Ao Ashi Episode 24 [Final Impressions]

An absolute whirlwind of a ultimate episode and I loved each second of it! I actually can’t imagine that this season is formally over, however I’m nonetheless holding out hope for a season 2 announcement. Please Manufacturing I.G. and all of the producers, I’m on my fingers and knees. We can not simply finish it right here, there may be nonetheless a lot of Aoi’s story to inform. 

For those who requested me what my favourite a part of this episode was, I most actually would not have a solution for you.  There was a lot that occurred, I actually needed to preserve checking the time stamp to guarantee that they didn’t bless us with a forty five minute finale slightly than the usual 24 minute episode. They packed a lot into this episode, nevertheless it didn’t really feel like a “Oh snap, uh… we gotta wrap all the pieces up as quickly as week can” sort ending. The pacing was nonetheless in line with the remainder of the anime and nonetheless left me excited for extra!

There’s so much to speak about from this episode, so we’ll begin again with the Musashino match. I actually have loved how a lot Aoi has grown in simply this one match. An hour in the past (in match time) they had been getting completely overrun by Kaneda and the opposite staff, and now they’ve turn into an unstoppable power due to Aoi’s progress. And it feels even higher once we keep in mind the place Aoi got here from. He was a hot-headed ahead who cared about nothing greater than scoring. Now, he has the expertise as a full-back seeing the remainder of the sphere. He’s realized extra concerning the fundamentals of soccer and is studying that he can nonetheless be chargeable for a objective with out truly being the one to make the shot. He’s making use of his staff and that simply makes all of them the extra highly effective! I really like that this match was performed towards Kaneda as a result of we get to see the basic distinction between the 2. Each initially had been forwards who solely cared about scoring. They each operated beneath the “Simply give me the ball and I’ll rating” mentality. They’ve each taken that mindset in several instructions. Kaneda is strictly the rating getter and he doesn’t do a lot else past that. He’s the participant that simply bulldozes to get the objective, there isn’t as a lot technique like Esperion would use. Aoi, however, has realized to play a big sport of chess in his head. He’s making an allowance for what is going on on the sphere and utilizing it to his benefit. Typically he creates a possibility for another person to make the objective, different instances the ball will get again to him and he will get the rating. The important thing distinction comes right down to that imaginative and prescient. Aoi, as a result of he can see a lot extra of the sphere and perceive what completely different gamers need or want (or for the opponent, what they don’t need), he can orchestrate completely killer performs. Kaneda however, as a result of he solely ever says “Give me the ball” has a way more restricted scope of how one can play the sport. He’s not contemplating his teammates, simply what’s round him and the man that he distinctly doesn’t like. However that being stated! I actually did like that Kaneda and Musashino’s captain had a bit of little bit of reflection on this perspective! It undoubtedly gave us perspective on how non-Esperion gamers view going professional!

In the end although, Musashino is shaken up, permitting Esperion to take residence essentially the most satisfying victory. However much more than that, Togashi, Ohtomo, Kuroda, and Aoi get to maneuver as much as the A staff! I’m shocked that they’re shifting up now (though, that is the second time for Kuroda), however I’m very happy with all of them! I believe it’s well-deserved for all of them for what they displayed throughout this sport. My private favourite a part of the promotion was Aoi approaching Coach Nozomi about it although. Nozomi appeared like a really intimidating and scary coach firstly – he was additionally not somebody that anybody was wanting ahead to studying from (primarily as a result of he was not Fukuda or a well-known participant). But, he actually did care about each single certainly one of his gamers and their improvement. I’m glad he acquired the thanks he deserved! He’s a personality that grew on me. Maybe his time in Aoi’s life could also be executed, however I’d like to see his help extra sooner or later. Aoi, be sure you observe his recommendation and maintain on to the A staff spot for pricey life. 

And ‘lastly’ we now have all the pieces that occurred with Hana on this episode. Hana is well my greatest woman of the sequence, so I get tremendous excited each time she exhibits up! I’m glad that Aoi and her acquired to have a second earlier than the season ended as a result of there was some funky stuff occurring between them. That being stated…. after all the pieces that occurred on this episode, there’s in all probability so much on the thoughts for each of them. Aoi’s pleasure appears to totally blossom when he is ready to inform her about his promotion and he’s capable of articulate his pleasure when she involves cheer for him. On the flipside, Hana has to return to phrases with how she feels about Aoi and the similarities to Fukuda. After which in fact… the brow kiss within the rain. It was cute! And simply another excuse why I actually need one other season! I wish to know what occurs between them! Gah! Please only one extra episode !!

For the ultimate episode, I believe Ao Ashi actually wrapped all the pieces up properly whereas nonetheless leaving an honest quantity of free ends. Though I would like extra, I’m pleasantly happy if that is the place they need to go away me. The Musashino match led to a satisfying victory, Aoi is promoted as much as A staff, and there’s nonetheless some issues that may occur between him and Hana. It’s a pleasant place to place a bookmark; a really excellent spot for a season to finish. Hopefully one other season can be introduced for 2023, however till then I’ll in all probability decide up the manga as a result of this actually has been an exquisite expertise. I’m wanting ahead to the longer term!!

Closing Impressions:

I took an opportunity on Ao Ashi and it didn’t disappoint. I keep in mind watching the primary PV and studying the synopsis and considering to myself “Oh, okay. That is fairly commonplace and there isn’t an entire lot that stands out”, nevertheless it seemed fairly polished and I had seen constructive reactions from those that learn the manga. It had plenty of potential however I didn’t anticipate a lot.

