Every morning, incoming first-year Taiki Inomata hurries to his high school gym in order to further refine his badminton skills. However, his true motivation stems from sharing the otherwise empty gym with second-year Chinatsu Kano, Taiki's crush and the star player of the girls' basketball team. Although Chinatsu seems unapproachable, Taiki gradually finds opportunities to get to know her little by little.
Unbeknownst to Taiki, his tireless work ethic and admiration motivate Chinatsu to work harder and strive to achieve her greatest ambitions. When her family must suddenly move overseas for work, Chinatsu decides to remain in Japan and shoot for victory at the national level. With nowhere to stay, she is taken in by Taiki's mother, who is longtime friends with Chinatsu's own. Overwhelmed with the new reality of living alongside the girl he loves, Taiki resolves to join Chinatsu at the national level in his own sport—and grow closer to her in the process.
Still, despite being good enough to catch his coach's eye, Taiki must fight an uphill battle to qualify for a spot on the starting team. Cheered on by both Chinatsu and gymnast Hina Chouno, his childhood friend, Taiki aims to make a name for himself among his powerful upperclassmen.
[Written by MAL Rewrite]
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Comentários
duckpoop
I can only call this a nihilistic romance show. The author shows you a romantic situation that seems to be quite definitive, and then, she spends entire episodes arranging scenes suggesting that, even though the situation once looked hopeless, maybe... maybe, change is actually possible. That something new and beautiful will blossom. Then she shits on it. Nearly every episode has one or two rage-quit worthy scenes where you just want to abandon ship and jump into the ocean, yet those tiny embers of romantic intrigue prevent you from dropping it, keeping you curious about if the situation will change the next time. It doesn't - the showmethodically destroys hope. It's literally a textbook narcissistic relationship: small gestures of kindness that give you hope, which are then followed by a long duration of relentless abuse.
Ao no Hako does not simply contain romantic bait and switch - it IS bait and switch. If I'm giving this a 4/10, 3 points of that are thanks to Hina. She exists independently from the author. There's a certain sadism in the production of this story. If you are the type willing to play the M to the author’s S, you'll love it. Otherwise, don’t bother. I certainly wouldn’t have if literally any other worthwhile romance existed right now.
Andrewapps
Story: 5 Characters: 7 Animation: 8.5 Sound: 9 Enjoyment: 7 Overall: 7.3/10 Notes: It's crazy to say, but honestly... the worst parts of "Blue Box" are its main pairing, and the sports sub-plot. It's crazy, because one of Chinatsu and Taiki are almost always on screen, and the whole show uses the sports theme as a crutch to support itself/the romance. But genuinely, I feel that those two things are what is holding "Blue Box" back. Only one of the sports (badminton, basketball, or rhythmic gymnastics) should have been the focus (and I mean actually focused upon, not simply as part of the setting), and Hina, Kyou, Ayame and Kengo should havebeen the main characters. Chinatsu and the entire basketball team can be hard demoted to the background, and Taiki would be demoted to supporting cast, as Kyou's and Kengo's teammate. I genuinely think the show would have benefited greatly from such alterations, as the supporting cast really shines in "Blue Box", making Chinatsu and Taiki rough to watch as they bumble around "aimlessly" for 25 episodes.
But if we aren't going to hard change anything about the show, then it needs more badminton, or hell ANY basketball, I'll even take some rhythmic gymnastics over, well... NOTHING. And obviously, the show desperately needs to develop Chinatsu and Taiki as characters, because frankly at this point Hina deserves better, making Taiki look bad for rejecting her and Chinatsu look bad for being Taiki's target of affection. Taiki is bland, and Chinatsu... Chinatsu is beyond bland.
I will say, though... "Blue Box" is cute, sweet, and easy to digest, with some surprisingly real moments coming from the supporting cast + Hina. Even Taiki has a relatable moment or two, somehow, and it is moments like those that kept me invested in the show, even during its lulls.
Frankly... at this stage, "Blue Box" is hard carried by the studio's great animation/decent directing, solid OPs/EDs, and superb VA casting. Without a high quality studio at the helm, this show is a 6/10, probably worse.
To close things off: It's vanilla, it's slow-paced, the sports element hardly exists, the main pairing sucks, huge payout moments come up and then are backpedaled upon with 0 end result... but I still liked it, surprisingly. Not loved, but liked. If a S2 comes, I'll take it. If not... I won't lose any sleep over it.
