Back again to ride another wave of nostalgia! Where we were left off last time with the story, Wakabayashi accepted Tsubasa’s challenge after doubting he was capable of having a thunderous kick. Moving onward with episode two, let’s jump into the field and begin comparing Episode Two: Take Flight!
■ Captain Tsubasa EP 1
■ Captain Tsubasa EP 2
■ Captain Tsubasa EP 3
■ Captain Tsubasa EP 4
■ Captain Tsubasa EP 5
■ Captain Tsubasa EP 6
■ Captain Tsubasa EP 7
■ Captain Tsubasa EP 8
■ Captain Tsubasa EP 9
■ Captain Tsubasa EP 10
■ Captain Tsubasa EP 11
■ Captain Tsubasa EP 12
■ Captain Tsubasa EP 13
▍Extended Challenge Discussion
In both the manga and anime, Wakabayashi challenges Tsubasa to a dribbling challenge against his team. In the anime, there’s an extended discussion of Wakabayashi’s team badgering at Tsubasa while Ryo has his doubts and calls the challenge impossible. In the manga, Wakabayashi’s team doesn’t have much dialogue regarding the challenge and accepts his orders without question. Not having seen the true soccer skills of Tsubasa, he reassures Ryo that he can do it.
▍A New Pair of Cleats
In the manga, Tsubasa is seen branding a pair of cleats everywhere he goes. As soon as it comes to playing, he doesn’t need to change his shoes. In the anime, before making his way on to the field, Ryo exclaims to Tsubasa if he’ll be playing with his ordinary shoes. Wakabayashi, not wanting Tsubasa to have an excuse for losing, instructs one of his players to let Tsubasa borrow a pair of cleats. Looks like Wakabayashi really wants to see Tsubasa at his full potential!
▍A Talk Among Friends
Ryo and Tsubasa toss around the soccer ball while talking about the inter-school tournament – the competition where Ryo’s team will be playing against Wakabayashi’s team to determine who’s the rightful owner of the field. It’s also the first time Ryo introduces himself as the captain of Nankatsu! The anime even offers a detailed explanation of the fierce rivalry between Nakatsu and Shutetsu sports clubs. With the football club being the weakest among both schools’ sports clubs.
▍Roberto Roberto Introduction
After witnessing Tsubasa’s intense match and assisting in scoring his first goal against Wakabayashi, Roberto introduces himself to the duo. Having been a former liner of the Brazilian national team, he offers himself to be the coach for the Nankatsu team. In the manga, Tsubasa offers Roberto to be the coach. With Ryo not wanting “a drunkard” to coach his team, Roberto must prove himself that he’s worth his own value as a coach. Talk about the unexpected save for Tsubasa. Roberto has lots of secrets hidden underneath that hat of his!
▍Left or Right?
A small but significant difference from the manga. Roberto strikes the soccer ball with his left leg as opposed to striking it with his right leg in the anime. Whether this change was made due to the it being an error, it still doesn’t diverge away from the powerful overhead kick he unleashes.
▍A Heartwarming Present
There’s an extended conversation in the anime between Captain Oozora and a crew member. He discusses with his crew member about already giving Tsubasa the best gift he could receive. This is also the first time we get a glimpse of both ships between the manga and anime. With the ship portrayed in the anime being far more modernized, like a standard cargo ship. The ship portrayed in the manga is far more comparable to a sailing vessel. A vast difference!
VIVA TSUBASA!! A wonder boy full of many surprises and remarkable skill. This is the end of episode two of Captain Tsubasa, but that doesn’t mean there’s aren’t many more surprises to uncover ahead. Prepare for the next episode, Captain Tsubasa Episode Three: Start of the Kankatsu Football Club!
READ MORE:
• Captain Tsubasa: Dream Team Character Guide
• 3D football simulation game Captain Tsubasa Zero announced for mobile
