Whistle!
Whistle! (ホイッスル!, Hoissuru!) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Daisuke Higuchi. The series was published in Shueisha's Weekly Shōnen Jump from March 1998 to October 2002. The series was adapted into a 39-episode anime television series broadcast exclusively by Animax across Japan and South Korea.
Whistle! | |
North American cover of the first manga volume | |
ホイッスル! (Hoissuru!) | |
---|---|
Genre | Sports |
Manga | |
Written by | Daisuke Higuchi |
Published by | Shueisha |
English publisher | |
Imprint | Jump Comics |
Magazine | Weekly Shōnen Jump |
Demographic | Shōnen |
Original run | March 9, 1998 – October 21, 2002 |
Volumes | 24 |
Anime television series | |
Directed by | Hiroshi Fukutomi |
Written by | Shun'ichi Yukimuro |
Music by | Toshihiko Sahashi |
Studio | Studio Comet |
Original 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 |
Manga | |
Whistle! W | |
Written by | Daisuke Higuchi |
Published by | Shogakukan |
Imprint | Ura Sunday Comics |
Magazine | Ura Sunday |
Demographic | Shōnen |
Original run | September 26, 2016 – present |
Volumes | 4 |
In North America, the series was licensed for an English language release by Viz Media under the Shonen Jump label.
In 2016, a sequel titled Whistle! W started in Shogakukan's Ura Sunday manga website
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
Whistle! is written and illustrated Daisuke Higuchi. The series was published in Weekly Shōnen Jump from March 9, 1998 to October 21, 2002.[1][2] Its 212 numbered individual chapters were compiled into 24 tankōbon 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]
In 2016, a sequel entitled Whistle! W started in Shogakukan's Ura Sunday manga website.[7][8]
Anime
A 39-episode anime television series adaptation aired in Japan on Animax from May 5, 2002 to February 3, 2003.[9][10][11][12] The opening and ending themes are "Double Wind" and "Sweet Days" respectively, both performed by Minako Komukai. In 2016, a new Japanese audio track for the anime was aired.[8]
Video games
Games include: Game Boy Advance and PlayStation versions.
Stage adaptation
A stage play adaptation was announced in February 2016 for a late August to early September release.[13]
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.[14] 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.[15]
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.",[16] while praising Sho's character development as the readers "see him strive against so much to obtain what he worked for is uplifting."[17] 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.[18]
References
- 週刊少年ジャンプ 1998/03/09 表示号数13 (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
- 週刊少年ジャンプ 2002/10/21 表示号数45 (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
- ホイッスル! 1 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Archived from the original on January 23, 2008. Retrieved March 21, 2010.
- ホイッスル! 24 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Archived from the original on November 21, 2003. Retrieved March 21, 2010.
- "Whistle!, Vol. 1". Viz Media. Retrieved March 21, 2010.
- "Whistle!, Vol. 24". Viz Media. Retrieved March 21, 2010.
- "New Whistle! Soccer Manga Launches on September 26". Anime News Network. August 23, 2016. Retrieved March 8, 2017.
- "Whistle! Anime's 'Voice Remake' Reveals New Cast Members, December 17 Streaming Debut". Anime News Network. December 1, 2016. Retrieved March 8, 2017.
- "Whistle! official episode guide, episodes 1–10" (in Japanese). Marvelous Entertainment. Archived from the original on January 20, 2007. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
- "Whistle! official episode guide, episodes 11–20" (in Japanese). Marvelous Entertainment. Archived from the original on February 10, 2007. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
- "Whistle! official episode guide, episodes 21–30" (in Japanese). Marvelous Entertainment. Archived from the original on February 10, 2007. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
- "Whistle! official episode guide, episodes 31–39" (in Japanese). Marvelous Entertainment. Archived from the original on January 25, 2007. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
- "Whistle! Soccer Manga Gets Stage Play Adaptation". Anime News Network. February 18, 2016. Retrieved March 8, 2017.
- Whistle! Vol. 1. Retrieved on June 11, 2008.
- "From the manga stack: WHISTLE!". Precocious Curmudgeon. Archived from the original on February 7, 2008. Retrieved June 11, 2008.
- Campbell, Scott (May 5, 2008). "Whistle Vol. 19 (Advanced Review)". Active Anime. Retrieved December 5, 2011.
- Ellingwood, Holly (February 5, 2007). "Whistle! Vol. 15". Active Anime. Retrieved December 5, 2011.
- Anime on DVD, Whistle! Volume 1. Retrieved on June 11, 2008.
External links
- Official website (in Japanese)
- Whistle! at Marvelous Entertainment (in Japanese)
- Whistle! (manga) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia