REVIEW: ‘Wind Breaker’ Season 1 Delivers A Terrific Ensemble

There’s something of a surprising comfort in the Wind Breaker Season 1. Based on the manga written and illustrated by Satoru Nii, there’s a grounding familiarity with aspects of the series adapted by CloverWorks. There’s a reason that, for so much of the season, the biggest comparison that came to mind is Haikyu!! And it all comes down to two key features. The first is the strong ensemble that grounds the larger-than-life and, frankly, ludicrous situations these characters find themselves in. The second is, obviously, the kinetic and eye-catching action sequences.

On the surface level, Haruka Sakura (Yuma Uchida) looks like several other anime protagonists we’ve met in the past. He’s brash and headstrong, believing in his ability to be the strongest no matter who he’s facing. But that’s a shallow character interpretation and something discarded within the first episode. Tormented by a childhood where his appearance and social skills pushed him to be an outcast, he’s arrived at Furin High School equipped with the knowledge that it prioritizes strength over academics. He doesn’t know that this strength is weaponized for altruistic reasons. Furin protects and gives back to the town that houses them.

This flips the script both for Sakura and the viewers. Because here is a school that prioritizes the strength of a group and the significance of community-building camaraderie. His facade drops, flustered and blushing at any instance of basic kindness or generosity. It takes until the end of Episode 1, where the town offers to help patch him up after he’s stood up against an opposing group, for him to realize that what he once believed might not be accurate.

And this sums up all of Wind Breaker Season 1. The story explicitly believes in its mission statement that we’re at our strongest when we’re working together. Sakura, once isolated and ostracized, is drawn into a crowd of eager supporters and friends. From his early friendships with the enigmatic Suo (Nobunaga Shimazaki) and nervous Nirei (Shōya Chiba) to the respect he gains for once opponent Togame (Yūichirō Umehara) and his observation of Furin leader Umemiya (Yuichi Nakamura), he meets a group of individuals all drawn into his orbit and his to theirs.

Even the longest arc of Wind Breaker Season 1, the fight between Fuurin and Shishitoren, resolves itself with a better understanding of both sides. Umemiya often preaches the idea that a fight is a conversation. And while the battle between schools drags its feet towards the end of its run, the point is proven through each standoff. Suo and Sushita declare their distinctive fighting style, Togame reveals his true character, and Umemiya gets through to Choji. Each fight is marked by the best-defined members and their ability to prove themselves through their actions.

These elements and the keen focus on characterization are what make Wind Breaker such a shockingly wholesome experience. With threads of the found family trope woven throughout, the series becomes startlingly heartwarming. Despite all of the bloodshed and, at times, because of the bloodshed. These characters don’t exist in any sense of reality, and the series makes us accept that quickly. In this town, these students exist in a place where teachers, parents, and concussions simply don’t exist. And that’s fine because the characters, their dynamics, and how they approach fights make up for it.

It doesn’t hurt that the animation is gorgeous throughout. The character designs come to greater life through the animation (which can’t be said for every new adaptation), and the movement and fluidity are addicting. Each episode has a distinctive style that adds to the feeling of this world existing in a bubble. The streets they monitor have a spark of life of their own, their vibrant colors delivering a strong sense of place and tone.

Added to the action, it makes for a visually pleasing experience. The way each character fights is brought to life through the animation. Suo, in particular, is given a balletic expression to his movements, highlighted in Episode 5. He’s a fascinating character who keeps the details of his life close to his chest, and so much of who he is comes through in how he fights. He makes a strong contrast for Sakura, whose movements are much more forceful and brutal, with Suo more likely to dodge and pivot than lunge straight at his opponent.

Not everything about Wind Breaker Season 1 works, however. As mentioned, the fight between Fuurin and Shishitoren goes on far too long. Fights could’ve been condensed. However, the real issue is that it forces us to learn more about Fuurin’s opponents, namely Choji and Togame before we fully know all of our protagonists. They’re still well-defined, but we get more of Choji and Togame’s backstories in Season 1, and they’re not even the main characters.

It’s a shame since it does take up the bulk of the season, though it’s less worrisome now that a second season has been officially announced. The series follows a pattern in its storytelling in Season 1. While it becomes a bit repetitive in how it introduces characters, it never loses its spark of engagement and thrilling fight sequences. The series is further bolstered by the playful, eclectic score by Ryo Takahashi (Sk8 the Infinity). In contrast, any usage of made-for-the-series songs threatens to grind the emotional pull of certain moments to a harsh stop.

Wind Breaker Season 1 is a charming introduction to a heightened world where teenagers good-naturedly rule over their respective towns. Anchored by a lovable protagonist and engaging, ever-expanding ensemble, the series finds its heart amidst the brawls.

Wind Breaker Season 1 is out now on Crunchyroll.