Anime

Giant Killing

Kanji	ジャイアントキリング
Romanji
Genre	sports, soccer, action, tournament, drama
Director	Yuu Kou
Producer	Atsuya Hirooka, Yuji Shibata
Composer	Hideharu Mori
Studio	Studio Deen
Network	NHK
Demographics	Shounen
Original Run	April 4, 2010 – September 26, 2010
Episodes	26

The Giant Killing anime is produced by Studio Deen and directed by Yuu Kou.

Overview[]

The anime began airing in Japan on April 4, 2010. On May 21, 2010 it was announced that Crunchyroll has picked up the series for simulcast distribution starting on May 23.^[1] The anime consisted of 26-episodes, which covered manga volume 1 to part of volume 10. The anime stopped just prior to ETU's 13th league game against Kawasaki Frontier. In the manga, that game began in the later half of Volume 10.

The opening theme song to Giant Killing is "My Story", by The Cherry Cokes. The closing credit music is "Get tough!" by G.P.S.^[2] The soundtrack, Giant Killing Original Soundtrack - Get Tough!, for the anime was released on August 18, 2010. The Cherry Coke also release the full version of the opening theme song in the album Giant Killing - My Story.

Episode list[]

	Synopsis	Original Air Date
	Takeshi Tatsumi led the 5th division team of Eastham, England to 32nd place in the FA cup. Now he’s been called back to coach his old home team, the small and weak East Tokyo United (ETU). On the first day of training, Tatsumi picks the starter candidates with nothing but the times from 30 meter sprints.	April 4, 2010
	Tatsumi takes on the veteran team with his new starter candidates in a skirmish. The young players follow Tatsumi’s instructions in order to strike at the weaknesses of the veterans, and thus secure their own starting spots. The next day at a press conference, Tatsumi announces another big shocker. Murakoshi then let’s his anger explode at Tatsumi.	April 11, 2010
	On the first day of camp, Tatsumi’s instructions were: self-training. On top of that, Tatsumi makes it even harder by insisting that they all share a single ball. When the players start arguing about what should be focused on, finally a brawl breaks out. While the coaches are trying to break it up, a late player called Prince appears.	April 18, 2010
	The first match for the new ETU under Tatsumi’s lead is against the champion, Tokyo Victory. The Victory players take note of Gino wearing the captains mark, and the new starter, Tsubaki. During camp Tsubaki did not show much potential, but in this match he shines in tandem with Tatsumi’s tactics, shaking up the Victory bench. Tatsumi starts to explain his reasons to coach Matsuhara who was surprised by Tsubaki’s good performance.	April 25, 2010
	Second half of the Tokyo Victory match. Tsubaki screwed up and gave the opponents a chance to score. Tatsumi tries to fire up Tsubaki by saying that he shouldn’t worry about a foul. In order to combat Victory’s increasing pace, Tatsumi puts in offensive players midfield. Though Tsubaki was motivated by Tatsumi, it doesn’t go well and his efforts turn our disastrous. Meanwhile, Murakoshi re-examines himself as a player and tries to find a hole for the counter attack.	May 2, 2010
	A league press conference is being held. While everybody is in formal attire, Tatsumi wears his normal clothes. He meets Nagoya Grand Palace’s manager Fuwa, who has history with ETU, and meets last season’s 2nd, Osaka Gunners’ manager Dulfer. When the ceremony begins, Goto and Yuri are worried; quite right, as Tatsumi lets loose once again. A dubious Frenchman takes a liking to Tatsumi and takes him away…	May 9, 2010
	A league match against manager Kurashi’s Javelin Iwata. After a lucky shot puts Iwata in the lead, ETU is totally overrun by Iwata’s assault. After being dissatisfied by the way the game went, the free reporter Fujisawa asks Tatsumi a question at the press conference. While he answers it coolly and whips up another frenzy there, the next match against Sun Arrow Hiroshima is another loss…	May 16, 2010
	After hearing a rumor that Kuroda is about to transfer, Matsuhara feels uneasy. However, Tatsumi declares again that the starting players will be picked with the soccer tennis game. Amongst the disgruntled players, Kuroda finally lets his anger explode and boycotts the training. Yusaku Sugie, who also left the training, begins to tell Kuroda about a mistake that they as center backs had not noticed yet.	May 23, 2010
	Since Tatsumi became manager, ETU has lost 4 matches in a row. The Skulls fan group can’t conceal their anger any longer. At the peak of their anger, they stop the players’ bus and demand an apology from Tatsumi. Tatsumi stops Murakoshi from appeasing the crowd and tries to go out himself. Does he have a secret strategy against Nagoya Grand Palace?!	May 30, 2010
