A gang of high school delinquents maintains control of their town through their physical strength. The premise sounds a lot like Tokyo Revengers. But the new Crunchyroll series Wind Breaker has a twist on the usual fight anime concept. When first year student, Haruka Sakura, arrives in the town of Makochi, he plans to attend the notorious Furin High School, a place known for brawling and having the strongest street fighters. Sakura is an outcast teen who wants to have the top fighting spot at his new school. Sakura’s unusual hair and eye color (half black, half white – similar to Todoroki from My Hero Academia) made him a target of bullies throughout his life. As such, he has grown to be bitter, violent, and untrusting but he has also become an extremely strong and skilled fighter. Furin High School seems like the perfect place to vent his unending bitterness. But, as always, things are not as they seem.
On his arrival, he sees a group of boys harassing a teenaged girl. The young woman, Kotoha, is fearless and tells them off, but after the boys put their hands on her, Sakura intervenes and quickly overcomes them. When a mostly unbothered Kotoha casually thanks him, he assures her that his actions were based on his personal annoyance with the boys not any intent to save her. After mutual eyerolls the two develop a grudging friendship over a meal at a café Kotoha runs. She starts to tell him the truth about Bofurin, the fight gang based at Furin High School and she lets him know he won’t reach the top spot without building bonds with his classmates. Later, when the defeated attackers return in greater numbers to trash the town and hurt Kotoha, Sakura finds himself protecting her and the other townspeople alone despite the overwhelming odds. When the real Bofurin squad arrives at the conflict, Sakura discovers something unexpected. The fighters of Bofurin are actually protectors of the town and all of its people. Sakura is stunned, annoyed, and uncomfortable to realize that the residents love the Bofurin fighters (including Sakura), often showering them with gifts of food and pastries, and calling on them for help with a range of tasks. The contrast of the tough boys and the doting grandmas with hugs and cookies is hilarious and endearing.
However, despite the underlying moral core, Wind Breaker is, like Tokyo Revengers, filled with violence. Some of the fight scenes are difficult to watch, especially when the dynamic changes from fighting to beating. The Bofurin fighters have an ethical code to cease violence when an adversary is unable to defend themselves anymore. But this concept is not shared by their enemies which results in some blood soaked scenes. The story’s ultimate appeal lies in the contrast of light and darkness symbolized by Sakura’s hair, and the need for both strength and compassion for the community to thrive.
Wind Breaker benefits from appealing visual designs of the scenes and the character. Each fighter has a distinctive look which is ultimately unified by the green and black military-style jackets they all wear. The show also benefits from the diverse personalities who make up the fighters. The interactions reflect (in a good way) other popular anime. Nirei is the high energy comic relief supporting character. Although he is not as strong as the others, he keeps a data book on the strengths and weaknesses of all of the other fighters in the surrounding area. His personality and appearance are similar to Zenitsu in Demon Slayer. Earring and eyepatch wearing Suo is calm and polished but disturbingly lethal in a fight. Other characters include pink-haired, video game loving Kiryu; loud, workout obsessed Tsuguera; and long-haired, grumpy, murderous Sugishita. Sugishita’s brief solo fight scene in the battle with a rival gang is a highlight of the episode. Leading all of the Bofurin fighters is mild-mannered, white haired Umemiya, the upperclassman who guides the others and embodies the moral compass of the fighters. Umemiya is voiced by Yuichi Nakamura who also voices superstrong but easygoing Gojo in Jujutsu Kaisen. Umemiya’s laid back but deadly vibe is similar to Gojo and to Kakashi from Naruto. Umemiya’s persistent preoccupation with his rooftop community vegetable garden mirrors Kakashi’s obsession with romance novels in Naruto and is a comedic element throughout the season.
Another distinguishing characteristic of Wind Breaker is the fast pace. Unlike some filler-laden anime, there is never a dull moment in the series. The story dives straight into the action from the opening scene with a rom-com worthy meet-cute and a sharp fight scene, followed by efficient character development. Moments of introspection or character development are brief links between the action scenes. As a result, every episode of the first season is fast-paced and action packed making it very bingeable.
There are, however, some confusing aspects of the show. The Bofurin fighters attend Furin High School but there are never any teachers seen in the school. The students are never in class nor ever doing any schoolwork. Additionally, the story’s focus on the Bofurin fighters leaves little room for female characters, other than Kotoha, in the first season. Most of the women who appear on the show end up being protected by the Bofurin fighters. The effect is endearing but not exceedingly empowering.
Despite the inevitable comparisons to Tokyo Revengers, Wind Breaker’s unique art style, engaging plot, and strong but likeable fighters, have made it one of the breakout hits of the season. Sakura’s fierce, wounded, but ultimately compassionate personality make him an appealing hero. In the course of the season, his character develops from fiercely feral and self-focused to fiercely protective of others and supported by his newfound family. The opening monologue tells us he may reach the top but the real adventure is watching his journey and the fate of those who join him.
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The Math
Nerd Coefficient: 8/10
Highlights:
POSTED BY: Ann Michelle Harris – Multitasking, fiction writing Trekkie currently dreaming of her next beach vacation.
Nerd Coefficient: 8/10
Highlights:
- Surprisingly likeable characters
- Relentless action and extreme violence
- Positive messaging amidst a confusing academic setting
POSTED BY: Ann Michelle Harris – Multitasking, fiction writing Trekkie currently dreaming of her next beach vacation.
