The soccer is still brutal. The stakes are higher than ever. But if you’ve been anywhere near the anime community lately, you know the conversation around Blue Lock season 2 hasn’t exactly been about the goals.
It’s been about the "slideshow."
Honestly, it’s a weird situation. You have one of the best-selling manga in the world, a series that literally redefined how people look at sports anime, and yet its second season became one of the most controversial adaptations of 2024. People are genuinely torn. Some fans say the animation drop makes it unwatchable, while others argue the "hype" and the psychological warfare are so good that the visuals don't even matter.
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So, what actually happened?
The U-20 Match and the Animation Controversy
Let’s get the elephant in the room out of the way first. Season 2, titled Blue Lock vs. U-20 Japan, kicked off on October 5, 2024. It was supposed to be the crowning jewel of the series. This arc covers the make-or-break match where the Blue Lock eleven take on the actual Japan National Under-20 team. If they win, they take over the national team. If they lose, the project dies.
But as soon as the first few episodes aired, viewers noticed something off.
We’re talking about static frames. Lots of them. Instead of fluid sprinting or complex ball handling, many scenes looked like colored manga panels with a zoom effect. Fans dubbed it "PowerPoint animation." One animator from the studio, Martín Reyes (known as MartinKiings), even went public on social media. He basically confirmed that the production schedule was a nightmare.
He worked on the second episode and mentioned that while the animators did their best, the final version had many movement resources removed. Frames were capped. Cuts were simplified. It wasn't that the artists weren't talented; they just didn't have time.
It’s a classic industry tragedy. A production committee pushes for a release to capitalize on the manga’s popularity, and the actual workers have to sprint to a finish line that's moving too fast.
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Is It Actually That Bad?
Actually, it depends on what you value. If you’re here for the Sakuga—those high-octane, fluid animation sequences—the first half of Blue Lock season 2 might hurt your soul a bit.
However, there’s a flip side.
The art itself is still sharp. The "aura" effects, the character designs, and the voice acting are top-tier. When Shido Ryusei enters the field or Rin Itoshi goes into his "flow" state, the intensity is still there. Especially toward the end of the 14-episode run. By the time we hit the finale (Episode 14, "Last Attack"), the quality actually spiked.
What the Second Season Actually Covers
If you can look past the shaky production, the story itself is arguably the best the series has ever been. Season 2 is tight. It’s only 14 episodes long, which is a departure from the 24-episode first season. This shorter length was a deliberate choice to focus entirely on the Third Selection and the U-20 Arc.
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- The Third Selection (Tryouts): This is where Isagi has to prove he belongs in the starting eleven. He’s playing with the top six players in Blue Lock, including the monstrous Rin and the unpredictable Shido.
- The U-20 Match: This is 90% of the season. It’s a full-scale war in a packed stadium. You get to see the Blue Lock boys as the underdogs, being booed by their own country.
- The Sae Itoshi Factor: We finally see Rin’s brother, Sae, in action. He’s a different breed. His presence on the field forces everyone, including Isagi, to evolve in real-time.
The Big Moments You Can’t Ignore
Despite the "slideshow" memes, there are specific moments in this season that are genuine highlights.
Take Seishiro Nagi’s goal in Episode 7. It was a massive turning point. The anime added extra scenes of the crowd’s reaction—people who initially hated Blue Lock suddenly being silenced by Nagi’s sheer talent. That’s something the manga can’t do as effectively as a soundtrack and voice acting can.
Then there’s the Flow State.
The way the anime depicts players "entering the zone" with the blue eye flames and the shattered glass visuals is still iconic. Even when the movement is minimal, the direction remains strong. The psychological weight of Jinpachi Ego’s speeches still hits like a freight train.
Real Talk: Manga vs. Anime
If you’re a newcomer, you might wonder if you should just skip the anime and read the manga.
Here’s the truth: Yusuke Nomura’s art in the manga is some of the best in the history of the medium. It has a level of detail and "motion" in still images that even a high-budget anime would struggle to match. If you want the purest version of the U-20 match, the manga is the way to go (specifically chapters 112 to 149).
But the anime has the music. The OST for Blue Lock season 2 is incredible. It makes the matches feel like a high-stakes thriller rather than just a sports game.
Actionable Steps for Fans
If you're caught up or just starting, here is how to get the most out of the experience:
- Watch the Finale on a Big Screen: The animation in the final two episodes (13 and 14) is a significant step up from the middle of the season. Don't let the early "slideshow" episodes keep you from seeing the end.
- Read the Manga After Episode 14: The season ends on a massive cliffhanger that teases the next stage of the project. If you don't want to wait years for Season 3, start reading from Chapter 152.
- Check Out "Episode Nagi": If you missed the movie that came out earlier in 2024, go back and watch it. It gives a lot of context to Nagi and Reo’s relationship that makes their moments in Season 2 hit way harder.
- Manage Expectations: Don't go in expecting Demon Slayer levels of fluid motion. Go in for the egoism, the trash talk, and the tactical "devouring" of other players.
The "slideshow" era of Blue Lock might be a dark spot for the production, but the story of Isagi Yoichi becoming the world's best striker is still very much alive. Whether the studio changes for Season 3 or 8bit gets a better schedule, the momentum of the series isn't slowing down.