WIND BREAKER

melamuna

***

In the midst of the overcrowded Fantasy animes in Spring 2024, from the comeback season of My Hero Academia and Demon Slayer, heavy Isekai hitters such as Mushoku Tensei, Slime, and Konosuba airing simultaneously this season that pleases the hardcore Isekai fans, newcomers arrive as Kaiju No.8 takes the spot for newly come Shounen audiences, and oldtime classics such as Spice and Wolf are returning for a brand new reboot of the series. One anime that stands out from the rest, earning the #7 spot for the most popular anime of Spring 2024 (data from Anilist on May 31, 2024), WIND BREAKER is an anime that you wouldn't expect standing up firmly amidst the heavy hitters this season, but through it's refreshing and intriguing plotline, it is bound to grab people's attention and hold firm into it for longer. ***

WIND BREAKER offers a refreshing yet familiar plotline mixing high school anime tropes and delinquent tropes, forming a blend of refreshing plotlines and sequences that went on a different path from your usual action anime. We follow the main character, Haruka Sakura (Yuuma Uchida), through his journey of softening up from the tense environment he used to live in. Sakura is not the most interesting character in the series, especially when his motivations and the attention of the series aren't mainly focused on him, as he's mostly being used as a vessel to progress the plotline. However, the supporting characters of this series, mainly Togame (Yuuichirou Umehara), are a huge standout even with their short presence due to their convincing character revelations. Other side characters in the show are fun and watchable in their own right, but they're not a huge standout since they didn't get enough screen time to fully flesh out their own characters. ***

One huge standout of the series that definitely brings people to watch this series is its action. The anime scene is filled with power fantasies and weaponry combat that's fairly entertaining in its own right, but there is a huge underrepresentation of hand-to-hand combat in recent anime, which this series brings to the forefront of the action-oriented sequence of the show. Not only that, the animation might not rival that of this season’s heavy hitters, but it still stands out on its own with the stylistic hand-to-hand fighting sequences where you can actually feel the weight of the punches. In addition, it doesn't take its actions nonsensically, as the punches of each character reveal their background and motivation for being in the position that they are, a great method of storytelling in an action genre. ***

Despite all of that, the series still has a long way to go when it comes to its story. It might be really entertaining for now, but it's the type of series that I will eventually forget about the plot and characters. The first few episodes are a little slow and can be out of place sometimes, not to mention where the series takes on a drastic turn with its story, which I would argue is where the series truly shows its real strength. However, the series hadn't convinced me to care or leave a lasting impression on me once the series ended, as there are still elements of the show that they presented that have a lot of potential for story but have never been used.

In those cases, a second season of WIND BREAKER might be glossed over, but the series already has the right ingredients from its intriguing and stylistic hand-to-hand action sequence, more exploration in its storytelling from the world they've built, and greater character growth for these characters. If you have all of these things and cook them well, it might turn the future of this series from good to great. ***

OrielBel

The best way to look at Wind Breaker is as a sort of postmodern delinquent anime. I know that sounds high minded for an otherwise simple show, but Wind Breaker's main goal is to directly interrogate the genre's relationship between strength, violence and self determination. In a romantic sense, the Japanese delinquent isn't a lowly crook but instead are rebels against a society that seeks to hold them down. The fantasy comes from the idea that once you're strong you'll be free to do whatever you want. But what does it mean to be the strongest? To be free? Protagonist Sakura thinks he's on the fast track to becoming the cool mysterious badass at the top of the wild school (think Yusuke Urameshi from Yu Yu Hakusho or Oga from Beelzebub) only to discover it's been reformed into some sort of paramilitary style community outreach program and everyone from his classmates to the townspeople are weirdly nice. Seeing Sakura go from Mr Billy Badass to a quivering tsundere now that he actually has to make friends and actually reach out to people is one of the series more entertaining and charming aspects. The bulk of the show is the impromptu tournament arc between Furin and rival gang Shishitoren and it's where the show highlights its strengths and weaknesses. For one thing, it's got some serious animation chops for its hand to hand fighting scenes. Fluid, well choreographed and weighty you really feel every punch kick slam and throw. It's admittedly a bit too liberal with geography (the use of spinning 3D backgrounds is thrilling and impressive but sometimes ends up making you lose track of where exactly the characters are in relation to each other) but the animation and choreography make up for it. Some moments feel like the punch exchanges from DBZ except every individual hit is animated instead of on a loop. Characters have their own unique fighting style, from Sakura's emphasis on weighty kicks, Touma and Sugishita's no nonsense beatdowns, Taiga's German suplexes and Suo and Kiryu's free flowing martial arts styles. Cloverworks and in particular animator Kazuyuki Asaka did a fantastic job adapting and expanding the series myriad fight scenes, and the show in general displays solid effective directing. But just as important to Wind Breaker as the fighting is the drama, and it's where the show is somewhat shakier. The majority of the fights in the Shishitoren arc soon reveal themselves to actually have an added level of personal drama beyond just simple fisticuffs. Fights climax in big emotional displays where characters show their capacity for empathy and shout earnest stuff at each other like "What are you really fighting for!" or "This isn't the you I know!" On the one hand I appreciate the attempt at added complexity and use of striking symbolic imagery even if it isn't subtle (they're literally having a tournament where every character is pretending to be someone they're not in a movie theater on a stage) and I like how the characters operate as foils for Sakura. But it does end up feeling melodramatic at times as the show can overdo it with all the heavy music and big flashbacks. Having the tournament arc so early on is understandable; you want a big fight arc early, you want to show off all the fighting styles and you want a big event that establishes what the status quo is like afterwards. It just needed some more breathing room to establish all these relationships it clearly wants you to feel are important. The episodes after the big tournament arc, despite being slower and less action packed, refocuses squarely on Sakura and his burgeoning arc into becoming a leader and it feels less heavy handed going from there. Sakura's feelings are actually pretty complex and say alot about both his character and the expanding cast around him. Like Sakura himself, Wind Breaker's got a big heart but it needs a bit more maturing to do before it reaches its full potential. Thankfully, it has all the tools to get there.

