Second-year high school student Yatora Yaguchi is a delinquent with excellent grades, but is unmotivated to find his true calling in life. Yatora spends his days working hard to maintain his academic standing while hanging out with his equally unambitious friends. However, beneath his carefree demeanor, Yatora does not enjoy either activity and wishes he could find something more fulfilling.
While mulling over his predicament, Yatora finds himself staring at a vibrant landscape of Shibuya. Unable to express how he feels about the unusually breathtaking sight, he picks up a paintbrush, hoping his thoughts will be conveyed on canvas. After receiving praise for his work, the joy he feels sends him on a journey to enter the extremely competitive Tokyo University of the Arts—a school that only accepts one in every two hundred applicants.
Facing talented peers, a lack of understanding of the fine arts, and struggles to obtain his parents’ approval, Yatora is confronted by much adversity. In the hopes of securing one of the five prestigious spots in his program of choice, Yatora must show that his inexperience does not define him.
[Written by MAL Rewrite]
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Comentários
g1l
This is nothing but a complete waste of what could have been a fantastic anime. I’m not kidding when I say that at its core Blue Period has some of the best characters, themes, and ideas you’ll find in recent anime. But for everything it does right it also does something wrong. The series is completely devoid of life and personality, and to call the finished product disappointing would be an understatement. Blue Period is about passion. It’s about identity. It’s about the differences between hard work and talent. And of course, above all else, it’s about art. Putting the actual presentation aside for asecond, the anime does a fine job at exploring a variety of themes and concepts. Similar character-driven anime will fall into a habit of forcing too much drama out of characters, detracting from the realism and relatability of the show. Blue Period, in comparison, is incredibly down to earth and consistent. Try and remember that this is an anime about art, so I went into it expecting a lot of extended metaphors that achieve nothing in the overall narrative besides sounding clever. To the credit of the author though this was not the case. There are still some moments that came across as excessive but at least they managed to relate back to the main themes and ideas of the show.
But despite all these strengths it turned out to be one of the dullest shows of the season. You’ll probably see plenty of people making jokes about how the series about art has terrible art and animation, and they aren’t wrong. It’s not insultingly bad, and I genuinely believe that animation means very little in the overall quality of an anime. Good directing can save even the most awful-looking shows, and most faults seen in Blue Period can’t be blamed on the art quality alone. Hell, some parts of the show don’t even look that bad. The actual artwork looks fine, and it’s easy to pick the values out of them as though they were a real painting.
So, where exactly did it go wrong? In a number of places, but to simplify things most of the issues stem from a complete lack of care put into the anime. Or if you wanted to sound smart you could say that the series ironically lacks passion, the very thing it tries to express the importance of. As a result of this the show feels incomplete. Entire scenes will go by without any background music, and this wasn’t deliberately done to increase tension, it was done out of pure laziness and lack of a solid production. And when they do finally decide to play a soundtrack, it ends up sounding mediocre at best and adding no value to scenes whatsoever. This completely undermines the importance of major moments in the series and fails to guide the viewer through scenes the way that it should. Instead of having incredibly impactful scenes with beautiful directing and music you get to listen to the sounds of brushes awkwardly hitting canvases while characters randomly cry as they deliver meaningful lines in the most monotone voices imaginable. Dialogue and character interactions become an absolute mess due to this and id present throughout all twelve episodes. What a joy. This isn’t the fault of voice actors or animators though; it’s the result of a product being rushed out before it is properly polished and refined.
The characters of Blue Period are amazing, and this still holds true despite the lack of production quality. Some major character moments aren’t as meaningful as they could have been, but the fundamental ideas behind the characters and their development are always there. Yaguchi, the main character, aims for his goals through hard work rather than natural talent. Of course, it isn’t the most original idea, but the way he is explored through his dedication and passion for art is simple but well-executed. He truly becomes his own unique character throughout the series rather than a simple copy-paste of any typical drama or sports protagonist. The side characters are equally as great. Each one gives a unique insight into the varying minds behind art, all with their own motives and values. Some people might enjoy art as a way to express themselves, others might pursue it due to a lack of other options. All kinds of people are presented in the side characters, and they’re all equally engaging to watch. My favourite character is by far Ryuugi though. He’s probably not the first time a crossdressing character has been written with such seriousness, by very rarely do you see a genuine crossdresser written with this much depth, particularly in anime. The series gives such a down-to-earth view of his character and manages to do this while tying it all back to the main topic of art. All of the character writing in Blue Period is great, but again it ends up losing a lot of its significance due to the lackluster directing, art, and sound.
Fundamentally, Blue Period should not be a bad series. It has a solid base with great characters and plot elements that allow it to convey its messages relating to art and passion. Unfortunately, it lacks just about everything else. Animation is the bare minimum, background music is almost nonexistent for entire episodes, and the pacing is all over the place. I’m sure all these things are a lot better in the manga, but this is about the anime, and frankly the anime is a lifeless slideshow with way too many glaring issues to be considered a good production in any way.
