Whistle!

Whistle!

Whistle! volume 1 as released by Viz Media in North America
ホイッスル!
(Hoissuru!)
Genre Sport (association football)
Manga
Written by Daisuke Higuchi
Published by Shueisha
English publisher
Demographic Shōnen
Magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump
Original run July 1998 – October 2002
Volumes 24
Anime television series
Directed by Hiroshi Fukutomi
Written by Shun'ichi Yukimuro
Music by Toshihiko Sahashi
Studio Marvelous Entertainment, Studio Comet
Network Animax
Original run May 5, 2002 – February 3, 2003
Episodes 39
Game
Whistle!: Fuki Nukeru Kaze
Publisher Konami
Genre Sports
Platform PlayStation
Released January 3, 2003
Game
Whistle!: Dai 37-kai Tokyo-to Chuugakkou Sougou Taiiku Soccer Taikai
Developer Intense
Publisher Konami
Genre Sports
Platform Game Boy Advance
Released February 27, 2003

Whistle! (ホイッスル! Hoissuru!) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Daisuke Higuchi, which was adapted into a 39-episode anime television series, broadcast exclusively by Animax across Japan and South Korea.

The manga, which is association football-themed, was published in Japan in Shueisha's Weekly Shōnen Jump, and in English by Viz Media under the Shonen Jump label. The manga was written in homage to the 1998[1] and 2002[2] World Cup Finals tournaments which took place in France and Japan/South Korea respectively.

Plot

Whistle! is about a middle school boy named Shō Kazamatsuri. He transfers from Musashinomori School to Sakura Jōsui Junior High School for better hopes to make the soccer team, since he never got a game at his old school due to his small stature. Yūko Katori, his teacher, introduces him as a former star of the famed Musashinomori team, causing his classmates to be wrongly ecstatic. Right after that, one of the players, Tatsuya Mizuno, reveals that he was never a regular. In other words, since he never got the chance to play, Shō is a poor player. Shō struggles to improve his skill so he can make the team at his new school and to ignore the drastic disadvantage he has due to his height.

Media

Manga

The Whistle! manga series is composed of 212 numbered chapters compiled in 24 tankōbon (manga volumes), published by Shueisha between July 3, 1998 and March 4, 2003.[3][4] All 24 volumes were translated into English and published in North America by Viz Media between October 12, 2004 and January 2010.[5][6]

Anime

Due to the success of Whistle! in Japan and its rising popularity among soccer fans in North America, Daisuke Higuchi took the helm of producing a 39-episode series[7][8][9][10] based on the manga. The anime television network, Animax, has broadcast the series exclusively in Japan and South Korea.

Music themes

Opening theme
"DOUBLE WIND" by Minako Komukai
Ending theme
"Sweet Days" by Minako Komukai

Video games

Games include: Game Boy Advance and PlayStation versions.

Reception

The Whistle! series has received good reception. A review by Greg McElhatton of Read About Comics stated that the Whistle! manga had good drawings that showed the characters move around with the soccer ball during matches.[11] David Welsh of Precocious Curmudgeon said the series is very interesting that those who do not have soccer background will enjoy reading the manga, as well as with the realistic illustration used.[12]

Scott Campbell and Holly Ellingwood of Active Anime have remarked that the art is clear since all the "line and detail has obvious care and attention given to it, resulting in well-managed visuals for a well-flowing read.",[13] while praising Sho's character development as the readers "see him strive against so much to obtain what he worked for is uplifting."[14] Eduardo M. Chavez's review on Whistle! Volume 1 noted that although it does not look good for characters to run away from their problems, Sho's inner determination to play soccer is the main highlight of the series.[15]

References

  1. ↑ Whistle! Volume 8, The Book Depository. Retrieved on June 11, 2008.
  2. ↑ Whistle. Retrieved on June 11, 2008.
  3. ↑ ホイッスル！ 1 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Archived from the original on January 23, 2008. Retrieved March 21, 2010.
  4. ↑ ホイッスル！ 24 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Archived from the original on November 21, 2003. Retrieved March 21, 2010.
  5. ↑ "Whistle!, Vol. 1". Viz Media. Retrieved March 21, 2010.
  6. ↑ "Whistle!, Vol. 24". Viz Media. Retrieved March 21, 2010.
  7. ↑ Whistle! official episode guide, episodes 1-10. Retrieved on June 11, 2008. (Japanese)
  8. ↑ Whistle! official episode guide, episodes 11-20. Retrieved on June 11, 2008. (Japanese)
  9. ↑ Whistle! official episode guide, episodes 21-30. Retrieved on June 11, 2008. (Japanese)
  10. ↑ Whistle! official episode guide, episodes 31-39. Retrieved on June 11, 2008. (Japanese)
  11. ↑ Whistle! Vol. 1. Retrieved on June 11, 2008.
  12. ↑ "From the manga stack: WHISTLE!.". Precocious Curmudgeon. Archived from the original on February 7, 2008. Retrieved June 11, 2008.
  13. ↑ Campbell, Scott (May 5, 2008). "Whistle Vol. 19 (Advanced Review)". Active Anime. Retrieved December 5, 2011.
  14. ↑ Ellingwood, Holly (February 5, 2007). "Whistle! Vol. 15". Active Anime. Retrieved December 5, 2011.
  15. ↑ Anime on DVD, Whistle! Volume 1. Retrieved on June 11, 2008.
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