Lenlo

~~~img(https://starcrossedanime.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Wind-Breaker-Banner.png)~~~ Delinquents are a pretty common sight in anime. From classic Shounen like *Yu Yu Hakusho* to more modern series like *Tokyo Revengers*, we get plenty of them every year. So standing out amongst the crowd can be pretty difficult for a show like this. Do you get weird with it like *JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Season 4*? Or more heartfelt and personal, like *Great Teacher Onizuka*? Regrettably, most shows never really figure that out. Whatever they try, most fall short and aren't able to separate themselves from the pack. Well today I'm here to talk about one that manages to do just that, though only barely. A delinquent battle shounen that tries its best to fly and, by the end, is able to fly on its own. Originally created by Satoru Nii, animated and adapted by Cloverworks, directed by Toshifumi Akai, and with music by Ryou Takahashi and produced by Shinji Yamauchi, I give you... *Wind Breaker*. **Be warned, this review contains minor unmarked spoilers for *Wind Breaker*. It also contains major spoilers in some sections however these will be heavily marked to avoid accidents**. ~~~webm(https://www.sakugabooru.com/data/4788953af6406209116220a2fbd8126c.mp4)~~~ #~~~__Production__~~~ As usual, lets start with something that's important for any anime, but especially so for flashy battle shounen, their production. Animated at CloverWorks, who are responsible for beautiful and well animated series such as *Wonder Egg Priority* and *Bocchi the Rock*, it shouldn't be surprising when I say *Wind Breaker* looks pretty good. It doesn't reach the same same levels of detail with its backgrounds and environments, nor is it quite as experimental with its animation, sure. *Wind Breaker* plays it pretty safe with both, staying well within the lanes and rarely doing anything *too* fancy. In doing so however, *Wind Breaker's* production manages to be consistent, remaining generally pleasant to look at at almost all times, never experiencing any kind of melt or fall off. Every episode has the same potential to pop off. Besides, there's one thing that *Wind Breaker* has over everything else this season: Fight Choreography. Seriously, I cannot understate how good *Wind Breakers* fights are. From fluid full-body wide shots showing how every part of a characters body moves, to close ups with some pretty emotive facial expressions, *Wind Breaker's* action is top tier. What's especially nice about it though is that, compared to some of its contemporaries like *My Hero Academia* or *One Piece*, the fights are surprisingly grounded in reality. No insult intended of course, *One Piece* especially has been flying high recently with Egghead Island and Wano. But it's nice to have some more down-to-earth action for once. Fights where no one is "Supernaturally tough" or has named super moves like "Sky Shattering Fist" or other gimmicks. *Wind Breaker* is just normal dudes beating each other up. Sure, they occasionally jump to exaggerated heights for effect, maybe backflip into an axe kick or blow someone a few feet away with a punch, classic anime exaggeration. But comparatively, it's rather subdued. Powers wise I mean, these people absolutely get messed up. This isn't to say *Wind Breaker* doesn't have some great visuals outside of the fights either. While not as experimental as *Bocchi*, generally staying on model and in style, *Wind Breaker* has a number of visual motifs and metaphors it often uses to spice up some of the more emotional conversations. The use of Light and Dark for mental states, walking on glass or a tightrope for precarious positions, the use of empty space for that feeling of being alone, composing a scene to really sell the size and support of the class, all the classics. And sure, none of these are really new, we've seen them before. But *Wind Breaker* executes on these established visual ideas pretty well, with some good direction to keep them interesting. All in all, *Wind Breaker* stands out primarily for its fight choreography and animation, doing just enough everywhere else to not drag those big action moments down. So if it's action you want, it has it, in spades. ~~~img(https://starcrossedanime.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Wind-Breaker-1.1.jpg)~~~ #~~~__Narrative__~~~ What is the action *about* though? Why are people fighting, what are they fighting for, who even are they? To answer those, lets talk about *Wind Breakers* narrative. At it's core, *Wind Breaker's* plot is pretty straight forward. It follows Haruka Sakura, a young delinquent with unique hair, who has come to Bofurin Highschool in his quest to be the strongest. Along the way he meets new friends, finds a place he can belong, and together they fight their way through various other highschool delinquents. Sounds pretty standard right? We get plenty of "I want to be the strongest" action shows, from *Solo Leveling* to *Blue Lock*, it's a common idea. What sets *Wind Breaker* apart though, or at least tries to, is how it frames this conflict. Because *Wind Breaker* is rarely about the individual. Rather, it's about this one single word/theme that encapsulates the entire show: community. From the very first episode, *Wind Breaker* is more concerned with Sakura's relationship with those around him than it is with his strength. His combat ability is never in question, at no point does *Wind Breaker* ever ask if Sakura is *strong enough* to win a fight. In fact, the entire season takes place over... A week? Maybe two? And nowhere in it is there any kind of training or self-improvement arc. Rather, *Wind Breaker* asks where that strength comes from, what motivates Sakura and the other Bofurin delinquents to fight at all. It's this classic idea of the "weight" of someone's fist, that what they are fighting for is more important than their personal strength. Hell, in the very first episode *Wind Breaker* establishes that the only reason Sakura wants to be "the strongest" is because he thinks it will make people recognize and accept him, before realizing he can find that here in Bofurin along the way. What I like the most about *Wind Breaker's* narrative though is that it's about more than just "The Individual vs The Collective". Those kinds of fights, the single strong loner losing to the combined might of the community, are again, pretty common. Instead, *Wind Breaker's* first big conflict is community vs