In Pursuit of Egoism: The Essence of 'Blue Lock'

Blue Lock has quickly become a standout in the sports anime genre, known for its intense action and psychological depth as it redefines the high-stakes world of soccer. With Season 2 currently airing, the series continues to capture audiences with its bold storytelling and striking visuals.

At Anime Expo 2024, MyAnimeList has the chance to sit down with key members of the production team—animation producer Ryouya Arisawa, manga editor Megumu Tsuchiya, and voice actor Kazuki Ura, who portrays Yoichi Isagi. During the interview, we explored their thoughts on the progression of Blue Lock into its second season, the creative process behind the animation, and Ura's approach to voicing the ambitious protagonist in this thrilling new chapter.




──Episode Nagi movie premiered in theaters overseas this week, and season 2 is coming in a few months. How does everyone feel?

Arisawa (Anime Producer): I am honestly happy that Episode Nagi has been released. Not too long ago, Japanese animation being released on a large-scale worldwide wasn't a thing, so when I heard that this time Episode Nagi would be released in a very large number of theaters in North America, I was surprised and it still doesn't feel real. Seeing the billboard at the movie theater next door was very moving. I would be glad if tons of people watch it. At the same time, I think people around the world are waiting for the second season, so I'll try my best to make it so that it meets everyone's expectations.

Tsuchiya (Manga Editor): At the time we began serializing the manga with Kaneshiro-san and Nomura-san, we had a discussion like, wouldn't it be nice if it's a work that's read all over the world, but there are fewer cases of Japanese sports manga becoming global hits compared to other genres. Blue Lock is a story about making Japanese soccer stronger, so as for our dream to share this with everyone around the world, we were worried, wondering can we really do it?

With the help of Arisawa-san and everyone involved with the anime, Episode Nagi is the biggest billboard at this event (Anime Expo 2024) this time, and what we discussed a few years ago has been realized right before my eyes, which makes me incredibly happy. So I've been taking photos of everything Blue Lock and sending them to the creators, and they're thrilled every time I send one. It became a world where we can watch Blue Lock together with everyone, so I'm really happy about that.


──Ura-san, Isagi has evolved a lot as a character throughout Season 1. Going into Season 2, has your approach to portraying his character, or points you're careful of, changed at all?

Ura (Voice of Isagi): During Season 1, as long as I kept giving it my all, that would become Isagi-kun. Weird tricks or superficial techniques weren't necessary; as long as I always gave it my best, it would be good. But Season 2's Isagi-kun has grown a lot, and also, I myself have grown through Season 1; so if I were to give it my all now, it's honestly become a situation where they don't match up. That's why, when developing how to express the current Isagi-kun's sense of composure, how to show mental stability and such, it feels like I'm constructing it while observing the people around me and extracting the essence. I think it requires more skill as a voice actor.



──Blue Lock is a story focused on "Ego". However, as we see at the very beginning and also in episodes 17-18 with Barou, being an "egoist" cannot be the same as pure selfishness. What does "Egoism" mean to you?


Ura: I think the word "ego" can have many interpretations. When it comes to Blue Lock, what I'm learning from the word "ego" is that it's a kind of self-worth, or something close to pride. It's not about hurting others, I see it as protecting yourself, having strong willpower, and a solid sense of self.

That doesn't mean you want to push others away, it's asking yourself, what should I do to make this happen. You will clash with people who disagree with you, and a peaceful resolution may not be possible, but is it okay to abandon your resolve for another person's sake?

Blue Lock is a story about becoming the world's best striker, and as a person, are you fine with handing that title over to someone else. A person who can do that can't become the world's best, right? That's why, not yielding in your pursuit to become the world's best, I think that's what ego is.


Tsuchiya: I know this might sound a bit pretentious, but... I am working as a Japanese manga editor for a magazine that deals with shounen manga, and in shounen manga there is a way of thinking that "it should be the protagonist's story." By the end of a shounen manga, the main character captures his dream, achieves his goal, and becomes who he wants to be. I think, isn't the most important part in writing that kind of story, the part that's called "ego"?

I want to be like this, I want to become like this, it would be nice if I was like this—those feelings that you have to give up or compromise on in consideration of various factors in the real world, it would be nice if they came true by sticking to it in the world of shounen manga.

I live in the real world too, so there are some things I can't do, but I also want to try if possible. The part where you can be yourself and become whoever you want to be, when it comes to shounen manga, don't you want to do it? I also had this conversation with Kaneshiro-san, and in that sense, "ego" doesn't just mean pushing people away, I think it means that you can become the person you most want to be while being true to yourself.


Arisawa: This might sound very Barou-like, but I think "ego" means to "have clear objectives and goals" and that "I'm going to do everything I can to achieve it" is the meaning of "egoism."

I'm currently an anime producer, and I think that the producer is in the position where you must act as the flag bearer, take the lead, and state definitively, "Let's do this." So you clearly communicate the objectives you have internally to everyone affected in the project, to convey that I will do everything I can to achieve that goal, and I want everyone to do everything they can to achieve it, too.

