English Dub Review: Aoashi: “It’s Just Soccer”

Overview: Aoi (Ciaran Strange) gets a much needed pick-me-up from his mother (Monica Rial) and Hana (Marisa Duran) as he struggles with his new position as a defender. 

Our Take: Fukada’s cold scheme in making Nozomi badmouth Aoi to light a fire under his ass goes to show the lengths he is willing to go to get his dream team, making Ashito’s anger feel justified. Hana consoling Aoi, as he recovers from Fukada’s decision to make him a defender, is emotionally heartfelt in further proving how perfectly she compliments him. It is a compelling scene in which she, while not able to sympathize with his specific plight, understands what he needs in something as simple as hearing his mom’s voice to get him through it. However, it goes beyond that and touches on the support we all crave from our family in order to make him understand that his mom will support him no matter what he chooses to do. Hana is the most refreshing breath of fresh air in trying to give him perspective in that it’s just soccer and that he shouldn’t let his circumstances make him feel like he does not have a choice and is unmotivated. 

Aoi changing up his playing style in learning to be a defender creates a hell of a change-up, so much so that he would ask Akistu for help. It will be an interesting new wrinkle to the dynamic between Ashito and Akitsu, especially considering their bad blood. It is also funny how even with help from Asari and Togashi they can only teach Aoi the basics, causing him to not get any further than when he started. The shuffle technique that Asari and Togashi instructed Aoi of will be interesting in how it differs from the special moves of forwards, not to mention how longtime defender Takeshima factors into Aoi’s progress.