Blue Lock The Movie Episode Nagi English Sub
Review
Today we'll be reviewing the new animated film Blue Lock: Nagi Episode, a 2024 release with a runtime of 1 hour and 30 minutes. As of the recording of this video, it has a Rotten Tomatoes audience score of 85% and an average rating of 3.5 stars on Letterboxd.
Initial Impressions
Before diving into the film, I had heard that this might just be a recap of Season 1. While there is a lot of content from Season 1, the film also delves deeper into character exploration. It's based on a manga that follows Nagi, who might seem like a side character to some, but I feel he's a perfect foil for Isagi. It makes complete sense to explore his background. I would love to see more of the other characters’ stories as well, as Blue Lock has so many interesting personalities.
Recap and New Material
This film, of course, is related to the Blue Lock anime, which is based on the Blue Lock manga. If you haven't watched Season 1 or read the manga, be aware that this movie contains a lot of spoilers. The story follows Nagi Shiro, who receives an invitation to the mysterious Blue Lock project, where he encounters the finest strikers in Japan. His dream is to become the best, alongside his friend, Reo. The film gives us an inside look at Nagi’s journey up to the events of Season 1.
The first 30 to 40 minutes of the film are filled with new content, as we follow Nagi through his high school years and see his friendship with Reo evolve. It’s not just Nagi’s movie—Reo’s story plays a major role as well, which makes sense as they were the “prodigy duo” entering Blue Lock. While revisiting some of Season 1’s highlights from a different perspective, I had a really good time, especially as a big fan of the anime.
Animation and Voice Acting
The voice acting, particularly in the Japanese version, was fantastic. I usually prefer dubs, but this time I opted for the sub because the dub wasn’t available yet, and I wanted to stay on top of the story. The animation, however, was a bit inconsistent. Some parts were beautifully done, while others didn’t quite meet the standard of the anime series. The movie felt more like three extended episodes of the anime rather than a standalone elevated production.
Theater Experience
Interestingly, I was the only one in the theater when I saw the film, which made for a quiet and immersive experience. I was looking for the dubbed version, but it wasn’t available at a convenient time, so I stuck with the subbed version.
Character Highlights and Spoilers
Now let’s get into some spoilers. If you’ve seen Season 1, a lot of this will be familiar. We see Nagi’s first goal in high school and learn more about Reo’s father, who disapproved of his son’s soccer aspirations, pushing him toward taking over the family business. We also get more backstory on Team B and the dynamics with King Barou.
The film focuses heavily on Nagi’s internal growth, his motivation to find joy in soccer, and his eventual awakening of his own "ego." One of the standout moments for me was seeing Nagi’s crossover with Isagi from Nagi’s point of view. Their dynamic really deepened as the story progressed.
Revisiting Key Moments from Season 1
Some of my favorite scenes included:
- Barou’s goal against Team Z, which was even more intense from a different angle.
- Isagi’s direct shot, which felt as impactful as ever.
- The emotional moment when Reo acknowledges Nagi’s growth, even as he feels left behind.
Ending and After-Credits Scene
The last 20 minutes of the film turn into a heavy recap of Season 1’s major moments. From Team Z’s betrayal to their eventual rise, the film condenses much of the anime’s emotional highs into a brief runtime.
There’s also an after-credits scene that teases five new players who will likely play a major role in Season 2. It seems like the upcoming game against Japan's U-20 team will take center stage, and I’m excited to see how it all unfolds.
Looking Ahead
Season 2 of Blue Lock is expected to premiere in October 2024, and I’ll definitely be covering it on this Website, so make sure to stay tuned!