However, rather than "I'm doing it because I was told to," if they can think "I want to work hard for this goal," then I think that is the optimal situation. To achieve that, first I need to clearly decide my own "egoism"-like goal, then the things I can do towards that goal, and try to execute them as much as my time and energy permit. Isn't that today's egoism?



──Ura-san, when Isagi gives up on trying to change Barou during that match, he becomes possibly the most ruthless we've seen him, going so far as to look down on Barou. How did you feel recording these scenes?

Ura: I was very nervous. I kept telling Suwabe-san, "I will do my best" "I’m sorry", but since he has a lot of professional experience, he was able to firmly reassure me. Saying "It's alright" "I'm looking forward to it!" he made me feel warmly welcomed, so I was able to perform boldly.

Up until now, Isagi-kun has had many scenes where he expressed his emotions. In this scene though, he gives up and steps back to fling words at Barou, and at times I questioned if this was really going to resonate with Barou. Breaking down what affects Barou-kun the most, rather than "having words thrown at him," it's "not being shown interest," right? Once I realized that, the lines were able to flow out easily.

It was Suwabe-san who made me realize this. Suwabe-san guided me with his acting, so I think my own understanding of Barou improved, and I truly felt that Suwabe-san helped me. It's an episode I still can't forget.




──The relationship dynamics in Blue Lock are more complex than your typical sports series. Camaraderie, friendships, rivalries... all of these seem to take on a different meaning in Blue Lock. After watching the Episode Nagi, this inner conflict feels extra fresh. What's your perspective on this?

Arisawa: If you felt that there is something like a difference between the movie Episode Nagi and the TV series, then that's what we were aiming for. The main TV series Blue Lock focuses on the good feelings of heading towards victory, and Isagi has almost no hesitation, right? Even if he has doubts about the means for winning, the goal inside of him is unwavering and he is simply greedy for victory.

Episode Nagi has proper hesitation and conflict that turns it into a drama. Since they both depict the same match, we consciously made the movie to give a different impression to viewers, and I'm happy if it went as we planned.


Tsuchiya: I think the same way about what Arisawa-san just said. Thank you.

I often talk about this but, from a manga point of view, I'm considering: While real sports are an enjoyable form of entertainment, which part of manga can beat actual sports? What the player is thinking in the moment of a play and leading up to that play—clearly depicting that inner world is the part that wins over actual sports, and I think the amount of information is what wins.

So the manga isn't only for people who like soccer, but also for people who aren't interested in soccer right now. By getting to know the characters' inner worlds, coming to like them, and wanting to cheer the characters on, I would be glad if a work or a story could bring people to like soccer—is what I think while making it. Surely if each person that comes to feel that way, can have an impression like, "this is the kind character that considers things like this," and if each of them can find their favorite (oshi) player character that they want to support, I think I would be very glad.

Since you were able to take in and feel that inner conflict after watching Episode Nagi, I'm very happy from both a personal and manga perspective. I hope to receive many more comments like this in the future.




──We also see this conflict when Rin Itoshi chooses Isagi to join his team. Before leaving, Isagi tries to give his team a pep talk, but they're already no longer his teammates. Ura-san, could you comment on that scene?

Ura: That's an interesting perspective. It's so true, a scene where words are offered to people who have been eliminated is honestly not typical of Blue Lock. In that situation, Isagi wasn't satisfied with losing, and while he is an egoist, he knows that he can't be an egoist alone. It's because of the chemistry with the other players and the way they've grown together that he is who he is, and he recognizes this. As a player, he has respect for others, so I think that those kinds of words just came out reflexively.



──Bachira has a fixation with Isagi, believing that Isagi is the one "friend" who can share the joy of soccer with him. How do you feel about Isagi and Bachira's relationship?

Ura: Bachira is very attached to Isagi-kun. At first, I saw this as a really twisted thing, but as I read deeper into the work, I felt that Bachira-kun had a lot of respect for Isagi-kun as a player. He watches him closely, per se. When Isagi scores a goal, it's usually a direct shot, and it was Bachira who noticed it before Isagi, actually. That's why he can pass the ball to Isagi with confidence. Up until now, in all of Isagi's scoring scenes, Bachira has been an absolutely essential person. When it comes to Blue Lock, and to Isagi's soccer life, the person named Bachira leaves a deep impression.



──On the surface, Blue Lock presents a situation that is very incompatible with real life. But when you look deeper, there are various interesting themes, such as Isagi's realization that "you cannot change others, you must change yourself." What do you think we can take with us from Blue Lock's story?


Ura: In one word, I think it's "life." Blue Lock contains words that I think are very poignant for people who put their all into something. When people who are truly working hard end up hitting a wall, these words are essential.

Especially the phrase, "No matter how hard you knock on someone's heart, you cannot change them." This is a conclusion you come to after facing someone, right? If you don't face others, you'll never reach that answer. After all, as that line says, even within "ego" there are ways of speaking that are too egocentric, or words that will hurt others if they are said with a self-centered mindset. By changing yourself, sometimes things will change for the better. But changing yourself isn't the same as compromising yourself.

