Wind Breaker (manga) explained

Wind Breaker
Type:manga
Author:Satoru Nii
Publisher:Kodansha
Demographic:
Imprint:Shōnen Magazine Comics
Magazine:Magazine Pocket
First:January 13, 2021
Volumes:18
Type:tv series
Director:Toshifumi Akai
Music:Ryo Takahashi
Studio:CloverWorks
Network:JNN (MBS, TBS)
First:April 5, 2024
Episodes:13
Portal:yes

Wind Breaker (stylized in all caps) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Satoru Nii that began serialization on Kodansha's Magazine Pocket manga website in January 2021. As of August 2024, the series' individual chapters have been collected in 18 volumes. An anime television series adaptation produced by CloverWorks aired from April to June 2024. A second season is set to premiere in 2025.

Plot

From an early age, Haruka Sakura was an outcast due to his unconventional appearance and lack of social skills. However, the harsh treatments he received made him a skilled fighter, which is now the only thing he prides himself on. After enrolling at Furin High School, where it is rumored that strength is valued over academics, Sakura has only one goal—to become the best.

After being involved in a street brawl the day before his enrollment, Sakura meets a group of his future classmates. Instead of rejecting him, his classmates fight alongside him, showing that the school's real concern is protecting the town of Makochi from harm—hence why the students call themselves Bofurin. Surprised by the support and appreciation of the townspeople, Sakura has a hard time accepting their goodwill. Though he is unfamiliar with others showing him kindness, he must learn to overcome his discomfort when Bofurin is pitted against formidable enemies. After experiencing the feeling of acceptance, he finds himself fighting for the sake of others for the first time.

Characters

A first-year transfer student at Furin High School who enrolled there in order to reach the top. Sakura has heterochromia in his hair and eyes, which, along with his lack of social skills, caused him to be ostracized. Despite his stubbornness, he is a, has a sense of justice, and is sensitive towards romance. It is implied that he refuses friendship because of his past, as his strength caused others to hate him.
  • A first-year student at Furin High School who later becomes Sakura's right-hand man alongside Suo. Although he is not very strong, Nirei always carries a notebook with pen and is knowledgeable about delinquents from other schools.
  • A first-year student at Furin High School who does not talk much, Sugishita is the school's representative and Umemiya's loyal lackey.
  • A first-year student at Furin High School who later becomes Sakura's right-hand man alongside Nirei. Suo wears an eyepatch, has a calm fighting style, and has a sense of humor.
  • A third-year student and the representative of Furin High School. Despite being the leader, Umemiya is cheerful and likes to gardening, which makes Sakura question his status as a leader. He is also Kotoha's protective adoptive brother.
  • A third-year student at Furin High School and one of the Four Heavenly Generals.
  • A first-year transfer student at Furin High School who is obsessed with muscle training and asking people about their "aesthetics".
  • A first-year student at Furin High School who likes playing video games.
  • A second-year student at Furin High School and the Grade Captain of Class 1. Kaji usually wears a headphone while listening to loud music.
  • A café owner in the district who is like a big sister to the Furin students, despite being younger than them. Kotoha is Umemiya's adoptive sister.
  • The cheerful leader of Shishitoren.
  • The second-in-command of Shishitoren.
  • A member of Shishitoren.
  • A member of Shishitoren.
  • A member of Shishitoren.

    • Production

    Wind Breaker is written and illustrated by Satoru Nii. He was inspired to draw manga as he consistently read Weekly Shōnen Magazine during his childhood. While attending university, he submitted a dark fantasy work titled Uramare-ya for a newcomer award and then achieved a Kodansha-published serialization with the gender bender/sports manga Danshi Bado-Bu ni Joshi ga Magireteru Secret Badminton Club. When a second badminton series stalled in development and after he received some advice from an editor, Nii shifted his focus to creating stories about male characters he called .[1] Wind Breaker was born out of Nii's desire to create a series centered around this archetype, which he wished to accomplish by studying similar works while consulting with an editor.[2] Manga like Rave Master and Samurai Deeper Kyo, both of which he grew up reading and that contained such characters, served as influences.[1]

