OFFSIDE

About OFFSIDE

If you are hunting for a new action series, OFFSIDE (オフサイド (TV)) deserves a look (2001). The setup goes like this. At its core: Goro Kumagaya is an established, tall middle-school goalkeeper who wanted to enter Yokonan high-school that is considered to be among the elites in terms of its football club. However, he met Shingo, Hideki and Kazuhito Oda who are all skillful footballers there and together in the Kawasaki High School football club.

Beyond that: Any setbacks that they face would instead be an opportunity for a better improvement; one of which was the discovery of Goro's natural talent as an ace striker.

With action at the core, fight choreography, pacing and sound design carry much of the weight. Voice work is led by Hiroshi Tsuchida as Gorou Kumagaya and Shigeru Shibuya as Shingo Satou. If you count yourself among viewers who like fast, high-impact fights, put it on your list. With 39 episodes in total, there is enough room for the story to develop.

Production & Appeal

Ashi Productions is the studio behind OFFSIDE, and its direction shapes everything from character design to motion. Because it leans on action, fight choreography, pacing and sound design carry much of the weight. With a 6.5/10 score, it is more of a niche pick than a universal crowd-pleaser. Voice casting, including Hiroshi Tsuchida as Gorou Kumagaya, adds to the appeal for fans who follow seiyuu. It aired in 2001, which makes it easy to place in the wider anime calendar.