Anime Rework - Inazuma Eleven Ares
When it came to the reboot of Inazuma Eleven I had a mixed response to it. While I liked the new characters bought through and felt the story had potential it felt held down by old characters being used, unlike GO where they were used as older and didn't effect the matches in Ares they were a featured point which I felt held down a lot of new characters. I wanted to today work on a revamp to the show. It should be stated I wouldn't be handcuffed to the small schedule that Ares and then Orion had so I would be allowed more time to flesh characters out it gives the show more time to connect with more characters.
Premise
I would set the show initially 10 years into the future. The show would begin in the final match of the group stage of the Football Frontier International proceeding this seasons tournament with Japan taking on Spain. This match would take the place of the Raimon vs. Barcelona Orb match with the same result except this time a young Clario Orvan dominates the game scoring 10 goals by himself, I'll set back Clario's age so he's like Toramaru, a young prodigy and youngest on his team. The Spain team itself will be built off the back of a young core of players with Alonso Fibiano, Reinaldo Baraja, Luther Fandam & Bergamo Regult being the players highlighted by stopping any shots with ease, the ease of tackling and dispossessing of Japans forward and the elite playmaking and scoring of the front three. The match ends 10-0 to Spain and the table shows Japan finishing bottom with 0 points. The football federation calls an emergency meeting about what to do. Where did they go wrong? What can they do now? One man (Midouin Munetada) storms out saying he has the idea that will work but only for him the rest of the federation agree to an idea to ring back the old Inazuma Japan as coaches for teams around the country and by having them train the best teams they will help raise the country to a level beyond their heights of the FFI win a decade ago.
So with that we have set up the same plot of Japan being weak on a world level while keeping the entire original series there. With Ares we had to take back two series of growth from a lot of characters which I felt hurt the main cast as we lacked their build over 100+ episodes. This was not only do we keep them at their strongest we also get to see how they grow and become coaches.
If I am being perfectly honest I had a hard time adjusting to the old characters playing for a lot parts. My main issues is best explained with Gouenji. This comes from him using Fire Tornado, we had seen Gouenji evolve and grow and effectively move past this move so to go back to it was just odd, we've seen Fire Tornado stopped on surpassed so to take several steps back in his character was just odd to me, the same can be said with the majority of returning characters. If feel the time is better used on new characters as we are not resetting the growth we used. It was just a hard thing for me to get over the loss of development of those characters. The best thing for me is to reset all with new characters.
Characters
With that we move onto characters. I recognise the problem with doing the series this way as it means all resistance characters are not in their teams and with this it means that characters like Kira Hiroto and Fubuki Atsuya cannot be used. However, their characteristics can be used and will be I want to build these characters really just under new names.
For example, while not being called Kira Hiroto, Eisei Gauken managed and coached by the team of the original Kira Hiroto and Midorikawa Ryuuji will have the ace striker who embodies the talent and arrogance that the Ares Hiroto has. Hakuren who are coached by Fubuki Shirou are led by a pair of brothers one a striker and one a defender.
For other certain things I would have Mizukamiya take over the Kidou role in Seishou guiding Haizaki much like how Kidou did in the original Ares. I want to cover where and who will be coaching teams and to cover some key characters not previously mentioned.
1) Endou Mamoru and Kazemaru Ichirouta will be the coaching team for Raimon. This Raimon team will be captained by Sakanoue Noboru and will have the full Tonegawa Tousen (with a new keeper).
2) Kidou Yuuto, Sakuma Jirou & Gena Koujirou will be the coaching team for Teikoku Gakuen. I want to keep the Shimerigawa Kageru plot but change it to it was forced on him by the football association (who are under pressure by Midouin Munetada who sees Teikoku as a threat to him)
3) Gouenji Shuuya and Utsunomiya Toramaru will be the coaching team for Kidokawa Seishuu. The characters of Mito Atomi and Hoshino Madoka will be prominent for Gouenji's team.
4) Tsunami Jousuke and Hijikata Raiden will be the coaching team for Oumihara a team that has running through the spine of its team Raiden's younger siblings with Hijikata Raiun its captain and ace striker.
These are only a few of the teams. I want to reinforce the connection and desperation of the Football Federation with how this works in calling up and getting as many players from the past on board. For other teams their managers will either be forced into or agree with the Ares no Tenbin program exposing their players to it. The original series did nothing to show Midouin Munetada as a threat and he he got taken out with a football to the head. One key thing would be to expand on the Ares no Tenbin program to show the effects it has on people as we build and build to the Inakuni vs. Outei Tsukinomiya final I'd show this through how Munetada as a entity through his power and influence controls a lot of teams in the shadows using them in the end to try to take out Inakuni.
Inakuni
As the main team I felt that Inakuni needs a separate heading to talk over. This team will stay at Inakuni and be the main team there, do to being such a low level team they get a new manager in Zhao Jinyun and his assistant Li Kobun. As I'm not constrained by animation budget I want teams to have the chance to have benches of five players so the game exclusive goalkeeper Kyouno Kyuuta will also be part of the team. While I don't want Inakuni to reach the full squad numbers that Raimon GO did but I do want to add one member.
So in one of the early matches I would have Hiyori Masakatsu get injured and without a sub Zhao looks to the bench and Zhao looks to Kobun who takes his helmet off as Li Hao makes his Inakuni debut as a defender who can also play midfield.
Inakuni would try to give spotlight on the characters on the team to develop them. While Asuto is the main character the main support of the team would be Hiura, Mansaku & Kozoumaru with Goujin & Michinari, Norika not being main support but just behind that. With this we establish the key members of Inakuni and we have a core team that the show can be based around. The original Raimon team had members that spent a lot of time in the team and developed which made people care for them even though a lot of the starting 11 weren't all that good.
I want Michinari to act more like a captain as well throughout the season. Asuto in Ares was more of a captain up until the match where Michinari needed to get injured to give the armband to Asuto. You'd think the captain of the winners of Football Frontier would be in the international squad but nope he was so badly developed that he wasn't good enough to get into the team.
Hiura Kirina as a player I want as the main base of attack the playmaker behind the 3 strikers with Michinari being the engine room connecting defence and attack this will give them two distinct roles in the middle of the park where not a lot of attention is given as a whole.
In a similar mould with Seishou I'd look to build their team around Haizaki, Mizukamiya, Sasotsuka and Amano so we can develop characters ready for Orion.
Outei will keep its focus on Nosaka and Nishikage but I will also have Taizen as the third player just because I like working in groups of three and I think Taizen has a really cool design and it would be nice to get someone else from Outei to get a bit of development that doesn't blindly follow Nosaka. I like the idea of the Nosaka being the tactical emperor who maps out all of his ideals with Nishikage blindly following him and Taizen while he has great respect for Nosaka will question what he does. It creates a nice dynamic still focused on Nosaka where someone can actually (for once) challenging him on his ideals.
Story
When it comes to the story the overall arc of the season will stay relatively the same. It will be easier to go match by match to cover the changes and as well explain the character parts that change during this as well.
The story will start with Inakuni with its twelve members (having Kyouno Kyuuta as well) practice on their field. Its run down and not all that much as the club has never made it far. I'll liken them to APOEL FC in Cyprus for when they made the quarter finals of the Champions League in 2011-12 but bar that nothing to write home about. The football frontier federation in large have agreed that sponsorship are the way forward as they can pump money into youth football and avoid the disaster of years gone by. This also has allowed Midouin Munetada and his conglomerate of businesses to sink a hold into multiple teams through his sister companies to exploit use of the Ares no Tenbin project.
Anyway the series will begin with the Inakuni team being called into the office after training. They have a match against the menacing Seishou Gakuen managed by former Inazuma Japan player Fudou Akio and face Haizaki Ryouhei up front. The team initially hesitant to play are spurred on by Asuto's words they agree to the match realising it's their best chance to get a sponsor.
Match: Inakuni vs. Seishou Gakuen
I would have this being similar to the match in the anime. Raimon take the early lead with Kozoumaru's Fire Tornado. In this instance I wouldn't have it he changed positions after Gouenji stopped a thug. Instead, Kozoumaru would attend some kind of football camp in which Gouenji is the head trainer and tells Kozoumaru to change positions there stating his shooting is better than his tackling. From kick off I'd have Haizaki shoot moving it to 1-1. The match would then follow how it did in the anime with one minor exception the goal coming from Death Zone has Mizukamiya as one of the three instead of Orio just so the three main outfield players for Seishou are shown working together. Here is where we introduce Nosaka, Nishikage and Taizen. Nosaka looks in mentioning how they look like they are having fun. Nishikage questions watching this match with a clear winner while Taizen dismisses Inakuni as a real football team, it's here Nosaka says about keeping tabs on Inakuni as even the smallest things can surprise you.
The episode would end with Shimabukuro being willing to sponsor Raimon. All's well that ends well.
The episode following this I would use to introduce both Mikado Anna and Zhao Jinyun. The Inakuni team would come back to the island confused by the rush of building work. They are told that the school is frantically preparing a small stadium for them to train and to have matches being as this is the most publicity the school will have and will have to look the part.
