Hungry Heart: Wild Striker

Storyline

Hungry Heart: Wild Striker tells the story of Kanō Kyōsuke, a teenage high school student who at the beginning of the series, has just transferred into Jyoyō Orange High School. Kyōsuke's older brother is the illustrious and extremely famous A.C. Milan soccer player, Kanō Seisuke, who had first taught him how to play and love the game of soccer and whom he has greatly admired since childhood. After Seisuke left Japan to sign with Italian powerhouse A.C. Milan, people started comparing Kyōsuke with his brother and criticizing him due to his different playing style. Living in his brother's shadow, Kyōsuke's love for the game slowly started to evaporate and lessen, and he eventually lost most of his passion for it.

After his transfer to Jyoyō and a fated meeting with Tsujiwaki Miki, an enthusiastic girl with a lot of passion for soccer and who soon reinvigorates his love for the game with her determination to excel, Kyōsuke's deep love and passion for soccer returns to its fullest. He soon joins the Jyoyō men's soccer team and makes several friends, such as his fellow freshmen, Sakai Jefferson, a talented goalkeeper, and Rodrigo, a passionate Brazilian transfer student. Kyōsuke, with the support of his friends at Jyoyō and invigorated with Miki's care and help and by his love and determination to excel in soccer, takes on the best, and discovers an immense and determined passion for the game.

Characters

Note: Names are given in the original Japanese order, with the family name, or surname, followed by the given name. This is also the format used in the English dub.

Kanō Kyōsuke (叶恭介), (Forward)

Voiced by: Toriumi Kousuke

Called Orangehead jokingly by some of his friends, Kyōsuke learned the ins and outs of soccer from his illustrious elder brother, A.C. Milan playmaker Kanō Seisuke. After Seisuke's departure, he slowly loses interest in the game, but rediscovers his love for it after a fated meeting with Miki. Initially the coach of Jyoyō's women's soccer team, the determination exhibited by the girls, especially Miki, invigorates his passion for soccer, and soon he joins Jyoyō's men's soccer team, emerging as their ace striker. In the last episode, he becomes a player for AFC Ajax.

Tsujiwaki Miki (辻脇美紀)

Voiced by: Katou Natsuki

Kyōsuke's closest friend, and the captain of the Jyoyō female soccer team. Despite their frequent fights, the two eventually fall in love with each other.

Rafael Rodrigo del Franco (ロドリゴ, Rodorigo), (Midfielder)

Voiced by: Ishizuka Katashi

A transfer student from Brazil who wants to go pro in order to help his large family. While he appears to be cold, self-centered and only driven by money at first, his attitude radically changes after his meeting with Kyosuke. Rodrigo is Jyoyo's playmaker, who earns the interest of several professional J. League clubs. In the final year, he becomes the captain of Akanegaoka.

Sakai Jefferson Kōji (境ジェファーソン公司, Sakai Jefāson Kōji), (Goalkeeper)

Voiced by: Takatsuka Masaya

A half-Japanese transfer student from Sweden, known for being attractive to women. Jyoyō's star goalkeeper learns to overcome his repressed fear of injury through his interactions with his new teammates. Sakai shares a strong bond with both Rodrigo and Kyosuke.

Kamata Gohzo (釜田豪三), (Defender)

Voiced by: Nomura Kenji

Referred to as "Sergeant Chin" by Kyosuke, he played forward in junior high but becomes Jyoyo's defensive leader and vice captain. Kyosuke often joking jabs at him, but respects Kamata deeply. Kamata is currently playing for a regional team and aiming for a spot in the J-League.

Sako Toshiya (佐古俊也), (Midfielder)

Voiced by: Nagano Yoshikazu

Jyoyo's team captain and playmaker prior to Rodrigo's takeover. Sako is levelheaded, mentally quick and always willing to help his teammates. He has a rivalry with Ryosei's captain and genius playmaker Furuki during high school. He and Furuki end up being teammates in university.