The primary episode alone simply blew me away. I wouldn’t say that it was something flashy, however the way in which during which they informed the story hooked me from the get-go. They didn’t lay all the pieces out for us firstly, however slowly gave us extra data as issues went on and I liked that all of it wasn’t informed strictly from the attitude of our fundamental character. Lately, I satisfied my roommate to observe the sequence and it has been such a deal with to see how issues arrange within the first few episodes straight relate again to the ultimate arc. I totally respect this deliberate storytelling method. Nothing is really a shock, however they nonetheless preserve you in your toes. 

Let’s discuss concerning the characters. There are two issues that make a sequence stand out to me and people are: 1) Did I cry? and a pair of) Do they offer the aspect characters persona and objective? Ao Ashi truly completed each of these items, however let’s again up and begin these aspect characters. It’s abundantly clear that that is Aoi’s story and he’s the primary character. However what normally bothers me in anime is that aspect characters solely exist for the primary character – they’re solely right here for him to develop. And whereas there are characters who straight influence Aoi’s progress, all of them have their very own distinctive personalities, needs, and desires. Because of this, every of them develops over time. Early on within the sequence Tachibana had little or no improvement. He, like Ohtomo, was simply one other man that Aoi met at tryouts. He’s fairly good at soccer and simply an throughout good particular person. However over time, we get to see his weaknesses and struggles as he approaches the Musashino arc. Like Aoi, he struggles on this new staff and his ability degree in comparison with everybody else and we get to observe him work via these challenges. Kuroda and Asari began out the sequence as antagonistic sort characters, however as issues go one they’re basic to Aoi’s progress, however they’re a lot extra than simply paper skinny aspect characters. They’ve depth and their very own desires that they wish to pursue they usually proceed rising after they assist Aoi be taught one thing new. They aren’t one and dones. I’m totally invested in what occurs to them sooner or later. Togashi other than instructing the “kill it and kick it” actually hasn’t been as intently tied to Aoi as a few of the others could also be. His path to turn into professional is far completely different and though he’s not a fundamental character, we get to be taught his historical past and the way he has determined to develop. And it’s not simply the characters that make me wish to applaud the various characters on this sequence! Coach Nozomi and Hana had been additionally completely standout characters. They don’t must have all of the display screen time, however their presence within the present elevated the entire anime. 

And whereas I can gush about all these secondary characters for a very very long time. I do wish to discuss concerning the protagonist, Aoi. He’s irritating!! He’s annoying!! He makes me wish to pull my hair out!! However I say all of this with love. There are a lot of characters on the market who’ve extremely self-important attitudes coupled with fundamental character immunity, however this sequence actually does work with that. Aoi involves us on the very starting declaring himself to be “[Famous Soccer Player] reincarnated! Regardless that they’re nonetheless alive” and has an ego that takes up an entire room. And this ego sticks with him for a really very long time and is tough to shake. I additionally don’t assume it ever leaves him, however this vitality is ready to be redirected into only a real love for soccer. He’s a personality that’s actively rising. He messes up so much. He makes individuals indignant so much. However he by no means loses his drive. For myself, I discover that fundamental characters which might be too self-centered are likely to get caught in that rut of simply being totally unlikeable. However Aoi, whereas irritating, nonetheless makes me wish to root for him. I wish to root for him so all of those claims can turn into true. 

In fact you’ll be able to have improbable characters which might be trapped in a really dangerous story. Ao Ashi isn’t a foul story. It’s so properly paced and actually is aware of how one can preserve you invested. Personally, one of many issues about sports activities anime that may get on my nerves is simply how lengthy a single match can take. In some sequence we get quarter-hour of re-cap + 5 minutes of characters narrating their ideas which solely provides us a pair minutes for the sport to really advance. And in some anime that works very well, in others it simply permits issues to tug. It’s vital for us, as viewers, to get the attitude of the gamers, but when we’re consistently stopping and beginning we will lose curiosity within the sport. I like that this anime brings us improvement each out and in of video games. We have to run into Kaneda when going out to dinner, Hana must cook dinner a meal for Aoi when he’s at his lowest, and we’d like a tearful prepare letter. It makes the world appear a lot extra rounded and the characters extra fleshed out. And the plot retains shifting ahead regardless of what’s occurring. They lose video games! Aoi will get the chilly shoulder! However issues preserve shifting ahead and it’s so good to expertise. Regardless that this has solely been 24 episodes, he actually has come such a great distance! I imply, straight from Center Faculty Egocentric Scorer to Esperion Youth A Workforce Member. Hell yeah! We love progress. 

I completely can not discover all the correct phrases that describe how a lot I loved this sequence. This sequence has simply jumped into certainly one of my prime sports activities anime and that is solely with one season. I’m totally invested and am nonetheless holding out hope for an additional season. This anime is a real deal with to observe, and I strongly suggest it to anybody searching for a stable sports activities anime. It has nice rewatch worth too! In beginning this re-watch with my roommate there are such a lot of issues that stand out to me now that I’ll have neglected throughout my preliminary watch. Please give this anime an opportunity.

Now comes the toughest half for me… giving a rating. On the finish of the day I’d give Ao Ashi a rating of 9/10, which might be the very best rating I’ve given throughout my time writing for AAB. It was an absolute deal with to observe each week and I seemed ahead to every new episodes. There are nonetheless some parts that would at all times be improved, however this was such a real stable sports activities anime that could be laborious to beat sooner or later. Thanks to everybody who has been following my protection, I can’t wait to see what’s in retailer for the longer term!!