Blue Lock Season 2 Review: Is the U-20 Arc Worth the Hype?

Blue Lock Season 2 Review is one of the most searched anime topics right now, and for good reason. The second season of the smash-hit soccer anime arrived in Fall 2024 with enormous expectations, a controversial animation downgrade, and one of the most emotionally loaded arcs in the manga. So does it hold up? Here is everything you need to know before you decide to watch.

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Blue Lock Season 2 Review: Quick Overview

Blue Lock Season 2, officially titled Blue Lock vs. U-20 Japan, ran from October 5 to December 28, 2024 on TV Asahi’s IMAnimation block. The season covered 14 episodes and adapted volumes 13 to 17 of the manga, focusing on the U-20 Japan exhibition match arc.

Studio 8bit returned to produce the season under director Yuji Haibara, with Taku Kishimoto handling scripts and Jun Murayama composing the music. Crunchyroll licensed the season globally and launched an English dub starting October 18, 2024.

The opening theme is “Bojakuno Charisma” by Unison Square Garden, and the ending theme is “One” by Snow Man.

Blue Lock Season 2 Story: What Is the U-20 Arc About?

If you finished Season 1 and wondered what comes next, the U-20 arc is the answer. After the brutal selection process of the Blue Lock program trims the candidate pool down to 35 players, a select group is chosen to represent the program in an exhibition match against Japan’s current U-20 national team.

The stakes are massive. If the Blue Lock team loses, the entire program gets shut down. This means Yoichi Isagi and every striker who survived the selection process would have their dream of becoming Japan’s greatest striker wiped out in a single match.

What makes this arc so compelling is the opponent lineup. The U-20 Japan team is stacked with established pros, including the legendary Itoshi Sae, Rin’s older brother. This sets up one of the most emotionally charged sibling rivalries in recent sports anime.

Blue Lock Season 2 Review: The Animation Controversy Explained

Let us address it directly because no Blue Lock Season 2 review is complete without talking about the animation. The community response was divided from episode one, and it became one of the most discussed anime controversies of Fall 2024.

The early episodes relied heavily on static frames and minimal movement during match sequences. Fans quickly dubbed it “PNG Lock” and “PowerPoint Presentation: The Anime.” The criticism was loud, and a lot of it was fair.

However, what most surface-level reviews miss is the why behind it. One animator who worked on the show publicly revealed that the production pipeline was severely underfunded and rushed, with animators working near minimum wage under tight deadlines. Many completed animations were reportedly rejected by higher-ups and replaced with still frames. This was not a case of lazy artists but a broader production management failure.

The manga itself is also notably text-heavy during this arc, with Isagi’s internal analysis filling many panels. Adapting that into fluid animation without cutting the tactical narration that defines Blue Lock’s identity is genuinely difficult. Some reviewers with a deeper understanding of the source material argue that the minimalist approach, while frustrating, was partly a structural challenge rather than pure incompetence.

The good news? The quality improved significantly as the season progressed. Episode 14, the finale, was widely praised as the best-animated episode in the entire series, delivering a payoff that had fans screaming in excitement.

Blue Lock Season 2 Review: Story and Character Highlights

Isagi’s Growth Continues

Yoichi Isagi does not score a goal until much later in this arc, and that frustrated many viewers. But if you understand what Blue Lock is building, his extended observation phase is the point. He is learning to read a match at a level beyond what he could do in Season 1, setting up the explosive moments when he finally does act. His evolution from reactive scorer to tactical disruptor is the backbone of this arc.

Rin Itoshi and the Sae Backstory

The season dedicates an entire episode to Itoshi Sae, and it is arguably the best episode of the whole run. Watching how Sae shaped Rin’s obsession with football, and how that relationship fractured, recontextualizes everything fans thought they knew about Rin’s aggression and ego. It gives the season its emotional core.

Rin’s destructive flow state in the finale is the payoff to that backstory, and it delivered in a way that even animation-critical viewers acknowledged was peak Blue Lock.

New Characters: Hiori, Nanase, and the U-20 Roster

Season 2 introduces several new players who quickly became fan favorites. Yo Hiori brings a calm, analytical presence that contrasts well with Isagi. Nijiro Nanase adds a wildcard energy to the Blue Lock side. On the U-20 team, Oliver Aiku’s backstory about being forced to play a position he did not want adds unexpected emotional weight to the opposing side.

