Film Name: 足球王者 / The King of Football
This isn’t actually China’s first animated film about soccer. Despite simplifying the plot, underdeveloped characters, and obvious imitation of Japanese anime in soccer skills—not to mention the complete mystery of where the term “King” even comes from—it’s a solid foundation with real potential for growth if refined.
The current film is already a well-rounded little bird. It features several young protagonists with dreams, though their aspirations aren’t particularly fiery; a coach-turned-father with a compelling backstory, arguably the most multidimensional character, though his final on-field appearance leaves one speechless with embarrassment; an ambitious, ruthless rival who ultimately avoids deserved retribution; a crowd of kind-hearted, innocent spectators; two attention-grabbing commentators; and a championship crown awaiting the contenders… It possesses everything a soccer anime should have.
The greatest challenge for sports anime featuring team sports lies in portraying numerous ensemble characters. It requires showcasing the technical skills and personality traits of players in every position—both teammates and opponents. Achieving this within a mere 80-minute film is exceedingly difficult. This is precisely why the vast majority of sports anime are serialized series. “The First Slam Dunk” stands as the most outstanding example. As a film, “The King of Football” simplifies this aspect to an almost unbearable degree throughout, though it would fare much better as a TV series.
Another core element of sports animation is the dream. My view is this: no dream, no sports. And the obstacle to this dream must be either insufficient willpower or an overwhelmingly powerful adversary. This obstacle should never be the protagonist’s own family, as that would transform the sports genre into an educational one. In the film, the resistance to the children’s dreams stems from the father’s conservatism. Though he eventually changes, this conflict feels detached from the core essence of pursuing athletic dreams. In my view, the father rediscovering his youthful aspirations and overcoming his fear of injury should have been developed as a particularly significant subplot.
In today’s sports anime landscape, realistic works like The First Slam Dunk and Haikyuu!! are increasingly rare. Instead, series like Prince of Tennis and Kuroko’s Basketball—which rely on over-the-top moves, bizarre techniques, and even fantastical abilities to trigger an audience psychology that knows it’s fake yet chooses to believe—are proliferating. This film undoubtedly belongs to this category. However, unlike the meticulous approach typical of such works—where each character is assigned distinct moves, unique names, and special effects—it instead relies on a haphazard, slapdash approach. This turns what should be a magical experience that transcends audience expectations into a clichéd spectacle that challenges viewers’ intelligence.
The portrayal of the street thug as a minor character is somewhat unexpected, even pleasantly surprising. It reflects, from one angle, the infectious charm and essence of sports.
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