Spring 2021 Anime: Farewell, My Dear Cramer

Synopsis

After being defeated in her last middle school match, talented winger Sumire Suou almost gives up on football. However, a defensive midfielder from the opposing team, Midori Soshizaki, invites her to play in the same high school. But rather than joining a strong powerhouse team, they end up applying for a weak team with no football accomplishment. That’s when they meet Nozomi Onda, a girl who never made a name in the middle school competition because she actually plays for the men’s football team before. Can they work together to bring glory to their new school?

Comments

Dany Muhammad (The Indonesian Anime Times)

Hearing Nozomi’s story about how she has to play in the men’s team somehow reminds me of the story of many Indonesian women football players. They have to join the men’s football team in their youth because they have no other place to showcase their talents. Seeing a similar scenario played out in the context of a Japanese media actually makes me curious; maybe even with the success of their women’s national team, they are still not as popular as the men’s team? It’s an interesting real-life context to consider.

Other than that context, from its premiere, Farewell, My Dear Cramer seems more like a normal sports manga. The first episode focuses more on presenting the backstory of each character. Whether you like the first episode or not, it will likely depend on your reaction to their backstories. Their backstories are different, but they do have one common theme: loneliness and the need for support. Using football to tell the story about that is actually a good idea because it’s a sport where teamwork is really important. Sumire may be a talented player, but one player can’t win the game alone. And when a player has to carry the burden of a team, it is natural for her to feel lonely. At this stage, it is time for other players to step up and provide support.

From its theme, it shouldn’t be surprising that this anime is adapted from a manga written by the author of Your Lie in April. However, the tone is vastly different; the melancholic feeling isn’t there. Instead, Farewell, My Dear Cramer feels more optimistic. The visual comedy is a little bit off, but the part when they referenced Balotelli and Inzaghi will make any football fans laugh. If you’re interested in women’s football, maybe you should check the first episode and see if the characters’ backstories make you want to know more.

Facts and Figures

Screenshots and Trailer

The Indonesian Anime Times