One gap most other reviews leave unfilled: the season does a much better job than Season 1 at giving secondary characters meaningful backstories. You will not be left wondering why these new faces are even in the show.

Blue Lock Season 2 Review: What the Finale Delivered

Episode 14, the two-part finale that aired back-to-back on December 28, 2024, is what rescued this season’s reputation. Rin entering his flow state and tearing through the U-20 defense, Sae’s full awakening mid-match, and the final goal sequence were all animated with a level of care and fluidity that showed what 8bit is capable of when given the resources.

Viewers who pushed through the weaker early episodes were rewarded. Multiple reviewers who had been critical all season updated their takes after the finale to reflect just how hard it landed.

Is Blue Lock Season 2 Worth Watching?

If you watched and enjoyed Season 1, yes. The story is genuinely excellent, the character work is the strongest it has ever been in the series, and the finale alone justifies the journey. The animation issues are real, especially in episodes 1 through 6, but they ease considerably as the season progresses.

If you are brand new to Blue Lock, start with Season 1 first. Season 2 makes little sense without understanding the program, the characters, and the stakes built in the first 24 episodes.

If you are a manga reader going in with high expectations for faithful adaptation, be prepared for disappointment in the middle stretch. But understand that the core story and the emotional beats are largely intact.

To watch anime online and catch both seasons of Blue Lock, visit 9anime-tv.pro. For more sports anime recommendations, check the 9anime blogs.

Blue Lock Season 2 Review: Scores at a Glance

Story: 9/10. The U-20 arc raises the stakes perfectly and delivers emotionally on every major character moment.

Animation: 5/10. Early episodes drag the overall score down significantly, but the finale pulls it back from disaster.

Characters: 9/10. New additions are well-integrated, and existing characters reach new levels of depth, especially Rin and Sae.

Music: 7/10. The Unison Square Garden OP is excellent. The OST is serviceable without being memorable.

Overall: 7.5/10. Flawed but worth it for any Blue Lock fan.

Blue Lock Season 3: What Comes Next?

As of mid-2025, Blue Lock Season 3 has not been officially confirmed with a release date. However, given the manga’s continued dominance as one of Japan’s top-selling series and the way Season 2 ended, a third season announcement is widely expected. Fans should keep an eye out for updates from TV Asahi and the official Blue Lock social channels.

Frequently Asked Questions About Blue Lock Season 2

How many episodes does Blue Lock Season 2 have?

Blue Lock Season 2 has 14 episodes. Episodes 13 and 14 premiered back-to-back on December 28, 2024.

What arc does Blue Lock Season 2 cover?

Season 2 covers the U-20 Japan arc, adapting volumes 13 through 17 of the manga (chapters 109 through 149/151). The Blue Lock program players face Japan’s current U-20 national team in an exhibition match.

Where can I watch Blue Lock Season 2?

Blue Lock Season 2 is available on Crunchyroll with English subtitles and dub. You can also watch anime online at 9anime-tv.pro.

Is Blue Lock Season 2 animation really that bad?

The early episodes received heavy criticism for relying on static frames during action sequences. However, the animation improves notably from episode 7 onward, and the finale is widely considered the best-animated sequence in the entire Blue Lock anime.

Why was Blue Lock Season 2 animation so poor?

An animator who worked on the season publicly revealed that the production was underfunded and rushed, with tight deadlines and low pay. Many completed animation sequences were reportedly rejected by the production committee and replaced with static frames.

Do I need to watch Blue Lock Season 1 before Season 2?

Yes. Season 2 picks up directly from where Season 1 ends and does not recap the Blue Lock program or the earlier selection stages. Starting with Season 1 is essential to understand the characters and stakes.

Will there be a Blue Lock Season 3?

No official announcement has been made as of mid-2025, but a Season 3 is widely anticipated given the manga’s massive ongoing popularity.

Who are the new characters in Blue Lock Season 2?

Key new characters include Yo Hiori and Nijiro Nanase on the Blue Lock side, and Oliver Aiku and Itoshi Sae on the U-20 Japan roster. Sae Itoshi, Rin’s older brother, is the central antagonist of the arc.