feuervogel (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
feuervogel) wrote2010-07-25 11:24 am
feuervogel) wrote2010-07-25 11:24 am
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Anime about soccer!
How could I *not* love Giant Killing? I mean, really.
Unlike a lot of sports series, GK doesn't start out with a total n00b who learns to play the game (and the audience learns along with him, of course.) It's about tactics, politics, team-building strategies (aka free-market capitalism at its purest, which kind of spoils the game IMO), and the guys on the team: how they interact, how they grow, and how the team becomes a team.
Gino, the primadonna half-Italian, half-Japanese guy, is slowly becoming my favorite character, because he's just so ... ridiculous. And awesome. But Dori, the goal keeper, is probably really my favorite. (I have a thing for defense players, ok? Strikers and midfielders are great, and they bring the spectacular plays that lead to goals, but a good, solid defense is really awesome.I'm not biased because Arne's a center back. I don't know why you'd think that.)
We just finished watching the first season last night. This is the type of story that you have certain expectations for: new manager, who used to play on the team, comes in to turn a team on the verge of relegation into league champions. The arc I expect it to follow for the second season results in ETU becoming league champions, though they may lose a few more matches on the way.
I don't think you have to be a football fan to enjoy Giant Killing, though it certainly doesn't hurt. The more esoteric rules, like offsides, don't come up too much, and when they do, they aren't explained. In one episode, the line ref blows his whistle and drops his flag, and you get some reaction shots of people saying, "he was offside!" but that's it. I don't think it affects enjoyment or understanding, but I could be wrong.
I understand there's also manga for this. I want to read it. I'm not holding my breath for a North American release of either, though Ookiku Furikabutte got a NA DVD release. But that's about baseball, that fine American sport, not that crazy unAmerican game.
Unlike a lot of sports series, GK doesn't start out with a total n00b who learns to play the game (and the audience learns along with him, of course.) It's about tactics, politics, team-building strategies (aka free-market capitalism at its purest, which kind of spoils the game IMO), and the guys on the team: how they interact, how they grow, and how the team becomes a team.
Gino, the primadonna half-Italian, half-Japanese guy, is slowly becoming my favorite character, because he's just so ... ridiculous. And awesome. But Dori, the goal keeper, is probably really my favorite. (I have a thing for defense players, ok? Strikers and midfielders are great, and they bring the spectacular plays that lead to goals, but a good, solid defense is really awesome.
We just finished watching the first season last night. This is the type of story that you have certain expectations for: new manager, who used to play on the team, comes in to turn a team on the verge of relegation into league champions. The arc I expect it to follow for the second season results in ETU becoming league champions, though they may lose a few more matches on the way.
I don't think you have to be a football fan to enjoy Giant Killing, though it certainly doesn't hurt. The more esoteric rules, like offsides, don't come up too much, and when they do, they aren't explained. In one episode, the line ref blows his whistle and drops his flag, and you get some reaction shots of people saying, "he was offside!" but that's it. I don't think it affects enjoyment or understanding, but I could be wrong.
I understand there's also manga for this. I want to read it. I'm not holding my breath for a North American release of either, though Ookiku Furikabutte got a NA DVD release. But that's about baseball, that fine American sport, not that crazy unAmerican game.