An1meDweeb
Tl;Dr: "Blue Period" explores what it means to express yourself. Our protagonist's journey of self-discovery and self-expression makes for one of the most compelling character dramas around this season. Mangaka Yamaguchi's personal touches offer a nuanced landscape of both the struggles artists face today and their resilient love for their craft. Sketchy production impairs the anime's ability to draw viewers in, yet the show still manages to paint a rather convincing picture. BP's biggest fault lies in its inability to cater to the existing manga fanbase, but its earnest passion still rings through for newcomers. 7/10~ *** Beauty lies in the eye of the Beholder, and the wayus beholders perceive beauty will vary from person-to-person. It's this subjectivity in tastes that gives art its special meaning. So it's kinda poetic that a story all about art would turn out so divisive among those who watched it. The anime adaptation "Blue Period" (BP) has had people talking for less-than-ideal reasons. Extreme reactions between fans and skeptics can make it difficult for newcomers to decide if this anime is for them. This is because the anime commits specific faults that largely alienate those who have already enjoyed the original manga, and studio Seven Arcs' deserves plenty of criticism for how this material was handled. But let's resist the urge to paint with broad strokes here; despite its weaknesses, BP still manages to retain the core strengths of its source, and offers a valuable gateway experience for the uninitiated to appreciate. To anyone struggling with mixed feedback surrounding BP, I hope to offer an open-minded second opinion on whether or not to give this show a shot. This article will feature a usual breakdown of the story, as well as my honest thoughts on Seven Arcs' efforts when compared with its source material. I'm not here to endorse one medium over the other. My only goal is to endorse a story well-told in either form. And if there's one thing both manga enthusiasts and anime-only fans can agree on, it's this: BP is beautiful. Let's paint a holistic, spoiler-free picture of why BP deserves your time.
The arts can't be perceived in black and white. Well, unless it's in monochrome, of course. It's common to generalize this field as one where stoner artists get praised by rich people for putting together silly sculptures and drawings devoid of meaning. Hyperbole aside, the stigma surrounding the arts is very real. Some revere the arts as a cultural necessity, others see it as a means of exploring themselves creatively. But people typically look down on the arts as a pointless career path, and this is a perspective shared by the main character of this tale. Yatora Yaguchi is a teen who has got it all figured out. He's quite the enigma when we first get to know him: a second-year with a delinquent's demeanor and a star student's grades. As it turns out, his crooked smile is part of a carefully-crafted prodigious persona that masks his hard work and effort. The driven Yaguchi takes pride in meeting the expectations of those around him and finding success in "real life." With an academic record on-track to securing placements in the country's top universities, there's no room for the illogical distractions that art presents.
But damn, if that angelic portrait isn't the most captivating thing he's ever seen.
Stumbling upon a beautiful piece in the Arts Clubroom, Yaguchi confronts what it means to create art. As his teacher Saeki-sensei puts it, the visual arts is spoken in a language without words, communicating truths unique to each artist. All his life, Yaguchi had convinced himself to seek success in school and social circles, but only because the world told him these things held value. Rather than fit in the "real" world, art offers Yaguchi the opportunity to create his own world. To tell his truth, to have his creations touch the lives of other people, to paint a Shibuya skyline, drenched in blue. Art is more than the physical pieces contained inside museum walls; it's passion, something that's been sorely missing from Yaguchi's joyless life.
Yaguchi's initial apprehension towards the arts comes from the overwhelming uncertainty of what lies ahead. Occupation in the arts is undervalued, and career prospects are dim. Artists fight tooth-and-nail in a competitive landscape to keep on doing what they love. Yaguchi is about to jump right in the thick of it, with his eyes set on his only viable path: the Tokyo University of the Arts, a public school with a 0.5% acceptance rate. Experiences in the Arts Club and prep school reveal a frightening catch-up game between our "prodigy" and his peers. He may have mastered what it means to be a conformist, but the arts is a place where individualism matters above all else. Instead of meeting expectations set by others, Yaguchi is now tasked with creating those expectations for himself. For the first time in his life, he perceives himself as a Salieri to the Mozarts of the art world ‒ a talentless amateur when compared against creative geniuses. There's little easygoing with such a tremendous challenge, but Yaguchi has never felt more alive.