That's why the words in Blue Lock are meaningful in life. For people who are desperately doing their best, I think these words are a yell of encouragement, and every week feels like you're receiving life coaching.

Tsuchiya: Soccer aside, I'm sure that the readers and viewers who are reading the manga and watching the anime all have, in their own lives, things that they want to try doing, or things that they want to do but can't, or things they are trying to do but aren't going smoothly. If they could use the energy they receive to face those things, or better, to achieve them, then I think that would make me very happy. By receiving such feelings from Blue Lock, if they can use them like an energy source to increase the things they work hard on tomorrow by just one—one thing that they want to do in their own lives—then I think I would be glad.


Arisawa: It’s as Tsuchiya-san just said, but Blue Lock is a tremendously forward-looking story. When they hit a wall, all of the characters aren’t sulking or blaming others; they face straight towards that wall, and each character has their own approach to overcome it.

Everyone who watches Blue Lock will hit a big or small wall, per se; they will have worries and setbacks. "Alright, if I fall, what should I do next?", "Maybe next time I can do this", "I might want to try something like this"—I think this is a work that gives you feelings and thoughts like this. Many people can look forward, or look upwards a little, thinking: "Can I do a bit more tomorrow?" or "The things that were no good today, let's try them again tomorrow" or even "Let's try something different" is also good.

If everyone started to feel that way little-by-little, then won't everyone have fun? I think it's a work filled with energy for the future.




──What has been the most rewarding aspect of producing and editing Blue Lock, in terms of fan reception and feedback?

Arisawa: I'm very happy that children are enjoying it. Of course, I'm happy that so many people are watching it, whether they're adults, men, women, or from other countries. But seeing that children have gotten extremely crazy about it, and hearing the children who came to see Episode Nagi in theaters have conversations like "I think this guy is the strongest!"—after all, it makes you happy, right? I'm really happy about it.

Tsuchiya: I feel exactly the same way. Compared to other manga, even quite young children have given me their impressions and that makes me really happy.

There's also another thing. The serialized manga has a weekly reader survey system; once a week, when a new chapter comes out, the magazine has something like a popularity ranking for readers. Among those survey results, there were two memorable times that made me happy: when Isagi, who won against the character Niko, feels good seeing Niko crying out of frustration; and when he calls Barou hetakuso (donkey).

Thinking about it logically, Isagi looks like a jerk, and I thought his popularity in the survey might go down. But, for Blue Lock's theme to properly get across, these were scenes we absolutely had to do, is what I discussed with Kaneshiro-san. So I was a little nervous when they came out, but both times the ranking improved. That indicated the reaction from readers, and I felt very relieved. I thought, Blue Lock is all right now.

Translator note: In the official English translation, donkey was used for hetakuso. In Japanese, hetakuso is a derogatory term that is similar to saying "you suck at this" or calling someone a "loser" when they can't do something well. In British slang, a donkey refers to a football/soccer player known for their lack of skill.



──The after credits scene of Episode Nagi teased which members will be the starting team in the match against the U-20 team. What can we look forward to in Season 2?

Arisawa: Those who have read the original work may already know this but, with the characters' egos cultivated in the first season and Episode Nagi, along with the weapons that each of them found, it will become a battle in full force that I think is impressive to watch. You can see how the characters you've been rooting for so far will perform, or you can see what new strong characters will appear, or you can simply see who will win and how; it's a work where you can watch all of that at once, so you don't need to think too hard about it.


Tsuchiya: Season 1's story was about competing within the Blue Lock facility, but now it's developed so that these guys from the facility will fight as a team for the first time against a shared enemy. So what will happen when they fight not as a team, but as a group of 11 egos? There is something like an answer to that question in the manga, but I think it's portrayed even better in the anime, so I hope you'll look forward to seeing what Blue Lock's soccer is all about. Also, every character has at least one scene where they are the main character, so I hope you'll watch while wanting to cheer for your favorite character.



──Please leave a final message for the overseas fans.

Ura: Blue Lock is truly an interesting work, and that it's also being enjoyed by so many people overseas makes me really happy. From here on, with the TV anime's second season and hopefully beyond, I will continue to bring Isagi to life with my voice, so I hope many people will enjoy it.

Arisawa: Thank you for watching the first season of the TV series. Episode Nagi is currently showing in the US, but it will be released around the world after that, so I hope many people watch it. We're still waiting for the second season, but through the first season and the movie, I think the animation visuals and direction has become more polished and refined, and the content is incredibly exciting.

Although there may be a slight time difference, if everyone around the world could watch Blue Lock's big match together with their hands on the edge of their seats, I think that would be great. So if you could watch it in real time as much as possible, I would be glad.

Tsuchiya: Like with Episode Nagi currently in theatres, there's the anime, original manga, hobby goods developed in America, and more; Blue Lock is a work that has been able to be expanded in many different ways, so I think there are many ways to enter it. Whether you start with the anime, the manga, or something else, I hope you will enter the world of Blue Lock; and if you come to like it, while feeling like you want to support Isagi and everyone, I hope we can make Blue Lock even bigger together.

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Interview was conducted through an interpreter and has been edited for clarity.

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