Blue Lock’s Producer Ryoya Arisawa Speaks on Series’ Success and Upcoming Second Season

The sports anime, Blue Lock, has taken the world by storm since its initial October 2022 release. The one of a kind story sets itself apart from other sports anime by focusing on independence and finding one's personal "ego" rather than just teamwork, offering a fresh take on the genre. The iconic franchise also enjoyed its first theatrical release, BLUE LOCK THE MOVIE -EPISODE NAGI-, this past June.

With season two's October 5 release date rapidly approaching in only a few days, fans are eager to learn about what's next in the world of Blue Lock. Screen Rant received the unique opportunity to discuss the series with Blue Lock's anime producer, Ryoya Arisawa.

In the interview, Arisawa discussed how he goes about adapting Muneyuki Kaneshiro and Yusuke Nomura's manga to an anime format while staying true to the original work, what has made the anime so successful and popular among fans, and what he is most excited for viewers to see when the upcoming second season debuts.

Related Blue Lock's Ura Kazuki Speaks On What Makes The Series Special & Relevant To Modern Audiences Blue Lock is a massive modern sports anime, so we sat down with main character Yoichi Isagi's voice actor, Ura Kazuki, to talk about the series.

Screen Rant: The first season of Blue Lock was immensely successful, even among those who don't typically watch sports anime. What would you say sets Blue Lock apart from other sports anime series?

Ryoya Arisawa: As mentioned in the story, there is a strong belief and aesthetic for themes such as "One for all," "teamwork is most important," and "there is no need to focus on winning or losing" in sports and various other areas in Japan. Additionally, there is a strong image that individuality, like the saying "the nail that sticks out gets hammered down," is not seen positively. However, Blue Lock does not outright reject these concepts but rather questions them head-on and explores ways to break through them. I believe this is the most distinct aspect of this work compared to others, and this philosophy resonates with modern society, which is beginning to feel the limitations of the traditional methods and ways of thinking.

Screen Rant: As a producer, what moment in season one of Blue Lock were you most proud of?

Ryoya Arisawa: As the person who first proposed the idea of adapting this work into an anime, I am most proud that so many people around the world are now watching and enjoying it. The producer is, so to speak, the "initiator" and is involved in making decisions about the direction of the project together with the creators. Seeing the current reactions, I feel that many of our decisions were not wrong. I am also very happy that not just the audience, but also the staff involved in the project, still love BLUE LOCK. I believe that providing the creators with fun, motivation, and positive results is also a producer's mission.

Screen Rant: What feedback have you been receiving from fans on the animation in the first season of Blue Lock? Did you take any of that feedback into account when working on the second season?

Ryoya Arisawa: We have received a great deal of feedback, and I intend to incorporate as much of it as possible into the production of the second season. The biggest focus among these is on the characters. I am keenly aware of what aspects of each character viewers want to see and what activities excite them. When adapting the original work into visuals for the second season, I am making every effort to ensure that these points are not missed.

Screen Rant: Do you work closely with Muneyuki Kaneshiro, the mangaka, when creating the anime? What are those interactions like?

Ryoya Arisawa: I believe we have thoroughly discussed every aspect of the original content, including what to keep or modify in the anime scenario production. When the anime side made suggestions, Mr. Kaneshiro (the original author) would immediately respond with additional suggestions, making the discussions smooth and enjoyable.

Screen Rant: After working on season one, is there anything the team decided to do differently when creating Blue Lock season two?

Ryoya Arisawa: In the second season, the number of characters increases, and the scale of the matches becomes much larger. We are also conscious of the change in atmosphere in the visuals, compared to the more confined and intense feel of the first season. Director Yūji Haibara excels at monitor work and visual processing, so I think you'll see a significant power-up in that aspect.

Screen Rant: What measures do you take to ensure the anime adaptation stays true to the original Blue Lock manga?

Ryoya Arisawa: We prioritize preserving the emotional elements of "coolness" and "passion" that is felt in the original work above all. Unlike manga, which can be read at one's own pace, anime imposes a certain pace and rhythm. If we were to follow the original exactly, it might not capture the same satisfying feeling as the manga, so we intentionally make adjustments to create the same impact.

Screen Rant: What does the animation process look like?

Ryoya Arisawa: The basic production process is the same as typical anime production, starting with pre-production (scenario, storyboarding, setting) and then moving into production (animation, finishing work). What’s unique about BLUE LOCK is the time we spend discussing the original work with the anime staff before pre-production begins (haha). Everyone loves Blue Lock so much that we have very deep discussions and share our thoughts before we start working.

Screen Rant: Were there any particular challenges or successes your team experienced when creating Blue Lock season 2? What are you most excited about?

Ryoya Arisawa: In terms of the production of the second season, I believe the biggest highlight will be Director Haibara's visual work. Even the already impressive visuals become even more innovative and cool after going through Director Haibara's work, so I am really looking forward to seeing the finished visuals that he creates.

Thank you to Ryoya Arisawa for participating in the interview and to 33 USA inc. for setting everything up! Blue Lock is available streaming on Crunchyroll and season two will debut Saturday, October 5, 2024, at 9:00 AM Pacific Standard Time.