FlowMAL
Blue Box may not reinvent the romance genre, but it executes its ideas so well that it hardly matters. While the anime relies on familiar tropes, they're handled so naturally and genuinely that they feel fresh and enjoyable. The story isn't overly complex, but its simplicity is part of its charm, making it incredibly easy to love. At its core, Blue Box is a wholesome, well-crafted romance that understands its strengths and delivers them exceptionally well. The main defining aspect of Blue Box is that it blends romance with sports. Watching Taiki push himself to improve, not just for his own sake but because he wantsto stand alongside the person he admires, gives the story and its main goal more weight. That said, while sports play an essential role in shaping the characters' motivations, the story ultimately prioritizes romance.
One of the standout aspects is the complete lack of fanservice, which is a refreshing choice for a high school romance anime. Many similar series rely on fanservice, particularly with high school characters, which can be off-putting for many. Blue Box, however, avoids cheap distractions and focuses on what actually matters: the characters and their relationships. As a result, every interaction feels so much more sincere.
And, of course, I have to mention the soundtrack. OP 1 and ED 2, in particular, perfectly captured the emotion of the series and arcs for me. OP 1 ("Same Blue" by Official HIGE DANdism) always had me hyped for the episode. ED 2 ("Contrast" by TOMOO) paired an emotional song with beautiful visuals, hitting hard every time it started playing after a great episode. They're the kind of songs that stay with you even after the episode ends, making the story's moments just a little more impactful.
If you're after something groundbreaking or genre-defining, Blue Box might not be the anime for you. But if you want a heartfelt romance with fantastic animation, a banger soundtrack and engaging drama, Blue Box is absolutely worth the watch. It's one of those rare anime that just feels right.
Dgd90
MC is not very likeable, literally does not take a single meaningful action until the end. Paralyzed by decision the whole season, and an ultra passive wuss. He finally does something at least near the end but then the season ends on a garbage open ended note. Animation decent I enjoy the style. Plotlines just simmer and fail to develop. A lot of characters that are genuinely shallow and boring. The team manager she sucks lol, but at least they give her more character than like all the other side characters. I think you might like it but wait until season 2 comes out. Waitingfor this weekly pained me because very little happens in each episode
otakubek
I didn’t root for the main couple. My heart leaned toward the one who smiled despite the storm – Hina. She wasn’t just a side character to me; she was the heart I related to. Her honesty, her courage, and the way she carried unspoken feelings… It wasn’t just a crush. It was love that bloomed in silence. But not every story is fair. Not every feeling gets returned. And sometimes, the most painful “no” is the one we see coming… but still hope against. Hina’s rejection wasn’t just hers – it echoed in me.Blue Box may be about love and sports.
But to me, it was a reminder:
Some hearts stay hidden in the background… but beat the loudest.
JuSanyk
First this season doesn't have a proper ending, so if you want to start watching it just now, I don't recommend it, it is not worth it. Otherwise it was all right, nothing special. 24 okay episodes with a 24th episode that could have been an end for season one, and then there was a filler 25th one where literally nothing happened. I am not gonna say it was bad, because I watched all episodes and kinda enjoyed it, and this is already something. My biggest complaint is honestly the ending. Based on the rhytm of this anime the end was right there in the25th and I don't see what on earth can be in this story and characters that deserves a whole second season. If the ending would have been there and we can get a second season with a fresh couple (which can be just as exciting although it is rarely a theme in romantic stuff) that's a different story, but this isn't the case here.
TLDR.: Not recommended, wait for the second season and maybe then. We will see.
_Maria_chan_
Initially, I had very high expectations after watching its trailer and the first episode. It's shown that this anime is about two genre: sports and romance. But sadly the sports no longer exist in this anime. The author has given a lot of importance to the romance and love triangle here. Total of 25 episodes were filled with clueless and unnecessary stories. There was no plot, no comedy. Overall this anime was very slow and boring. I thought I could watch badminton and basketball games here, but not even ten percent of sports were shown here. The entire anime ends with scenes of Taiki andChinatsu unnecessarily talking and face each other, Hina is suffering pain of rejection which was so undeserving and sometimes they would show some scenes of their game practice.
About the characters, the two mc Taiki and Chinatsu were pretty useless. They like each other but entire 25 episodes, they can't tell each other what's on their minds, which was so weird. Surprisingly, the author made the second female character Hina more likable than the female mc Chinatsu. Just only Hina is such a straightforward likable character here. The female mc Chinatsu has no contribution here, her job was only to make misunderstand. The male mc is so useless and brainless, I really don't wanna say anything else about him.
Btw, The opening and ending song was beautiful and the animation quality was also very nice.
Lastly, I would definitely not recommend this to anyone. Because I don't want anyone to waste their time watching such a clueless anime like I did.