community, highschool vs highschool, and how the attitude and leadership of a community can affect it's culture. It's more about the emotional strength and maturity required to recognize and confront the toxic elements of the community you love, as well as how hard that is to do for fear of destroying it, than it is any character's physical strength. It felt... novel. And while *Wind Breaker* still had plenty of the classic shounen trappings, turning bad guys into allies and large casts with unnecessary fights, the action I mentioned previously managed to hold it all together. Really the biggest issue *Wind Breaker* has narratively is how it has tied itself the classic shounen formula of "Introduce new villain -> Confront villain/Get more cast members -> Get villains backstory -> Defeat villain -> Repeat". This makes it predictable, and like some of the previous episodes or conflicts didn't have any lasting effect. Now since it's a single-cour show this problem isn't *that* big, but you can definitely see problems coming down the track with its already announced 2nd season. Additionally, due to being a single-cour show, most of the cast doesn't get fleshed out... at all. No arc, barely any personality, they are sort of just window dressing. *Wind Breaker* continues to introduce "core" cast members even in episode 11 for goodness sake. Before I dive to deep into the cast however, let me sum this section up: *Wind Breaker* shows a lot of promise with its setting and core story, it just gets bogged down in the trappings of the genre from time to time. ~~~img(https://starcrossedanime.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Wind-Breaker-4.1.jpg)~~~ #~~~__Characters__~~~ Returning to the cast, this is where *Wind Breaker* is the weakest. Not necessarily because the cast is bad, I can only think of one character who is an active detriment to the show, more because most are barely characters at all. In fact, out of the entire cast, I can only think of three whom I would say are anything more than cardboard cutouts: Our lead, Sakura, the mentor, Umemiya, and the villain, Togame. Each of them fulfills their role exceptionally well. Sakura is that fish out of water, the excuse to other characters to explain things to the audience while still adding his own thoughts to the conversation. Umemiya is that pinnacle of strength, the embodiment of what *Wind Breaker* is trying to convey. And Togame? He's the one who didn't make it, who believed the same things as Umemiya but wasn't strong enough to protect it. They are great! It's only when we start to look away from these core three that *Wind Breaker's* cast starts to fall short. From Nirei to Sugishita, Suou to Hiragi, and all the others in between. None of them are really *characters*, closer to one-note cardboard cutouts really. Now this isn't entirely their fault, there are ideas there, hints of the characters they could become. It's just that *Wind Breaker* doesn't give them the same time or attention as the other three. It makes sense, Sakura, Umemiya and Togame are the most thematically important characters of the season. However that doesn't change the fact that *Wind Breaker* is throwing 20+ characters at the viewer and expecting us to remember and care about them. The one exception to this is Choji, and that only because a bad character is still *technically* a character, regardless of how much we might wish otherwise. Now to talk about Choji in any meaningful way, I need to dive into some spoilers. So if you've watched the show, or just don't care about being spoiled, feel free to click in and read. Otherwise, just know that Choji is meant to be the primary antagonist of the season, the antithesis to Umemiya and his community-centric philosophy. Yet he's upstaged entirely by his second-in-command, Togame, and ends up coming off as nothing more than a petulant child with the depth of the most forgettable Shounen villains. He is, in every respect, a disappointment. ~!The main issue with Choji is that *Wind Breaker* back-loads everything interesting about him. He's introduced as this combat-pilled sociopath who cares for no one but himself. Someone who wants to fight Umemiya not because of any ideological difference or personal grudge, but because it will make him feel better. It's only once this fight begins, late in the season, that *Wind Breaker* starts trying to do anything with him. And what do they go for? They try to make him sympathetic, to forgive everything he's done in his quest for the top. Everyone is understanding of his actions, of his treatment of those beneath him, welcoming him back as years of issues are undone in a single fight. It's... Underbaked and undeserved if you ask me. Compare this to Togame, his second-in-command. While they start much the same, both thirsty for combat, the cracks in Togame's facade quickly become apparent. It's obvious he doesn't enjoy it, that he does this for Choji, that he truly couldn't care less about the fight if it's for the wrong reasons. We see how he sticks around and takes everything onto his own shoulders to protect a community he cherished so much. All the while he's forced to watch it be corrupted right in front of him, only ever able to slow the descent, never reverse it. Yes, both Togame and Choji's stories are delivered through flashbacks. Yes, both of them are the same basic archetype of a tragic villain to be turned ally. And yes, both of them are inspired by fighting the heroes. The difference however is in how they get there, and whether or not it's earned.!~ All in all *Wind Breaker's* cast is decent where it matters, mediocre where it doesn't, and downright disappointing in only a single spot. As a lead Sakura is quite fun and satisfying to watch, whether he's punching someone's face in or figuring out how to talk to people who actually treat him well and depend on him. He definitely has personality, even if it's an abrasive one that is slowly getting sanded down by those around him. Meanwhile Umemiya is an inspiring mentor and Togame a beautifully tragic villain doing his best to hold on to something he loves. So yeah, overall? It's not bad. Not great, could definitely use a Season 2 to flesh most of them out, but not bad. ~~~img(https://starcrossedanime.