OTAKU-LENS

 BLUE LOCK (ブルーロック) : U-20 WORLD CUP ARC ⚽ Baseline The U-20 World Cup Arc is the seventh and current arc of Blue Lock , beginning with Chapter 303 and continuing onward. It marks the culmination of the Blue Lock Project ’s ambition: to dominate the global football stage. After the Neo Egoist League , 23 players are selected to represent Japan in the U-20 World Cup. Core Premise: The U-20 World Cup is hosted in Japan, with 64 countries participating — the largest turnout in tournament history. Blue Lock players now face elite international teams like Spain , Nigeria , France , and Brazil . The arc introduces the New Generation World XI , a team composed of the best young players globally. The baseline shifts from national validation to global conquest. Blue Lock is no longer just a training program — it’s Japan’s weapon to win the World Cup. 🎭 Theme This arc deepens Blue Lock ’s core themes while introducing new global dimensions: 1. Ego vs. Legacy Blue Lock player...

 BLUE LOCK (ブルーロック) : NEO EGOIST LEAGUE ARC ⚽ Neo Egoist League Arc The Neo Egoist League Arc spans Chapters 152–302 in the manga and is the longest and most ambitious arc in Blue Lock so far. It marks the second phase of the Blue Lock Project, transforming it into a global entertainment and training initiative. Plot Summary: After defeating Japan’s U-20 team, Blue Lock players are split into five international squads based on football philosophies: Germany ( Bastard München ), England ( Manshine City ), Spain ( FC Barcha ), Italy ( Ubers ), and France ( Paris X Gen ). Each player chooses a country to train under and competes in league matches against other Blue Lock teams and international players. The arc focuses on: Tactical evolution through exposure to global football styles. Rivalries within and across teams. Isagi’s rise as a strategic genius in Bastard München. The emergence of new threats like Kaiser and Lorenzo . For a full breakdown, EVERYTHING That Happe...

 BLUE LOCK (ブルーロック) : U-20 ARC ⚽ U-20 Arc The U-20 Arc spans Chapters 109–151 in the manga and Episodes 29–38 in the anime. It’s the most pivotal arc in Blue Lock so far, where the top 11 players from Blue Lock face off against Japan’s official U-20 national team . The stakes? If Blue Lock wins, they take control of Japan’s national team. The match is a full 11v11 showdown. Blue Lock Eleven , led by Rin Itoshi , faces the U-20 team captained by his older brother Sae Itoshi , a prodigious midfielder. The U-20 team also includes Ryusei Shidou , a wild and unpredictable striker. The match becomes a clash of philosophies: Blue Lock’s ego-driven individuality vs. the U-20’s traditional teamwork. For a full breakdown, The Arc That Changed Blue Lock FOREVER | The ENTIRE U ... offers match-by-match analysis and character highlights. 🧠 Baseline The baseline of the U-20 Arc is built on validation and revolution . Blue Lock has trained its players in isolation — now they must pr...

 BLUE LOCK (ブルーロック) : THIRD SELECTION ARC ⚽ Third Selection Arc The Third Selection Arc spans Chapters 87–108 in the manga and Episodes 23–29 in the anime. It’s the final phase of the Blue Lock Project before the players face Japan’s U-20 national team . This arc introduces the concept of “ Team World Five ,” a group of elite international players brought in to test the remaining Blue Lock candidates. Structure: Seven teams of five players each are formed from the remaining 35 candidates. These teams compete against Team World Five, composed of professional-level players from France, Brazil, Spain, England, and Italy . The top 11 performers across all matches are selected to represent Blue Lock in the upcoming U-20 match. The arc is a crucible of elite competition, where players must prove they can perform against world-class talent. It’s not just about scoring — it’s about showing tactical intelligence, adaptability, and ego on a global scale. For a full breakdown, T...

 BLUE LOCK (ブルーロック) : SECOND SELECTION ARC ⚽ Second Selection Arc The Second Selection Arc spans Chapters 39–86 in the manga and Episodes 11–23 in the anime. It marks a dramatic shift in the Blue Lock program , introducing a multi-stage leveling system designed to isolate and refine individual talent. Structure: Stage 1 : 1v1 matches against AI defenders . Players must score 100 goals to advance. Stage 2 : Players form teams of three and compete in 3v3 matches . Winners absorb a player from the losing team. Stage 3 : 3v3 winners challenge pre-formed teams of top-tier players . Victory allows advancement to the final stage. Stage 4 : Final 5v5 match against the strongest team. The top 11 players are selected to move on. This arc is a crucible for ego, strategy, and adaptability. Isagi evolves rapidly, forming temporary alliances with Nagi and Barou , and eventually facing Rin Itoshi — the top Blue Lock candidate. For a full review, MANGA REVIEW: BLUE LOCK | SECOND SE...

 BLUE LOCK (ブルーロック) : FIRST SELECTION ARC ⚽ First Selection Arc The First Selection Arc spans Chapters 5–38 in the manga and Episodes 3–11 in the anime. It’s the first major test of the Blue Lock program, where 300 strikers are divided into 25 teams of 12 and placed in five buildings. Each team must play round-robin matches, and only the top two teams from each building advance. Team Z, which includes protagonist Yoichi Isagi , faces off against Teams X, Y, W, and V. Each match reveals new rivalries, tactical growth, and psychological pressure. The arc begins with Team Z’s chaotic loss to Team X, led by the aggressive Shoei Barou . As the matches progress, Isagi begins to understand his unique spatial awareness and leadership potential. 🧠 Baseline The First Selection Arc builds on the foundational premise introduced earlier: ego is essential for greatness . The baseline here is the transformation from raw talent to refined individuality. Core Concepts: Weapon Discovery...

 BLUE LOCK (ブルーロック) : INTRODUCTION ARC ⚽ Introduction Arc The Introduction Arc of Blue Lock kicks off the anime’s radical premise and sets the psychological tone for everything that follows. It spans Chapters 1–4 in the manga and Episodes 1–2 in the anime. Japan’s national team suffers a humiliating defeat in the 2018 World Cup . In response, the Japan Football Union launches the Blue Lock Project , a controversial initiative designed to produce the world’s greatest striker. The mastermind behind this is Jinpachi Ego , a coach who believes Japan’s failure stems from its lack of egoistic forwards. 300 high school strikers are summoned to a prison-like training facility. Among them is Yoichi Isagi , a talented but indecisive player who missed a crucial pass in his last high school match. The arc introduces the brutal nature of Blue Lock through a game of tag — where the loser is immediately eliminated. This test reveals the psychological warfare at play and sets the tone for ...

 BLUE LOCK (ブルーロック) ⚽ Arcs in Blue Lock Blue Lock is structured around intense story arcs that mirror the psychological and physical evolution of its characters. Each arc escalates the stakes and deepens the exploration of ego and ambition. 1. Introduction Arc This arc sets the stage: Japan's football association launches the Blue Lock Project to create the world's best striker. 300 high school forwards are invited to a prison-like facility where only one will emerge as Japan’s ace. The arc introduces Yoichi Isagi , the protagonist, and Jinpachi Ego , the eccentric coach behind the project. 2. First Selection Arc Players are divided into teams and compete in round-robin matches. The top teams advance, while others face elimination. Isagi begins to understand his unique spatial awareness and starts forming rivalries and alliances, especially with Meguru Bachira and Rensuke Kunigami . 3. Second Selection Arc This arc introduces 1v1 and 3v3 matches, pushing players to r...