BP exudes love for the arts, and that same passion rubs off on its audience. This engaging effect is all thanks to mangaka Tsubasa Yamaguchi's laborious attention to detail. Stemming from both real-life interviews and Yamaguchi's time in Tokyo University of the Arts, Yaguchi's struggle as an upcoming artist feels earnest and intensely personal. His creative process, concerns, and insecurities are laid intimately bare. BP all but drags us into Yaguchi's headspace, which offers an interesting blank canvas for exploring what it means to grow as an artist. His sporadic spurts of self-confidence and artistic output can feel like he's regressing at times, but these flaws rarely come across as contrived. Rather, his struggles and encounters with dead ends make Yaguchi feel human. BP's character drama does have some corny moments, but otherwise depicts this crucial period in Yaguchi's life with a gripping air of maturity. Alongside a compelling protagonist are other inclusions that aid in connecting with this artistic journey. BP is remarkable in how it makes most viewers GET art, even without prior knowledge on the subject. "Art within art" is key to the series' success. In-universe artworks derived from both fiction and real history act as markers for Yaguchi's progress, by communicating the qualities associated with good and bad art respectively. Each painting contains observable details in composition and quickly condenses important information ‒ a picture is worth a thousand words, after all. These artworks in BP brings the audience up to speed on topics Yaguchi studies; such as lighting, form, texture and perspective. And despite the textbook jargon, BP's "lessons" rarely feel dry or difficult, but rather come across as intuitive observations from a real person who was once in our uninitiated shoes. Through learning the technicalities and approaches involved with the production of art, viewers cultivate a deeper appreciation for the creations and struggles Yaguchi endures. The arts homage doesn't end there; BP is brimming with frequent factoids about art and references to famous pieces from the past. Now, there is a small downside when factoring in BP's side characters; the spotlight on Yaguchi often means that many often take a backseat. Still, I believe the series does a fantastic job at contextualizing the journeys of other artists. For instance, the talented Kuwana is in constant fear of failure, with her tenacity wearing thin under the weight of extreme expectations and the guilt of seeing the end of fellow artists' dreams. Probably the strongest showings from this secondary cast goes to Ryuuji. After an introduction which seemed to have got off the wrong foot, Ryuuji quickly came to steal the show through their earnest search for self-identity.
As someone who has recently done some mild studies in the arts, I have nothing but glowing praise for how BP tackles such niche talking points in an inclusive way. With the exception of last season's sleeper "Kageki Shoujo", I haven't encountered any other anime that portrays such an infectious passion for the arts. Unfortunately, this appeal is far from universal, with regards to this anime adaptation at least. This is often the case with many adaptations, but more so with BP. The significant overlap between detractors of this TV series and those who have enjoyed the manga beforehand is worrisome and deserves a closer look. So without further ado, it's time to ask the age old question:
"Is the manga bett-" Yes. 100%.
I don't think there's any dispute over the notion that the manga is built different. One of the first differences you'd notice between manga and anime are the different stylistic approaches. The manga uses shading, linework and framing in a distinct way. BP's anime unfaithful visuals feel far flatter and bland by comparison, and its attempts at emulating the source's inspired use of imaginative sequences feel like phoned-in visual gimmicks. Another issue worth pointing out involves what was left on the cutting-room floor. BP's anime is paced really quickly, and starts out adapting ~100 pages per episode. The abridged result can feel more repetitive at times, and Yaguchi's huge screentime sometimes feels tiresome. Furthermore, the anime is at a disadvantage when it comes to explaining art concepts. From what I've discovered, audiences tend to have a better time keeping up with the manga, which has more room to present infographics and visual representations of this technical material. Finally, the observation that hurts the most is the claim that the anime is "emotionless." Manga readers do have a point; Yamaguchi's superb panels are more emotive and intense than what the anime can provide. And we've yet to mention BP's mediocre production quality, which often results in clunky frames and skewed facial expressions. So yes, manga is better… but that goes without saying for countless adaptations. So what's the problem? Well, word around the community is that BP is a bad anime, and this is a stance I wholly disagree with. Yes, BP's visuals are certainly conventional, but this is an approach that complements the more down-to-earth character drama the series is strong for. Yes, the anime starts out with very fast pacing, but Yaguchi's development in these first chapters is surprisingly on-par with the "rushed'' character changes in BP's first episodes. Yes, there is cut content involving artistic processes and Yaguchi's high school classmates (who show up as afterthoughts,) but the core of the story remains intact; Yaguchi's growth as an artist still takes centerstage to compelling effect. Yes, the anime could be seen as "emotionless," but mostly in comparison to the manga. Shift the playing field, and you just might realize that despite the average-at-best visuals and abridged content, Yamaguchi's unmistakable passion for the arts still resonates to a greater degree than most SoLs out there. If you're a seasonal binger who confuses "Blue Period" with "Blue Lock", what this adaptation offers aesthetically shouldn't be foreign to you. Aside from some scenes in the first episode (and that's me being generous,) there's nothing particularly eye-catching, but there isn't anything offensively bad either. While not particularly pretty, BP makes up for those deficiencies through function; the show is still very good at educating audiences about the arts visually. Lastly, the solid voice acting performances, the interesting OST (+ a banger OP by Omionotake,) and the unstoppable strengths of the source material are all well-worth the SoL price of admission.
