With thirty-seven volumes in the original manga run that ran throughout the eighties and a whole lot of sequels and adapations out there, Yoichi Takahashi’s Captain Tsubasa soccer manga is getting a fresh adaptation that’s set for the spring 2018 season as it goes back to the beginning. The reveal of that last year got sports fans excited but now we have new information as Viz Media has confirmed that they’ve picked up the North American and Latin American rights to the show for streaming, home video, and merchandising. Plans for the streaming will come as we get closer to the actual season.
“We are thrilled to be handling one of the most iconic franchises to come out of Japan,” says Hugo Rose, CEO of Televix Entertainment, who will be handling the show in the Latin American market for Viz Media. “We expect audiences will be eager to enter the world of Tsubasa.”
“CAPTAIN TSUBASA adds a new dimension to VIZ Media’s anime catalog, and we know audiences will enjoy it’s mix of character drama and intense on-the-field action,” says Brad Woods, CMO of VIZ Media. “We look forward to working with Televix to develop CAPTAIN TSUBASA for Latin American markets, and to scores of new fans and soccer lovers discovering this exciting anime series.”
The show has Toshiyuki Kato directing based on the series composition by Atsuhiro Tomioka. Hajime Watanabe is serving as character designer and chief animation director with David Productions handling the animation production.
The Japanese cast includes:
- Yuko Sanpei as Tsubasa Ōzora
- Kenichi Suzumura as Genzō Wakabayashi
- Ayaka Fukuhara as Tarō Misaki
- Mutsumi Tamura as Ryō Ishisaki
- Takuya Satō as Kojirō Hyūga
- Katsuyuki Konishi as Roberto Hongō
Plot Concept: Captain Tsubasa is the passionate story of an elementary school student whose thoughts and dreams revolve almost entirely around the love of soccer. 11-year-old Tsubasa Oozora started playing soccer at a very young age, and while it was mostly just a recreational sport for his friends, for him, it developed into something of an obsession.
In order to pursue his dream to the best of his elementary school abilities, Tsubasa moves with his mother to Nankatsu city, which is well-known for its excellent elementary school soccer teams. But although he was easily the best in his old town, Nankatsu has a lot more competition, and he will need all of his skill and talent in order to stand out from this new crowd.
He encounters not only rivals, but also new friends like the pretty girl Sanae Nakazawa and the talented goalkeeper, Genzo Wakabayashi, who shares the same passion as Tsubasa, and will prove to be a treasured friend in helping him push towards his dreams. Representing Japan in the FIFA World Cup is Tsubasa’s ultimate dream, but it will take a lot more than talent to reach it.