Tuls
There haven’t been many sports-romance anime in recent times, so the genre alone gives Blue Box an edge, but it ends up being an unfortunate case of mismanaged potential. It’s less of an issue of maturity but rather an overreliance on cliches and, ultimately, a genuine lack of ingenuity. The sports aspect is better not talked about, as there hardly is any, and the little that we do get is usually over before you blink twice. It shows promise during the beginning, and in a sense, it’s a positive that the show sets itself up nicely with its character motivations, showing how admiration can sometimestranslate to love. However, the problem lies in portraying the progression of Taiki and Chinatsu’s relationship, given they share the same home; it’s way too sluggish, taking more liberties than it should, making them incredibly dull to watch together. One could argue this is due to the first season being Hina’s arc, but that’s a disingenuous excuse for Chinatsu being virtually the same as when the show started. I’m willing to give Kouji Miura the benefit of the doubt, as this is technically her first long-running work, and because there are some moments where her writing does pick up compared to the general trope-ridden romance setups and unamusing humor.
In particular, I have to praise how she handles Hina’s character; it’s almost entirely because of how daringly she is written, possessing more nuance than most of the cast. We don’t see many characters take actions like she does in this genre, and it’s the reason why the love triangle has a capricious feel to it, disorienting Taiki’s view of friendship and love, as he’s on the receiving end for once. This is also why the rest of the show is so disappointing, as Miura can definitely write interesting characters if she moves past genre platitudes. It’d be nice to see more sports being shown as well rather than just short-lived scenes, as right now, the behavior disparities post-matches outcomes seem shoddily written as we simply didn’t have enough time to digest them. This is Blue Box’s greatest weakness, having the correct idea but shaky execution more often than not. It’s a missed opportunity, given how easy it is to contrast motivations between sports and romance settings, which adds more character depth. On the production end, the show looks decent, but it’s more focused on picking pleasant shots than having well-flowing animation. Blue Box still has potential, but its fulfillment depends on whether the writing can evolve to demonstrate more creativity.
duskwoven
Blue Box made me expect a cute and refreshing mix of sports and romance, but honestly, I feel like it didn’t fully deliver. Visually, the anime has that soft, almost watercolor-like aesthetic that fits the gentle and slow-burn nature of the story. The character designs are clean and expressive, and I do appreciate how much body language is used to convey emotions, small glances, hesitation, and little moments of closeness that feel natural. But when it comes to the sports aspect, I found the animation lacking energy. The matches looked nice, but they didn’t have that oomph or intensity that would make me feel invested.It’s like they were just there to set the scene rather than being a core part of the story.
As for the romance, this is where I really started feeling the cracks. The story follows Taiki, a hardworking but not particularly exceptional badminton player, and Chinatsu, the cool and talented basketball ace he admires. I do like that Taiki isn’t just chasing Chinatsu, but also self-improvement, but at the same time, their dynamic felt underwhelming? The slow burn is nice in theory, but I kept waiting for some actual chemistry to spark between them, and it just never really hit the way I wanted it to. Chinatsu, while likable, sometimes felt too distant, and their interactions didn’t give me enough to root for them as a couple. The side characters had some good moments, but even they weren’t enough to make the romance feel more engaging.
By the end, I wasn’t really dissatisfied, but I wasn’t fully satisfied either. The romance is barely there, the sports aspect is just okay, and while the story has some nice emotional beats, it feels like it’s missing something to truly make it stand out. Blue Box is subtle, and I get that’s its charm, but for me, it leaned too much into being too quiet and slow, making the romance and sports elements both feel a little hollow.
TL;DR: Blue Box has a soft, slow-burn atmosphere with nice character growth, but it struggles to balance its sports and romance elements. The chemistry between Taiki and Chinatsu feels weak, and the sports scenes lack energy, making it a show that requires a lot of patience. It’s decent, but it never quite reaches its full potential.
Thanks for reading. Have a nice day!
Yorsenpai_999
Blue Box is a slow-burn slice-of-life romance that stands out for its emotional realism and gentle storytelling. What starts as a typical “crush on my senpai” setup quickly shifts into something deeper and more grounded. The story doesn’t rely on overused tropes or forced coincidences, even when the main characters begin living under the same roof—it handles these situations with surprising maturity and subtlety. Taiki, the main character, is kind-hearted, patient, and genuinely supportive—not just toward his crush, Chinatsu, but also his friend Hina, whose quiet strength and emotional growth are beautifully portrayed. Chinatsu feels like a real person, focused on her goals, yet quietly forminga bond with Taiki that is soft and unspoken. The presence of sports adds a refreshing drive to the story and gives the characters something to strive for beyond romance.