Anna I would introduce as the head of the student council who steps down from that position to become the manager for the club to make sure that they are represented in some manner off the pitch. Zhao Jinyun is one of the best characters in the series I wouldn't change him. Nor would I change the Mindouzan match just have it as it with Kabeyama Heigorou as the manager. Having a team that was defensive minded and just not another outscore game with a silly scoreline was a nice change of pace so I see no need to change this or really highlight anything for it.
To get to Haizaki and his backstory I would have it be the case that the Football Frontier Federation calls for all teams to gather at the main ground (the same one the Inakuni & Seishou match takes place) for photos of the teams and opening ceremony so this allows the Inakuni guys to explore the city with Asuto bumping into Haizaki and episode 5's backstory. It's also a good time to introduce the older characters and who they manage. After the ceremony we go the first game Seishou vs. Kidokawa who as previously mentioned are managed by Gouenji. Before the match we have Fudou and Mizukamiya annoyed at his selfish plays says there is only one way to get him to learn, he ignores training he steals the balls in games so there is only one way to make him learn. We would then cut to the game Haizaki incensed that he is in goal.
Match: Seishou Gakuen vs. Kidokawa Seishuu
Kidokawa as a team isn't anything special as a team in this but have two key players. Midfielder Mito Atomi a midfielder who scores two goals for Kidokawa and Hoshino Madoka a defender. Madoka would be showcased stopping Haizaki each time he tries to break free from his role shooting a look to Mizukamiya and Fudou each time but stopped by Madoka each time not seeing his teammates who are free. The same as the game in the anime Haizaki realises his errors and is moved back to forward and Seishou win the game 3-2 in the end.
As far as other changes to the match Specta Magna will now be used by Sasotsuka Eiji to score. I'll also give Mizukamiya the Angel Ray dribble and after he uses it provides the key pass for Haizaki to set up Death Zone in order to win the match. The reaction of Akane to Nosaka will be kept in the episode as will all scenes with her in the anime, it adds up to the overall plot. I'd end the episode with a scene with Munetada holding some sort of conference call stating how the biggest threats to Ares are Seishou and Inakuni are two new threats he didn't expect but they need eliminating as soon as possible ending the call and giving that big old evil guy smile to the camera.
I suppose now is a good time to introduce Outei Tsukinomiya as a team in full. Ares no Tenbin as a program I want to work more for brainwashing as well all of Outei bar Nosaka, Nishikage & Taizen are fully in support of Ares while Nosaka plays along still suffering his brain tumour and Nishikage will go along with Nosaka so its fine regardless whereas Taizen would be more spectacle of Ares and its purpose questioning why Nosaka follows it. It sets how cold Nosaka is compared to Haizaki, while Haizaki is a ruthless player he still relies on his team and they on him and that build over the season. Compare this to Nosaka who very little if at all relies and confides in people the only two ever seen in this light would be Taizen and Nishikage with him only opening up to Anna later as the series goes on, the rest of the team he shows little care for if you look at it all of Outei is there for one reason to win and push the Ares programme. I think of it that Nosaka is a ruthless commander on the pitch but the mask slips when it comes to people he trusts which although being a small circle opens more further the series goes on.
From here is where a lot of series changes in terms of the build to the final match.
Match: Inakuni vs. Mikage Sennou
Ok, first change right off the back is that Zhao isn't arrested there isn't any real need for it. Secondly, Mikage will be under the thumb of Ares I mean they are the 'soccer cyborgs' for a reason and they make a good first enemy to show what Ares does with the team. Mikage will be instructed to take out Raimon injuring Hiyori as a way of making sure they can't play. We will say that in this season that goalkeepers cannot be subbed on to play outfield. Inakuni believing they are all out of options Zhao simply laughs and looks to his silent assistant and nods he removes his helmet and Li Hao comes on having been registered to the Raimon to everyone's shock as a defender. I'll also give him Shooting Cut as his hissatsu so we can see him as a defender, don't worry Hiyori will be ready for selection from the next game. The rest of the game pretty much the same with who gets Hissatsu techniques.
Instead of Shimozuru Arata saying to Inakuni about how their strategies will not pass Teikou Gakuen he says it so his team. We'd then cut to the head office of the Teikou football team with Kidou looking dismayed. The next episode would begin with him addressing the team, his subordinates of Sakuma & Genda (because goddammit Genda needs some appreciation and I feel he really gets shafted in all series). Given orders by Ares to play the weaker members of his squad including a new goalkeeper in Shimerigawa Kageru (who will be the son of one of the main people in Ares as opposed to the sponsor), Kidou dismayed by this has to level will the anger of his captain and ace midfielder who is to be left on the bench. Teikou has always as a team represented power in the Inazuma Eleven world so to flip that on its head because of Ares creates a new dynamic.
Match: Inakuni vs. Teikoku Gakuen
The match starts with Inakuni dominating taking the game to a Teikoku team that is a mix of people that are downtrodden and others who just aren't good enough. Shimerigawa is as bad as he is in the actual anime with Inakuni take a 2-0 lead going into half time. At this Kidou changes tact he'd rather go down fighting then like the coward he is being. He takes the armband off of Shimerigawa give it to his normal captain and takes the weaker players off almost instantly they tie the score at 2-2 the Teikoku captain leading the charge. I want to just take a moment about the Teikoku captain, a midfield genius the next generation Kidou. Much like how Kageyama gave Kidou his googles I want the same thing here, not googles but maybe a face mask something explained to regulate his breathing control the pace of the game (look it makes as much sense as Kidou's googles) I really like the design of Sakiyama Shuuji so he's my base here, the comb over hair will stay the mask needs a few more bells and whistles (like Jessick Havok's mask https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1172173729163554816/tCcBK9rY_400x400.jpg).
The captain is good enough to take complete control of a game right away, controlling the pace of the game through only regulating his breathing to steady his passes to be smooth or even rapid, known as a 'sleeping lion' he has all the skills to be a world class deep lying playmaker and he's also one of the main people in Koutei Penguin 2gou. Gravity Cage I'll keep the same but for Hokkyoku Guma 2gou I'm going to switch Kozoumaru with Kirina just because the guy using fire moves doesn't fit the polar bear technique. Inakuni wins 3-2 with this move. The match ends Kidou gathers his players they knew that if they lost that was it for them but they are fine with it one day soon they'll be able to play football again free from these restraints. Kidou ends it by talking with Zhao asking him to save his football club by ending Ares for good, Zhao give it his signature laugh and tells Kidou not to worry about it.
Nosaka is in the crowd with Taizen only. Here is where the conversation about the team Tekikou beat then go on to unbeaten themselves. Taizen questions if this is the work of Ares but Nosaka isn't so sure and is interested to see where Asuto and Inakuni go being the ones to beat them.
I am keeping it that Asuto's father is still alive. There's no reason to change this, I'll have this is only half the episode. I want a meet up between Asuto and Haizaki either in a cafe or an arcade in the island Seishou got to the island a day early. I should establish here that there isn't a switch in the team they would face Seishou is in their group for this round of the Football Frontier this was a match that the first part of the season builds up to. Here we can establish the differences in their characters but the similarities, two different playing style, different goals but they both love football. Here we see a bit of and evolution for their dynamic Haizaki gains some respect for Asuto and his resolution and determination but says he will beat him.
Match: Inakuni vs. Seishou Gakuen II
The match starts again with the Haizaki shot from the halfway line to kick the match off. However, instead of Seishou taking a large lead when they score Inakuni then score up to 3-3 where we give Haziaki Perfect Penguin as in the anime to score the third goal (the second scored by Overhead Penguin). I think we can drop Meteor Drop here as a move and replace it with Hokkyoku Guma 2gou. If we are going to say Meteor Drop is an unfinished move and then never go back to it I do not see the point in it and we will just replace it with another move so we can put emphasis on that. Mansaku will still go on his little run and we explain his role in the team and get his Spark Wind hissatsu. I'm changing what Hissatsu Asuto gets here. While he should get a solo shot and Shining Bird will appear later on the fact its his only solo shoot hissatsu until the semi-final of the FFI we need to set a curve of his shots evolving and getting powerful. For arguments sake we will say he gets something similar to Cross Drive (which he was to get in the game or was at least supposed to) for the winning goal. After the match Asuto & Haizaki shake hands, the demon of the field has accepted defeat gracefully finally understanding Asuto and his team, we can have a moment here between Michinari and Mizukamiya here two captain thanking each other for the game and wish each other best in the nationals. Any hostility between the two teams gone from the first game as led by captains and protagonists. which is why when what happens to Seishou happens it hurts Inakuni more.
Now we move onto the knockout round. As a rework I would have a new intro here to be honest represent the close of the story leading to now and the new intro can highlight the teams going forward as opposed to what has just been faced.
Before we reach the next matches in the knockout round I feel it right to add an extra episode in here to show Inakuni celebrating their victories getting this far. The school throws a party in congratulations and it leads to the team taking the success to their heads thinking they can conquer the world it makes them sloppy and carefree but they don't care even in the absence of Zhao he's off and left a note that he'll be back for the next match (he isn't) and with Anna being sent to watch the Seishou match for them, here we create Inakuni's issue going into this game is their overconfidence.
