Moero! Top Striker

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Moero! Top Striker
Top Striker.jpg
Top Striker video game cover art
Hikaru and Julian
燃えろ!トップストライカー
GenreLife in a foreign country
Sports (association football)
Anime television series
Directed by
Produced by (Nippon Animation)
(TV Tokyo)
Written by
Music by
StudioNippon Animation
Original networkTV Tokyo
Original run 10 October 1991 – 24 September 1992
Episodes49
Wikipe-tan face.svg Anime and manga portal

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.

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", lit. "the School of Champions") and South Korea (where it aired as "축구왕 슛돌이" lit. "the Football King Syutdolyi"). In China and Taiwan, this anime is known as "意甲小旋風" (simp: 意甲小旋风. lit. "Serie A Little Whirlwind"). In the Arab countries, this anime is known as "Captain Rabeh" (الكابتن رابح), named after FC Porto striker Rabah Madjer and slightly adapted to his story as an Arab professional football player in Europe.

This work is one of companion volumes of "the World Masterpiece Theater", aired on TV Tokyo on Thursday. However, there is no original children's literatures or mangas, and it is an original work by Nippon Animation. The time zone was from 19:30 to 20:00 until March 1992, from 19:00 to 19:30 since April 1992.

The story is that Japanese international student of football leads a team. Among Japanese mangas/animes, "an anime with a person living in a foreign country as the main character" is rare, this work "Moero! Top Striker" is the first anime of that. Setting of players in this work is innovative, there is no players who belong to school clubs, and all players belong to street clubs or sub-organizations of professional teams.

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 that "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.

Moreover, when this work was being broadcast in Japan, the Soviet Union collapsed and the Cold War literally ended. Therefore, it can be said that this work heralded the end of "the Cold War system" and the beginning of "the era living in a global or multinational framework".

Characters[]

Main characters[]

  • 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 street 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.
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.
The master and "like father" to Hikaru. Born in 1939, and 52 years old.[2] Known as an ace striker of England 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.
A cheerful man who is an acquaintance of Robson. He was originally a player scout and mediator.
  • 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.
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.
  • 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.

Teamnates of Columbus[]

  • 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: )
  • 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.
  • Columbus
A goalkeeper of Columbus. After losing the selection from the Genoa selection team, he rushed to support Hikaru and others.
  • Columbus → Genoa → San Podesta Junior
A defender of Columbus. In the late stage, he entered San Podesta Junior to challenge Hikaru.
  • Columbus
He wears glasses and has a bearish personality.

Players of San Podesta Junior[]

  • San Podesta Junior → Selection of Genoa → San Podesta Junior
An old member of San Podesta Junior, and a Genoese. One who knows early stage of Julian and Hikaru's bad relationship, he tried to reconcile Julian and Hikaru. After Julian joined to Jupiter Wings, he took on the captain of San Podesta Junior and participated in the Junior Champions Cup.
  • San Podesta Junior → Selection of Genoa → San Podesta Junior
A striker of San Podesta Junior. In the early stage, he was Julian's regular replacement.
  • San Podesta Junior → Selection of Genoa → San Podesta Junior
A goalkeeper of San Podesta Junior.
  • San Podesta Junior
A striker of San Podesta Junior. After Julian entered the Jupiter Wings, he became a replacement. A player raised by Mario, he lightly imitated Julian and Hikaru's special skills.
The manager of San Podesta Junior. He later took over as the manager of the selection of Genoa.

Other players[]

  • Margherita → Selection of Genoa → San Podesta Junior
The captain of the street club Margherita where Hikaru first confronted. He has a short tempered personality.
A German goalkeeper. He was recruited by Naples during the quarterfinal of the tournament in Italy.
  • Jupiter Wings
A former star of the Netherlands youth team. One of most short-tempered character of this work, He is fired after decimating his team as he tried to toughen up his teammates.
  • Papan (Voiced by: )
  • Jupiter Wings
The most pretentious player in Jupiter Wings.

Students of the ballet school[]

Roberto's girlfriend.
  • Monica Rossi (Voiced by: )
A ballet school student who is most in love with Hikaru.
A schoolmate of Catherine, Monica and Sophia.

Other people[]

Animal characters[]

A domestic dog of the ballet school. This dog is attached well to Catherine and Hikaru.

Staff[]

It is a remarkable phenomenon that the people involved in "Moero! Top Striker" (general including non-voice actors) have been promoted one after another. Representative people are Rika Matsumoto of "Pokemon", of "All-Star Thanksgiving", the animation director , and the sound director Toshihiko Nakajima, and so on.

  • Director :
  • Series composition :
  • Scenario : ,
  • Character design :
  • Music :
  • Sound director :
  • Animation director : Nobuhiro Okasako (chief), , , ,
  • Art director :
  • Producer : (Nippon Animation), (TV Tokyo)
  • Planning : (Nippon Animation), (Dentsu Osaka branch)
  • Production management : , (Nippon Animation)
  • Copyright management : Tadashi Hoshino
  • Public relations : (TV Tokyo)
  • Filming cooperation : City of Genoa, Unione Calcio Sampdoria
  • Uniform cooperation : adidas

Theme songs[]

Opening theme
  • Dream Striker (ドリーム・ストライカー, Dorīmu Sutoraikā)
    • Singer :
    • Lyricist :
    • Composer :
    • Arranger:
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, 39 and final(49))
  • Dream Chaser (夢追い人, Yumeoibito) (ep 40)
    • 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) (ep 41)
(All insertion songs)
  • Lyrics :
  • Composer and arranger :

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, Ai Orikasa who acts Mario Santis serves as the progression of the story.[3][4][5] However, Wakako Shimazaki who sings theme songs, appears in the audio musical, but doesn't say greeting words in the audio musical, and doesn't 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.
  2. ^ From the sound track of "Moero! Top Striker".
  3. ^ VGM-db : MOERO! TOP STRIKER AUDIO MUSICAL ~Wings of Youth~
  4. ^ Kinokuniya Bookstore : "Wings of Youth" – the audio musical of the Top Striker (Japanese)
  5. ^ moondreamers 100 : Moero! Top Striker – Audio Musical

See also[]

Related programs[]

One of companion volumes of the World Masterpiece Theater aired on TV Tokyo on Thursday, and is the successor of this work.
Same as this work, an anime depicting "life in a foreign country". Broadcast in 2011.
One of hosts is Wakako Shimazaki who sang theme songs of this work. The first time was October 1991 same as this work; and until March 1992, it was broadcast regularly every Thursday same as this work.
The preceding program, it is known as "regular broadcast even in the Gulf War". Initially, this work was the next program of "Moomin".
An anime in which many voice actors who acted regular characters of this work appear.

List[]

External links[]

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