Giant Killing

Plot

East Tokyo United, ETU, has been struggling in Japan's top football league for a few years. It has taken everything they have just to avoid relegation. To make matters even worse, the fans are starting to abandon the team. In an effort to improve their performance, ETU has hired a new coach, the slightly eccentric Tatsumi Takeshi. Tatsumi, who was considered a great football player when he was younger, abandoned the team years before but has proven himself as the manager of one of England's lower division amateur teams. The task won't be easy, the teams East Tokyo United is pitted against have bigger budgets and better players. However, Tatsumi is an expert at Giant Killing. ETU home stadium in this manga was modeled on Hitachi Kashiwa Soccer Stadium. It references many famous managers including Arsène Wenger, the manager of Arsenal.

Characters

Takeshi Tatsumi (達海 猛, Tatsumi Takeshi)

Voiced by: Tomokazu Seki Former East Tokyo United star and member of the Japan national football team, he transfers to a foreign club after a successful spell at ETU. After retirement as a player, Tatsumi coaches FC Eastham, an English Division 5 amateur team, into the fourth round of the FA Cup. Following his success with Eastham, the thirty-five-year-old is convinced by ex-teammate Gotoh, now GM at East Tokyo United, to return to Japan and coach the team where he spent his years as a player.

Shigeyuki Murakoshi (村越 茂幸, Murakoshi Shigeyuki)

Voiced by: Ryotaro Okiayu Plays Defensive Midfield for East Tokyo United. He joined ETU as a promising talent in the hopes of playing with then-ETU star Tatsumi, but his dreams were crushed when Tatsumi left for Europe the following season. He is known as "Mr. ETU" throughout the storyline because of his loyalty and dedication to the club, even during the seasons it spent relegated in J2.

Daisuke Tsubaki (椿 大介, Tsubaki Daisuke)

Voiced by: Takahiro Mizushima Plays Midfield for East Tokyo United. At twenty years old, he was promoted from ETU's reserve team to ETU's "A" team by Tatsumi. He is a very fast runner and is able to stretch opposition defences. Lacking self-confidence, Tsubaki has doubts about his ability to help the team, however Tatsumi encourages him because if he lets his talent show, it will more than compensate for the mistakes he makes.

Luigi Yoshida (ルイジ 吉田, Yoshida Luigi)

Voiced by: Daisuke Ono Plays Midfield for East Tokyo United. Of half-Japanese and half-Italian descent; known as the "Prince" among ETU teammates because of his ingenious playmaking ability and his often narcissistic attitude.

Kazuki Kuroda (黒田 一樹, Kuroda Kazuki)

Voiced by: Kentarō Itō Plays defense center back for East Tokyo United. Kuroda had problems working with Tatsumi when he first started as manager, prompting him to ask for a transfer to another club. In this time he is able to reflect with fellow defender Sugie on how it is they who need to change and not Tatsumi.

Yusaku Sugie (杉江 勇作, Sugie Yusaku)

Voiced by: Daisuke Kirii Plays defense center back for East Tokyo United. He is loyal to Kuroda and skipped practice with him so they could reflect on the state of the team and how they were playing.

Hiroshi Midorikawa (緑川 宏, Midorikawa Hiroshi)

The goal keeper for East Tokyo United. One of the older members of the team, he gives advice to Kuroda and Sugie to help them become better defenders.

Yuri Nagata (永田有里, Nagata Yuri)

Voiced by: Masumi Asano Daughter of ETU's President Nagata, and PR Manager for the club. Was a big fan of ETU and Tatsumi during his player years, and sets off for England alongside GM Gotoh to convince Tatsumi to return to Japan as coach of ETU.

Manga

Giant Killing began as a manga series written by Masaya Tsunamoto and illustrated by Tsujitomo, which began serialization in Kodansha's Weekly Morning manga magazine in 2007.

Anime

An anime television series was produced by Studio Deen and directed by Yuu Kou. The anime began airing in Japan on April 4, 2010. On May 21, 2010 it was announced that Crunchyroll had picked up the series for simulcast distribution starting on May 23. The opening theme song to Giant Killing is "My Story", by THE CHERRY COKE$. The closing credit music is "Get tough!" by G.P.S.