Ichikawa Hiroshi (一河ヒロシ), (Midfielder)

Voiced by: Yoshino Hiroyuki

Known for his hot-headed attitude. In the first year, he has trouble with Rodrigo's individualist attitude, as he believes teamwork is the key for victory. In the second year, he is chosen to be vice captain and has to deal with Yūya and his group.

Esaka Masashi (江坂マサシ), (Midfielder)

Voiced by: Matsumoto Yoshirou

Referred to as "Osaka" by Kyosuke, Esaka seems to take everything in stride and with a smile on his face. While appearing to be no more than comic relief, he is actually quite passionate about his teammates' well-being and the team's performance. He is selected to be Jyoyo's new captain by both Sako and Kamata, who both acknowledged his excellent attitude and drive to improve.

Kiba Yūya (木場優也), (Forward)

Voiced by: Suzumura Kenichi

Anime-only character. Called "Nesthead" by Kyōsuke. Kyōsuke's rival during his second year for the forward position. He also falls in love with Miki and battles with Kyōsuke in order to win her heart. He is known for his speed and striking ability.

Shinkawa Masahiko (新川マサヒコ), (Midfielder)

Voiced by: Fukuyama Jun

Anime-only character. The fastest member of the team and Yūya's close friend. He and Muroi joined soccer to help Yūya make it into the J-League as a way to thank him for getting them out of their lives as delinquents. He is known for his incredible speed and dribbling ability.

Muroi Kazuya (室井和也), (Defender)

Voiced by: Takemoto Eiji

Anime-only character. Replaces Kamata in Kyosuke's second year as a defender and is known for his Mohawk hairstyle. Like Shinkawa, he started playing soccer to help Yūya make it into the J-League.

Murakami Kazuo (村上監督)

Voiced by: Matsuyama Takashi

The coach of the Jyōyo men's soccer team. He was formerly a powerful forward for the Japanese National Team.

Mori Kazuto (森一人)

Voiced by: Hibino Akari

Manager of the Jyōyo men's soccer team. He used to play soccer in middle school, but due to an injury cannot play anymore.

Ōmori Fukuko (大森福子)

Voiced by: Iseki Yoshiko

Jyōyo dormitory's cook.

Dōmoto Kaori (堂本香織)

Voiced by: Araki Kae

Jyōyo's nutritionist and team doctor. The girlfriend of Seisuke, who asked her to watch over his brother in his absence.

Kanō Seisuke (叶成介)

Voiced by: Koyasu Takehito

Kyōsuke's older brother. When he was younger, he led both his middle and high school's soccer teams to the nationals and won, and was in the top three in high school. A world-renowned player before 17, he also had a J. League contract before age 21, and later became the A.C. Milan star and captain. He also had excellent academic grades.

Carlos Viva (カルロスビバ), (Defender)

A transfer student from Colombia who wants to go pro in order to help his large family. While he appears to be cold, self-centered and only driven by money at first, his attitude radically changes after his meeting with Kyosuke.

Furuki

Voiced by: Yusa Kouji

Ryosei's team captain. He plays ID (Important Data) soccer and later plays on the same college team as Sako.

Makoto Iguchi

Kokuryō's ace goalkeeper. He also plays with the Japan youth team.

Kamiyama Yuujirou

Voiced by: Harasawa Kouki

Kokuryō's ace striker. Kyōsuke's rival as the best striker in the region and a member of the Japan youth team.

Fujimori Minoru (藤森稔) and Fujimori Kaoru (藤森薫), (midfielders)

Voiced by: Yusa Kouji (Japanese); and (English)

Kokuryō's dynamic duo. They are members of the Japan youth team.

Yuki Kagami (加賀美勇樹), (midfielder)

Voiced by: Suzumura Kenichi

Known as Kanō Seisuke, Jr, He is Tenryū's captain and becomes Kyōsuke's rival as the best player in high school soccer in Japan.

Nakayama Masashi "Gon" (中山雅史)

Voiced by: Himself

Like Jyōyo's coach Murakami, he was a former player for the national team. He was the first man to ever score a goal in a World Cup for Japan (in the 1998 World Cup, in Japan's final group stage game, a 1-2 loss to Jamaica), since this was their first time to play in the tournament.