What I think has happened here is that attributes deemed as core to the Blue Period experience ‒ the qualities that drew readers to the franchise in the first place ‒ are heavily obscured due to production and time constraints. BP has nothing to offer to existing fans of the IP, and that's a damn shame. Fans expecting BP's adaptation to be of a higher standard than other anime point towards the admirable outpouring of love for the source material, and it's painful to not see that love from readers being reciprocated by this show. That being said, I don't think discourse surrounding the anime should downplay its merits, especially when it still manages to surpass many of its contemporaries airing today. The production committee and Seven Arcs can be scrutinized pretty cynically for their choices here, but I can't really care when the newcomer experience turned out so strong. If you had to pick only one form to check out, go with the manga. But for those with more time on their hands, don't be deterred by the bad press BP has been getting. Don't take my nerd word for it either, go give it a watch; that way you just might be able to experience a great story twice (stonks.) If the show hasn't won you over by the third episode, maybe then consider switching to the manga. Much like how Yaguchi took a chance on the arts and didn't let go, I hope you'll join me in finding an unexpected love for this show.
***
Many thanks for joining me on this read. Living vicariously through Yaguchi's experiences did quell the arts nerd in me. I sure as hell am gonna miss this series. If you happen to like my verbose rants, feel free to check out my other reviews for seasons past and present, peace~
n6ah
First off, let me just say I am not a huge fan of art. I currently live in a city full of great art exhibits and have visited one in my entire life. Honestly, why should I go out of my way to get out of my house and stare at paintings? I thought people knew NFTs were the new wave. With that said, Blue Period is one of the more down-to-earth shows I have seen in a while. This show is about following what you want to be and how you will make your dreams come true. Yes, I know it sounds like ageneric shounen trope but hear me out. This show is more serious and dramatic than other shows you’ll find nowadays. You might not cry but you will see how everyone tries to overcome obstacles in the real world.
Pros:
The story and characters are by far the greatest strength of Blue Period. We are introduced to Yatori as the main character. He is a bookworm that has been following whatever the norm is in society and hangs out with some rockhead friends. He sounds kind of boring, doesn't he? But trust me, things start to get more interesting when he starts to question what he wants to be. As the story progresses more, we see Yatori face his dreams head-on through constant thoughts of failure, self-doubt, and passion.
For the supporting cast, they are not copy and paste characters that are easily forgettable. Most of the time there isn't one problem targeted towards one character. Take Ayukawa for example, a non-binary friend of Yatori. We don’t feel terrible for Ayukawa just for their gender. His concerns for the future and the family situation were executed masterfully. I'd argue that his story was presented better than Yatori, but that's just the author being brilliant having an in-depth story. The other secondary characters also affect the overall tone of the story as we also get to see how they confront their goals. Even Yatori’s unmotivated friends keep the story interesting as well as if we should root for every single one of them to succeed.
Cons:
Some anime studios manage to confuse me, not because of what they do, but because of what they don’t do. Who would have thought a show about art would be the lowest point of the show? Well, I will present to you Seven Arcs. Their studio gives a poor impression considering other notable works they have is Tonikaku Kawaii which isn’t too spectacular animation-wise. If you are familiar with art in general, you might recognize some pieces throughout the story which do not look too bad in anime form. There are moments where the animation is supposed to stand out. But most of the time the characters like to make stiff and uncomfortable movements to the point where it kills the whole vibe of enjoying this story. The directing just follow the source material from panel to panel which is why most of the characters make herky-jerky movements.
Overall:
Is Blue Period worth watching? Well, it depends on what you’re looking for. If you couldn’t tell from my disgust for the visuals, this is a flawed adaptation. However, it manages to pull through adversity by keeping the story and characters interesting from start to finish. A great manga does not always translate to a great anime. I'd recommend the manga instead if its premise gave you any interest.
_MBH_
This is a great anime, all though some people have mixed feelings about this anime. I felt like it was one of my top ten anime. This anime is just plain beautiful, one of the best Netflix Animes out there, since most of them are kinda meh. The anime is about a kid who wants to go to art school, but he is somewhat poor. So he practices and joins training classes so he can win a free spot to art school. Why it's so good: The setting, the feel good vibe, it's so perfect. They also perfectly depict good art, and Ilove the way how everything seems well done. The reason why people would hate it is because it kinda feels like that a lot of the anime, is just waiting for him to finally get out of training school. Which makes it somewhat slow, but it's not like your waiting over 100 episodes for something to happen... There's only 12eps anyway!
Art:
Pretty decent, not the best I've ever seen. But it's about art so... Of course its gonna have some great animation.
Enjoyment:
I really enjoyed watching this anime, and even though sometimes it seemed to take a long time, I didn't really mind it because all of the episodes were interesting.
Great anime, highly recommend!
