Eyeshield 21
Summary: Shy, reserved, and small-statured, Deimon High School student Sena Kobayakawa is the perfect target for bullies. However, as a result of running errands throughout his life, Sena has become agile and developed a skill for avoiding crowds of people. After the cunning Youichi Hiruma—captain of the Deimon Devil Bats football team—witnesses Sena's rapid legs in motion, he coerces the timid boy into joining his squad.
As Hiruma wants to conceal Sena's identity from other clubs, Sena is forced to hide under the visored helmet of "Eyeshield 21," a mysterious running back wearing the number 21 jersey. The legendary Eyeshield 21 can supposedly run at the speed of light and has achieved remarkable feats in the United States during his time at the Notre Dame College.
Accustomed to avoiding his problems in the past, Sena's specialty might just help him become the new secret weapon of the Deimon Devil Bats. As he interacts with his teammates, Sena gradually gains more self-confidence and forges valuable bonds along the way.
[Written by MAL Rewrite]
Description
Shy, reserved, and small-statured, Deimon High School student Sena Kobayakawa is the perfect target for bullies. However, as a result of running errands throughout his life, Sena has become agile and developed a skill for avoiding crowds of people. After the cunning Youichi Hiruma—captain of the Deimon Devil Bats football team—witnesses Sena's rapid legs in motion, he coerces the timid boy into joining his squad.
As Hiruma wants to conceal Sena's identity from other clubs, Sena is forced to hide under the visored helmet of "Eyeshield 21," a mysterious running back wearing the number 21 jersey. The legendary Eyeshield 21 can supposedly run at the speed of light and has achieved remarkable feats in the United States during his time at the Notre Dame College.
Accustomed to avoiding his problems in the past, Sena's specialty might just help him become the new secret weapon of the Deimon Devil Bats. As he interacts with his teammates, Sena gradually gains more self-confidence and forges valuable bonds along the way.
[Written by MAL Rewrite]
Available At
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Eyeshield 21 Pictures
Eyeshield 21 Review
Eyeshield 21 — Shy, reserved, and small-statured, Deimon High School student Sena Kobayakawa is the perfect target for bullies. This overview is intentionally spoiler-free and focuses on tone and intent rather than plot specifics.
Thematically, It sits firmly within Sports conventions as a TV work and has garnered attention (MAL score: 7.91). This work explores character dynamics, tonal shifts, and the interplay between narrative ambition and execution. The story's pacing and tonal choices are crafted to complement the central ideas, often emphasizing atmosphere and emotional truth over explicit exposition. The show's ability to evoke a consistent mood — whether melancholic, exuberant, or contemplative — is a recurring strength, and the scenes are constructed so viewers can infer stakes without needing explicit spoilers.
Characterization is a core pillar here. Protagonists and supporting figures are written with distinct motivations and narrative roles; even when archetypal, the series invests in small behavioral details that make choices feel earned. Character arcs are handled with an eye for gradualism: development often arrives through incremental beats rather than abrupt, expository shifts. The interactions between characters create texture, and relationships are used to illuminate both personal flaws and larger thematic concerns.
On the visual front, production values play a significant role. The animation quality varies by sequence but frequently showcases thoughtful direction and composition. Background art, framing, and color palettes are used deliberately to support tone — quieter scenes favor muted palettes while action or heightened emotional beats employ brighter, more kinetic visuals. Direction choices, such as camera movement and shot selection, often elevate scenes beyond their raw script, creating moments that linger in the viewer's mind.
The soundscape — score, incidental music, and sound design — complements the visual language. Music cues are placed to maximize emotional resonance without manipulating the audience with melodrama; this restraint often leads to more authentic emotional payoff. Sound design punctuates key moments, and when the series leans on silence, those quieter moments are given weight by measured audio choices.
Pacing and structure are handled with craft. Episodes are arranged to build tension and release methodically, and the narrative rarely rushes through important emotional beats. That said, the deliberate pacing may feel slow to viewers who prefer faster plot turnover; the reward is greater nuance and an accumulation of meaning across the series. Accessibility is generally good — one can appreciate surface-level pleasures, while repeat or attentive viewing reveals additional layers.
No title is without flaws. Occasional unevenness in subplots or variable animation across episodes can be distracting. Some tonal shifts might feel abrupt if you expect uniformity; others will argue that those shifts are purposeful. These are worth noting, but they seldom undercut the larger achievements of the work.
In sum, Eyeshield 21 offers a rich experience for viewers who value character-driven storytelling, considered visual design, and a soundtrack that supports rather than overwhelms. For fans of Sports, this is an especially rewarding watch. It's recommended for those who appreciate layered narratives and artistry in animation, and best approached with patience and attention to nuance.
Characters & Voice Actors
Anezaki, Mamori
Main
Hirano, Aya
Japanese
Anezaki, Mamori
Main
Higgins, Kate
English
Anezaki, Mamori
Main
Jeong, Mi Sook
Korean
Anezaki, Mamori
Main
Arellano, Mayra
Spanish
Anezaki, Mamori
Main
Corbeil, Claudia-Laurie
French
Anezaki, Mamori
Main
Mello, Lia
Portuguese (BR)
Hiruma, Youichi
Main
Tamura, Atsushi
Japanese
Hiruma, Youichi
Main
Prince, Derek Stephen
English
Hiruma, Youichi
Main
Barrero, Jesús
Spanish
Hiruma, Youichi
Main
Pyo, Yeong Jae
Korean
Hiruma, Youichi
Main
Viana, William
Portuguese (BR)
Hiruma, Youichi
Main
Manuel, Julian
German
Kobayakawa, Sena
Main
Irino, Miyu
Japanese
Kobayakawa, Sena
Main
Lowenthal, Yuri
English
Kobayakawa, Sena
Main
Kikuchi, Kokoro
Japanese
Kobayakawa, Sena
Main
Hong, Beom Gi
Korean
Kobayakawa, Sena
Main
Ruiz, Miguel Ángel
Spanish
Kobayakawa, Sena
Main
de Ruelle, Laurent-Christophe
French
Kobayakawa, Sena
Main
Gama, Lucas
Portuguese (BR)
Kobayakawa, Sena
Main
Mattos, Nicolas
Portuguese (BR)
Staff
Azuma, Fukashi
Producer
Miyake, Masanori
Producer
Simone, Jamie
Producer
Jitsumatsu, Teruaki
Assistant Producer
Katagai, Shin
Director, Episode Director, Storyboard
Nishita, Masayoshi
Director, Episode Director, Storyboard, Key Animation
Matsuoka, Hiroki
Sound Director
Awai, Shigeki
Episode Director, Animation Director
Hatakeyama, Shigeki
Episode Director
Hirokawa, Shuuichi
Episode Director
Hishikawa, Naoki
Episode Director, Storyboard
Izumi, Akihiro
Episode Director
Kanbara, Toshiaki
Episode Director
Kuboyama, Eiichi
Episode Director, Key Animation
Kuroda, Kouichirou
Episode Director
Makino, Yoshitaka
Episode Director, Storyboard
Matano, Hiromichi
Episode Director
Matsumoto, Masayuki
Episode Director
Nakagawa, Satoshi
Episode Director
Nasukawa, Mitsuru
Episode Director, Storyboard, Animation Director