Narumi Keisuke

Biological father of Kyosuke, who held a mark in Japanese football. Lost his life in a car accident shortly before being called to the Japan national football team. Kyosuke was in the car, but managed to survive the accident. He holds a record of scoring in the prefecture before Kyosuke broke it.

Narumi Mitsuko

Biological mother of Kyosuke. She lost her life in the car accident along with her husband.

Coach Numakawa

Head coach of Tenryu High and Japan Under 22 delegate.

Toda and Ueno

Both are side backs for Jyoyō. Kamata teaches them some defensive techniques in the first year. Sakai also tells them what to do in some trainings and matches.

Teams

Jyōyo Akanegaoka High School (Jyōyo Orange Hill) - Kyōsuke Kanō's high school team. Members: Sakai Jeferson Kouji, Toda, Ueno, Kamata (graduated), Muroi, Ichikawa, Shinkawa, Esaka, Sako (graduated), Tanaka, Rodrigo, Kanou Kyosuke, Kiba Yuya, Sasao, Shimizu (graduated), Omura (graduated).

Ryōsei High School - Known for their ID soccer, based on data collected by their captain, Furuki.

Yamanomori High School - A school in the mountains known for their teamwork.

Kokuryō High School - The regional champions and Tenryū's rival school. Members: Kamiyama, Iguchi, Fujimori Twins, Seki, Oozawa.

Tenryū High School - The national champions. Seisuke Kanō's former high school. Members: Seisuke Kanō (graduated), Kagami, Sawamura, Suzuki, Mishima, Aida

Tenjin High School - Team of delinquents. Their rough play is infamous.

Japan Under 22 delegate - Chosen by coach Numakawa to represent Japan in the Amsterdam Preliminaries. Members: Kanou Kyosuke, Kagami, Kamiyama, Iguchi, Fujimori Twins

Jyoyo Asahigaoka High School - Sister school to Jyōyo Akanegaoka High School.

Colombia Under 22 Team - Coach Lopez to represent Colombia in Bogota March International Football

Manga

The series was planned by Yōichi Takahashi who wished to use the title of Bruce Springsteen's song "Hungry Heart" which he enjoyed. While developing the manga, Takahashi also contacted Nippon Animation to make an anime series at the same time. Despite being based on the Hungry Heart, Takahashi stated that the two would be highly different. The manga was published in Japan between in a total of six tankōbon volumes between November 7, 2002 and April 8, 2005.

Broadcast

Broadcast the anime channels United Kingdom on the Kix!. all Australia Promos on KidsCo Cartoon Network, and Network Ten (2008), high Indonesia promo on SpaceToon (2010). promo coming soon Southeast Asia and United States on Animax (2010). have promo channels Germany soon channel on the Super RTL, Cartoon Network (2013), and the Disney XD Germany (2014).

Anime

A Hungry Heart anime series retitled Hungry Heart: Wild Striker was produced by Nippon Animation and Animax. Satoshi Saga directed the series while Ken'ichi Imaizumi was in charge of characters designs which were significantly different from the ones from the manga. The series aired in Japan in Animax between September 11, 2002 and September 10, 2003, spanning a total of 52 episodes. Pony Canyon collected the series in a total of thirteen DVD volumes released in Japan between February 19, 2003 and March 17, 2004. All of the DVD covers use color illustrations by Yōichi Takahashi.

The series uses two opening themes starting with Kids Alive's "2nd Stage". It is replaced in episode 43 by "Hungry Heart (Kiseki no Tsubasa)" (ハングリーハート〜奇跡の翼〜, Hungry Heart (Miracle Wings)) by Natsuki Katō as Miki Tsujiawaki featuring Athens Generation. The first ending theme song is "Mi Title" (未タイトル, Titleless) by Utaibito Hane for the first twelve episodes. It is then replaced by "Tell Tell Bōzu" (tell tell 坊主, Tell Tell Teru teru bozu) by Kokia for the following twenty-six episodes. In episode 40, Kokia's "Watashi no Taiyō" (私の太陽, My Sun) serves as the new ending theme and it is used for the remaining episodes except the final one which uses "2nd Stage."