Blue Lock Fans Can Put All Criticism Aside for the Epic Move Season 2 Pulled Off by Honoring Legendary Soccer Player Zico

Blue Lock has really hit it off ever since the 2022 FIFA World Cup that was held in Qatar. Almost every anime and non-anime fan got to know about the series every time Japan scored or won against a top team. The whole project within the series itself began when Japan lost in the 2018 World Cup and the authorities in the sports department wanted to do something about it.

Jinpachi Ego | Credits: Studio 8bit

Ever since Jinpachi Ego announced the Blue Lock project, anime fans all over the world have been saying, “This is what Japan needs to win,” and praising its creators for their unique contribution to the sports genre. Season 1 was received well but Season 2 has a bad case of “Record of Ragnarok” animation quality. However, a famous Brazilian soccer player commented on his appearance in Blue Lock, making both anime and soccer fans go wild.

Why Blue Lock Season 2 is heavily criticized

Isagi Yoichi | Credits: Studio 8bit

Blue Lock Season 2’s animation for the very first match for the Blue Lock XI felt like it had no flow at all. The scenes looked like they were just taken from the manga chapters and pasted without any kind of movement from the characters. The first part of the episode wasn’t so bad but as it went on, the focus increasingly turned to Studio 8bit’s efforts to rectify the inadequately animated sequences from the second promotional film of the series.

For instance, the animation quality was notably poor, with minimal action sequences. They literally showcased transitions akin to PowerPoint slides when the players of the Japan U-20 squad started moving around Isagi and his team.

Nevertheless, fans expect things to improve and if it does, this can just be looked at as “a rough start” for Studio 8bit. Fans remember how epic the animation quality was for the film “Episode Nagi,” so there’s room for redemption. Additionally, a lot of them started wondering whether most of Studio 8bit’s budget went into making that film, leaving little for Blue Lock Season 2.

However, one can say that the season can be redeemed when Brazilian soccer legend Zico recognizes his animated appearance in the show and comments on how soccer has evolved in Japan.

Legendary Brazilian player comments on Blue Lock and Japanese soccer

Zico referenced in Blue Lock | Credits: Studio 8bit

Arguably the world’s best player of the late 1970s and early 80s, Zico is regarded as one of the best playmakers and free-kick specialists in history, able to bend the ball in all directions. Often referred to as the “White Pelé,” the predominantly right-footed Zico was blessed with an abundance of skill.

With 48 goals in 71 official appearances for Brazil, Zico is the fifth-highest goal scorer for his national team, and in 2000, he was behind only Pelé and Garrincha among Brazilians in FIFA’s “Player of the Century” vote.

What’s interesting is that he played for a Japanese club called Kashima Antlers from 1991 to 1994 and even coached the Japanese national soccer team after the 2002 World Cup. Despite multiple losses, Zico stayed on and won the 2004 Asian Cup. He later helped Japan qualify for the 2006 FIFA World Cup with just one loss. In other words, he’s the one who began the real-life Blue Lock-like training regimen for Japan’s soccer players.

Japan was indebted to his contribution, so much so that Blue Lock manga and anime mentioned him as one of the world’s best strikers in Season 2 Episode 2. Zico saw that episode and commented as follows through his Instagram account:

I recently came across this scene from a Japanese cartoon in which I appear briefly and it brought me a great feeling of joy! How proud I am to have been a part of and to watch the evolution of soccer in Japan. After Brazil’s performance (4-0 victory) against Peru in the World Cup Qualifiers yesterday (Oct 16, 2024), a game in which our team WON handily, and thus regained the confidence of their fans and the respect of their opponents, I still believe that there is room for improvement and that Japan can be a source of inspiration for new ideas that will help us in this phase of rebuilding Brazilian soccer.

Zico stating that Japan can be an inspiration for Brazil in soccer is a huge deal for Japan as a whole. This means he expects big things to happen for Japanese soccer as they head to America for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Blue Lock is now available to watch on Crunchyroll and Netflix.