My frame of reference is mostly within American borders, but the prospect of real life sports figures showing up in animation has always tickled me. Whether it be Chicago Bear William “The Fridge” Perry’s term of service as a GI: JOE or Michael Jordan’s team-up with the Loony Toons in SPACE JAM, there’s just something about (metaphorically) mixing Gatorade with ink & paint that makes me smile.
So you can guess how I feel about the Anime News Network’s report of the anime show Tentai Senshi Sunred featuring the Kawasaki Frontale soccer team. Given that the team plays in Kawasaki, the same town Sunred’s heroic spoof is set, it’s not too much of a logic leap to connect the two. Frontale has, in fact, already been featured in TV spots promoting the show’s first season in fall ‘08 and those spots’ popularity has led to a bit of escalation.
It won’ t just be some promo spots this time, oh no… on March 5th, the team’s going to have its very own crossover special KAWSAKI FRONTALE X TENTAI SENSHI SUNRED. I expect both superheroic fists and soccer balls to fly.
-- Tom Pinchuk is the writer of UNIMAGINABLE for Arcana Comics and HYBRID BASTARDS! for Archaia Comics. Watch out for the HYBRID BASTARDS! hardcover collection this March - - available for pre-order now on Amazon.com.