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Wind-Breaker-2.2.jpg)~~~ #~~~__OST__~~~ Finally we have the OST, the last real section of this review. Partially performed by Ryou Takahashi, directed by Keiki Nishida and produced by Shinji Yamauchi, *Wind Breaker* has a generally decent track list. Regretfully, those tracks haven't been officially released, so I can't provide you with many links nor names. Those I can give you though aren't bad! The big standouts for me would have to be "Conversation", an emotional and atmospheric track that accompanies the end of the best fight of the series. *Wind Breaker* also has more light hearted background music like the funky "At Cafe Pothos", which is just fun to listen to. And when it needs big, hard to miss vocal tracks? It has "Stronger", a nice power ballad for *Wind Breaker bust out when it needs something a tad more epic. That said, those three are sort of the core of *Wind Breakers* music. Other than them, the record doesn't have anything particularly memorable. There's some generic rock with songs like "Call my Name", "Upheaval" and "Higher I'll Go", as well as some space-filling background tracks like "Supersonic". There's even an unnamed emotional, but ultimately not very memorable, lament that I sort of like. But none of these can really compare to the main three I linked above. I wish I could listen to the entire OST, just to make sure I'm not missing anything, but seeing as how I can't find a complete copy I'm going to have to settle for these eight. All in all, *Wind Breakers* OST seems to do its job, but not much else. This isn't something I'd ever seek out a CD for, nor will I remember it years after the fact like say... *Megalo Box*. In-episode it's used well enough, augmenting the scene and generally not taking away from anything. But it rarely elevates them like I would hope, and isn't worth listening to on its own either. All around, it's just sort of... fine? ~~~img(https://starcrossedanime.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Wind-Breaker-9.1.jpg)~~~ #~~~__The Search for Community__~~~ With that we come to the personal section of this review. This is where I drop the reviewer hat and just try to talk to you about my experience with *Wind Breaker*. This is a spoiler-heavy zone, no holds barred, so if you haven't seen the show and don't want to know what happens, skip it. It's mostly going to be talking about Togame and Sakura again anyways. So with that, in we go! ~!Now where to begin... For all it's problems, for how limited it is by the one-cour length, for how bogged down it is by standard shounen tropes, *Wind Breaker* has something that many recent shounen like *Kagurabachi* or *Kill Blue* lack: Heart. From the very first episode it felt like *Wind Breaker* had something to say, a message it wanted to convey about how we treat those who don't conform and the communities they build with each other. Watching Sakura try to navigate this new environment, slowly figuring out that people see him not as a thug, but a protector due to his Bofurin jacket, that here his strength is a comfort to those around him rather than distressing, was really nice. Usually in these situations it's the MC building their own community, gathering others around him, rather than joining and finding a place in an existing one. And what a community Sakura found. Bofurin doesn't try to change, or really even control, it's members. At the end of the day, they are still delinquents, their school is covered in graffiti and they are still a violent bunch. Rather, Umemiya simply tries to *direct* their violent tendencies, to point them in a direction where their skills and personalities can be put to good use. Do you like to fight? Are you abrasive? Then go fight the people harassing the local shops, go beat up those that deserve it rather than people just living their lives. And from there, the goodwill started to grow, the delinquents and the locals started to come together as a single community. It's not about pushing away those who are different, or forcing them to change to fit your ideal. Rather, you need to find how they can best contribute as they are now. As good as that is though, what really sells it for me, what completes what *Wind Breaker* is doing, is how it contrasts Bofurin with the Shishitoren and, by extension, Togame. Through them, we see how a community that loses sight of what it was becomes a stain on its surroundings, how it brings everything within and without it down. How important it is to push back when you see something vile begin to take hold, how you shouldn't accept the corruption just because you're afraid to lose what you had. It's actually really tragic, because Togame is, in a lot of ways, just like Sakura. They both found a home, found people who made them feel welcome, and it's natural to want to support them no matter what they do, to trust in them even when they are doing something you think is wrong. It's this focus on not just the shounen "MC Squad", but the community at large and what it means for each individual, that really pulled me into *Wind Breaker*. There are so many ideas for it to explore, so many classic tropes like the Lone Wolf or a Cult of Personality that, while not uncommon in anime, would interesting to watch through *Wind Breaker's* unique lens. So long as it can avoid more Choji's, characters who lack any sort of meaningful connection to their community or who simply don't deserve the sympathy *Wind Breaker* tries to give them, it has a pretty promising future.!~ ~~~img(https://starcrossedanime.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Wind-Breaker-8.3.jpg)~~~ #~~~__Conclusion__~~~ So yeah, all in all *Wind Breaker* had a pretty promising first season. While visually the only memorable thing about it is the fight choreography, the narrative and characters (mostly) have a lot of promise. If it can refine these ideas, can break from the common shounen trappings, and choose its villains a tad more wisely, I think *Wind Breaker* could carve out a niche for itself in the market. It definitely stands out to me more than *Kimetsu no Yaiba's* recent seasons, which have focused more on flashy effects than a meaningful story. Do I recommend you watch *Wind Breaker*? If you're looking for some solid hand-to-hand combat, or are willing to make an early investment in a long-running shounen, then 100% I do. A 2nd season was already announced, and meaning if you enjoy *Wind Breaker*, you already have more on the way. That always makes it easier to recommend something, knowing you won't be waiting forever for more of what you love. Thanks for reading! If you want to leave a comment, positive or negative, you can leave it [here](https://anilist.co/activity/751208066).

