Moero! Top Striker

Moero! Top Striker (燃えろ!トップストライカー, Moero! Toppu Sutoraikā, lit. "Burn! Top Striker") is a Japanese anime series by Nippon Animation, based on overseas football (soccer), set on Genoa and in the world of Italian youth football.

Moero! Top Striker
Top Striker video game cover art
燃えろ!トップストライカー
GenreLife in a foreign country
Sports (association football)
Anime television series
Directed byRyō Yasumura
Produced byShun'ichi Kosao (Nippon Animation)
Shinsuke Kurabayashi (TV Tokyo)
Written byYoshimasa Takahashi
Yoshiyuki Suga
Music byJunnosuke Yamamoto
StudioNippon Animation
Original networkTV Tokyo
Original run 10 October 1991 – 24 September 1992
Episodes49

Outline

Known in Italy as "A tutto goal", despite the setting, it was not very successful in there, overshadowed by similar works such as Captain Tsubasa. It remains one of the most popular anime in France (where it aired as "l'École des champions" or "the School of Champions") and South Korea (where it aired as "축구왕 슛돌이" or "the Football King Syutdolyi"). In the Arab countries, this anime is known as "Captain Rabah" (الكابتن رابح), named after FC Porto striker Rabah Madjer and slightly adapted to his story as an Arab professional soccer player in Europe.

In Japan, the country of production, this was aired on TV Tokyo from 10 October 1991 to 24 September 1992 and has a total of 49 episodes. Before this work was broadcast, animes with "a person who came from a foreign land" as the main character was limited to "magical girls". However, this work "the Top Striker" is the first anime that extends this to "athletes living in a foreign country", and also the first anime with the theme of "life in a foreign country".

The story is divided into three parts: the early part "Columbus", the middle part "Selection of Genoa", and the late part "Jupiter Wings" (sometimes abbreviated to "J. Wings").

As a difference from other sports mangas/animes, this work is characterized by "The main character does not join the national team, but joins the multinational team." This setting reflects the historical background of the "Gulf War" in 1991. Another historical background is the "500th Anniversary of Christopher Columbus" in 1992, which is why the main character Hikaru Kikkawa belongs to "Columbus" and is based in Genoa. As works influenced by the Gulf War in 1991, "Moomin" is the preceding program, and "The Three-Eyed One" is the predecessor. When "Moomin" became over in March 1992, this work has assumed the successor.

Characters

Main characters
  • Hikaru Kikkawa (Voiced by: Kazue Ikura) : Columbus → Selection of Genoa → Jupiter Wings
    The main character of this anime. Born on 10 October 1980, and 11 years old.[1] A son of a diplomat, who has lived in many countries since he was a baby. He came to Genoa as an international student at the age of ten. Then he joined San Podesta Junior, but he remained a substitute.
    He lost his parents in a plane crash and was about to be taken over by his aunt, but was taken over by former famous player Albert Robson. He started out as a disciple of Robson, emerged as the ace of the city club "Columbus", and eventually became the captain of the multinational team "Jupiter Wings". He is weak at making a fuss, but he likes to fall in love and to dream.
  • Anna Liegi (Voiced by: Kumiko Nishihara)
    As assistant and a resident of Robson Clinic. A female football player, and displays her talent among male players. She does manage to get selected for the Italian women's national team, but failed due to injury during training.
    She has a masculine but caring character, and is "like an elder sister" to Hikaru.
  • Albert Robson (Voiced by: Banjō Ginga)
    The master and "like father" to Hikaru. Known as an ace striker of Leopards in his active days. Born and raised in a rich family in England, he opened a clinic in Genoa after retiring from active duty.　His belief is that "Without being bound by national borders, people who share their thoughts should gather.", after a compromise with his younger brother Charles Robson, he took over the manager of the Jupiter Wings.
  • M. Bertini (Voiced by: Yō Yoshimura, Kazuaki Fukuda)
    A cheerful man who is an acquaintance of Robson. He was originally a player scout and mediator.
  • Julian Ray (Voiced by: Rika Matsumoto) : San Podesta Junior → Selection of Genoa → Jupiter Wings
    An international student who came from France. He belongs to San Podesta Junior and an ace striker of this team. Born in a noble family, he believes that "I play for the honor of my motherland." He sometimes had sarcastic behavior and initially looked down on Hikaru from Japan. He was rejected from the French youth national team and joined Jupiter Wings at the invitation of Hikaru.
  • Catherine Ray (Voiced by: Chieko Honda)
    Julian's younger sister, Hikaru's girlfriend. She is studying abroad at a ballet school in Genoa, and she is a girl who dreams of prima donna. She believes that "the purpose of play is dream and enjoy", and her elder brother Julian sometimes advises her that "You are too optimistic". Finally, she was invited by the ballet team in Paris to leave from elder brother Julian and boyfriend Hikaru.
  • Cesare Gatti (Voiced by: Takumi Yamazaki) : Gloria → Naples → Jupiter Wings
    Initially, he was the captain of Gloria. He was born and raised in poverty and plebeian, and started playing football to get out of poverty and send money to his family. Therefore, he is short-tempered and despised Hikaru and Julian as carefree rich boys. However, as he played against Hikaru and Julian, he recognized their power.