Mr_Socialite
LISTEN BEFORE YOU BARK AT ME! THIS IS A NETFLIX ANIME, FIRST AND FOREMOST! That said, you must take the anime with a grain of salt. Like, it could be better, yes, but the story is beautiful. I loved this anime, and I typically hate Netflix animes besides Kakeguri. Honestly, this anime is genuinely beautiful, whether the art design or the story. I love the characters and the growth of their personalities. They are fleshed out, and the story is something that anyone within the art community can relate to. It depicts the desire to do better and the inner conflicts one may have. I donot care what anyone says, this is a good anime to watch if you want to watch an anime that makes you feel good while also feeling inner dread about your life. Somehow, that is what makes it beautiful. Having mixed feelings about everything makes it so unique.
ren0080
This anime always made me think that probably in another universe, I continue pursuing art and got into an Art University. It's because this anime just has this inspirational vibe going about it that makes me wanna do things that I deemed as impossible. This is this anime's biggest charm and reason as to why you should watch it. Well, if that didn't hooked you yet about watching this for yourself, then let's get to the technicalities. First the story. It started off pretty much steady and shown a completely linear direction about it's plot. There's progression in each episode which tells how great the pacingis. The plot itself isn't unique by any means, but the concept is pretty original (pretty sure there's not much anime about painting). And the execution of generic plot elements here are exceptional and came off as natural course of events.
I didn't rate this category higher because we're at the earlier stages of the story. There's a complete journey in this 12 episodes, but this is pretty much the first step.
Then the characters. The mc is a good character. He feels like a human being who has emotions and personality. The story portrays his struggles and emotion very well which in turn, makes the audience understand his perspective and thus like him as the main focus of the story.
The main cast of characters are also quite likable. Even the side characters has layers to their personalities that doesn't make them fall into generic archetypes. I don't really have much to say to them.
I talked about the good things, now let's go to the harsher side of my review. First, the animation. It's a shame how the studio couldn't live up to the exceptional art that the manga has produced. It's not just how off-model the characters are, but also how the anime art isn't really that impactful as the manga.
Though I like their composition and how they direct a scene (like the blue Shibuya for example). They do a great job... sometimes. But well, the animation itself is pretty janky and stiff, which lowers down my score quite a bit.
Then there's the music where it's just... there. The ost doesn't really amplify the greatness of the scenes nor does it make it memorable. It's just playing on the background. I legit don't remember any tracks from this anime. But the opening and ending grew on me and I found them catchy enough.
Overall, it's a very good, inspirational anime that will probably awaken your inner art within yourself. If you haven't watch it, I suggest you give it a watch. Or if you want the better experience, go read the manga.
(6.8/10)
RebelPanda
The anime industry's default approach to beloved manga adaptations is to drain them dry of personality, rip their hearts out, and factory-produce them for a market that rewards quantity over quality. Blue Period comes out of the machine an uneven but worthwhile experience regardless of all this. Yatora Yaguchi is a condescending high school student who prides himself on hard work, rather than relying on natural talent. At the very beginning, he sees a Picasso painting and says to himself smugly, "I could paint that." If you've never picked up a paintbrush, that's an understandable conclusion to reach. After all, people who are good at artare just talented, right? Blue Period strives to destroy this misconception at every chance it gets. The author wanted passionately to convey that art takes time, effort, and a strong work ethic. An unfortunate side effect of condensing a lengthy manga into a measly adaptation is cut content at the expense of this one crucial theme. Despite Blue Period's technical faults, and there are many, its character writing rises to the occasion. Like Yatora, each of their lives is well detailed: We know what motivates them, their concerns about getting into art school, how their family feels about their decisions and all of the turmoil that comes from pursuing their dreams. The show's most compelling theme is talent versus hard work.
In a show about art, there's not enough screentime devoted to the process of creating art. And for an anime about artists, it's about as creatively vacuous as manga adaptations come. Even the untrained eye will notice this anime's an eyesore at times. Nothing is captivating about the visual language. There are no inventive directing choices; every background is drab, unimaginative storyboards, and the editing is lifeless. The character designs aren't very detailed yet they're inconsistently animated. They move like stiff cardboard. The close-ups fail to convey the script's intense emotions because they're flat. Unmoving. Likely they copied shots directly from the source material without considering how color and animation would affect the scene's impact. Having never read the manga, I can only assume poor adaptation choices. The same can't be said for the background music, which isn't haphazardly edited at all. Taiko drums and piano work well here to give seemingly mundane moments an air of melancholy and anxiety.
Drab though it may appear, Blue Period's engrossing story creates tension very well. Yaguchi and his fellow aspiring artists hone their drawing skills in preparation for the competitive Tokyo Art Institute exam. Only a select few are accepted every year-you're never sure if the main characters will fail or succeed. They face constant negative emotions caused by stress, overwork, and self-doubt. Aside from training, the conflict the characters face and problems at home propel the drama and make it consistently engaging to watch.