EponineKraaken

This review is only about the anime, I haven't read the manga and don't plan too (I'll still watch season 2 tho). Light spoilers ahead ! __Animation and visuals __ This is a strong point of this anime. The colors are vibrant but tone down when they need to, facial expressions and interactions are communicative, and the fight choreographies are the best part in my opinion, the action scenes are impactful and way above other anime of this genre, they are over the top (1 vs 30 and highschoolers pulling pro martial artist moves) but that is part of what makes it fun to watch. __Characters__ Most of the characters are likeable and have stylish designs. The main character Sakura is very dense and I found him a bit annoying at times but it's interesting to see him open up to others. Bofurin are all nice guys but maybe too much ? I'll get back to that later... The Shishitoren characters had an interesting dynamic but it was hard to picture a coherent group behind their actions. My favorites are Suo and Togame. __Music__ The soundtrack is decent, but nothing really caught my ears. The opening was nice but I really preferred the ending. __Plot, themes, and worldbuilding__ I'm grouping these all together because all these elements will lead to my main problem with Wind Breaker. The dynamic and relations between characters are touching but the narration is really basic, nothing original to note in the way the story flows but it works, Furyo aren't particularly known to have complex storylines anyway. Some of the themes of Wind Breaker include discrimination, difference, and social awkwardness, but they feel empty because of the worldbuilding... With this kind of anime, you always need to apply a good dose of suspension of disbelief because these teens are gonna brawl in plain day on a busy streets and absolutely no authority figure is gonna show up ever, but it's even more true for this anime than in other delinquent anime/manga. In other Furyo anime/manga, cops and teachers are either incompetent, late to the party or just don't care at all, but at least they do exist, in Wind Breaker, the school staff and other authority figures like cops or parents are not even mentioned, they go to school but don't have class or teacher, they are "delinquents" but don't rebel against anything concretely... A big part of delinquent manga and "rebel youth culture" in general is showing how young individuals can feel restrained by a system that doesn't always understand them, how they express individuality and alternative values in opposition to a system that tries to format them. In Wind Breaker there is no system that tries to restrain the characters, and no authority to rebel against, it's even the contrary, they (Bofurin) are the system and the authority, they don't meet any systematic contradiction to their ideals and so the values they display feels flat, and the "delinquent" tropes only become mere aesthetic... And that's a shame because the actions of Bofurin would've been even more meaningful and inspiring if they actually tried to do things their own way in a system that doesn't recognize their good deeds because they only see who they are and not what they do. __Conclusion__ This review might be more subjective than others' because of my love for the Furyo genre. I found Wind Breaker enjoyable on many aspects, and I can understand people who rated it higher than me, not everybody approach animes with the same expectations. But this anime totally misses the point of the "Furyo" (delinquent) genre, and this one element ruined it for me and turned all these qualities into wasted potential.

RenxRen

__Preface__ Wind Breaker is a modern delinquent anime that I would describe as a hidden gem. My statement may seem exaggerated because an average weeb must be living under a rock if they aren't, at least, aware of its existence. Many viewers compare the anime with TR and hype up the animation, fights, and sometimes the character designs. However, few discuss the intriguing characterization of the main cast and their dynamics that, in my opinion, outshine most shounen battle anime. __Main Criticism __ Before I attempt to prove my point, I must point out some evident omissions that initially hindered my enjoyment. Where are the parents, teachers, and police? There are strong indications about their family status here and there, like Sakura having no contacts on his phone and Umemiya growing up in foster homes. Furthermore, we can assume that the local police either do not arrive on time or are incompetent. The question is, how do we explain the absent teachers in a high school setting? The students regularly hang out on the school grounds and ditch classes to patrol. It would be way more compelling if they established a special education program, funded by either the government or a certified private organization, that encourages volunteer work for children from broken homes; a readjustment to society, or the nurturing of a task force. I hope these aspects get addressed in the future. __Characterization & Dynamics__ The show opened with symbolic imagery that portrayed Sakura's complex psychology, an ordinary tale among the shonen protagonists at first, depicting discrimination, bullying, abandonment, and maybe worse. Sakura, the victim of this abuse, chose violence, aggression, and solitude as his defense mechanism, rationalizing that fighting was the only way to get rid of toxic individuals, and his fists gradually evolved into his language. His reactions to kindness also hinted at his self-loathing and tendency to self-sabotage. Being ridiculed for his unconventional appearance and rough-at-the-edges behavior, he regarded himself as intimidating. As such, it led to a quest for self-recognition. If he showcased his superior strength, he would be worthy of everyone's fear and respect. His mindset crumpled after his fateful encounters with Bofurin's and Shishitoren's leaders. Umemiya was the first to spark a fire in his heart, pushing him to revisit his worldview. While he pursued conflict and a lonesome lifestyle, Umemiya strived for companionship and peace despite his demanding position as a gang leader. Sakura could not grasp this foreign concept, although he witnessed strong people naturally gathering around him. On top of that, he found pleasure in this lifestyle. Communication, skinship, friendship, and camaraderie fulfilled the basic human desires he craved and never received. His bashfulness and shyness may come off as funny and cute, but they are a product of alienation. On the other hand, Tomiyama was a catalyst for his development as the mirror image of his future self. Similarly to Sakura, he pursued self-fulfillment, believing