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Blue Lock is one of my favorites even though I’m very critical of sexual fanservice and voyeuristic framing in anime. The reason it works for me comes down to intent, framing, and narrative priorities. It is also radically different from most sports anime.

While typical sports series emphasize teamwork, friendship and slice-of-life campiness, Blue Lock centers on psychology, ego, ambition and rivalry. Even if you don't know anything about sports (I sure don't), this show is engaging. The premise is ruthless, but the rules are stated clearly from the start: no one is fighting to save the world or survive, they are competing to become Japan’s ... number one striker in soccer. The stakes are about identity, status, and the pursuit of athletic excellence. What stood out to me is how the series treats failure. Characters are not mocked or humiliated for losing. The competition is cruel but not sadistic, and the narrative doesn’t tear people down. Visually, the characters tight uniforms may stand out, but they serve a functional sports purpose. The uniforms are flexible, standardized and never treated as sexual in the story. The characters are not objectified for wearing them. There is also a recurring character who is casually nude at times, but it’s treated as part of his eccentric personality instead of sexual fanservice. No one fetishizes or harasses him, and he doesn't fetishize or harass anyone either.

The series does include some voyeuristic camera angles early on, but these moments are brief, infrequent and not a structural focus. The framing doesn’t linger, doesn’t exaggerate bodies for erotic effect and becomes less noticeable over time. Blue Lock does not rely on perverted humor, sexualized character archetypes or objectification as entertainment. Instead, it uses character psychology, strategy, competitive tension, and personal growth. Trash talk and conflict are rooted in rivalry and ambition rather than sexualization, and even characters ridiculed for their appearance are still treated as equals in narrative importance and skill. Blue Lock is not flawless, but its focus on ego, mindset, and high-pressure competition makes it stand out. It’s a strong recommendation for viewers who want a more intense, character-driven take on sports without the usual campy tone.

Yattara is one of those rare manga that feels genuinely overlooked because it doesn’t chase hype, spectacle, or wish fulfillment. If you’re looking for a more mature, ethically grounded story rather than power fantasy or fanservice, this is worth a closer look.

I initially expected a conventional horror premise in which a monster preys on helpless children. Instead, Yattara delivers something far more thoughtful, suspenseful, and morally sincere. The children are portrayed in a very vulnerable situation, they are starving, disabled, abandoned, and ignored by adults who refuse to help them. It would have been easy for the story to exploit this setup for shock value, ... cruelty, or sexualized harm, but it never does. There is no fanservice, no degrading treatment of women, and no cheap attempts at provocation. The monster itself is especially compelling. It cannot speak, so its thoughts are conveyed through narration, allowing us to understand its motivations. Its original goal is selfish, it just wants to eat the children. The monster ends up feeding, protecting, and raising them in hopes of making them “taste better.” Over time, this premise evolves into something more complex, as the monster begins to struggle with managing its empathy and emotional attachment toward the very children it planned to eat.

The manga also treats its social themes with respect. The children face discrimination, neglect, and hostility from the people in town who view them as disposable outsiders. When authority figures intervene, they threaten punishment instead of protection. Through situations like this, the relationship between the children and the monster develops into a fragile, transactional, and eventually emotional bond. This manga succeeds because it balances suspense, plot, and character growth while maintaining ethical coherence and emotional realism. Yattara doesn’t aim to be a masterpiece, but it does stand out as a quiet, morally grounded hidden gem.