Yaguchi is a flawed protagonist and a newcomer to art, which makes him the ideal focus for a show about chasing your dream. He said the wrong thing, praising someone when they are comparatively not impressive to other student artists. Yaguchi's mother disapproves of art school at home because his family has a tight budget. But she is supportive upon realizing the effort he puts into his work. His character arc consists of defying his deeply held belief that "People who are true to themselves can't survive." That's the harsh truth for artists, making a living doing what you love is no easy task. The person who originally drew him into the fantastical world of art, Yuka, plays a key role in his development.
Yuka nearly shares the role of the protagonist with Yaguchi-they also want to get into Tokyo Art University. They live with their grandmother, who has high hopes, and parents who disapprove of their lifestyle and choices. Yuka's gender is ambiguous, but they present femininely and don't want to be treated with masculine gender roles. Their gender is a significant detail incorporated into their backstory with sensitivity: they face bigotry, rejection, and insecurities that dig beneath their elegant and confident exterior. Although they hardly get time for character progression due to the disastrous pacing, they are one of the better characters in the show. Though Yuka is a sympathetic character, the show tries to have its cake and eat it too. Yaguchi constantly refers to them as a man with masculine pronouns and by their deadname, Ryuji. No one questions why he uses improper pronouns-the show blames other people in their life who reject their gender identity. We're told Yaguchi feels compassion for them, then his actions make him seem like an asshole. It's detrimental to his character development, and their relationship progression.
Pacing is the most irritating problem with this anime. Originating from the second episode, which rushes past necessary development: Yaguchi struggled to become a better artist, so we're told, but he simply became great in a series of time skips. Skipping his growth goes directly against the story's themes: not everyone has natural talent, and it takes hard work to achieve your aspirations. The studio responsible for this adaptation, Seven Arcs, selected specific story beats but skipped over what they deemed as less important. Rushing through Yaguchi's art training also leaves non-artists in the dark about his processes to create his drawings and paintings. This issue is persistent throughout most of the show. It's not until the last third of the season that we delve deeply into his step-by-step creative method. If the show had put as much emphasis on creating art as its character drama, it'd be great, but significantly longer than 12 episodes.
Blue Period makes a convincing argument for why you should read the manga-and that's ultimately the only reason this anime was made. It doesn't take advantage of the visual medium, but it's a watchable 7/10 anime that could've been a 9/10 anime. In spite of insurmountable odds, its stellar character writing, script, music, and themes make it a success. Shining through a thick layer of grime covering this diamond in the rough is a beautifully relatable story about passionate artists striving for their dreams.
mpaxaloneraida
i’m not even joking when i say that i had no motivation whatsoever until i watched blue period. it’s just so relieving to see yatora starting his art journey so “late” but having the energy and emotional capacity to succeed. the art style was really good and i also liked the contrast between the artwork art style and the characters’ style. yes it was kinda predictable at some point but not that much. each character was unique and messed up and i liked that and also the controversy of mindsets was a nice detail. the way the characters react to the events was very realisticand flawed and i enjoyed this (no one’s perfect anyway)definitely a must watch. i adore this.
b-theweeb
With this being such a unique style of anime (sadly a Netflix original-but a very decent one imo), I really got to enjoy the story behind it. With the realization of a change in life, Yatora pursues a different career/path he hadn’t ever thought of before. The story and struggles Yatora faces within his new path within the world of Art truly felt special. He began to embrace life and his relationships differently, truly showcasing his growth as an artist. The characters were all so unique and really helped Yatora grow both within his art, but also as a person. I recommend watching Blue Period whether yourare an art lover or not-being not very artistic myself, I was skeptical at first but really happy that I gave it a chance and think others should too!
ruby_cav
A somewhat melancholy show about the creation of art and why we do it, and the relationship other people have with art, its process, and other people. Some aspects of the show hit harder than others but I really enjoy it. One of the best aspects of the show is that the message of it is that anyone can make art, or anyone can follow their passion, as long as they stick at it. You're not born with some innate talent, with practice and guidance you can reach very very high. And that is quite heart-warming, I think. The other character's treatment of Ryuji issweet as well. They have good friends and a support circle, especially with granny. Slay, queen
Sage0_0
“A work of art is finished the moment you give up on it.” story (9/10)- The story follows our protagonist "Yatora Yaguchi" who works hard to uphold his academic grade but at the same time he is unmotivated and spends his day hanging out with his unmotivated friends. We follow him as he finds his true calling of his life and grows more into it and as well as a person. art (7/10)- You could say that the animation is not this anime's strongest point but at the same time its not bad either. at some places it was sloppy or should i say lazy? Inconsistent is theright word for it. But its quite decent for a slice of life anime, you wont notice much if you're not trying to nit pick.