Match: Inakuni vs. Oumihara
Oumihara you will remember as the team that Tsunami came from in the original series. He will be here as the manager working with Hijikata as stated before. Oumihara will be a team which all players are on the same wavelength, they are always focused on the same goal, it might help that 5 of the starting 11 are related as they quickly take an early 2-0 lead. Look Oumihara as a team isn't all that strong, they have the benefit of really being isolated and effectively a family run club so Ares can't get their claws into them. So you may ask the point of this match? Well we are going to see captain Michinari be a captain. As stated we need the captain to be a captain so that when he gets injured it hurts more. We will start by giving him Okuiri Hiro's 'The Labyrinth' as both a dribble and block hissatsu from this match on. With this move the captain leads the team showing them they room to improve, if he can they can. We get the old speech of work hard and don't get wrapped up in success and they can all still evolve as players. It's a simple match with Inakuni winning, it just serves a purpose for them to win and have a game centred on Michinari's development as opposed to Asuto and shows us why the whole Inakuni team looks to their captain.
Match: Seishou Gakuen vs. Outei Tsukinomiya
This match stays the same, it's perfect how it is. If I had to make some changes I'd have couch Fudou go to call the game off once before he does but his team deny him the right they stand up wanting to continue he allows it. Nosaka here smugly 'admires their courage'. Here is where Haziaki has his Perfect Penguin shot stopped by Nishikage and Ouke no Tate, here I'd have Nishikage throw the ball straight to Haizaki and at that point I'd give Tazien a Hissatsu something to charge and take the ball off of Haziaki, if Nishikage gets the royal shield to block and Nosaka gets the Kings Lance to shoot for the charge I'd give Taizen something like a royal battalion charging through and getting the ball, as long as it keeps to the theme of the three having a royal related Hissatsu here it should be fine. Nosaka then smiles as he is passed the ball and proceeds with Grid Omega, this leaves Fudou no choice but to call the game, his team hurt and unable to play. It's from here we will focus some more on Nosaka, Nishikage & Taizen more to establish them with them taking the screen time previously given to Seishou and their main characters. Seishou is hurt majority hospitalised except Haizaki and Mizukamiya they walk out Haizaki lost for words Mizukamiya tries to talk to him but he doesn't have anything he storms off wanting some time to process. I'll have the two of these pop up in the crowd for Raimon games until Haizaki makes the switch to Raimon for the final, Mizukamiya really the one who calms his unstable rage and lust for revenge and gets him thinking about what he can do. Also while I remember it there's no Haizaki gets beaten up and then watches Inakuni win a football match scene in this. That was just weird to me and no real need for it, we can establish both Haizaki as narrow minded and focuses on just revenge but building up and seeing the bigger picture and Mizukamiya as the level headed one looking to guide Haizaki to where he should be.
After the game Anna runs back to the dressing room of Outei and there's just Nosaka with his head under the tap and we get his whole diagnosis backstory, she feels for him but then he asks Nishikage to get her away and he does she shocked by the news.
Right here Inakuni will not be facing Hakuren they will feature a bit later on for a different purpose. Instead Inakuni's next opponent will be Eisei Gauken a team made up from the children of Ohisama En. It's here we can go over the Kira Company. As we are going post FFI the manager is Kiyama Hiroto (as Kira Hiroto is dead in this timeline), not only does he lead the team but is in charge of the Kira Company but the company is in dire straights and relies on the money of Munetada to keep going which means in turn Eisei Gauken are subjected to Ares no Tenbin. Focusing on the Kira Company it allows us to see the likes of Midorikawa, Saginuma, Reina, Suzuno and Nagumo as people in and around both the Kira Company and Eisei Gauken.
So we will need to explain the Kira Hiroto replacement. We will be keeping a character in that mold but many things will have to be changed in his backstory. What I am imagining is a child left at the Ohisama En by their parents, this leaves them not trusting anyone and being confrontational to any that try to help them. A gifted football player and one of the best strikers on the Football Frontier that emotional wall combined with the talent makes him a very arrogant player, while he has won games on his own has only added to that labelling himself 'the God striker'.
Match: Inakuni vs. Eisei Gakuen
Before this match Kiyama receives very clear instruction from Munetada. Before now it was always seen they would get the the final and lose to Outei gracefully and allow the world to see how Ares at full power and control is the only way for football in Japan to work. The instruction changes to destroy Inakuni and win or all funding to the Kira Company goes and by destroy he means hurt them and injure them, show how weak those who do no submit to the will of Ares no Tenbin really are. Kiyama is looking down the barrel of the entire company going up in smoke if he doesn’t follow these orders or to stick to what he believes in and free the children of Eisei Gauken from the constraints of Ares no Tenbin.
The initial match between Eisei and Raimon ended 6-5, it had to show both Eisei with and without Hiroto as a threat but also that both instances lacked something to make them whole. First change is to reduce that scoreline I don’t like high scoring games for the sake of scoring. To change this the captain for Eisei (our replacement for Tatsuya) is a midfielder and the strikers they have are strong they lack they killer technique that our replacement Hiroto has so while they test Norika and with that Inakuni take a 1-0 lead into the break. This leaves Kiyama looking down the barrel of defeat when Hiroto shows up and is bought on. Eisei quickly take the lead thanks to Hiroto and his signature technique The Explosion and Tenkuu no Yaiba (used by Zeus' Heruse Arisu in the original Ares) instead of Zigzag Strike. The reason for the shoot change is I don't like Zigzag shoot and Tenkuu no Yaiba fits more for the 'God striker' if the team based on the Greek Gods is not part of the series.
As for manager Hiroto seeing his players play helps him come to the realisation that he's been using these players to keep the company afloat and even if it is the last thing he has to remember Kira Seijirou he would rather it fall to dust than fall into the wrong hands. At the end of the match the gather worried about their future but Hiroto resolves to rebuild the Kira Company from scratch without any Ares help which they all agree to.
Before the next match I would like another part with Anna & Nosaka going over his illness and backstory at the Outei stadium. While Anna presses for answers Nosaka reveals he hasn't got much time left he needs to win Football Frontier its here that Nishikage interrupts even remarking it's not like Nosaka to speak to people outside of the Ares programme. It's here I would have the part where Takemi goes missing and Outei track him down and find him. It's important to at first show Ares as unstoppable when Seishou fails to beat the but now we can begin to show cracks in how they operate especially through Outei. Up until this point we have seen Ares no Tenbin as an unstoppable force removing all in its path. Tekikou football club gone, the Kira company gone but now we see the Ares programme creates issues. It's here we get his backstory Anna tries to see him again but Nishikage stops that going into what makes Nosaka tick and why he is the way he is and why he would follow him. It's simple Nosaka needs to win, not just for himself, not just because of the tumour but for all of Ares and he will do it before he passes. In what is a change from Ares I think Nishikage (and Taizen) would know of Nosaka's brain tumour and even though it could kill him they believe in him enough to follow Nosaka.
Am I effectively dedicating an episode here to explain Nosaka's full backstory? Yes but I think its important the explain here with what we go onto next as he becomes a more integral part here and will be featured more.
With that we will move onto the semi-final matches. we have Outei Tsukinomiya vs. Hakuren and Inakuni vs. Raimon to be played one day after the other. Both matches will be shown here. It's a personal grudge but it just annoys me that all Inazuma Japan members in Orion apart from Gouenji faced Raimon in the Football Frontier. There was a whole squad that made the semi-finals of the tournament that didn't get a player in the squad just doesn't ring true. With this as well we can also see Nosaka in another match to see him play more.
Semi-Final One: Outei Tsukinomiya vs. Hakuren
Managed by Fubuki Shirou Hakuren have blazed a trail into the semi-finals. What needs to be changed here is the use of the Fubuki brothers. I want to keep the main part of this team two brothers but change it slightly. The replacement for Shirou will be a defender with the replacement for Atsuya remaining a striker. I find it fitting that Fubuki finds solace in the set up that he and Atsuya were to be has been set up here with two brothers (the Shirou replacement being one year older as he was in Ares and Orion). Shiratoya Nae remains their secret weapon from the bench.
Outei are a good team but in the realms of football as a regimented game with the exception of Nosaka and Nishikage lack personality and really just follow Nosaka as the Ares programme has taking it all out of them. It makes them compliant but against a player like our Atsuya replacement it’s startling. He can be a rough player but is a clinical forward being emotionless doesn’t like you comprehend this type of somewhat dirty playing. It gives Hakuren and edge as from here Nosaka expected it from Haizaki and went into the game to hurt him with Seishou being the number one ranked team the way the brothers set up a physical game exploits a weakness in Outei, a weakness that Haizaki and Mizukamiya see.
