Fans roar from the stands as an epic battle unfolds below. Voices rise and collide throughout the arena, creating a wall of sound that drives players forward—or threatens to shake their confidence at the worst possible moment. Every cheer, every gasp, every heartbeat builds toward a single goal: victory.
This is the reality for Key and the players who take the field in Disney+’s newest action-fantasy series, Dragon Striker.
Since its announcement, Dragon Striker has steadily become one of the most intriguing new animated series on the horizon. The combination of fantasy, sports, and anime-inspired storytelling immediately set it apart. Yet with each new trailer, character reveal, and glimpse into the world of Asteria, anticipation has only continued to grow.
Over the past month, Disney has begun unveiling more of the series ahead of its June premiere onDisney+, Hulu and Disney XD. With every new look, one thing has become increasingly clear: Dragon Striker is aiming to be much more than a traditional sports story.
Recently, BSCKids had the opportunity to sit down with creators Sylvain Dos Santos and Charles Lefebvre to discuss the making of the series. From the origins of the story and its sports anime inspirations to the challenges of bringing the world of Asteria to life, we explored the journey behind what could become one of this summer’s standout animated adventures.
BSCKids: Thank you again for taking the time to speak with BSCKids today. The countdown is officially on until the release of Dragon Striker. What is going through your minds right now as audiences prepare to experience this new series?
Dos Santos: I think we’re panicking now because, at this point, there’s nothing more we can do. We’re really proud of the show and incredibly proud of the team. We did the best we could, and everyone involved did an amazing job. Disney has also been promoting the show very well. Now it’s up to the audience, and we’re a little nervous.
Lefebvre: All we can do now is wait and hope for the best. We hope all the passion we put into the project resonates with the audience. We tried our best to build this universe, and we hope viewers immerse themselves in it and enjoy the experience.
BSCKids: You can already tell from the video rollout just how much passion is behind this project. You can feel the action, the magic, and the high stakes all coming together. How did this story come to life, and what was the moment when it all clicked into place and you knew this was the story you wanted to tell?
Dos Santos: Not everything came together at the same time. It was a long process. I think the first spark of the project came from our desire to create an original sports anime. We’ve always loved sports anime—Captain Tsubasa, Eyeshield 21, and more recently Inazuma Eleven.
Those series feature incredible action, amazing combos, and spectacular visuals. Sometimes you see fire effects or even penguins, like in Inazuma Eleven, and you’re never quite sure whether what you’re seeing is real or symbolic. It’s visually stunning.
The idea was to create a sport where the magic and those spectacular moments are actually part of the universe. Everyone can see them, everyone understands them, and they exist within the rules of the world. Gorotama [the sport they play] became the cornerstone of that concept. From there, Charles and I began building the universe around it, developing the magic system and everything else.
Lefebvre: It was really about creating a world built around magic. The sport belongs to this world, and the Gorotama is much more than just a game.
We explore that in the first episode, but as the story progresses, viewers will see that there are implications and larger forces connected to it. It’s about much more than players competing and using magic for entertainment.
BSCKids: Since we’re talking about the sport, it’s clearly the central force that brings everything together in the story. How did you determine what the sport itself would look like and how it would impact the world, the lore, and the characters on a fundamental level?
Dos Santos: Those are really two different questions.
Regarding its impact on the world, we always wanted the sport to be much more than a game. As Charles mentioned, it affects many other aspects of society.
The Gorotama is truly the cornerstone of Asteria. Everything flows through it—from politics and economics to everyday life.
As for what the sport itself would look like, that’s more Charles’ area.
Lefebvre: It needed to feel impactful.
One challenge compared to many sports anime we love is that those shows often spend multiple episodes on a single match. Dragon Striker has a lot of story happening outside the matches as well, so the games needed to be more compact.
The goal was to create fast-paced, visually striking action that felt powerful and entertaining. We wanted every match to leave an impression. That became the core creative direction: make it impactful, entertaining, and memorable.
Dos Santos: To add to that, Charles often described the matches to the storyboard team as gladiator-style confrontations. It’s not just soccer. It’s a battle.
That approach helps reinforce both the spectacle and the stakes, both on and off the field.
BSCKids: Absolutely. The visuals look phenomenal. The lighting, color palettes, and overall presentation create something very unique and distinct. It really reinforces the tone and emotion of the story. Going back to the visuals, animation is such a huge driver of this series. What was the creative process behind developing the visual identity of Dragon Striker?
Lefebvre: The visuals are really a reflection of many of the things I love.
I grew up playing games like Secret of Mana and Chrono Trigger, and those worlds became important creative pillars for me. Throughout my career I’ve worked on different projects, and for Dragon Striker we brought together many influences that we loved and tried to give them a unique identity.
We blended ethnic influences, medieval fantasy elements, streetwear, and contemporary aesthetics. Bringing all of those inspirations together helped create the world of Dragon Striker.
BSCKids: You can absolutely see that. It stands out from everything else currently in the animation space.
Finally, what would you like to share about your experience creating this project with fans who are about to enter this world for the first time?
Dos Santos: The journey.
It was an incredible experience. It was also the most difficult series we’ve ever created. It certainly wasn’t an easy process, but we’re extremely proud of the result and everything the team achieved.
For this project, we developed many new skills. One of the biggest milestones was animating the entire show in-house for the first time. We’ve produced many shows before, but this was the first time the entire animation team worked internally, and that changes everything.
I think that commitment shows in the final quality. There were many firsts, many challenges, and a lot of growth along the way. Orion Ross from Disney often says that the adventure happened as much behind the scenes as it did on screen. It truly was a journey, and we’re very proud of the series.
Lefebvre: I would add that making a show like this is very much like being part of a sports team.
No matter how much passion and energy the two of us bring, a project like this can only happen through collaboration. It required everyone giving their best and working toward the same goal.
We hope audiences can feel that passion when they watch the series. This project was created from a genuine love of anime and everything that inspired it. We hope viewers enjoy all of its unique qualities and connect with what we’ve built.
BSCKids: Absolutely. I can’t wait to see the audience reaction. It’s a phenomenal production, and you can clearly see the heart, passion, and tireless effort that went into it. I can’t wait to see how this world continues to expand.
As the countdown to kickoff continues, one thing has become increasingly clear: Dragon Striker is aiming for far more than victory on the field.
In a crowded animation landscape, the series is carving out its own identity through a blend of fantasy worldbuilding, anime-inspired action, and sports storytelling. Behind every match lies a larger world shaped by magic, politics, and the ambitions of those striving to leave their mark on Asteria.
Whether Dragon Striker becomes Disney’s next breakout hit remains to be seen. What is already evident, however, is the passion, creativity, and ambition behind the project. Soon, audiences will have the opportunity to step onto the field themselves and discover where Key’s journey leads next.
Be sure to catch Dragon Striker when it premieres June 9 on Disney XD, and all episodes stream June 10 on Disney+.
Thank you to Sylvain Dos Santos and Charles Lefebvre for speaking with us.
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