	The fans are demanding that Tatsumi is canned. The opponent they face during their last stand is Nagoya Grand Palace, led by ETU’s former manager Fuwa. In a stark contrast to ETU, Fuwa has been winning cup and league matches. He is an absolutely rational coach who used expensive foreign players to raise the power of the entire team. In the beginning, the Brazilian trio goes on a fierce offensive, but Tatsumi’s plans are already in motion…	June 6, 2010
	ETU vs Nagoya Grand Palace. In the first half, ETU is faced with a relentless assault, but thanks to Tsubaki’s repeated smooth plays, the danger of losing a point is always averted. Fuwa slowly starts to realize that Tatsumi’s plan has been set in motion. However, ETU does not launch a full assault. While Matsubara can’t hide his worries about the defense-only match, Tatsumi is grinning smugly. And the thing Tsubaki sees when he gets on the field is…!	June 13, 2010
	Nagoya can’t break ETU’s defense line, so they put Carlos up front and attack with their strongest formation. This is exactly what Tatsumi has been waiting for. ETU is desperate to withstand the Brazilian onslaught. They block their shot and begin their own counter attack. That was Tatsumi’s plan all along. The ball goes to Gino and ETU’s attack finally begins. Who will score?!	June 20, 2010
	ETU control the Brazilian trio and successfully take the lead. 15 minutes left and Nagoya comes attacking back. But, ETU's composure as a team allows them to withstand the onslaught.	June 27, 2010
	Delighted over their first win, Goro takes ETA out to the shopping district and thinks about reviving the old cheering squad. But, the old fans don't seem 100% on board when asked. Though he tries hard, it is not successful and night sets in.	July 4, 2010
	ETU faces off against FC Sapporo for the preliminaries in the Japan Cup.	July 11, 2010
	Natsuki returns to practice with ETU. He was their top goal scorer the previous season.	July 18, 2010
	The team loses a critical starter for a week with a sprained ankle.	July 25, 2010
	ETU is coming-off its fourth draw in a row. No one is sure if the team is in top shape or not when the match against Albireos Niigata begins. The built-up pressure and excitement leads Akasaki to get a yellow card while defending. At halftime, Akasaki says something that sparks a giant argument. The coach and others try to break it up in haste when they come to a quick conclusion.	August 1, 2010
	Tatsumi fields a surprise line-up against the Dulfer's Osaka Gunners.	August 8, 2010
	ETU begins their match against the Osaka Gunners. They are holding their ground man-to-man for now, but...	August 15, 2010
	Osaka Gunners go 2 goals to nil thanks to their strange forward Kubota, a defender turned forward who loves scoring goals. As the match enters half-time, is it over for ETU?	August 22, 2010
	ETU's defence begins to tighten, making it difficult for Osaka Gunner's to score but ETU's offence is still in shambles as Tatsumi reveals what he told Natsuki at the beginning of the match.	August 29, 2010
	After Natsuki bungled and lost a ball passed to him by Gino, Natsuki deduces from Gino's look that Gino is in a temper and won't be passing him any more balls. Even as Natsuki relies on Akasaki and Tsubaki to pass him the ball, he cannot decide if the ball is his or the teams in answer to a question posed by Tatsumi before the match. His indecision makes him a liability on the pitch. As Tatsumi prepares to substitute him, Natsuki has an epiphany but...	September 5, 2010
	Akasaki scores from Natsuki's missed shot. As the spectators wonder if ETU can pull of a win against the mighty Osaka Gunners, Tatsumi's tactics for dominating midfield and reducing Osaka's ball possession rate is revealed. The Gunner's ultra offensive forward style starts to fall apart as they lose one forward to substitution and another has to track back to defend. In addition, their other forward Hauer picks up a yellow card for shoving Kuroda. As Dulfer is handed a conundrum. The Gunners's Captain, Hiraga, makes a desperate move...	September 12, 2010
	ETU pulls off an upset against the Osaka Gunners with a 3-2 victory thanks to Sera's goal during the injury time.	September 19, 2010
	As the season nears its half-way mark, Tatsumi organises a curry party to give the players some time off, connect with fans and generally celebrate ETU's achievements, including Akasaki's call-up to the U-23 Olympic team.	September 26, 2010