The first half ends 1-1 with goals from the Atsuya replacement and Nosaka respectively. While Nosaka is shocked the team has finally dropped a point he is't fully bothered by it the goal isn't to win perfectly it's just to win, even the greatest of plans have blips (and I really do not like the constant final team never dropping a single point gimmick it's been done to death). Nosaka seems to be enjoying this game. Sure while they has conceded a goal they'll adapt and still win. Fubuki here substitutes Shiratoya Nae on and with her lack of Football experience and real winging it approach on the pitch attitude combined with Atsuya's dirty plays Outei cannot cope and Hakuren dominate the early part of the second half and take the lead 2-1 thanks to Triple Blizzard. It's at this point Nosaka flips his goals are falling around him he cannot achieve his goals and knows at this rate he will fall. Grid Omega this time not from a place of hate, but a position of need. Truth be told there's a sadness in Nosaka using this, he respects Hakuren the brothers who led the team against him and really they could win but Nosaka has to win, Nosaka has to win. He puts the ball in the next 2-2 but Fubuki has to forfeit the match, Nosaka in pain walks off and heads straight to the directors box where Munetada is. It is here he manages to agree for the team they should be allowed to leave the Ares program should they win the tournament and after some debate following in a similar way to in the anime Munetada agrees. We now have the set up for Nosaka and Outei for the final
Semi-Final One: Inakuni vs. Raimon
While Raimon have traditionally been the protagonist team I changed it up for Inakuni as I believe we can work Raimon into the story better as an opposition team here with the backstory of the series put in place. Think of Raimon like the Premier League winning Leicester. Was the team full of the best players around? No. Did the team function as a well oiled machine together to perform a miracle? Yes (and I know I'm doing a massive disservice to Leicester here but as a brief summary that works). Think of Raimon like that. Seeing as they aren’t the protagonist team and setting we can do some fun things with the team. With Raimon I’d have it that when Endou and Kazemaru come to run the club they find no club, it’s abandoned nobody could live up to what Endou and his team done. The team that lost all those years ago it hurt Raimon as the core of that team was from here much like the team that one FFI, the club disbanded and all the love for football went with it. Endou not one to walk away begins to rebuild the club it attracts Sakanoue first of all and much like what is described in the SD game he manages to help build the football club back up from scratch. Sakanoue specifically is referred to as the is the miracle Libero because it’s a miracle he got Raimon back to where it was he was the first to sign up, the one who wasn't burdened by the expectation of Raimon Football Club and is also the captain. The Raimon team event with Endou managing they aren’t the most powerful team but they have the most heart (I mean bar Inakuni and their plot armour).
While Raimon's keeping isn't the best the main problem for Inakuni in this game is getting past Sakanoue he tackles and blocks like the best of them really stopping the forwards all by himself and yes we will give Sakanoue a block hissatsu here as well because he got nothing of his own for hissatsus. I don't know if it was a money issue or time issue but I think Sakanoue deserves more so would give him more. I will keep the first goal of the Fire Tornado, Inabikari Dash, Backdraft combo to get past Sakanoue, it puts Sakanoue over as such a great defender that it took three hissatsu techniques to get round him. I would have Genba Kouji still dive in head first but can't stop it and we have Tanukigahara Ponko come on, I'm not giving her illusion ball or a real large role, I'm not a fan of the character if we are being honest here and I don't think she added a great deal to begin with.
With the score at 1-1 it's decided to use Victory Line. In the episodes leading up to this the practising of the move still proves difficult and not finished. A move described as needing a leader and the two strongest kicks but if it is off by a fraction ir can cause terrible injury but to win needs must. They try it but they are still off, without thinking Michinari dives in to course correct the shot and it goes in as Asuto and Kozoumaru celebrate Michinari is in pain on the ground as the team gather round him we see Haizaki looking on from the stands with Mizukamiya asking him what he will do as the Inakuni team wonder what will happen now.
Michinari being injured is a massive blow, even with Li Hao extra in the squad the way to fight Outei is not to play an extra defender. Not only have the team lost their captain but they have also lost the main point bridge between defence and offence. They visit Michinari in the hospital before Haizaki is brought onto the team where he appoints Asuto his replacement captain. The loss of Michinari needs to be felt more, I always saw it as it was just a player getting injured instead of the gut punch of losing the captain and key player.
It is when they return Zhao brings in Haizaki to the team in a surprise to all. The play out of the plan is the same as the anime except it being Mizukamiya's idea. In the place of Nosaka giving away the data of his team it's here that Mizukamiya begins to let Inakuni know what he has seen and combined with Zhao and Kirina they come up with the game plan. While it's interesting that Asuto comes up with the idea he isn't a playmaker he's more of a play with your heart, the action not the idea so for him to come up with the plan doesn't work here.
I'd add to the plan of training on the island, if Outei are getting all the help possible with the scales of Ares they will go the other way using the nature of the island and it's unpredictable nature. While Outei get all the help that Ares will give to ensure domination of the football world and Nosaka scheming to complete his goals wary of his brain tumour, Inakuni gets some help. While the majority of Seishou are still in hospital Inakuni will get the help of Mizukamiya, Amano and Sasotsuka in training.
I'd want to put an extra episode here of Inakuni training, here we can look to the flashbacks of them working with their parents (especially Goujin's towards the end of the episode) in order to flesh these out a bit more and give some more context to what training they do and why. I feel while this was addressed it could've done with more and with this as well we can also put some more time in developing the friendship of Haizaki & Asuto as well as fleshing out some more Seishou Gakuen members for Inazuma Japan purposes (more on that another time). While I mentioned that the team got new training grounds earlier in the series the unorthodox training is what is needed here so would be focused away from that.
Football Frontier Final: Inakuni vs. Outei Tsukinomiya
Before the game Nishikage confronts Nosaka saying he shouldn't play this game, his tumour is getting worse and worse and putting his life at risk. Nosaka stops him and reiterates that his goals must be achieved even if it takes his last and thanks Nishikage for following him blindly at points recklessly and they go to see this final through regardless the result.
Before the game we get the full pre-match presentation. I've always like the two teams walking out the tunnel past the trophy with all the pyro going off, the camera moving along both teams lined up, I want this game to feel like the cup final, if Inazuma Eleven could produce some Champions League theme styled music here for this that would be great as well would make it perfect.
The match starts right away Grid Omega 1-0 to Outei. This is where we see how Haziaki saves the team by creating a vacuum. From here Inakuni take the fight to Outei. While Nosaka would get another goal thanks to Kings Lance Inaunki get the score to 2-2 thanks to Kozoumaru using Hidaruma Bakunetsudan (hey remember that move) and Asuto using Shining Bird for the first time. From here we can establish it as a strong shot and keep it going through Orion as well if need be and not have it be the insane period of time in the anime before Asuto gets Sunrise Blitz. With this as well we can show these as the results of the unorthodox training producing Inakuni's strongest moves. From here the match would be pretty even teams going back and forth.
So now we are at 2-2 the winning goal will stay the same, I am not changing the end of the match we are keeping Fire Lemonade and Goujin getting it done. The built up to Fire Lemonade will still be part of the series throughout even though some of the instances of Goujin yelling it would be changed just because the match layouts have. Inakuni win 3-2 and win the Football Frontier.
Inakuni celebrate winning as Asuto, Haizaki and Nosaka speak in the middle. Nosaka admits Ares is wrong and that all will have to look at it as failed, this team from an island won through heart and determination not through a program, we have a trophy presentation of Asuto and Michinari lift it together as fireworks and confetti go off as the team celebrates as the crowd cheers on.
The confrontation between Munetada goes pretty much the same Nosaka revealing his plane with Akane and himself. We will add here that through working with others (Zhao) to undo the control of Ares. The Kira Company has not folded and now has the funding to move on without Ares through a mysterious donation as well as them developing breakthrough ideas in the technology sector, Tekikou still has its football club and the Scales of Ares will be no more through all of its corruption and how he has destroyed the lives of many with all the proof gathered all the way down to Nosaka's brain tumour he kept to prove this all, every action he took, all the pain he caused to other and himself was to undo all what Ares had done and to free Japanese football. Haizaki kicking a football directly into Munetada's face will still be here because it is one of the funniest parts of the series but this time he's followed by some police who arrest our antagonist and take him away never to be seen again. Nosaka speaks to Anna saying that he will get the operation now to save his life.
The series ends with the same scenes our three protagonists agreeing to keep playing football. I would keep the final scene the same the tease for Inazuma Japan and for the Orion series.
Conclusion
If we look at it as a whole Inazuma Eleven Ares has a lot on its plate to be a good series. Not only do you have to introduce a large new body of characters you have to appeal to older audience with effectively nostalgia bait with the older characters still playing. GO as a series works doing that because the old characters move into new roles they're different and we see new players take the spotlight. I hope by doing the same the series could focus on a new host of characters more.
I hope this is enjoyable for you all to read through. I hoped to not change large portions of the show after the change of characters and it being on a new timeline but some things cannot be avoided post that. I'll be moving onto Orion in the future with the changes to Ares I have other ideas for Orion post that and how these changes would effect my vision of that series. While Orion had its legs cut out from underneath it I want to flesh it out with more teams and more of a story that the series was aiming for but just never could.
But until then thanks for reading.