that happiness and freedom come with strength. This ambiguous obsession caused him to ostracize his companions and become an empty shell of his ambition. His greed started eating him inside out, preventing him from picking the pieces together and widening his lens. It was thanks to his genuine connection to Togame that snapped him back from his tunnel vision. I am not surprised that Sakura admitted their similarities. If he were to embark on this journey, a never-ending vacuum awaited. Accepting his flawed views, Sakura strayed from his old habits. However, he was lost. What was he supposed to do, especially when he took up a leadership position. Luckily, his curiosity got the better of him, and he consulted the second-year grade captain. Kaji is like a feral beast in disguise. He appeared calm and collected, standoffish and aloof, until you get under his skin. This contrast puzzled Sakura and, eventually, confronted him, questioning his leadership. The reply was simple yet profound. Kaji's classmates chose to follow and rely on him without an apparent reason. In turn, Kaji relied on them and lived on their expectations. Essentially, nobody had to drastically change. It seems like a simplistic answer on a surface level, but Sakura wants to discover what makes him so reliable that he was elected as a leader. This trait is open to interpretation, and I am sure that his subordinates would respond differently. However, it is a crucial piece of knowledge for Sakura to discover and embrace himself. I could go on and on about Sakura's self-exploration and evolution. In particular, his immersing conversations with Umemiya and Tachibana's wisdom painted the exact portrait of his current and future selves. I will not dive into the details because my time is limited. I opted to emphasize the parallels between Sakura and the leaders so that they also get the spotlight. Other notable characters are Togame and Nirei. The former is not impressive per se, but his subversion from a villain to a good guy was outstanding and unexpected. In a nutshell, Togame applied Tomiyama's ideals to their team, hoping his leader would not lose his light by imposing his destructive judgment. Plus, he distanced himself to give him space, and Tomiyama's greed escalated instead. Fortunately, Bofurin members taught them how life works. While his epiphany made us sympathetic to his character and aggravated towards his leader, the follow-up failed to solidify the sentiment. Tomiyama's headspace, the imaginary dessert glass world, was the perfect metaphor to illustrate his emptiness, but the reason behind it was lackluster. A richer backstory, or an elaborate exposition of his potential existential crisis, would enhance the emotional impact of his downfall. As for Nirei, he is the nonfighter of Bofurin and a valuable informant. He may seem like the crybaby of Wind Breaker, but the lack of power dynamics highlights his genuine connection to his classmates, mainly Sakura. They formed a bond devoid of competition and ulterior motives. In addition, his bravery and adaptability are remarkable, given his harsh environment. Concerning Suo, Hiragi, and Kiryu, they are captivating, but we remain in the dark about their characters. My only complaints lie with Taiga and Sugishita. For example, our wrestler boy is vigorous and humorous, but his personality traits are just shticks. The virtue lines and his over-the-top behavior are designed to give us some good laughs and cheers during battle sequences. Similarly, Sugishita is just a mad dog, growling and tossing chairs. I am indifferent to those two characters, viewing them as parodies. However, any surprise like Togame's would be welcome. __Animation & Fighting Sequences__ Enjoyment-wise, the most praised aspect of Wind Breaker is the fighting. I am talking about full-blown street fights, integrating martial arts and individual unique styles. The animation, direction, music, and art skyrocketed the experience from 10 to 100. The grittiness and ferocity behind each move and the elaborate and clean choreography evoked memories of real-life duels. Adding the emotional investment to the mix, even a bloody fight emerged as an amazing story piece. Of course, exaggerations were needed for spice. Realistically speaking, such fights would end in seconds with heavy injuries and reduced stamina, but battle shonen would not be a thing. It does not change that Wind Breaker had the most memorable hand-to-hand combats I have seen in anime. No special effects and flashy spectacles are essential to provide high-quality entertainment. __Plot & Pacing__ Regarding the plot, this season felt like a prologue. The series addressed Sakura's major issues and a vague idea for his future development. It also introduced the key members of the Bofurin gang and their first ally. Given the scattered clues about their mysterious past, the potential is infinite. I can easily envision it as a traditional long-running shounen. The pacing was satisfactory, indicating that the creators had a solid grasp of storytelling. The ups and downs of the pace were carefully crafted and executed. Because Wind Breaker is a battle shonen animanga, they served us with enjoyable action even during the slow episodes, such as the parkour scene and the new characters fighting mobs to showcase their abilities. However, they mainly delved deeper into our understanding of the characters and their dynamics. No scene overstayed its welcome except for one, the interaction between Togame and Tomiyama in episode 10. Reconciliation needs immense effort, such as brutal honesty and ownership of our mistakes. However, prolonging conversations that convey the same message as the previous episode is redundant. __Conclusion__ Wind Breaker is not innovative by any means, but it excels in characterization and the art of hand-to-hand combat. Specifically, it provides a fresh perspective on complex psychological issues, not shying away from their potentially harmful consequences. At the same time, it manages to calm the waters by building wholesome relationships and providing adrenaline-pumping action scenes. On the flip side, the absence of certain adult figures is a bit off-putting initially, but not too vital to be deemed a plot hole at this point of the story. In addition, a few supporting characters are basic shonen archetypes, cliched and forgettable. Thankfully, their screen time is limited, aiming solely at comedy and action. If you are looking for an exciting seasonal watch with the potential for something greater, Wind Breaker is for you! It is a must for action viewers who prefer a more realistic approach to close combats and enjoy the fundamentals of real-life martial arts.