Other characters
  • Roberto Concini (Voiced by: Tsutomu Kashiwakura) : Columbus → Selection of Genoa → Jupiter Wings
    The former captain of Columbus, and a genuine Genoese. Among team mates of Colombus, he is not a poor player. But, during his captainship, the condition of Colombus was worst. After Hikaru joined, he surrendered captainship to Hikaru and became Hikaru's most loyal servant.
    He has a girlfriend named Sophia at the ballet school. However, he is a womanizer, and often makes fun of Hikaru on love affairs.
  • Lucas Rondi (Voiced by: Megumi Tano) : Columbus → Selection of Genoa → Jupiter Wings
    The son of a circus family. He grew up in a family environment where he was forced to move due to entertainment reasons, and spent his infantage as if he had only ball friends. He rebelled against Roberto when he first joined Columbus, but Hikaru accepted his case and gradually became familiar with the team.
  • Giorgio (Voiced by: Chafūrin) : Columbus
    A goalkeeper of Columbus. After losing the selection from the Genoa selection team, he rushed to support Hikaru and others.
  • Mario Sanctis (Voiced by: Ai Orikasa) : San Podesta Junior → Selection of Genoa → San Podesta Junior
    An old member of San Podesta Junior. One who knows early stage of Julian and Hikaru's bad relationship, he tried to reconcile Julian and Hikaru. Different from Julian, he is a Genoese. After Julian joined to Jupiter Wings, he took on the captain of San Podesta Junior and participated in the Junior Champions Cup.
  • Woltz (Voiced by Toshihiko Nakajima) : Bremen → Naples → Jupiter Wings)
    A German goalkeeper. He was recruited by Naples during the quarterfinal of the tournament in Italy.
  • Carone (Voiced by Shinya Ōtaki)
    The manager of San Podesta Junior. He later took over as the manager of the selection of Genoa.

Staff
  • Director : Ryō Yasumura
  • Series composition : Yoshio Kuroda
  • Scenario : Yoshimasa Takahashi, Yoshiyuki Suga
  • Character design : Nobuhiro Okasako
  • Music : Junnosuke Yamamoto
  • Sound director : Etsuji Yamada
  • Animation director : Nobuhiro Okasako (chief), Hirokazu Ishiyuki, Ikuo Shimazu, Osamu Ichikawa, Warurō Suzuki
  • Art director : Masaaki Kawaguchi
  • Producer : Shun'ichi Kosao (Nippon Animation), Shinsuke Kurabayashi (TV Tokyo)
  • Planning : Shōji Satō (Nippon Animation), Masunosuke Ōhashi (Dentsu Osaka branch)
  • Production management : Mitsuru Takakuwa, Junzō Nakajima (Nippon Animation)

Theme songs
Opening theme
  • "Dream Striker" (ドリーム・ストライカー, Dorīmu Sutoraikā)
    • Singer : Wakako Shimazaki / Lyricist : Shun Taguchi / Composer : Masamichi Sugi / Arranger: Seiichi Kyōda
Ending theme
  • "Foreigner ～Straniero～" (異邦人 ～ストラニエーロ～, Ihōjin ～sutoraniēro～)
    • Singer : Wakako Shimazaki / Lyricist : Shun Taguchi / Composer : Masamichi Sugi / Arranger : Seiichi Kyōda
    • The subtitle "straniero" is the Italian word for "foreigner".
    • This song is not played in full version even in the story of the final episode, and it is played in usual shortened version even in the final episode.
Insertion song
  • "Wings of Youth" (青春の翼, Seishun no Tsubasa) (eps 25 and final(49))
  • "Dream Chaser" (夢追い人, Yumeoibito)
    • Singer : Kazue Ikura
  • "Anna" (Anna, Anna) (ep 26)
  • "Knight of the Field" (フィールドの騎士, fīrudo no Kishi) (ep 29)
    • Singer : Rika Matsumoto
  • "Jungle of Loneliness" (孤独のジャングル, Kodoku no Janguru)
    • Singer : Takumi Yamazaki
  • "Sunset Memory" (サンセット・メモリー, Sansetto Memorī)
(All insertion songs) Lyrics : Ryō Yasumura / Composer and arranger : Nobuyuki Nakamura

Any of opening theme, ending theme, and single CD; The uniform which Hikaru Kikkawa wears is from Jupiter Wings (upper is green, lower is white).

In this work, an audio musical which collects theme songs and insertion songs is also produced, and Ai Orikasa who acts Mario Sanctis serves as the progression of the story. However, Wakako Shimazaki who sings theme songs, appears in the audio musical, but does not act any characters in the main story. The cover illustration of the audio musical is Hikaru from Columbus and Julian from San Podesta Junior facing each other.

Videos of theme songs
  • Opening (Dream Striker)
The opening video begins with the scene where Hikaru looks at the Mediterranean Sea. Hikaru's uniform is not Columbus, Julian's uniform is not San Podesta Junior, Hikaru and Julian appear in uniforms of Jupiter Wings.
After the match scene, there are only two people, Hikaru and Catherine (girlfriend).
  • Ending (Foreigner)
The ending video is same as "Long long ago, 20th century" (ending theme of "the Masked Rider Black"), where Hikaru walks in Genoa just after sunset.
"Long long ago, 20th century" declares that "The 20th century was a time when people's hearts were still warm, and the color of seas were still cobalt blue". Since Hikaru is a son of a diplomat, before coming to Genoa, Hikaru may have been in a "nation without freedom of speech".

Video game

Notes and references
  1. From 1st and 13th episodes.

See also
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