Ganbare, Kickers! is a romantic soccer kid manga drawn by Noriaki Nagai. It was published by Shogakukan in CoroCoro Comic magazine from 1985 to 1989. The series won the 1987 Shogakukan Manga Award for best children's manga. The story is usually classified as Comedy, Drama, Shōnen and Sports. Cover art can be seen . The manga was turned into an anime series by Studio Pierrot during 1986-1987. It ran 26 episodes and one 40 minute special, but only 21 episodes were aired in Japan. In 1988 the anime arrived to EMEA in its dubbed version and had some success in the Middle East, Iran, South Korea, Italy, Spain, France, Poland and especially in Germany and Austria. In Indonesia, the anime was aired on Indosiar in 1995-1997, TPI in 2003, Bali TV in 2005.
Story
The story is about an enthusiastic kid soccer team at the Kitahara elementary school, who struggle without a competent striker, when little Kakeru Daichi's family moves into the town. He immediately applies to join the team, keen to use his skills gained in the kid team of famous soccer club "The Falcons". With Kakeru the team becomes complete in every sense and he motivates the team to challenge the "Red Devils", a strong secondary school team whose goalkeeper Uesugi is considered undefeatable. They lose 10 to 1, but Kakeru's scoring a single goal is still a small miracle. Under the strong leadership of their own goalkeeper Masaru Hongo, Kickers then enter the kid championship and fight their way up through hard won victories. Meanwhile, Hongo falls in love with Ayumi Daichi, Kakeru's cute, sporty sister. In turn the striker enamours Akuna Yukie, a fragile, angelic pianist girl, who happens to be Uesugi's much younger sister. These affairs lead to some embarrassingly funny situations as well as numerous complications with the team's devoted and jealous cheerleader trio. For a short while, Kickers gain a professional trainer whose instructions help them win their way to the semi-finals, just to meet theRed Devils once again. After a dramatic match, that spans two 20 minute episodes, Uesugi fends off Kakeru's final freescore and so the Kickers are out! The devastated team is soon divided by the arrival of Harry, a famous junior talent, who has been fired from three big name teams already for subversive behaviour. He infiltrates and splits Kickers, but his rudeness and Hongo's strong leadership re-unite the team. Harry then seduces Ayumi and assembles a faux team out of the school's scum so he can defeat the Kickers almost alone. Although the naive Kakeru is no match for the older and much stronger Harry, the Kickers's teamwork spirit and Uesugi's support secures a victory in this dirty match and Harry is devastated. The anime series ends with a ed Harry reconciling with the Kickers, before leaving the town to play overseas.
Crew
Voice actors
Episode list
101 Ball in the center for Rudy - 01 - A New Arrival 102 Ball in the center for Rudy - 02 - Begin the Workouts 103 Ball in the center for Rudy - 03 - A Father Trope Ambitious 104 Ball in the center for Rudy - 04 - A Goal at Minute 105 Ball in the center for Rudy - 05 - Buddy Injury 106 Ball in the center for Rudy - 06 - Captain Gentleman 107 Ball in the center for Rudy - 07 - Away in Match 108 Ball in the center for Rudy - 08 - A Very Special Shoot 109 Ball in the center for Rudy - 09 - A New Type of Training 110 Ball in the center for Rudy - 10 - A Great Game 111 Ball in the center for Rudy - 11 - Danger of Marriage 112 Ball in the center for Rudy - 12 - Challenge Msicale 113 Ball in the center for Rudy - 13 - A Team Program 114 Ball in the center for Rudy - 14 - Opponents Incorrect 115 Ball in the center for Rudy - 15 - A Cocky Champion 116 Ball in the center for Rudy - 16 - For Love or Honor 117 Ball in the center for Rudy - 17 - A Life Lesson 118 Ball in the center for Rudy - 18 - An Adventurous Day 119 Ball in the center for Rudy - 19 - A Strange Coach 120 Ball in the center for Rudy - 20 - The Valentine's Day 121 Ball in the center for Rudy - 21 - Thank You Mister 122 Ball in the center for Rudy - 22 - An Unlucky Draw 123 Ball in the center for Rudy - 23 - Start the Championship 124 Ball in the center for Rudy - 24 - Fight Relentlessly 125 Ball in the center for Rudy - 25 - The Last Game 126 Ball in the center for Rudy - 26 - A Grand Finale