Jimmare

__What if we took Naruto and added Kaneki's half-hair style? We get Sakura. __ *Yes, you read it correctly. The protagonist is called Sakura.* Now, jokes aside, for you who haven't ( or don't plan to) watch Naruto, there's this running joke that when opposing sides fight one another, the MC (Naruto, lol) will end up talking it out and both sides understanding one another and possibly stop fighting. It doesn't *always* work, but it's a joke that has been around for a while. >Now, let's talk about WindBreaker! __The name Windbreaker or Bofurin__, as the show likes to call it, represents a group of people protecting the city they're living in. In simple terms, WindBreaker members are the "police" of their city. The story is about people coming together to protect a city with many thieves and wrong-doers running around and causing trouble to shop owners and civilians. However, the same problem that Tokyo revengers had is also present here; there's NO police. Like literally, not a single police officer. Did someone break your Shop Window? Hopefully, there's a high school kid who can beat them up! What, your kid has gone missing? Yep, let's call someone underaged to look into it. Of course, this theme is completely disregarded. No explanation whatsoever about why this is happening. Is it bad? No, but it's just very, very weird. >What about the animation? Now, the animation goes HARD. It isn't the most fluid thing you'll see but unlike anime like Ninja Kamui or Zom 100, which rely on their first episode and then drop off almost immediately, windbreak's nice animation is present throughout the anime. The fights are the highlight of the show and were animated well. The choreography is great. >The Problems While we do have our usual OP MC, he's still not invisible. The problem is that he's a tsundere. Or, an Oranyan, as you young kids like to call it. Whenever he gets a compliment, he blushes. Whenever he gets a thank you, he blushes. It's like, having the fighting skills of Mike Tyson and the personality of a 13-year-old girl (Wait, is this why he's called Sakura?). It doesn't add anything to the story and it's like the artist tried to make him vulnerable, just to counter his "coolness" factor. It's not an issue, it's just that is done so over the top to the point it's getting annoying. Now, the biggest problem is the "it's not your fault, be kind to yourself" type of thing. I love the message behind the anime but it's forced. Instead of being subtle and letting the MC go through these experiences himself, the show throws this at your face whenever it has the chance to. Oh, did these people beat up some of our own? Let's just fight them to show them they're wrong even though we should have forgiven them from the start type of thing. I don't wanna spoil it too much, but it goes against itself when it makes it so obvious to the viewer. >The Score Great fights, great animation, mediocre storyline. Binged through the show because I love the idea of delinquent shows but didn't expect much of it. Shows like these try to seem bigger than themselves and it kinda throws you off. Maybe that's just me. It's a great Shounen but it would get a better score if it focused on what it does well; built upon the main groups instead of focusing on shallow meanings. A solid 8/10 for me!

gagueher0

Uma história de delinquentes limpinha. Foi esse o sentimento que me pegou quando assisti ao primeiro episódio de Wind Breaker. E falo isso não só pelo fato da equipe da Furin ser quem protege aquele distrito, falo de design mesmo. Esse subgênero dos mangás e animes de ação era marcado pelos personagens casca grossa e carrancudos até o começo dos anos 2000, quando foi completamente escanteado e relegado a um nicho de saudosistas, mas que começou a emergir de volta atualmente repaginado, dessa vez com personagens muito mais esguios e “bonitos”, tais como *Tokyo Revengers* e agora o próprio Wind Breaker. Mas é curioso pensar no caso de Wind Breaker que o trauma do **Sakura Haruka**, nosso protagonista, é de ser considerado uma pessoa feia, por ter o cabelo bicolor. Acontece que isso gera um estranhamento no espectador muito forte, porque o Sakura não é feio visualmente na série. Não só ele não é feio, como ele está longe de ser o design mais diferentão que o anime vai nos apresentar. Seja dentro ou fora do Furin, a lógica dos cabelos coloridos de anime se faz presente em Wind Breaker, então fica um pouco difícil de comprar esse drama inicial do personagem. Se ele não funciona enquanto drama, funciona muito bem no sentido temático e como setup para a psiquê do Sakura. Acontece que Wind Breakers realmente não se enxerga como a sua história de gangue convencional. Mas para falar disso, um pouco de contexto. Os mangás de delinquente são, como dito acima, um subgênero dos mangás de ação. Uma parte considerável deles aborda a perspectiva de jovens desajustados, normalmente do sexo masculino, que frustrados com a falta de perspectiva de futuro e desprezo pelas regras em lutas mano a mano pela cidade. Normalmente esse subgênero apresenta o delinquente como essa pessoa sem lugar que extravasa a raiva caindo no soco com outros delinquentes e encontra uma comunidade que o acolhe dentro da gangue. Pois bem, partindo disso, Wind Breaker se faz a seguinte pergunta: “Mas e se chegasse um cara que é forte e decidisse tornar a gangue um trabalho comunitário?” Esse cara é o **Umemiya Hajime**. Umemiya é um terceiranista da Furin e quem decidiu tornar ela a protetora do distrito. Também é ele o personagem mais interessante dessa primeira temporada. A direção e o texto fazem um ótimo trabalho de de fato te venderem que esse é o cara desde o momento que ele aparece em tela pela primeira vez. O revés disso é que, a partir do momento que ele é introduzido, o Sakura acaba ficando um tanto apagado e a história tem um pouco de dificuldade de colocar que o Sakura é o cara que deveríamos estar prestando atenção, especialmente no arco contra a Shishitoren. Por falar em Shishitoren, esse é o grande arco da temporada. Uma escola rival governada pela força que, por circunstâncias que não quero estragar, desafia a Furin para um duelo de 5 contra 5. As lutas desse arco variam bastante de qualidade, temos desde simplórias resolvidas em um soco até longas coreografias de múltiplos episódios. Destaco aqui a luta do **Suou Hayato**, outro primeiranista com ar misterioso que parece estrategista, ****e a luta do Sakura. Inclusive o trabalho da **Cloverworks** de animação e coreografia são dignos de nota aqui, mas na temporada como um todo. O arco da Shishitoren é, em muitos aspectos, um arco sobre o que seria a Furin se ela fosse o que o Sakura esperava dela. O Sakura entra na Furin para se provar digno de existir, tudo que ele conhece é a violência, e a resolução dos problemas é por meio da força individual. Ele decide entrar nessa escola para ser o mais forte e assim provar que todo o preconceito que ele sofreu estava errado. A Shishitoren é uma escola que acredita no poder do mais