The Spring 2025 anime season is generous not only with new series but also with exciting continuations. Viewers were first introduced to the series “Wind Breaker” a year ago, getting acquainted with the protective fighters from the delinquent high school “Furin”. Yes, this is an anime about street fights, neighborhood skirmishes, and settling things with fists. The second season began airing in early April, providing a good reason to discuss what makes this series appealing and why you should watch it.
For those who haven`t watched or might have forgotten what the first season was about, here`s a brief rundown of the premise. Fifteen-year-old Haruka Sakura`s life revolves around fighting. Moving to a new city, he enrolls in Furin High. This is where the most unruly kids study, and Haruka hopes to find worthy opponents among them. However, reality turns out to be somewhat different. Who would have thought that the local residents don`t fear or avoid Furin students; on the contrary, they value and respect them. The high schoolers are recognized as protectors of the town and are ready to explain with their fists to all troublemakers how people should behave here. Yet, Haruka chose Furin specifically to fight freely, assert himself, and reach great heights. But no matter, even in this situation, he`ll find a reason to use his fists.
In the first season, the main character got used to the new school, its people, made enemies, and found reasons to fight gangs from other districts. Sakura isn`t accustomed to being treated well. The hero is quick to jump into a fight but blushes when someone is warm and friendly towards him. It gives the impression that the main character doesn`t quite know what he needs. On one hand, he wants to achieve everything himself; on the other, he enjoys company. Sometimes he wants to be at the top of the school, other times he hesitates to become class representative. The character seems somewhat one-dimensional, not fully developed, and all that distinguishes him is his unusual appearance, a talent for getting into trouble, and creating problems for others.
So, what is “Wind Breaker” actually about? The main character constantly wants to fight, seeks a reason, finds one, and fights, joined by a dozen other students. This anime is almost 100% action scenes and seems to have been created solely for them. Finding a plot requires effort, as it`s extremely superficial and feels like an afterthought. Haruka wants to prove to everyone that he is the coolest and strongest, dreaming of reaching the top and becoming the leader. Why? Just because, and why not?
But what about the noble goal of protecting the town? Initially, Haruka had no such plans. He started patrolling the streets after learning that all Furin students did this. The locals adore their protectors, trust them, and ask for help if needed. The students can not only protect against gangs but also help with chores, like painting over graffiti on a house wall. And what is the conflict of the story? Some are good, others are bad. Some are cool, others are beaten. Plus, a bit of bombastic speeches about the power of fists and protecting the weak. That`s essentially it.
We are told about territorial disputes and the bold motto of Furin High, which states that if someone who oppresses the weak crosses the city line, “Wind Breaker” will grind them into dust. Here, strength decides everything. Everyone sees themselves as cool, but the truth is on the side of the victor. The anime constantly features the opposition of “they and we,” “outsiders and insiders,” but at the same time promotes the idea that nothing can be achieved alone, and to climb to the top, you must earn people`s recognition and respect.
The first season adapted 41 chapters of the manga. The final episodes introduced us to the “Kijie” gang, whose members were harassing one of the Furin High students. The season ended not with an epic fight, but merely its announcement. The first-years from Haruka Sakura`s class won`t allow their classmate to be beaten by outsiders. Together, they plan to fight the Kijie members to teach them a lesson and rescue the hostage.
The second season of the anime begins with the adaptation of manga chapter 42. The students arrive directly at the gates of the Kijie gang`s base. Fire burns in their eyes, and their fists are ready for a fight. However, their opponents are much better armed. No matter how you look at it, sticks with spikes and metal bats are a clear advantage, not to mention the sheer number of enemies. Yet, let`s not forget that in such action anime, the good guys always win, so neither the number of opponents nor their weapons will prevent the main character and his comrades from achieving victory. From the outside, it might look a bit like a minor scuffle, but it`s very dynamic. The fight with the Kijie members lasts two episodes, followed by prolonged scenes of emotional turmoil, an atmosphere of unity among the first-years, and attempts at heart-wrenching scenes. Yes, there will be more of this in the second season.
A pleasant aspect of the second season of the anime is its musical score. The song for the new opening was performed by the male idol group SixTONES, whom many might discover while watching “Wind Breaker.” The track titled “BOYZ” is energizing and somewhat inspiring, and the vocalists` voices perfectly convey the spirit and dynamism of the series.
So, what is remarkable about this anime? In “Wind Breaker,” much like in “Solo Leveling,” everything rests on spectacular fights and the characters` cultivated coolness. It`s a decent series for easy watching if you want to relax after work or study. The anime has a simple but pleasant visual style, as well as relatively realistic action scenes (with the exception of the main character`s jumps and turns – he`s quite the flying squirrel).
“Wind Breaker” is an anime about street battles, verbal spats, and exchanging barbs leading to subsequent fights. The series also tries to insert philosophical discussions about strength, leadership, and camaraderie between the fights. All of this feels very forced and straightforward, so watching just the action scenes would be much more enjoyable than the clumsy attempts to extract tears from the viewer. Nevertheless, this is still an anime about fights for action fans, and that`s what you should consider when deciding whether to watch the series.
Finley Holt