    Nii initially considered having Umemiya as the main character. However, he was unable to make progress with the team leader of Bofuurin as the protagonist, so he brought in Sakura to fill the role to lend an outsider's perspective on the story's circumstances.[1] [2] The author has called Sakura his favorite character for embodying the "cool" factor he sought to accomplish and for the time he devoted to designing his appearance and personality.[2] He chose to give him heterochromatic eyes and hair to add visual complexity and to make him distinguishable as the main character at a glance.[1] He further likened him to a stray cat in his design, stating his light movements and lack of body thickness were unlike those of normal humans.[2] Also feeling that he lacked the personality of a main character in an early draft, Nii gave Sakura the -like trait of being embarrassed when someone praised or thanked him.[1]

    The main setting of the manga was modeled after a shopping district in Tokyo. Bofurin's team color is green, representing plants, while the rival team's (Shishitoren) color is red, representing a red lantern found in a tavern.[1] Nii claimed to have little involvement with the anime adaptation. He admitted to being impressed by the voice actors' commitments to their parts and was consequently able to reinterpret his own characters.[2]

    Media

    Manga

    Written and illustrated by Satoru Nii, the series began serialization on Kodansha's Magazine Pocket website on January 13, 2021.[3] As of August 2024, the series' individual chapters have been collected in 18 volumes.

    In March 2022, Kodansha USA announced that they had licensed the series for digital English publication.[4] During their Anime NYC 2022 panel, Kodansha USA announced that they would begin releasing print copies in late 2023.[5]

    Volumes

    Chapters not yet in tankōbon format

    These chapters have yet to be published in a volume.

    Anime

    An anime television series adaptation produced by CloverWorks was announced on March 30, 2023.[6] [7] It is directed by Toshifumi Akai, with scripts written by Hiroshi Seko, character designs by Taishi Kawakami, and music composed by Ryo Takahashi.[8] The series aired from April 5 to June 28, 2024, on the brand new Super Animeism Turbo programming block on all JNN affiliates, including MBS and TBS.[9] The opening theme song is, performed by Natori, while the ending theme song is, performed by Young Kee.[10] Aniplex of America licensed the series and is streaming it on Crunchyroll.[11] [12] Muse Communication licensed the series in Southeast Asia.[13]

    After the airing of the final episode of the first season, a second season was announced and is set to premiere in 2025.[14] [15]

    Episodes

    Reception

    The series ranked 20th at the 2021 Next Manga Award in the web manga category.[16] At AnimeJapan 2022, the series ranked ninth in a poll asking what manga people want to see animated.[17]

    By March 2022, the series had sold over 1.22 million copies between its digital and print versions.[18]