forte e seu líder da vez, **Tomiyama Chouji**, acredita que o mais forte é quem é mais livre. Mas ao chegar ao topo, Chouji só encontrou o vazio e o tédio. Culpou seu time. Expulsou aqueles que falhavam, destruindo o clima de camaradagem da Shishitoren e instaurando uma ditadura da força no lugar. Tudo isso com a anuência do **Togame Jou**, braço direito de Chouji que decidiu sujar as mãos pelos sonho chefe. Para falar das duas lutas mais relevantes para o arco, preciso entrar em terreno de ***spoilers***. ~!Em conceito, esse arco é bom, o maior problema dele é que essa virada de chave do Chouji quando se torna chefe da Shishitoren é tão instantânea que quando acontece numa cena super dramática eu deixei escapar uma risada. Não ajuda o fato do personagem do Chouji ser o vilão psicopatinha padrão que a gente já cansou de ver em uma porrada de anime por aí e eu perdi o interesse completamente. O Jou, por outro lado, é um antagonista muito mais interessante, como ele vai afundando na própria lama por não ter a coragem de impedir o Chouji, por uma idolatria e pelo garoto ter sido aquele que finalmente ofereceu uma ponto para o Jou, isso sim é muito mais interessante. Especialmente quando, depois de se dar conta de onde tudo aquilo está levando, o Jou decidir entregar a luta para o Sakura e terminarmos esse embate em um anticlímax muito interessante.!~ Esse arco é um passo importante para o Sakura, é a primeira vez que ele se conecta com outra pessoa através do embate físico, e já vemos sinais de uma mudança na personalidade dele. O que é estranho cronologicamente, sendo esse o primeiro dia de aula ainda, mas dramaticamente funciona bem. Então a série acaba um tanto quanto sem rumo no final da temporada, ela fechar com o Sakura se tornando o líder do primeiro ano seria um bom fechamento, mas ela ainda coloca um décimo terceiro episódio que abre o próximo arco em uma ponte safadíssima para a segunda temporada que só estreia no ano que vem… É esquisito. Fechando com a ideia da temporada, o Sakura, aquele que via a si mesmo como lobo solitário, é transformado em representante de sala. Ele ainda não conhece o nome de todos, mas se esforça e se apoia nos dois secretários, o já citado Hayato e o garoto exposição **Nirei Akihiko**. Essa temporada então leva o Sakura a encontrar o seu lugar dentro da Furin, e por mais que estruturalmente falando ter o teaser da segunda temporada seja estranho, para fechar um primeiro arco dramático do Sakura, a cena da sala descendo inteira para ajudar um dos seus com problemas sumariza muito dos temas dessa primeira temporada. Ninguém vai longe sozinho, nenhum homem é uma ilha e tudo que todo adolescente mais quer é ter uns brother pra sair no soco.

Roixesae

Adolescent gang life is shown as violent and chaotic, especially for adolescents in everyday media. These students fight each other and commit crimes for "fun" and to be at "the top," all in the name of the gang's prestige and prestige. But, another part of gang life rarely displayed is relationships between gang members. They are worth it for their fists and fighting over communication and empathy. This perception is shown with Sakura, who came to Furin for the reason. Changing this perception assisted by people he meets in a way that could be more precise. Despite the unique interactions between compelling and resonated others. Animation (9): Decent quality for anime's first season. The style looks good despite some CGI usage and blends in with the background. But it can look off, such as a confetti scene when one of the characters was proud of Sakura's fighting. On the topic, fights are skipped, with transitions that hold the anticipation of seeing the characters fight. The scene's designs look okay and stereotypical, making the scenes seem like they're from other animes. The fighting is minimal compared to other fighting shows. Fighting has none of the "flashy," such as magic, being super "overpowered," or characters acting in the clutch against their opponents. Just waiting to see who is next to the punch and holding in the acceptance of the next steps. This led to my being intrigued by the quality of the fighting. So, decent quality in fighting with uninterested scene designs. Audio (4): Sound designs need better quality and repetition in various fight scenes. For example, in one episode, using a song for all the fighting before a flashback causes a friendship to break apart. While sounding different by using an instrumental mix or remixing in some way. Despite matching the right emotions in the scenes. The songs used over and over ruined the scene. Leading to being rated a lower-than-average score. Characters (10.3): The characters are average at best. Sakura is a new member learning the way of Furin, with him finding the "strongest" at first. Later, he developed into developing "cool" or "lame" people, showing his character growth. They seem to have stereotypical personalities, but their relationships stand out. With each other in a relatable and realistic way. Such as, in the relationship between the rival gang Shistenton leader Choji and Vice, Jo shows how miscommunication with Choji being jealous of Hajime, leader of Furin. Who is often seen as the charismatic and laid-back leader that Choki was in the past? And aspire to beat him to have "fun," which Hajime has. In Furin High School, a shy but super bright Deku-type character without any physical skills, a youth with an eyepatch who speaks eloquently, and the silent guy who considered himself a member before being in high school, there are few typical interactions. Still, they show much about themselves and a little about each other. Afterward, side characters disappear in later episodes for unknown reasons. This leads us to see that the other two to three members are given screen time, which causes confusion in the characters' story and overall leading, which provides the characters with an about-average score. Story (10): Follow Sakura as he wants to head into Furin High while learning the rules and facing a rival gang to test his beliefs. Its plot is seen almost everywhere. So what makes it different? With some obvious plot holes, such as Sakura coming to Furin and getting the uniform before the other first-year students. In later two episodes most of the main characters disappeared in later episodes. Give time for the ones that were shown in earlier episodes. Which led to confusion in later episodes. They could have cut episode 11. Since it was just a filler of knowing the other two side characters that were not involved in fighting. This leads to being average in storytelling. With another season coming, hoping to explain the story and the KEEL gang more. Plus, the other side characters are shown in the earlier episodes. Overall (3.3): The show is a decent watch for anyone who wants a good Shounen anime. With some hiccups on the show, it is a decent watch for people. Unless finding the story to be mediocre. The show season 2 is going to be a respectable season to watch.