Story. (6/10)
Based on the popular soccer manga by, Kibayashi Shin and Tsukiyama Kaya; The Knight in the Area (Area no Kishi) tells the story of a young boy named, Aizawa Kakeru, whose potential is only exceeded by his self doubt. Kakeru must endure misfortune early on in the story, misfortune that only makes him stronger as a person and rekindles his love for the game. The story kicks off when Kakeru joins the Enoshima High School Soccer Club, in which he meets the rest of the cast, whom all share common goals. A sub-plot of the series follows, Mishima Nana (Seven), a childhood friend
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of Kakeru, who plays on Japan's Women's National Football Team (Nadeshiko Japan). To be honest, the story isn't something I haven't seen before, yet it manages to keep my attention. The way the story is told doesn't sit well with me, looking at it as a critic, I would have changed many things. For what it was, it was fine. The pacing was a slow and fast at the same time, and matches weren't all too exciting, a serious downfall. I feel a lot could have been done but wasn't. I think more episodes would have aided the series immensly.
Art. (8/10)
The anime adaptation is brought to you by, Shin-Ei Animation (Doraemon, Crayon Shin-chan) and directed by Ogura Hirofumi (Black Butler II, Bakumatsu Gijinden Roman). I liked the art style. It suited the series really well. Character designs were good and for the most part, they were distinct from each other. My biggest complaint would be the animation during matches, in which still frames are utilized more than usual and transitions are a bit sluggish. The series is consistent throughout, with little to no lapse in animation quality.
Sound. (8/10)
Let's begin with the opening theme, "Higher Ground" by S.R.S. As the only opening theme of the series I have to say that I liked it a lot. It's truly a good tune, and gives you a good vibe before the start of the show. The series surprisingly didn't have an ending theme, which is a bit dissapointing. I don't know whether is was a personal choice or due to budget issues, nonetheless it was odd to not see one. Now, moving onto the background music of the series. I found most the tracks suitable, if not perfect, to the situations in which they were played. I hardly ever had a bother with the music. I watched the series in the original Japanese dub, and in my opinion it was very good. I felt the voices all matched the characters well, and the voice actors did a great job portraying the various situations throughout the show.
Character. (7/10)
As the main character of the series, Aizawa Kakeru is expected to receive the best development, I don't believe that's the case in this series. I believe his development as a character went stagnant once his personal ordeals were dealt with. His development as a player was extremely dissapointing to me. Other than overcoming a past trauma, some old habits, and learning a fancy trick, he didn't develop much as an overall player. Mishima Nana was the main female character of the series. She is a manager for the Enoshima High Soccer Club, as well as a member of Nadeshiko Japan. She develops slowly, though personal struggles, and a friendly rivalry with Murasaki Mai, a member of Nadeshiko Japan and love interst for Kakeru. Seven and Kakeru share a long and strong bond, and one can't help but get the feeling that they like each other. Their relationship is frustrating, to say the least. Araki Ryuuichi, Enoshima High's ace midfielder, was my personal favorite. Araki is an already proven elite player, and it's showed by the way he conducts himself in matches and by how he strives to make not only himself better but all those around him as well. The rest of the supporting cast is delightful as well, with a variety of personalites and skill sets. I only wish they could have received more screen time and personal episodes.
Enjoyment. (7/10)
As a passionate fan of soccer, I have to say I didn't enjoy this series as much as I thought I would. I was very excited once I heard the announcement of the anime. I suppose my expectations were too high to begin with, but overall I was just disappointed. I ended up liking the series more for its characters rather than the story and soccer matches, which wasn't my intention.
Overall. (7/10)
It's a series that I'm glad I watched, but I don't think I'd watch it again; unless it has a DVD release with an English dub, which is highly unlikely. I think I would have enjoyed the show more if it had only lasted longer. The art and soundtrack were the highlight of the series. Story and character delvelopment were lacking. Overall, I would still recommend the series, just don't expect to be blown away.
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Feb 4, 2013
Area no Kishi
(Anime)
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Story. (6/10)
Based on the popular soccer manga by, Kibayashi Shin and Tsukiyama Kaya; The Knight in the Area (Area no Kishi) tells the story of a young boy named, Aizawa Kakeru, whose potential is only exceeded by his self doubt. Kakeru must endure misfortune early on in the story, misfortune that only makes him stronger as a person and rekindles his love for the game. The story kicks off when Kakeru joins the Enoshima High School Soccer Club, in which he meets the rest of the cast, whom all share common goals. A sub-plot of the series follows, Mishima Nana (Seven), a childhood friend ... |
