Calling Blue Period an emo Anime would be spot-on! Since it definitely lives up to the expectations of one.
A Blue Period depicts the story of Yatora, a sensitive young lad who spends his days pondering over thoughts and finding his purpose in life and what he wants to do.
This Anime is based on the Manga created by Tsubasa Yamaguchi.
Although he has excellent academic skills, he seems like a delinquent hanging out with his unambitious pals, he finds no happiness in either of these activities and wishes to find something that would complete him.
While contemplating his dilemma, Yatora finds himself looking at Shibuya’s beautiful landscape. He pulls up a paintbrush, hoping that his feelings would be represented on canvas, unable to articulate how he feels about the extraordinarily magnificent scene.
The thrill he gets after earning acclaim for his art propels him on a trip to attend the exceedingly difficult Tokyo University of the Arts—an institution that only accepts one out of every two hundred candidates.
Yatora has several challenges, including bright peers, a lack of comprehension of the fine arts, and difficulties to get his parents’ acceptance.
Yatora must demonstrate that his lack of experience does not define him in order to secure one of the five prestigious slots in his preferred program.
This series is not particularly action-packed or flashy in terms of animation, instead relies on a character-driven plot.
What is Blue Period?
Blue Period is a Japanese anime television series based on Tsubasa Yamaguchi’s manga of the same name.
The series began on TBS in Japan on October 1, 2021, followed by its Netflix launch on October 9 with fresh weekly episodes. On January 28, 2022, an English dub was released.
Yatora Yaguchi is a second-year high school student with good marks and a lot of friends, an ideal student who plays his role almost perfectly. Everyone around him believes he is content with his life, but he has always felt hollow as if something is missing.
However, one day he wanders into the art room and is attracted by a painting on exhibit.
Yatora is inspired and enters the realm of art, for the first time expressing his actual sentiments via what he creates; his eyes are finally opened to the true beauty of the trade.
He grabs his sketchbook on the spur of the moment and hopes to attend the Tokyo University of the Arts (TUA) after graduating from high school.
Is Blue Period worth watching?
| Title | Blue Period |
| Episodes | 12 |
| Created by | Tsubasa Yamaguchi |
| Release year | Fall 2021 |
| Genre | Drama |
| Theme | Visual arts, School |
The primary protagonists are high school students who are attempting to get admission to art institutions. Each person confronted their own struggles in figuring out who they are while learning about art.
The subject of identity vs. role uncertainty was prominent here. The presented trips all lead to another universal theme: self-doubt. Yaguchi, our primary character, was always self-conscious. I couldn’t help but reflect on myself several times, and it wasn’t pleasant.
Another consideration was the distinction between hard effort, natural skill, and the expectations that came with each name. Yotasuke emphasized this concept the most. Being labeled as talented or already good at something does not always feel as satisfying as expected.
Here are some messages in the Anime that makes it worth watching:
Everybody Starts Somewhere
Yatora was at first finding his path and finally made art his purpose in life.
This never started right from the beginning of the Anime, Yatora just like other teenagers found many troubles at first he felt lost about his ambitions but when he saw the landscape painting of Shibuya his artistic instincts came to life and gave him a purpose.
This serves as a compelling reminder to the audience that everyone begins somewhere. Whether they began producing art as a youngster or on a whim later in life, all artists take up a pencil or paintbrush for the first time and make something.
Hard work vs. Talent
Talent is something you are born with and hard work is something that polishes your talent to the greatest lengths.
Many people may feel distraught by being called talented since it would mean there is no contribution of themselves to their results it was just some innate talent.
When Yatora praises Mori’s picture, he refers to her as “gifted.” Though she respects it, she argues that earning recognition for her ability invalidates the effort she put in to paint effectively.
The word “talent” has a meaning that implies no effort was put into the art and that all artists are born with the capacity to produce well. Blue Period admits that this is not the case.
There Is No Age For Learning And Creating
This Anime gives up the idea of starting too late. There should be no bounds of age or time to learning and creating.
Yatora wishes he had started painting sooner, but he didn’t. He began creating art in his sophomore year of high school—a brief period compared to his colleagues.