Every character has their own depth, even the supporting ones—like the calm, understanding Taki's friend was, who always knows what to say. The pacing can feel slow at times, but that slowness adds to the realistic charm, making each connection feel earned rather than rushed.
Blue Box doesn’t scream drama or fantasy—it whispers growth, warmth, and emotional honesty. A beautiful watch if you're looking for romance that feels human.
KohiChilly
What do you think of when the word "youth" comes to mind? Do you think of spring and summer, the warm and bright seasons of the year? Or do you think about your own adolescence, whether that be a time in the past or as the time right now? Regardless of it may be, from childhood and teenage memories being positive or negative, to relationships made across years of school, and all the feelings experienced along the way, it's an undeniable part of adolescence as a time of discovery and adventure that in Japanese is known as "seishun" and is written as 青春 with thecharacters for blue and spring.
No story embodies this better than Blue Box, a narrative about the vibrancy of youth that begins in the gym of Eimei High School at the turn of spring. That's where it all starts and that's what Blue Box means, the gym where youth lived and thrived.
Blue Box is a coming-of-age romance sports story that depicts themes about the vibrancy of youth, ambition and determination along with angst in the things we deeply care for and the goals we set for ourselves, and a beautiful and somewhat bittersweet telling of life as the cast experience their own youth and all the joy, pain and change with each passing day. Even though the adaptation is mostly one to one with the manga, part of what makes an adaptation is how it brings a narrative to life and Blue Box on that front succeeds beyond expectation. From the beautifully drawn and almost shoujo-like art from the manga that's now brought to life through the anime, Blue Box is a grounded, mature and heartfelt narrative that acts as a reflection of adolescence but also a lesson towards the audience about the journey and complexities during the springtime of life.
Taiki Inomata is introduced as a young and spirited man with a goal of reaching nationals. Whilst a fairly simple premise, many want to have the same kind of consistency and dedication that Taiki does for his passion towards badminton and determination in romance. Working towards your goals and aspirations is easier said than done after all, and Taiki is an admirable person in this feat in spite of his young age when the story begins. Having the motivation to not only keep going but improve at every step is difficult to maintain, and it's almost inspiring seeing Taiki improve his badminton from being average to being the best among the first-year players and continuing to go beyond that with his ethos, consistently growing and improving despite the challenges and setbacks ahead of him and being exactly what people should aspire to be. Though like any other teenager, he can be a mess when it comes to his emotions towards Chinatsu and that's perfectly normal for his age.
Chinatsu is also like Taiki in the sense of sharing the same goal towards nationals and what makes Chinatsu captivating is her dynamic with Taiki, how the two are similar in their endeavors but also how they push each other forward in the process. It's because of Chinatsu that Taiki has a reason to strive to do his best and it's because of Taiki that Chinatsu continues to fight for the nationals. She's much more guarded compared to everyone else and that shows, yet she's carrying as much if not more ambition than Taiki but also far more weight on her shoulders since time is less on her side and she stayed in Japan for basketball given the nature and her own dedication towards it. She isn't any less compelling of a character and isn't boring or flat by any means, she's her own person with her own thoughts, feelings, and goals. She's less transparent and open about herself because that's the kind of person she is, people are complicated and you never truly know how people think or feel unless they tell you, and that's what Hina does.
Hina is the lively and energetic girl among the three main protagonists. She's incredibly likeable and has this endearing relationship with Taiki at the start that has this balance of fun bickering and genuine trust for each other because that's the relationship they've had ever since they met all those years ago back in Junior High. While the events of the narrative lead to her becoming a love rival against Chinatsu, her relationship with Taiki changes and her feelings become increasingly transparent and direct and in a way, that's brave. Love is scary, blind and unpredictable and there's so many ways it can be perceived. Rejection is always a possibility and it hurts. There's reasons for that, it differs from situation to situation but it always and will never not hurt regardless of the case, yet Hina continues to press on because love is what drives her forward to pursue Taiki. It might be a little unhealthy or incredibly sweet depending on the person, but to not only have the courage to confess and continuously expressing your honest feelings is nothing short of incredible. That's how her relationship with Taiki changed, no one can blame Hina for how her feelings grew and changed and Taiki can't be blamed for how conflicted he became along with how he viewed the two girls. It's not an easy situation to be in even as ridiculous as it sounds because when it comes to love, relationships will change. It can be troublesome and a headache, but it can also become something more than that.