Premise
I would set the show initially 10 years into the future. The show would begin in the final match of the group stage of the Football Frontier International proceeding this seasons tournament with Japan taking on Spain. This match would take the place of the Raimon vs. Barcelona Orb match with the same result except this time a young Clario Orvan dominates the game scoring 10 goals by himself, I'll set back Clario's age so he's like Toramaru, a young prodigy and youngest on his team. The Spain team itself will be built off the back of a young core of players with Alonso Fibiano, Reinaldo Baraja, Luther Fandam & Bergamo Regult being the players highlighted by stopping any shots with ease, the ease of tackling and dispossessing of Japans forward and the elite playmaking and scoring of the front three. The match ends 10-0 to Spain and the table shows Japan finishing bottom with 0 points. The football federation calls an emergency meeting about what to do. Where did they go wrong? What can they do now? One man (Midouin Munetada) storms out saying he has the idea that will work but only for him the rest of the federation agree to an idea to ring back the old Inazuma Japan as coaches for teams around the country and by having them train the best teams they will help raise the country to a level beyond their heights of the FFI win a decade ago.
So with that we have set up the same plot of Japan being weak on a world level while keeping the entire original series there. With Ares we had to take back two series of growth from a lot of characters which I felt hurt the main cast as we lacked their build over 100+ episodes. This was not only do we keep them at their strongest we also get to see how they grow and become coaches.
If I am being perfectly honest I had a hard time adjusting to the old characters playing for a lot parts. My main issues is best explained with Gouenji. This comes from him using Fire Tornado, we had seen Gouenji evolve and grow and effectively move past this move so to go back to it was just odd, we've seen Fire Tornado stopped on surpassed so to take several steps back in his character was just odd to me, the same can be said with the majority of returning characters. If feel the time is better used on new characters as we are not resetting the growth we used. It was just a hard thing for me to get over the loss of development of those characters. The best thing for me is to reset all with new characters.
Characters
With that we move onto characters. I recognise the problem with doing the series this way as it means all resistance characters are not in their teams and with this it means that characters like Kira Hiroto and Fubuki Atsuya cannot be used. However, their characteristics can be used and will be I want to build these characters really just under new names.
For example, while not being called Kira Hiroto, Eisei Gauken managed and coached by the team of the original Kira Hiroto and Midorikawa Ryuuji will have the ace striker who embodies the talent and arrogance that the Ares Hiroto has. Hakuren who are coached by Fubuki Shirou are led by a pair of brothers one a striker and one a defender.
For other certain things I would have Mizukamiya take over the Kidou role in Seishou guiding Haizaki much like how Kidou did in the original Ares. I want to cover where and who will be coaching teams and to cover some key characters not previously mentioned.
1) Endou Mamoru and Kazemaru Ichirouta will be the coaching team for Raimon. This Raimon team will be captained by Sakanoue Noboru and will have the full Tonegawa Tousen (with a new keeper).
2) Kidou Yuuto, Sakuma Jirou & Gena Koujirou will be the coaching team for Teikoku Gakuen. I want to keep the Shimerigawa Kageru plot but change it to it was forced on him by the football association (who are under pressure by Midouin Munetada who sees Teikoku as a threat to him)
3) Gouenji Shuuya and Utsunomiya Toramaru will be the coaching team for Kidokawa Seishuu. The characters of Mito Atomi and Hoshino Madoka will be prominent for Gouenji's team.
4) Tsunami Jousuke and Hijikata Raiden will be the coaching team for Oumihara a team that has running through the spine of its team Raiden's younger siblings with Hijikata Raiun its captain and ace striker.
These are only a few of the teams. I want to reinforce the connection and desperation of the Football Federation with how this works in calling up and getting as many players from the past on board. For other teams their managers will either be forced into or agree with the Ares no Tenbin program exposing their players to it. The original series did nothing to show Midouin Munetada as a threat and he he got taken out with a football to the head. One key thing would be to expand on the Ares no Tenbin program to show the effects it has on people as we build and build to the Inakuni vs. Outei Tsukinomiya final I'd show this through how Munetada as a entity through his power and influence controls a lot of teams in the shadows using them in the end to try to take out Inakuni.
Inakuni
As the main team I felt that Inakuni needs a separate heading to talk over. This team will stay at Inakuni and be the main team there, do to being such a low level team they get a new manager in Zhao Jinyun and his assistant Li Kobun. As I'm not constrained by animation budget I want teams to have the chance to have benches of five players so the game exclusive goalkeeper Kyouno Kyuuta will also be part of the team. While I don't want Inakuni to reach the full squad numbers that Raimon GO did but I do want to add one member.
So in one of the early matches I would have Hiyori Masakatsu get injured and without a sub Zhao looks to the bench and Zhao looks to Kobun who takes his helmet off as Li Hao makes his Inakuni debut as a defender who can also play midfield.
Inakuni would try to give spotlight on the characters on the team to develop them. While Asuto is the main character the main support of the team would be Hiura, Mansaku & Kozoumaru with Goujin & Michinari, Norika not being main support but just behind that. With this we establish the key members of Inakuni and we have a core team that the show can be based around. The original Raimon team had members that spent a lot of time in the team and developed which made people care for them even though a lot of the starting 11 weren't all that good.
I want Michinari to act more like a captain as well throughout the season. Asuto in Ares was more of a captain up until the match where Michinari needed to get injured to give the armband to Asuto. You'd think the captain of the winners of Football Frontier would be in the international squad but nope he was so badly developed that he wasn't good enough to get into the team.
Hiura Kirina as a player I want as the main base of attack the playmaker behind the 3 strikers with Michinari being the engine room connecting defence and attack this will give them two distinct roles in the middle of the park where not a lot of attention is given as a whole.
In a similar mould with Seishou I'd look to build their team around Haizaki, Mizukamiya, Sasotsuka and Amano so we can develop characters ready for Orion.
Outei will keep its focus on Nosaka and Nishikage but I will also have Taizen as the third player just because I like working in groups of three and I think Taizen has a really cool design and it would be nice to get someone else from Outei to get a bit of development that doesn't blindly follow Nosaka. I like the idea of the Nosaka being the tactical emperor who maps out all of his ideals with Nishikage blindly following him and Taizen while he has great respect for Nosaka will question what he does. It creates a nice dynamic still focused on Nosaka where someone can actually (for once) challenging him on his ideals.
Story
When it comes to the story the overall arc of the season will stay relatively the same. It will be easier to go match by match to cover the changes and as well explain the character parts that change during this as well.
The story will start with Inakuni with its twelve members (having Kyouno Kyuuta as well) practice on their field. Its run down and not all that much as the club has never made it far. I'll liken them to APOEL FC in Cyprus for when they made the quarter finals of the Champions League in 2011-12 but bar that nothing to write home about. The football frontier federation in large have agreed that sponsorship are the way forward as they can pump money into youth football and avoid the disaster of years gone by. This also has allowed Midouin Munetada and his conglomerate of businesses to sink a hold into multiple teams through his sister companies to exploit use of the Ares no Tenbin project.
Anyway the series will begin with the Inakuni team being called into the office after training. They have a match against the menacing Seishou Gakuen managed by former Inazuma Japan player Fudou Akio and face Haizaki Ryouhei up front. The team initially hesitant to play are spurred on by Asuto's words they agree to the match realising it's their best chance to get a sponsor.
Match: Inakuni vs. Seishou Gakuen
I would have this being similar to the match in the anime. Raimon take the early lead with Kozoumaru's Fire Tornado. In this instance I wouldn't have it he changed positions after Gouenji stopped a thug. Instead, Kozoumaru would attend some kind of football camp in which Gouenji is the head trainer and tells Kozoumaru to change positions there stating his shooting is better than his tackling. From kick off I'd have Haizaki shoot moving it to 1-1. The match would then follow how it did in the anime with one minor exception the goal coming from Death Zone has Mizukamiya as one of the three instead of Orio just so the three main outfield players for Seishou are shown working together. Here is where we introduce Nosaka, Nishikage and Taizen. Nosaka looks in mentioning how they look like they are having fun. Nishikage questions watching this match with a clear winner while Taizen dismisses Inakuni as a real football team, it's here Nosaka says about keeping tabs on Inakuni as even the smallest things can surprise you.
The episode would end with Shimabukuro being willing to sponsor Raimon. All's well that ends well.
The episode following this I would use to introduce both Mikado Anna and Zhao Jinyun. The Inakuni team would come back to the island confused by the rush of building work. They are told that the school is frantically preparing a small stadium for them to train and to have matches being as this is the most publicity the school will have and will have to look the part.
Anna I would introduce as the head of the student council who steps down from that position to become the manager for the club to make sure that they are represented in some manner off the pitch. Zhao Jinyun is one of the best characters in the series I wouldn't change him. Nor would I change the Mindouzan match just have it as it with Kabeyama Heigorou as the manager. Having a team that was defensive minded and just not another outscore game with a silly scoreline was a nice change of pace so I see no need to change this or really highlight anything for it.