He was concerned about the fact that he had so little time to perfect his talents because he needed to pass the art school admission exam.
But it’s not true anyone can begin producing art if they feel compelled to do so.
Why is Blue Period so popular?
The reason Blue Period is so popular is that it addresses mental health concerns in a way that no other Anime has before.
The show’s key topics include “gifted kid” syndrome, impostor syndrome, identity crises, and gender dysphoria, and it addresses these with respect and care.
For the duration of the Anime, the storyline is constant and well-written, with numerous emotional high moments and twists and turns. It also finishes extremely nicely, in a gratifying way that concludes an arc of the Anime while still leaving enough material for a Blue Period Season 2 if it comes.
This short little drama is a bit of a slow burn and it is more of a slice-of-life series than anything else, so I wouldn’t expect any major developments in the plot.
Rather, the show’s strength lies in the characters, their respective motivations, and the believability of their dialogue.
It is rare that we get to see a show where all of these elements work together to provide an engaging and memorable Anime. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever seen one quite like it before.
Is the Blue Period adaptation good?
Because of the renown of the Manga, Blue Period was one of the most anticipated Anime adaptations.
Manga aficionados commended the storyline for its emphasis on art, the difficulties associated with pursuing a creative major, and the presence of colorful characters.
In the Anime adaptation So far, each scene and sequence has had a purpose in either fleshing out the characters or moving the tale along (though given the slice-of-life nature this is more just exploring the character and his choices rather than any kind of driving plot).
Nothing has outstayed its welcome as we’ve transitioned from Yaguchi with his friends, experimenting with painting, chats with the art instructor, interactions with the art club, scenes at home, images of Yaguchi working hard on his art, and so on.
Every scene appears to be carefully put together and has a purpose, making it a joy to be involved in.
The Blue Period is a good example of how to adapt an ambitious Manga series into a respectable Anime, even if it has limitations due to the format.
There are some issues with the adaptation, but overall this is not a bad watch.
Is Blue Period Anime inappropriate?
Inappropriate in the sense that it is not for children, it targets young adults or teens who are ambitious and looking for inspiration.
If you are a parent then you should know that there is a lot of drinking and smoking in the Anime so refrain from viewing it to children.
Teen male characters are aggressive toward female characters, many of whom are sexualized or tilt to “innocent” portrayals.
In this male-dominated environment, there is a lot of pressure to fit in, to not be mocked, and to make decisions that will propel a person to the next level – whether that level is education or profession.
Such portrayals are deemed unpleasant for children as they might pick on these actions and may imitate these characters at some point.
Is Blue Period on Netflix?
Blue Period, which is currently playing on Netflix, is a long-awaited adaptation of one of the most critically regarded manga series of recent years.
It follows wayward youngster Yatora as he discovers a passion for art and embarks on a lengthy, challenging road to obtain a scholarship to art school.
Viewers will be treated to a slew of gorgeous paintings created by Yatora and his classmates along the way. Imitation is how all painters learn, and the series covers renowned paintings from the actual world.
Blue Period is well-known for its immersive look into the world of fine art, but it also offers an additional draw for aficionados. Tsubasa Yamaguchi frequently integrates many themes with the characters’ hardships in painting, much like how paint blends together on a canvas. The first chapters of the manga (and the anime) focus on Yuka’s toxic family and their struggle to follow their aspirations at the same time.
These difficulties are addressed in the same way, with a blend of art and soul-searching alongside Yatora. Yamaguchi’s ploy becomes more powerful as the comic progresses.
Conclusion
- Blue Period is an understated dramedy about a sensitive high school boy named Yatora. There are no action scenes and no life-or-death situations to keep the tension. It’s just Yatora doing what he loves doing most: Painting and thinking deeply about his future in a sleepy mountain town.
- Altogether, Blue Period is a surprisingly good Anime—as long as you keep your expectations in check. It won’t set the world on fire, but if you’re a fan of shows in the same vein as “sound of life or haiku,” give it a shot. You won’t regret it.