Offside

Aired: 2001 - 2002

A TV anime adaptation of the soccer manga of the same name by Natsuko Heibuchi (Kodansha). Produced by Ashi Productions for Animax, it aired from May 10, 2001 to January 31, 2002 (39 episodes). The story follows passionate soccer player Akira Fujitaira through the trials of high school soccer. While the early episodes follow the manga closely, later arcs introduce an anime-original storyline involving the formation of a U-20 Japan youth national team competing in an Italian youth cup. Directed by Seiji Okuda, series composition by Takao Koyama. ©Natsuko Heibuchi / Kodansha・Ashi Productions