sound (8/10)-
AH YES, the sound. I still cant get over its ending theme, Its a vibe that fits perfectly with this anime and so is it opening. (don't skip it alright) i had some problems with the background scores like 2 different moods overlapping, it just didn't feel good. other than that there's not anything bad about it, they compliment the scenes perfectly and some even relaxes you.
character (9/10)-
Characters are the most integral part of any anime, not just the main but also the supporting characters and i love the fact that this show didn't betray them. from our protagonist to falling in love with making art to Ryuji who picks up Japanese art instead of western style just so her grandma doesn't feel betrayed. i want to talk more in details about other characters but that might just spoil things for you XD. In all honesty this has a great cast, someone might make you smile like crazy by looking at them while other might make you jump inside your devices just so you could give them a comfortable hug to ease their pain <3
Overall (8/10)-
I enjoyed thoroughly while watching this show and there's no doubt about it. from start to finish. after final episode i found myself begging for more. I would recommend this to everyone who wants to watch a deep slice of life. its something more than just art, its about the struggles people face and the happiness they taste while overcoming it. its about expressing yourself, be it via language or something you genuinely love doing. I would like to ending this with a quote from this anime,
"Don't use your communication skills to hide what you really feel. Use them to strengthen what you want to express and win over others."
Thank You for reading!
yaqmur
Firstly i want to state that i don't care about any other reviews written on this platform. ı think its about the expectation. for someone who didn't read the manga i can't see that why this anime was so bad. My thoughts will probably change after i read the manga but please understand that i didn't. So why i liked this anime so much? Iasked to myself and thought a lot.. It gave me so much inspiration. I was always so afraid to make art. I had the talent, but because of the percentage of getting a job by doing art was so low i wasafraid. I was afraid to spend so much time on it and it will look like shit.. But after watching this anime i saw that if you really work hard on something, it will pay off. I knew this, even though i knew this i was still afraid. I waited every week to watch the new episodes. It was really exciting for me. While waiting i draw, draw, draw and draw again. It was like i found my reason to live. Without art my life was so dull to the point that i thought that there was no reason for me to live if all i was going to do is getting a job, being a mom etc. I'm still in highschool so i gave a lot thought about my future. ı still don't know if i still want to make art for living but most of my time exists of drawing something. I always thought that people make art from a young age, i can't compare with them so i didn't do anything? But i think that is absolutely wrong. yaguchi tought me that. Why couldn't i compare with them? With enough hardwork i could do anything i wanted. It didn't matter that i started late. I could catch up with them.
So i think why i liked this anime so much is that. It helped me to calm down my thoughts and think rationally. Even if my job won't contain art i could still do it. It didn't matter that others was so much better. It was about me not them.
AzuraPix
First of all I think Blue Period is literally a work of art like the manga and anime, they both are pretty similar and don’t do much different (within the first season). I think it made the transition into anime perfectly well. All of the characters are very lively and have different personalities that make them all likable in their own ways, characters also have things and problems they’re also going through like Yuka (Ryuuji). Blue Period was really refreshing, one of the best things I’ve seen in quite a while. The animation was really good. It gets the job done and works wellwith Tsubasa Yamaguchi’s art style being pretty distant. The main character is also really good. He has lots of ambition and determination, something you strive for in the main character. People giving it a 5 are also the people that should be actually watching it; they don’t give any good reasons or any that makes sense on why they give it a 6 or 5. Either way Blue Period is definitely worth your time watching it, the dub just came out if you're a dub watcher but if you’re not the sub has been out for a while to watch it highly recommend Blue Period!!
MartaNara21
Dedicating yourself to the world of art is not easy, and even dedicating yourself to what you like does not mean that you will always go down a path of happiness, and this is what Blue Period transmits, teaching in a realistic way, the path of some people in the world of art, and above all, being so realistic, it is easy to empathize with the characters, with whom you will feel identified because of their fears, decisions... (even if you do not dedicate yourself to art). This work not only talks about the world of art, but it goes further, it is much deeper, reachingtopics such as the existential void, or how much society can suffocate you by perhaps not giving everything they expect from you. whether or not you go the way they expect you to go.
We begin with perhaps the most complicated thing when wanting to dedicate yourself to this, I mean telling your family what you want to dedicate yourself to, which in this case would be the world of fine arts, and here we will see it through the main character, Yatora, You can see how much it cost him to tell his mother "Mom, I want to dedicate myself to art", because we know that art is highly stigmatized, that many do not see any way out of it.
Yatora, despite being a good student, had no ambitions, he didn't know he wanted to study, he lived in a 'blue period', full of sadness and uncertainty. He liked art but he only took it as a hobby, until he saw a painting from a student in the art club and was fascinated.That's when this teenager who feels she doesn't fit in with anything or anyone, begins her new dream, leaving everything behind to dedicate herself to it body and soul.
