English Dub Review: Aoashi: “Wind of Change”

Overview: Aoi (Ciaran Strange) levels up his offensive playing style when he applies his skills as a defender while also becoming a better team player in the process. 

Our Take: The winds of change are indeed upon us as the game between the B team and Tama Sports University High School showcases just how much Aoi is scarily developing. His barking of orders at Togashi and Takeshima to communicate, is an intense expression of how he is becoming the prime team playmaker, the one that Fukada wanted, in him not caring how they score. Those slow characteristic developments are woven in well in how Aoi’s mindset begins to change based on his position and he questions just why that is. 

With Nozomi giving Aoi permission to score goals as long as he can perform as a defender, it is smart to see how his tutelage expands Ashito’s repertoire as a player in him utilizing defender techniques, like the triangle formation, to score goals. Meanwhile, Hana’s conversation with Anri develops on two fronts in continuing to shine a light on how little she knows about the ins and outs of soccer but also how much Anri is jealous of her significance to Aoi, seemingly. With Ashito choosing to go make the smarter and safer play in passing to Togashi, as opposed to his own flashy solo win, shows how he is instinctively becoming a better team player and less conceited in his play style. The only minor gripe through it all is when Aoi foreshadows his amazing progress, it leaves a begrudgingly bad taste in the mouth due to the on-the nose and corny dialogue. 

Ending with a win, Fukada and Yoshitsune acted as a nice mentorship role in being the driving forces behind him carving his own path and finding his own unique techniques. Also, Aoi wanting to play well for Hana is purely sweet in him being excited about her being there for him, making for a heartfelt moment. Aoi’s definitely taking his role as playmaker more seriously. He makes sure Tachibana knows his shortcomings in his slacking. Although, it is a surprisingly well-founded scene and criticism in how he had to pass to Togashi, instead of him, as while he was open, he was unfocused during a pivotal moment in the game and would have more than likely fumbled their win. Tachibana’s lackluster performance as of late along with playing against his old team discourages him from playing in future games. Tachibana’s doubts have nicely been fleshed out and with there more to come, hopefully his past issues with his old school and team further delve into his current troubles as a player. With Aoi, Otomo deciding to go see Musashino play with Tachibana, it will be intriguing to see  how skilled their players are and what special tricks they have up their sleeve.