The Blue Lock production team has announced that the soccer anime will premiere in October 2022. The team also released a new visual and PV trailer, highlighting major characters from the show.
Additionally, they announced more voice cast members joining the anime adaptation. The new cast consists of Masatomo Nakazawa as Wataru Kuon, Yoshitsugu Matsuoka as Jingo Raichi, Shouya Chiba as Yudai Imamura, Shuugo Nakamura as Gin Gagamaru, Daishi Kajita as Asahi Naruhaya, Ryuunosuke Watanuki as Okuhito Iemon, Aoi Ichikawa as Gurimu Igarashi, Kenichi Suzumura as Ryousuke Kira, Hiroshi Kamiya as Jinpachi Ego, and Eri Yukimura as Anri Teieri.
They join the main voice cast consisting of Kazuki Ura as Yoichi Isagi, Tasuku Kaito as Meguru Bachira, Yuuki Ono as Rensuke Kunigami, and Souma Saitou as Hyoma Chigiri.
The production staff includes Tetsuaki Watanabe (Mahoujin Guru Guru assistant director) as director, Shunsuke Ishikawa (That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 2 episode director) as co-director, Taku Kishimoto (Ranking of Kings) as series scriptwriter, Kenji Tanabe (The 8th son? Are you kidding me?) and Kento Toya (Sword Art Online Progressive: Aria of a Starless Night) as co-character designers and chief animation directors, and Yuu Shindou (Fruits Basket The Final) as main character designer and chief animation director.
Other animation staff include Hisashi Higashijima (Mahoujin Guru Guru co-main animator) as chief action director, Hiromi Sakamoto (Caligula co-main animator) as action director, Sakura Komatsu (The Irregular at Magic High School: Reminiscence Arc) as color designer, Takagi Sawako (Dropkick on My Devil!) as art director, Asagi Yasuhiro (Kageki Shoujo!!) as photography director, and Jun Murayama as music composer. Eight Bit is handling the animation production.
The original Blue Lock soccer manga was written by Munemuki Kaneshiro and illustrated by Yuusuke Nomura. It was first serialized in Weekly Shounen Magazine on August 1, 2018 under the Kodansha label. 18 tankoubon volumes have been published in total so far. Kodansha USA licensed the manga in English for North America.
Bandai Namco Arts describes Blue Lock as:
You can’t be the number one striker in the world unless you’re the number one egotist in the world. In order to cultivate a striker who can lead Japan to victory in the World Cup, the Japan Football Union devises a plan. They call it the “Blue Lock Project.” Three hundred high school students are gathered, all of them forwards. Who will be the one striker born from the sacrifice of 299 soccer-centered lives, the one who will revolutionize Japanese soccer? The most passionate, intense soccer anime in history is about to begin.