Season 1 |
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Episode Guide
Episode 1 -| Review Score – 3.5/5
Episode 2 -| Review Score – 3.5/5
Episode 3 -| Review Score – 3.5/5
Episode 4 -| Review Score – 3.5/5
Episode 5 -| Review Score – 4/5
Episode 6 -| Review Score – 3.5/5
Episode 7 -| Review Score – 3.5/5
Episode 8 -| Review Score – 4/5
Episode 9 -| Review Score – 3.5/5
Episode 10 -| Review Score – 4/5
Episode 11 -| Review Score – 4/5
Episode 12 -| Review Score – 4/5
Episode 13 -| Review Score – 4/5
Japanese animation studio Cloverworks’ latest action anime, Wind Breaker, has consistently been trending on X since its debut on April 5th this year. Authored by Satoru Nii, Wind Breaker has become one of the most beloved anime releases of Crunchyroll’s Spring lineup, and for good reasons.
Based on the yankee genre, it follows the protagonist Haruka Sakura, a socially awkward outcast who arrives in the town of Makochi with one clear goal: to become the most powerful fighter at Furin High.
Knowing the tales of terror about this high school for delinquents, Sakura’s ambition of being the best is not a dream but a goal, solidified by the harsh way in which society treats him for being different.
However, he is in for a surprise when he discovers a whole new world in Makochi city. The “delinquents” of Furin High are not feared but loved by the townspeople!
He discovers that the main goal of Furin students, lovingly called Bofurin, is to protect the town from harm. Here begins Sakura’s journey of growth and healing, as he navigates through his past traumas, accepting who he is, and embracing the loving people and the team he encounters.
Wind Breaker season one features a straightforward plot and mediocre world-building, providing just enough detail to make sense of the storyline. For instance, the entire anime relies on the premise that the city was once plagued by antisocial elements, but since Bofurin’s inception, they have been responsible for protecting the city and its residents.
However, more than just an action-centric anime with a plain plot, Wind Breaker is a character study that deeply explores the personalities, behaviours, and temperaments—in short, the ethos—of characters in every episode. This clearly reflects the effort put into making each character as real and alive as possible by the creators.
The character development and their associated growth are the first and foremost charms of this eccentric anime. Not only the main characters but even the less important characters and nameless extras have a presence in the anime, always appearing with distinct personalities rather than blending into the background.
Even the antagonists in season 1, members of the rival team Shishitoren, are not mere two-dimensional villains but well-developed characters with their own psychological, emotional, and social baggage. The anime clearly blurs the line between heroes and villains, presenting characters who are more human—ambiguous and relatable.
Powered by a classic shonen plot and background, Wind Breaker follows an entertaining comedy, often catalyzed by the protagonist Sakura’s tsundere-like personality, where he blushes upon receiving compliments or forms of affection, highlighting his socially deprived past experiences.
The comedy here is not just for the sake of humour but also highlights nuances essential to understanding the worldview of Wind Breaker and its characters.
For instance, although it’s hilarious to see Sakura so technologically challenged that he can only frustratingly witness the group chat progress at the speed of light, this scene also highlights his painful history of social isolation and alienation.
Moreover, in just 13 short episodes, Wind Breaker discusses profound themes and complex ideas like the insider-outsider dilemma, appearance bias and its effect on one’s psyche, alienation, the idea of leadership and its impact on the culture of an organization, and much more.
An interesting concept that the series discusses is the idea of conversation through physical combat. “I mean, it is a means to convey something and accept what’s conveyed. And fists are older than language. It’s a primitive means,” explains Bofurin’s representative, Umemiya, in one of the scenes.
In another instance, he explains his version of leadership: “I was able to become the top because everyone carried me up. Because people could relate to what I wanted to do and helped me out. So, I thought about it when I got to the top. My wishes were no longer just my own wishes.” Clearly, Wind Breaker is different from most anime in this genre, presenting modern ideas in the most heartwarming way possible.
Wind Breaker boasts of a beautiful animation, which is expected from Cloverworks, known for aesthetically pleasing and detailed animations of popular anime like Spy X Family, Horimiya, and more.
The action sequences are also one of the highlights of Wind Breaker, well-directed and choreographed, adding nuances to each character. For instance, the choreography and animation of the combat sequences between members of Bofurin and Shishitoren are characteristic of their personalities, manifesting in their distinct fighting styles.
Overall, Wind Breaker is a must-watch for those who love great animation, character development, witty one-liners, laugh-out-loud comedy and thoughtful dialogues. And it’s definitely not without thrills for the adrenaline junkies. However, the world-building is quite vague at times, and it’s hard to believe Furin High is a school of delinquents.
The pros of the anime definitely outweigh the cons, as the characters are not just made-up animations but people who we can relate to, understand, cheer for, and laugh with. And that’s enough to give this lively and heartwarming anime a try, isn’t it?
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Verdict - 8/10
8/10