Cardfight!! Vanguard

Sendou Aichi is a shy third-year middle school student who clings to a single, treasured card from his childhood, the rare "Blaster Blade." That card connects him to the card game Vanguard, whose battles are set against the imaginary world called Planet Cray. When Aichi runs into Toshiki Kai, the person who once gave him Blaster Blade, his routine life shifts. The show follows how cards, matches, and growing friendships pull Aichi out of his shell, mixing action-packed duels with lighthearted moments and schoolday concerns, while keeping the future outcomes and surprises under wraps.

Created by Akira Itou, this 2018 anime entry is part of the larger Cardfight!! Vanguard franchise. The season features a voice cast that includes Takuya Sato, Tsubasa Yonaga, Atsushi Abe, Kentaro Ito, and Ryo Hirohashi, and it returned the series to TV screens with a fresh production aimed at younger viewers and long time fans alike.

The series didn’t collect major mainstream awards, and there are no widely reported industry prizes tied to this particular 2018 run. Most recognition has been informal, coming from fan communities and niche anime outlets rather than major ceremonies.

Culturally, the show has helped keep the Vanguard franchise visible among children and collectors, reinforcing the link between the anime and the physical card game. Its matches and character designs supported ongoing merchandise, and it kept conversations alive in hobby circles, from casual play to local events and online fan discussion.

Critical and audience response is mixed to positive, with a modest vote average of 6.0/10 based on a small sample. Reviewers and viewers often note that the series is geared toward younger audiences, focusing on themes of friendship, confidence, fair play, and teamwork, while delivering energetic card battles and enough humor to balance the action.