To get to Haizaki and his backstory I would have it be the case that the Football Frontier Federation calls for all teams to gather at the main ground (the same one the Inakuni & Seishou match takes place) for photos of the teams and opening ceremony so this allows the Inakuni guys to explore the city with Asuto bumping into Haizaki and episode 5's backstory. It's also a good time to introduce the older characters and who they manage. After the ceremony we go the first game Seishou vs. Kidokawa who as previously mentioned are managed by Gouenji. Before the match we have Fudou and Mizukamiya annoyed at his selfish plays says there is only one way to get him to learn, he ignores training he steals the balls in games so there is only one way to make him learn. We would then cut to the game Haizaki incensed that he is in goal.
Match: Seishou Gakuen vs. Kidokawa Seishuu
Kidokawa as a team isn't anything special as a team in this but have two key players. Midfielder Mito Atomi a midfielder who scores two goals for Kidokawa and Hoshino Madoka a defender. Madoka would be showcased stopping Haizaki each time he tries to break free from his role shooting a look to Mizukamiya and Fudou each time but stopped by Madoka each time not seeing his teammates who are free. The same as the game in the anime Haizaki realises his errors and is moved back to forward and Seishou win the game 3-2 in the end.
As far as other changes to the match Specta Magna will now be used by Sasotsuka Eiji to score. I'll also give Mizukamiya the Angel Ray dribble and after he uses it provides the key pass for Haizaki to set up Death Zone in order to win the match. The reaction of Akane to Nosaka will be kept in the episode as will all scenes with her in the anime, it adds up to the overall plot. I'd end the episode with a scene with Munetada holding some sort of conference call stating how the biggest threats to Ares are Seishou and Inakuni are two new threats he didn't expect but they need eliminating as soon as possible ending the call and giving that big old evil guy smile to the camera.
I suppose now is a good time to introduce Outei Tsukinomiya as a team in full. Ares no Tenbin as a program I want to work more for brainwashing as well all of Outei bar Nosaka, Nishikage & Taizen are fully in support of Ares while Nosaka plays along still suffering his brain tumour and Nishikage will go along with Nosaka so its fine regardless whereas Taizen would be more spectacle of Ares and its purpose questioning why Nosaka follows it. It sets how cold Nosaka is compared to Haizaki, while Haizaki is a ruthless player he still relies on his team and they on him and that build over the season. Compare this to Nosaka who very little if at all relies and confides in people the only two ever seen in this light would be Taizen and Nishikage with him only opening up to Anna later as the series goes on, the rest of the team he shows little care for if you look at it all of Outei is there for one reason to win and push the Ares programme. I think of it that Nosaka is a ruthless commander on the pitch but the mask slips when it comes to people he trusts which although being a small circle opens more further the series goes on.
From here is where a lot of series changes in terms of the build to the final match.
Match: Inakuni vs. Mikage Sennou
Ok, first change right off the back is that Zhao isn't arrested there isn't any real need for it. Secondly, Mikage will be under the thumb of Ares I mean they are the 'soccer cyborgs' for a reason and they make a good first enemy to show what Ares does with the team. Mikage will be instructed to take out Raimon injuring Hiyori as a way of making sure they can't play. We will say that in this season that goalkeepers cannot be subbed on to play outfield. Inakuni believing they are all out of options Zhao simply laughs and looks to his silent assistant and nods he removes his helmet and Li Hao comes on having been registered to the Raimon to everyone's shock as a defender. I'll also give him Shooting Cut as his hissatsu so we can see him as a defender, don't worry Hiyori will be ready for selection from the next game. The rest of the game pretty much the same with who gets Hissatsu techniques.
Instead of Shimozuru Arata saying to Inakuni about how their strategies will not pass Teikou Gakuen he says it so his team. We'd then cut to the head office of the Teikou football team with Kidou looking dismayed. The next episode would begin with him addressing the team, his subordinates of Sakuma & Genda (because goddammit Genda needs some appreciation and I feel he really gets shafted in all series). Given orders by Ares to play the weaker members of his squad including a new goalkeeper in Shimerigawa Kageru (who will be the son of one of the main people in Ares as opposed to the sponsor), Kidou dismayed by this has to level will the anger of his captain and ace midfielder who is to be left on the bench. Teikou has always as a team represented power in the Inazuma Eleven world so to flip that on its head because of Ares creates a new dynamic.
Match: Inakuni vs. Teikoku Gakuen
The match starts with Inakuni dominating taking the game to a Teikoku team that is a mix of people that are downtrodden and others who just aren't good enough. Shimerigawa is as bad as he is in the actual anime with Inakuni take a 2-0 lead going into half time. At this Kidou changes tact he'd rather go down fighting then like the coward he is being. He takes the armband off of Shimerigawa give it to his normal captain and takes the weaker players off almost instantly they tie the score at 2-2 the Teikoku captain leading the charge. I want to just take a moment about the Teikoku captain, a midfield genius the next generation Kidou. Much like how Kageyama gave Kidou his googles I want the same thing here, not googles but maybe a face mask something explained to regulate his breathing control the pace of the game (look it makes as much sense as Kidou's googles) I really like the design of Sakiyama Shuuji so he's my base here, the comb over hair will stay the mask needs a few more bells and whistles (like Jessick Havok's mask https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1172173729163554816/tCcBK9rY_400x400.jpg).
The captain is good enough to take complete control of a game right away, controlling the pace of the game through only regulating his breathing to steady his passes to be smooth or even rapid, known as a 'sleeping lion' he has all the skills to be a world class deep lying playmaker and he's also one of the main people in Koutei Penguin 2gou. Gravity Cage I'll keep the same but for Hokkyoku Guma 2gou I'm going to switch Kozoumaru with Kirina just because the guy using fire moves doesn't fit the polar bear technique. Inakuni wins 3-2 with this move. The match ends Kidou gathers his players they knew that if they lost that was it for them but they are fine with it one day soon they'll be able to play football again free from these restraints. Kidou ends it by talking with Zhao asking him to save his football club by ending Ares for good, Zhao give it his signature laugh and tells Kidou not to worry about it.
Nosaka is in the crowd with Taizen only. Here is where the conversation about the team Tekikou beat then go on to unbeaten themselves. Taizen questions if this is the work of Ares but Nosaka isn't so sure and is interested to see where Asuto and Inakuni go being the ones to beat them.
I am keeping it that Asuto's father is still alive. There's no reason to change this, I'll have this is only half the episode. I want a meet up between Asuto and Haizaki either in a cafe or an arcade in the island Seishou got to the island a day early. I should establish here that there isn't a switch in the team they would face Seishou is in their group for this round of the Football Frontier this was a match that the first part of the season builds up to. Here we can establish the differences in their characters but the similarities, two different playing style, different goals but they both love football. Here we see a bit of and evolution for their dynamic Haizaki gains some respect for Asuto and his resolution and determination but says he will beat him.
Match: Inakuni vs. Seishou Gakuen II
The match starts again with the Haizaki shot from the halfway line to kick the match off. However, instead of Seishou taking a large lead when they score Inakuni then score up to 3-3 where we give Haziaki Perfect Penguin as in the anime to score the third goal (the second scored by Overhead Penguin). I think we can drop Meteor Drop here as a move and replace it with Hokkyoku Guma 2gou. If we are going to say Meteor Drop is an unfinished move and then never go back to it I do not see the point in it and we will just replace it with another move so we can put emphasis on that. Mansaku will still go on his little run and we explain his role in the team and get his Spark Wind hissatsu. I'm changing what Hissatsu Asuto gets here. While he should get a solo shot and Shining Bird will appear later on the fact its his only solo shoot hissatsu until the semi-final of the FFI we need to set a curve of his shots evolving and getting powerful. For arguments sake we will say he gets something similar to Cross Drive (which he was to get in the game or was at least supposed to) for the winning goal. After the match Asuto & Haizaki shake hands, the demon of the field has accepted defeat gracefully finally understanding Asuto and his team, we can have a moment here between Michinari and Mizukamiya here two captain thanking each other for the game and wish each other best in the nationals. Any hostility between the two teams gone from the first game as led by captains and protagonists. which is why when what happens to Seishou happens it hurts Inakuni more.
Now we move onto the knockout round. As a rework I would have a new intro here to be honest represent the close of the story leading to now and the new intro can highlight the teams going forward as opposed to what has just been faced.
Before we reach the next matches in the knockout round I feel it right to add an extra episode in here to show Inakuni celebrating their victories getting this far. The school throws a party in congratulations and it leads to the team taking the success to their heads thinking they can conquer the world it makes them sloppy and carefree but they don't care even in the absence of Zhao he's off and left a note that he'll be back for the next match (he isn't) and with Anna being sent to watch the Seishou match for them, here we create Inakuni's issue going into this game is their overconfidence.
Match: Inakuni vs. Oumihara
Oumihara you will remember as the team that Tsunami came from in the original series. He will be here as the manager working with Hijikata as stated before. Oumihara will be a team which all players are on the same wavelength, they are always focused on the same goal, it might help that 5 of the starting 11 are related as they quickly take an early 2-0 lead. Look Oumihara as a team isn't all that strong, they have the benefit of really being isolated and effectively a family run club so Ares can't get their claws into them. So you may ask the point of this match? Well we are going to see captain Michinari be a captain. As stated we need the captain to be a captain so that when he gets injured it hurts more. We will start by giving him Okuiri Hiro's 'The Labyrinth' as both a dribble and block hissatsu from this match on. With this move the captain leads the team showing them they room to improve, if he can they can. We get the old speech of work hard and don't get wrapped up in success and they can all still evolve as players. It's a simple match with Inakuni winning, it just serves a purpose for them to win and have a game centred on Michinari's development as opposed to Asuto and shows us why the whole Inakuni team looks to their captain.
