If you dropped or didn’t like Tokyo Revengers because of its main character, then Wind Breaker anime is for you because its main character can actually fight.
The Spring anime season has already started, with the first episodes of many series now airing. We’ve already seen an isekai where the hero was reincarnated as a Goblin and another where the main hero’s character design weirded out many viewers.
Amidst this crowded field, one show is already making a name for itself: Wind Breaker. Not to be confused with Wind Breaker Manhwa, the anime is based on the manga by Nii Satoru. This delinquent anime has truly set the Spring season on its course, drawing comparisons to recent genre standouts like Tokyo Revengers and Bucchigiri.
So what sets Wind Breaker apart? For starters, its protagonist Haruka Sakura is no pushover. Sakura is a social outcast, shunned by society for his unique appearance with two different colored eyes and hair.
But what Sakura lacks in social graces, he more than makes up for with his fighting prowess. This is in stark contrast to Tokyo Revengers’ Takemichi Hanagaki, whose inability to hold his own in a fight was a major sticking point for some viewers.
Seeking to become the top dog, Sakura enrolls at Fuurin Senior High School, a haven for academically challenged students with a penchant for throwing down. On the eve of his first day, Sakura’s path crosses with Kotoha Tachibana, a cafe waitress, when he saves her from a group of delinquents from a rival school.
Tachibana reveals to Sakura that going solo won’t cut it at Furin High – the path to the top goes through the “Bofurin”, the school’s dominant gang. Thus begins Sakura’s journey to fight his way to the top of the delinquent food chain.
Animated by the talented folks at Studio CloverWorks, known for their work on hits like Spy x Family, Horimiya, and Bocchi the ROCK, the first episode of Wind Breaker has already showcased the studio’s top-tier animation chops.
It’s hard not to wonder how a powerhouse like CloverWorks could have elevated a series like Tokyo Revengers had they been at the helm.
Nii Satoru, the creator of Wind Breaker’s manga, has been open about his love for Tokyo Revengers, and it shows in his work. But rather than a simple homage, Satoru may have crafted a series that surpasses its inspiration.
With a compelling protagonist, top-notch animation, and the promise of intense delinquent action, Wind Breaker is shaping up to be the breakout hit of the Spring anime season. If you bounced off Tokyo Revengers or found its protagonist lacking, Wind Breaker might just be the series you’ve been waiting for.
If you are planning to watch the Wind Breaker anime, the first episode is already out on Crunchyroll. Moreover, Crunchyroll is planning to roll out a multiple-profile feature on one account later this month, so look forward to that as well.