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: Magazine Pocket staff . May 7, 2021 . "カッコいい"がてんこ盛り！ 『WIND BREAKER』にいさとる先生インタビュー . “Cool” galore! Interview with Satoru sensei on Wind Breaker . https://web.archive.org/web/20230329065908/https://pocket.shonenmagazine.com/article/entry/wind_20210507 . March 29, 2023 . Magazine Pocket . . ja . April 7, 2024.
    2. Web site: Animate Times staff . February 19, 2024 . 『WIND BREAKER』TVアニメ4月放送開始記念！ 原作者・にいさとる先生 独占インタビュー!! . Wind Breaker: Commemorating the start of TV anime broadcasting in April! Exclusive interview with the original author Satoru Nii!! . https://web.archive.org/web/20240226175829/https://www.animatetimes.com/news/details.php?id=1705909995 . February 26, 2024 . . ja . April 7, 2024.
    3. Web site: ＷＩＮＤ ＢＲＥＡＫＥＲ（１）. Kodansha. May 5, 2022. ja. April 21, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230421021221/https://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000350893. live.
    4. Web site: Pineda. Rafael Antonio. Kodansha USA Licenses Kyoko Okazaki's River's Edge Manga, The Dawn of the Witch Novels. Anime News Network. March 23, 2022. May 5, 2022. March 24, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220324020333/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2022-03-23/kodansha-usa-licenses-kyoko-okazaki-river-edge-manga-the-dawn-of-the-witch-novels/.183931. live.
    5. Web site: Fall 2023 New Print Licensing Announcement. kodansha.us. Kodansha USA. November 23, 2022. November 24, 2022. November 24, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221124082216/https://kodansha.us/2022/11/23/fall-2023-new-print-licensing-announcement/. live.
    6. Web site: Dempsey. Liam. Delinquent School Manga WIND BREAKER Gets TV Anime Adaptation. Crunchyroll. March 30, 2023. March 30, 2023. March 30, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230330123946/https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2023/03/30/delinquent-school-manga-wind-breaker-gets-tv-anime-adaptation. live.
    7. Web site: Cayanan. Joanna. Satoru Nii's School Delinquent Manga Wind Breaker Gets TV Anime. Anime News Network. March 30, 2023. March 30, 2023. March 30, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230330142756/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2023-03-30/satoru-nii-school-delinquent-manga-wind-breaker-gets-tv-anime/.196594. live.
    8. Web site: Mateo. Alex. Wind Breaker Anime Unveils 1st Promo Video, Staff. Anime News Network. December 14, 2023. December 14, 2023. December 14, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231214165955/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2023-12-14/wind-breaker-anime-unveils-1st-promo-video-staff/.205495. live.
    9. Web site: ja:WIND BREAKER：テレビアニメが“スーパーアニメイズムTURBO”で毎週木曜深夜放送 2024年4月スタート. https://mantan-web.jp/article/20231215dog00m200000000c.html. Mantan Web. December 15, 2023. December 14, 2023. ja. December 14, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231214155506/https://mantan-web.jp/article/20231215dog00m200000000c.html. live.
    10. Web site: Mateo. Alex. Wind Breaker Anime's Promo Video Unveils Additional Cast, Theme Songs, April 4 Premiere. Anime News Network. March 5, 2024. March 5, 2024. March 5, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240305155703/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2024-03-05/wind-breaker-anime-promo-video-unveils-additional-cast-theme-songs-april-4-premiere/.208341. live.
    11. Web site: Anime listing on Aniplex of America official website.. Aniplex of America. April 19, 2024.
    12. Web site: Crunchyroll Announces Release Schedule for Spring 2024 Anime Season. Anime News Network. Mateo. Alex. March 13, 2024. April 4, 2024.
    13. Web site: Pineda. Rafael Antonio. Muse Asia Licenses A Sign of Affection, Wind Breaker Anime. Anime News Network. December 15, 2023. December 15, 2023. December 15, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231215104016/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2023-12-15/muse-asia-licenses-a-sign-of-affection-wind-breaker-anime/.205520. live.
    14. Web site: Mateo. Alex. Wind Breaker Anime Gets 2nd Season in 2025. Anime News Network. June 27, 2024. June 27, 2024.
    15. Web site: Frater. Patrick. ‘Wind Breaker’ Anime Hit Set for Second Season – Global Bulletin. Variety. June 28, 2024. July 27, 2024.
    16. Web site: Loveridge. Lynzee. Kaiju No. 8, Oshi no Ko Win Next Manga Awards Web, Print Categories. Anime News Network. August 24, 2021. May 5, 2022. August 24, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210824190524/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2021-08-24/kaiju-no-8-oshi-no-ko-win-next-manga-awards-web-print-categories/.176367. live.
    17. Web site: Morrissy. Kim. Senpai wa Otokonoko Tops AnimeJapan's 'Manga We Want To See Animated' Poll. Anime News Network. March 23, 2022. May 5, 2022. March 23, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220323172153/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2022-03-23/senpai-wa-otokonoko-tops-animejapan-manga-we-want-to-see-animated-poll/.183904. live.
    18. Web site: ja:ヤンキー漫画『WIND BREAKER』累計122万部突破 最新コミックスは発売即重版. https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2228819/full/. Oricon. March 23, 2022. May 5, 2022. ja. November 3, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221103022323/https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2228819/full/. live.

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