Match: Seishou Gakuen vs. Outei Tsukinomiya
This match stays the same, it's perfect how it is. If I had to make some changes I'd have couch Fudou go to call the game off once before he does but his team deny him the right they stand up wanting to continue he allows it. Nosaka here smugly 'admires their courage'. Here is where Haziaki has his Perfect Penguin shot stopped by Nishikage and Ouke no Tate, here I'd have Nishikage throw the ball straight to Haizaki and at that point I'd give Tazien a Hissatsu something to charge and take the ball off of Haziaki, if Nishikage gets the royal shield to block and Nosaka gets the Kings Lance to shoot for the charge I'd give Taizen something like a royal battalion charging through and getting the ball, as long as it keeps to the theme of the three having a royal related Hissatsu here it should be fine. Nosaka then smiles as he is passed the ball and proceeds with Grid Omega, this leaves Fudou no choice but to call the game, his team hurt and unable to play. It's from here we will focus some more on Nosaka, Nishikage & Taizen more to establish them with them taking the screen time previously given to Seishou and their main characters. Seishou is hurt majority hospitalised except Haizaki and Mizukamiya they walk out Haizaki lost for words Mizukamiya tries to talk to him but he doesn't have anything he storms off wanting some time to process. I'll have the two of these pop up in the crowd for Raimon games until Haizaki makes the switch to Raimon for the final, Mizukamiya really the one who calms his unstable rage and lust for revenge and gets him thinking about what he can do. Also while I remember it there's no Haizaki gets beaten up and then watches Inakuni win a football match scene in this. That was just weird to me and no real need for it, we can establish both Haizaki as narrow minded and focuses on just revenge but building up and seeing the bigger picture and Mizukamiya as the level headed one looking to guide Haizaki to where he should be.
After the game Anna runs back to the dressing room of Outei and there's just Nosaka with his head under the tap and we get his whole diagnosis backstory, she feels for him but then he asks Nishikage to get her away and he does she shocked by the news.
Right here Inakuni will not be facing Hakuren they will feature a bit later on for a different purpose. Instead Inakuni's next opponent will be Eisei Gauken a team made up from the children of Ohisama En. It's here we can go over the Kira Company. As we are going post FFI the manager is Kiyama Hiroto (as Kira Hiroto is dead in this timeline), not only does he lead the team but is in charge of the Kira Company but the company is in dire straights and relies on the money of Munetada to keep going which means in turn Eisei Gauken are subjected to Ares no Tenbin. Focusing on the Kira Company it allows us to see the likes of Midorikawa, Saginuma, Reina, Suzuno and Nagumo as people in and around both the Kira Company and Eisei Gauken.
So we will need to explain the Kira Hiroto replacement. We will be keeping a character in that mold but many things will have to be changed in his backstory. What I am imagining is a child left at the Ohisama En by their parents, this leaves them not trusting anyone and being confrontational to any that try to help them. A gifted football player and one of the best strikers on the Football Frontier that emotional wall combined with the talent makes him a very arrogant player, while he has won games on his own has only added to that labelling himself 'the God striker'.
Match: Inakuni vs. Eisei Gakuen
Before this match Kiyama receives very clear instruction from Munetada. Before now it was always seen they would get the the final and lose to Outei gracefully and allow the world to see how Ares at full power and control is the only way for football in Japan to work. The instruction changes to destroy Inakuni and win or all funding to the Kira Company goes and by destroy he means hurt them and injure them, show how weak those who do no submit to the will of Ares no Tenbin really are. Kiyama is looking down the barrel of the entire company going up in smoke if he doesn’t follow these orders or to stick to what he believes in and free the children of Eisei Gauken from the constraints of Ares no Tenbin.
The initial match between Eisei and Raimon ended 6-5, it had to show both Eisei with and without Hiroto as a threat but also that both instances lacked something to make them whole. First change is to reduce that scoreline I don’t like high scoring games for the sake of scoring. To change this the captain for Eisei (our replacement for Tatsuya) is a midfielder and the strikers they have are strong they lack they killer technique that our replacement Hiroto has so while they test Norika and with that Inakuni take a 1-0 lead into the break. This leaves Kiyama looking down the barrel of defeat when Hiroto shows up and is bought on. Eisei quickly take the lead thanks to Hiroto and his signature technique The Explosion and Tenkuu no Yaiba (used by Zeus' Heruse Arisu in the original Ares) instead of Zigzag Strike. The reason for the shoot change is I don't like Zigzag shoot and Tenkuu no Yaiba fits more for the 'God striker' if the team based on the Greek Gods is not part of the series.
Inakuni realises the power of Hiroto and marks him off and takes a 3-2 lead thanks to Fire Tornado and Kirina using Koori no Yari because if we are going to give someone a shooting technique they should score with it or it's pointless. The plot of Hiroto learning to trust his teammates and passing I'll keep in here. It's a good plot point that allows us to actually see him grow as a character and at the same time improves the team. Cosmic Blaster with the Tatsuya replacement to culminate the mini in match arc of the Hiroto replacement learning to trust his teammates and bring the score to 3-3 if we are to introduce a powerful shot like this we need to see it score, it breaks Uzumaki the Hand. Here is where we can now introduce Mermaid Veil to stop a second Cosmic Blaster and save the match for Inakuni it also helps show Norika evolve as a character and gain more power. The winning goal will be scored by Hokkyoku Guma 2gou and Inakuni takes the 4-3 win.
As for manager Hiroto seeing his players play helps him come to the realisation that he's been using these players to keep the company afloat and even if it is the last thing he has to remember Kira Seijirou he would rather it fall to dust than fall into the wrong hands. At the end of the match the gather worried about their future but Hiroto resolves to rebuild the Kira Company from scratch without any Ares help which they all agree to.
Before the next match I would like another part with Anna & Nosaka going over his illness and backstory at the Outei stadium. While Anna presses for answers Nosaka reveals he hasn't got much time left he needs to win Football Frontier its here that Nishikage interrupts even remarking it's not like Nosaka to speak to people outside of the Ares programme. It's here I would have the part where Takemi goes missing and Outei track him down and find him. It's important to at first show Ares as unstoppable when Seishou fails to beat the but now we can begin to show cracks in how they operate especially through Outei. Up until this point we have seen Ares no Tenbin as an unstoppable force removing all in its path. Tekikou football club gone, the Kira company gone but now we see the Ares programme creates issues. It's here we get his backstory Anna tries to see him again but Nishikage stops that going into what makes Nosaka tick and why he is the way he is and why he would follow him. It's simple Nosaka needs to win, not just for himself, not just because of the tumour but for all of Ares and he will do it before he passes. In what is a change from Ares I think Nishikage (and Taizen) would know of Nosaka's brain tumour and even though it could kill him they believe in him enough to follow Nosaka.
Am I effectively dedicating an episode here to explain Nosaka's full backstory? Yes but I think its important the explain here with what we go onto next as he becomes a more integral part here and will be featured more.
With that we will move onto the semi-final matches. we have Outei Tsukinomiya vs. Hakuren and Inakuni vs. Raimon to be played one day after the other. Both matches will be shown here. It's a personal grudge but it just annoys me that all Inazuma Japan members in Orion apart from Gouenji faced Raimon in the Football Frontier. There was a whole squad that made the semi-finals of the tournament that didn't get a player in the squad just doesn't ring true. With this as well we can also see Nosaka in another match to see him play more.
Semi-Final One: Outei Tsukinomiya vs. Hakuren
Managed by Fubuki Shirou Hakuren have blazed a trail into the semi-finals. What needs to be changed here is the use of the Fubuki brothers. I want to keep the main part of this team two brothers but change it slightly. The replacement for Shirou will be a defender with the replacement for Atsuya remaining a striker. I find it fitting that Fubuki finds solace in the set up that he and Atsuya were to be has been set up here with two brothers (the Shirou replacement being one year older as he was in Ares and Orion). Shiratoya Nae remains their secret weapon from the bench.
Outei are a good team but in the realms of football as a regimented game with the exception of Nosaka and Nishikage lack personality and really just follow Nosaka as the Ares programme has taking it all out of them. It makes them compliant but against a player like our Atsuya replacement it’s startling. He can be a rough player but is a clinical forward being emotionless doesn’t like you comprehend this type of somewhat dirty playing. It gives Hakuren and edge as from here Nosaka expected it from Haizaki and went into the game to hurt him with Seishou being the number one ranked team the way the brothers set up a physical game exploits a weakness in Outei, a weakness that Haizaki and Mizukamiya see.