Throughout the work, concepts of art are explained, they show famous paintings and artists, but someone I am going to highlight is Picasso, well, the title of the work perhaps has to do with him and the "Blue Period" that He had between 1901 and 1904, a stage in which the artist conveyed his pain and sadness in his works.
The anime was short for me, but the manga is gorgeous, Blue Period is a work that touches your soul.
Rymirox
The best art genre anime, period. I don't want to exaggerate but the information about art in this anime is so informative and astonishing. I love how Yatora chooses and discovers what he really wanted to do and his passion which is to draw/paint. He feels a deep love for art, especially when he's eager to learn, express himself more, and continue no matter what the outcomes are. I love also how the artwork is explained in a somewhat detailed way. I know that the artists going to love and relate to this because it also tackles the societal and passion perspective when it comes to art. What's moreinteresting is it also based on the students' life as an artist enrolling to a prestigious art university in Japan that shows the progress and other things.
I also love the characters especially Yatora, my favorite character aaaaaaaa, I love how he is serious and eager to achieve want he wants haha.
The art style is also good! Like imagining all the pieces sketched and drawn in this anime.
Overall, I know it may not be great to others since the genre may not be for them. But what I really love is to discover the characters' goals, growth, and expressing themselves!
Aniangel13
I started Blue Period out of sheer curiosity, and with finals season coming up at my university, I wanted a simple and short show to watch. I am a student of science and wouldn't change it for the world, yet it wasn't my original plan when applying to schools. I am a failed art student, dropping out of my university's graphical design program after just one semester. I was greatly discouraged and stressed in all my classes, and even though I had the technical skills, there was something others had within them that was not in me. Since I switched to biology, I had not drawnanything or gone near any of my abandoned art supplies. Until I watched the first 2 episodes of this show.
Sure, the art may be a bit janky at times, and the soundtrack isn't anything special. But watching Yatora struggle, cry, and celebrate his growth as an artist made me resonate with him greatly, because I also struggled and cried, yet I was not successful in the end. Yatora had that passion and motivation to keep going, regardless that he started late and had no prior knowledge. I felt myself always cheering him on and sharing his nervousness. I also felt a little jealous, and even sad that I couldn't push myself forward in the same way. The characters that surround him, from the effortlessly talented Yotasuke to the determined yet pressured Kuwana, were people I also had around me during my time as an art student. Comparing yourself to others blinds you of your own potential and development, and Blue Period touched on this subject well.
The support Yatora's friend group gave him was so very sweet, and it shows the importance of having people believe in you, even if they don't fully grasp what you are doing. Because of this encouragement, Yatora had his initial push which then set him off to create wonderful pieces of art. This in turn inspired his friend to pursue a career in patisserie making, which is a nice little detail that demonstrates the cycle of inspiration people can have on one another.
This review may very well be one guided by my personal emotions and experiences, but everyone has shows that they relate to in this way, Blue Period just happened to become one of mine. I've drawn two things since watching this anime: a still- life of some bananas I had laying around and a tapestry study. I felt at peace while doing both, and the time passed me by gently. I am once again getting invested in making art, but now with a fresh mindset. This anime gave me a reason to give art another chance, and while I may never make anything special, the work I put into a piece is good enough for me.
Noichiboy
That might not be the best adaptation the manga could get but I have to admit that I cried a bit when Yatora got accepted to Geidai. The voice acting was a bit weird at the beginning but in the end, it didn't bothered me at all and it might have just be a me problem. I really enjoyed the exam part and I could really relate to Yatora even though I am no art student. Honestly, I don't even know what I think about this anime but it definitely made me feel something and I really liked that. I planned to read the manga for a while,way before the anime got aired but now I know that I will read it very soon,.
Blue Period definitely changed me and I'm excited to begin my art journey along with Yatora.
Alliexd
more of a 8.5/10 its my first artsy fartsy anime and the way they portrayed art - was simple and interesting enough for someone who knows nothing about art. main character was also relatable with the fact that he was untalented but then his talent could be very well his hardworking nature. I liked that when the main character went to the museum, he was like uh i guess i like this because it'll brighten up the hallway - very relatable again. inspiring and nice to see. and of course, there were those talented characters in contrast. all the characters were quite likeable overall.
Zinnia17
As an artist I enjoyed it lot's, now I'm currently collecting the manga which is also very much recommended. I thought the animation was great, stiff at times but still enjoyable. The anime really did show the struggles artists face, like working yourself to the bone or struggling with thoughts that you aren't good enough as an artist and critiquing yourself as one, it also many different characters with different looks and personalities. The anime also shown the competitiveness between artists, especially when it comes to art schools. The artstyle of the anime is also really pretty and fitting. The anime also included many many many referencesto actual historical and important art. As I mentioned that the anime features the characters struggles and their very own flaws, the main character faces it, as well as other characters in the show. The situations were incredibly realistic. I found myself also enjoying the character designs, everyone was unique in their own way.
If you're an artist yourself, I recommend it.
