshine Theater in Tokyo. Naohiro Ise served as both director and playwright. The cast included Ryōhei Takenaka portraying Yoichi Isagi, Nobunaga Satō as Meguru Bachira, Shōta Matsuda playing Rensuke Kunigami, and Ryō Saeki as Hyōma Chigiri.

The second installment, titled 2nd Stage, was performed from January 18 to 24, 2024, at Kyoto Theater and from January 25 to 31 at Hulic Hall Tokyo. Naohiro Ise reprised his roles as director and writer, with Kōhei Nagata joining the cast as Rin Itoshi; other actors returned to their original roles.

The third play, 3rd Stage, took place between August 9 and 12, 2024, at Higashi-Osaka Cultural Creation Hall Dream House Great Hall and from August 17 to 25 at Tokyo's Theater H. New additions to the cast included Ryono Kusachi, Gaku Matsuda, Kosuke Asuma, and Kairi Miura.

The fourth production, 4th Stage, ran from May 15 to 25, 2025, at Theatre Milano-Za in Tokyo and from May 30 to June 1 at Higashi-Osaka Cultural Creation Hall Dream House Great Hall.

Additionally, a stage adaptation based on the Episode Nagi side story manga is scheduled for November 20–30, 2025 at Theatre G-Rosso. This play stars Takamichi Satō as Seishirō Nagi and Shūji Kikuchi as Reo Mikage.

Gaming Titles

The series inspired a mobile game called Blue Lock: Blaze Battle, which launched on March 1, 2024 for iOS and Android devices. A promotional video featured Ryosuke Yamada of Hey! Say! JUMP fame. Another game titled Blue Lock Project: World Champion was released in English on April 23, 2024 for both platforms.

In March 2024, Konami announced a collaboration incorporating the series into their eFootball 2024 video game.

Literary Work

A prequel novel named , authored by Momo Moegi and Yusuke Nomura, was published on July 17, 2024.

Additional Media Collaborations

In 2021, Blue Lock partnered with FC Tokyo to create promotional illustrations featuring characters dressed in FC Tokyo kits alongside players such as Diego Oliveira, Adaílton, and Weverson Leandro Oliveira Moura. In November 2024, Liverpool FC teamed up with Kodansha to present a Blue Lock exhibition at Comic Con Liverpool, which showcased Liverpool players reimagined within the series’ art style. The event included appearances by former player David James and the mascot Mighty Red.

In June 2025, a collaboration between Blue Lock and Concacaf produced exclusive content along with limited-edition merchandise—the first partnership of its kind between a sports-themed manga and a major football confederation.

Manga

By August 2020, the circulation of Blue Lock had surpassed 1.9 million copies, eventually expanding to over 45 million copies by March 2025. During the first half of 2023 (November 2022–May 2023), it emerged as Japan's top-selling manga series, with sales exceeding 8 million copies. Notably, volumes 12–14, 21–23, and 22–24 were among the best-selling during this timeframe. Volume 24 achieved Kodansha's second-largest initial print run for the 2023–2024 period, totaling 450,000 copies, while volume three of Blue Lock: Episode Nagi reached 210,000 copies.

Hajime Isayama, renowned for Attack on Titan, endorsed Blue Lock, and its artist Yusuke Nomura had previously served as his assistant. The series secured a position within the Top 3 Sports Manga in Honya Club’s "Nationwide Bookstore Employees' Recommended Comics of 2020" and earned the 45th Kodansha Manga Award in the shōnen division in 2021. It was also nominated for Best Manga at the 2022 Harvey Award and for the Youth Selection at the 49th Angoulême International Comics Festival.

Rebecca Silverman from Anime News Network commended Blue Lock for its dystopian sports narrative and art style inspired by Tite Kubo, though she remarked that its concept is "blatantly absurd" and somewhat flawed. Nonetheless, she found sufficient quality in the initial two volumes to continue reading.

Anime

Bamboo Dong of Anime News Network observed that while the exaggerated abilities inject humor, the diverse characters extend the series’ appeal beyond just soccer enthusiasts. She lauded the action sequences as "genuine thrills," despite occasional fluctuations in consistency and visual quality. Dong summarized that "Blue Lock offers a genuinely enjoyable experience," particularly for those who appreciate campiness and absurd elements; strategic moments attract action fans, while a passionate portrayal of soccer captivates sports lovers.

Baylor Bryant from The O'Colly emphasized the engaging and dynamic gameplay, acknowledging imperfections but highlighting distinctive strikers and narratives within each match. Although Bryant noted uneven animation quality, he considered the anime entertaining for audiences favoring comedic elements over manga reading.

Rafael Motamayor of IGN likened the series to Squid Game, characterizing it as a conventional sports anime enriched with insightful commentary on competition and athletic excellence. He criticized the discordant blend of 3D CG and traditional 2D animation when compared to smoother productions like Haikyu!!, yet praised impactful keyframes and visual symbolism that offset some inconsistencies in CG.

In 2023, Blue Lock received the New Face Award at the Japan Character Awards, presented by Japan's Character Brand Licensing Association (CBLA). It achieved second place behind Oshi no Ko in Yahoo! Japan Search Awards’ anime category, reflecting a notable surge in search interest. By 2025, three international voice actors earned nominations for Best Voice Artist Performance at the 9th Crunchyroll Anime Awards in Arabic and Hindi categories.

The second season attracted criticism due to a decline in animation standards, especially noticeable in episode two. MrAJCosplay of Anime News Network described it as disorienting because of direction choices and extensive use of still frames. Rayan Sayyed from IGN linked these production challenges to animator working conditions, drawing parallels to controversies experienced by MAPPA during the second season of Jujutsu Kaisen.