The Knight in the Area

Kakeru and Suguru grew up chasing the same dream, but their paths split as talent and misfortune took different turns. Suguru rises through Japan's youth soccer ranks and draws attention for his skill, while Kakeru struggles on the pitch and opts to work behind the scenes as a manager. When an unexpected catastrophe forces Kakeru to rethink what he wants from the game, he has to reassess his place in soccer and the meaning of contribution beyond scoring goals. Alongside them is Nana Mishima, a childhood friend nicknamed "Little Witch", who shines as a member of Nadeshiko Japan and pushes Kakeru to aim higher, testing the brothers' bond and ambitions without revealing future outcomes. Tone blends earnest competition with humor.

The anime premiered in 2012, created by Hirofumi Ogura, and mixes animation with comedy and sports. Voice cast includes Shizuka Itoh, Yuko Sanpei, Jun Fukuyama, Akira Ishida, and Takehito Koyasu. It balances humor with match scenes.

The series does not have widely reported major industry awards attached to it. While it earned attention from a loyal audience and positive viewer ratings, there are no well known Emmy or other international accolades listed for this title. Information on smaller festival or local awards is limited.

Fans responded to its focus on the less glamorous aspects of soccer, especially the spotlight on a female national team player within a male centered story. Nana's "Little Witch" persona and the siblings dynamic have stuck with viewers and contributed to conversations about leadership, teamwork, and representation in sports anime.

Viewer feedback is generally positive, reflected by an 8.0/10 average from a small sample of votes. The show blends sports humor with themes of sibling rivalry, ambition, leadership and identity, questioning what it means to help a team succeed whether you score goals or guide from the sidelines.