The first half ends 1-1 with goals from the Atsuya replacement and Nosaka respectively. While Nosaka is shocked the team has finally dropped a point he is't fully bothered by it the goal isn't to win perfectly it's just to win, even the greatest of plans have blips (and I really do not like the constant final team never dropping a single point gimmick it's been done to death). Nosaka seems to be enjoying this game. Sure while they has conceded a goal they'll adapt and still win. Fubuki here substitutes Shiratoya Nae on and with her lack of Football experience and real winging it approach on the pitch attitude combined with Atsuya's dirty plays Outei cannot cope and Hakuren dominate the early part of the second half and take the lead 2-1 thanks to Triple Blizzard. It's at this point Nosaka flips his goals are falling around him he cannot achieve his goals and knows at this rate he will fall. Grid Omega this time not from a place of hate, but a position of need. Truth be told there's a sadness in Nosaka using this, he respects Hakuren the brothers who led the team against him and really they could win but Nosaka has to win, Nosaka has to win. He puts the ball in the next 2-2 but Fubuki has to forfeit the match, Nosaka in pain walks off and heads straight to the directors box where Munetada is. It is here he manages to agree for the team they should be allowed to leave the Ares program should they win the tournament and after some debate following in a similar way to in the anime Munetada agrees. We now have the set up for Nosaka and Outei for the final
Semi-Final One: Inakuni vs. Raimon
While Raimon have traditionally been the protagonist team I changed it up for Inakuni as I believe we can work Raimon into the story better as an opposition team here with the backstory of the series put in place. Think of Raimon like the Premier League winning Leicester. Was the team full of the best players around? No. Did the team function as a well oiled machine together to perform a miracle? Yes (and I know I'm doing a massive disservice to Leicester here but as a brief summary that works). Think of Raimon like that. Seeing as they aren’t the protagonist team and setting we can do some fun things with the team. With Raimon I’d have it that when Endou and Kazemaru come to run the club they find no club, it’s abandoned nobody could live up to what Endou and his team done. The team that lost all those years ago it hurt Raimon as the core of that team was from here much like the team that one FFI, the club disbanded and all the love for football went with it. Endou not one to walk away begins to rebuild the club it attracts Sakanoue first of all and much like what is described in the SD game he manages to help build the football club back up from scratch. Sakanoue specifically is referred to as the is the miracle Libero because it’s a miracle he got Raimon back to where it was he was the first to sign up, the one who wasn't burdened by the expectation of Raimon Football Club and is also the captain. The Raimon team event with Endou managing they aren’t the most powerful team but they have the most heart (I mean bar Inakuni and their plot armour).
While Raimon's keeping isn't the best the main problem for Inakuni in this game is getting past Sakanoue he tackles and blocks like the best of them really stopping the forwards all by himself and yes we will give Sakanoue a block hissatsu here as well because he got nothing of his own for hissatsus. I don't know if it was a money issue or time issue but I think Sakanoue deserves more so would give him more. I will keep the first goal of the Fire Tornado, Inabikari Dash, Backdraft combo to get past Sakanoue, it puts Sakanoue over as such a great defender that it took three hissatsu techniques to get round him. I would have Genba Kouji still dive in head first but can't stop it and we have Tanukigahara Ponko come on, I'm not giving her illusion ball or a real large role, I'm not a fan of the character if we are being honest here and I don't think she added a great deal to begin with.
With the score at 1-1 it's decided to use Victory Line. In the episodes leading up to this the practising of the move still proves difficult and not finished. A move described as needing a leader and the two strongest kicks but if it is off by a fraction ir can cause terrible injury but to win needs must. They try it but they are still off, without thinking Michinari dives in to course correct the shot and it goes in as Asuto and Kozoumaru celebrate Michinari is in pain on the ground as the team gather round him we see Haizaki looking on from the stands with Mizukamiya asking him what he will do as the Inakuni team wonder what will happen now.
Michinari being injured is a massive blow, even with Li Hao extra in the squad the way to fight Outei is not to play an extra defender. Not only have the team lost their captain but they have also lost the main point bridge between defence and offence. They visit Michinari in the hospital before Haizaki is brought onto the team where he appoints Asuto his replacement captain. The loss of Michinari needs to be felt more, I always saw it as it was just a player getting injured instead of the gut punch of losing the captain and key player.
It is when they return Zhao brings in Haizaki to the team in a surprise to all. The play out of the plan is the same as the anime except it being Mizukamiya's idea. In the place of Nosaka giving away the data of his team it's here that Mizukamiya begins to let Inakuni know what he has seen and combined with Zhao and Kirina they come up with the game plan. While it's interesting that Asuto comes up with the idea he isn't a playmaker he's more of a play with your heart, the action not the idea so for him to come up with the plan doesn't work here.
I'd add to the plan of training on the island, if Outei are getting all the help possible with the scales of Ares they will go the other way using the nature of the island and it's unpredictable nature. While Outei get all the help that Ares will give to ensure domination of the football world and Nosaka scheming to complete his goals wary of his brain tumour, Inakuni gets some help. While the majority of Seishou are still in hospital Inakuni will get the help of Mizukamiya, Amano and Sasotsuka in training.
I'd want to put an extra episode here of Inakuni training, here we can look to the flashbacks of them working with their parents (especially Goujin's towards the end of the episode) in order to flesh these out a bit more and give some more context to what training they do and why. I feel while this was addressed it could've done with more and with this as well we can also put some more time in developing the friendship of Haizaki & Asuto as well as fleshing out some more Seishou Gakuen members for Inazuma Japan purposes (more on that another time). While I mentioned that the team got new training grounds earlier in the series the unorthodox training is what is needed here so would be focused away from that.
Football Frontier Final: Inakuni vs. Outei Tsukinomiya
Before the game Nishikage confronts Nosaka saying he shouldn't play this game, his tumour is getting worse and worse and putting his life at risk. Nosaka stops him and reiterates that his goals must be achieved even if it takes his last and thanks Nishikage for following him blindly at points recklessly and they go to see this final through regardless the result.
Before the game we get the full pre-match presentation. I've always like the two teams walking out the tunnel past the trophy with all the pyro going off, the camera moving along both teams lined up, I want this game to feel like the cup final, if Inazuma Eleven could produce some Champions League theme styled music here for this that would be great as well would make it perfect.
The match starts right away Grid Omega 1-0 to Outei. This is where we see how Haziaki saves the team by creating a vacuum. From here Inakuni take the fight to Outei. While Nosaka would get another goal thanks to Kings Lance Inaunki get the score to 2-2 thanks to Kozoumaru using Hidaruma Bakunetsudan (hey remember that move) and Asuto using Shining Bird for the first time. From here we can establish it as a strong shot and keep it going through Orion as well if need be and not have it be the insane period of time in the anime before Asuto gets Sunrise Blitz. With this as well we can show these as the results of the unorthodox training producing Inakuni's strongest moves. From here the match would be pretty even teams going back and forth.
So now we are at 2-2 the winning goal will stay the same, I am not changing the end of the match we are keeping Fire Lemonade and Goujin getting it done. The built up to Fire Lemonade will still be part of the series throughout even though some of the instances of Goujin yelling it would be changed just because the match layouts have. Inakuni win 3-2 and win the Football Frontier.
Inakuni celebrate winning as Asuto, Haizaki and Nosaka speak in the middle. Nosaka admits Ares is wrong and that all will have to look at it as failed, this team from an island won through heart and determination not through a program, we have a trophy presentation of Asuto and Michinari lift it together as fireworks and confetti go off as the team celebrates as the crowd cheers on.
The confrontation between Munetada goes pretty much the same Nosaka revealing his plane with Akane and himself. We will add here that through working with others (Zhao) to undo the control of Ares. The Kira Company has not folded and now has the funding to move on without Ares through a mysterious donation as well as them developing breakthrough ideas in the technology sector, Tekikou still has its football club and the Scales of Ares will be no more through all of its corruption and how he has destroyed the lives of many with all the proof gathered all the way down to Nosaka's brain tumour he kept to prove this all, every action he took, all the pain he caused to other and himself was to undo all what Ares had done and to free Japanese football. Haizaki kicking a football directly into Munetada's face will still be here because it is one of the funniest parts of the series but this time he's followed by some police who arrest our antagonist and take him away never to be seen again. Nosaka speaks to Anna saying that he will get the operation now to save his life.
The series ends with the same scenes our three protagonists agreeing to keep playing football. I would keep the final scene the same the tease for Inazuma Japan and for the Orion series.
Conclusion
If we look at it as a whole Inazuma Eleven Ares has a lot on its plate to be a good series. Not only do you have to introduce a large new body of characters you have to appeal to older audience with effectively nostalgia bait with the older characters still playing. GO as a series works doing that because the old characters move into new roles they're different and we see new players take the spotlight. I hope by doing the same the series could focus on a new host of characters more.
I hope this is enjoyable for you all to read through. I hoped to not change large portions of the show after the change of characters and it being on a new timeline but some things cannot be avoided post that. I'll be moving onto Orion in the future with the changes to Ares I have other ideas for Orion post that and how these changes would effect my vision of that series. While Orion had its legs cut out from underneath it I want to flesh it out with more teams and more of a story that the series was aiming for but just never could.
But until then thanks for reading.
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