Relationships are always tricky and difficult, that much is clear and obvious to everyone really. Relationships can change and grow for the better or turn sour and take a turn for the worse. Anything can happen in a relationship, and Blue Box has a clear emphasis on the delicacy and depth of this aspect of life. If relationships were to be described as an analogy, then it would be like a two-way street. It'd be ideal for both roads to be maintained and in good condition, but roads can deteriorate because of external factors or a lack of care and throughout the narrative of Blue Box, interpersonal relationships have been a focal point from the beginning yet none of these relationships have ever felt fake or unnatural. All of the interpersonal relationships and all of the characters carried this authentic, true feeling behind them as if they were real people. There's characters like Haryu that act as a mentor for Taiki, Karen who is Chinatsu's close friend, along with Kyo being the same for Taiki. This all culminates into a warm and colorful cast of characters that truly represent the color blue and that is one of the most important aspects in a narrative like Blue Box, one centered around maturity, realism and individual growth.
As the narrative continues, there's always been this distinct feeling of liveliness and spiritless that emits from how these characters interact and how the soundtrack emphasizes that warm and bright emotion. It's a slow burn series, and time rewards as it builds gradually and slowly. Every episode is reminiscent of a day passing, seeing young people enjoying the time and the moment as life continues with this wide-ranging, vibrant soundtrack to accompany it. While the soundtrack is not the most pronounced or noticeable at times, it's an underappreciated aspect of the show. It has this beautiful range of melodies, as if it captures the essence of youth itself. It can be calming and soft, upbeat and comedically lighthearted, beautiful and emotional. Soundtracks like 恋色 or "Shade of Love", アオのハコ, and ありがとう or "Grateful" are some of the leading pieces and the work of composer Takashi Ohmama cannot be understated. It's a beautiful soundtrack, yet profoundly subtle like the fleeting time of youth.
Granted, Blue Box is not perfect. Nothing is truly perfect, and imperfection has its own beauty and merits. Even so, there's very little that captures youth as well or as life-changing as Blue Box does. Let Blue Box be a reminder of time and youth, both past and present, time where one can learn and grow for the tomorrow that's ahead. That's how youth shapes lives as they move forward and head for the future, and that in itself shows just how invaluable and beautiful of of a time it is. Thank you for reading, and remember to live your best life.
Lucia_vz
If you're looking for an anime centered around sports, this isn't for you. While sports are present, they take a backseat. The main plot revolves around romance, and honestly, even that didn't really convince me. What I liked most was Hina's character, undoubtedly the most interesting and profound of them all. Now, if you like love triangles, unrequited love, and teen drama, then this might be a great fit. But if you're looking for an intense sports story or a more grounded romance, this probably isn't what you're looking for. I enjoyed it at times, but there were parts that felt tiresome to watch, and more than onceI was stressed out by the protagonist's decisions.
But this is just my personal opinion and perception. If you were interested in watching it, I encourage you to start it and judge for yourself, because while many people weren't convinced, others loved it.
youngkratos
Blue Box is one of those rare anime that nails both the sports and romance sides without overdoing either. It’s got just the right amount of slow-burn tension and everyday sports grind to keep you hooked. The story isn’t super crazy or anything, it’s a high school setup, you kinda know where it’s going, but it still hits really well. The art fits the vibe, nothing crazy either but just very clean and beautiful to look at. Characters feel real. Taiki’s not some overpowered main dude, just a hard-working, awkward guy you end up rooting for, without being that overly awkward stereotype that can turn offsome western viewers. Both girls in the love triangle are great, and honestly, sometimes it’s hard to even pick a side. All the supporting characters are great too, felt real and contributing in some way.
And by the way, the English DUB was solid. Overall very happy and left me sort of chasing that feeling for something similar. iykyk.
If anybody knows an anime that hits this same sports/romance balance, please drop it in the comments!
tsuki1891
This anime started actually pretty good. You have drama, romance and 3 different sports mingled together. The idea was good but the execution was rather poor. The drama takes over most of the time, the dialogues follow the same pattern for 24 episodes and the sports theme is not even a real subplot. Sadly, the dialogues make it look like there will be some kind of progress and then it just cuts off which results in the romance not progressing at all during 24 episodes. Other sports anime do something similar like Ao Ashi or Baby Steps however those anime do this because their mainfocus is the sport. In Ao no Hako, the sport is mostly meaningless. It just exists to create an environment where the characters interact with each other. It is amazing how little we learned about Badminton, Gymnastics or Mini-basketball in 24 episodes. They didn't even bother showing actual training footage or explaining the basic rules of each sport. It is exactly for that reason as well that the matches and inter high feel so dull.
shotarinn
This series has been a painful watch, and it's mainly because of how it's handling its characters. Hina, who has so much depth and emotional range, is being completely underutilized. It feels like the story keeps sidelining her in favor of Chinatsu, whose character honestly lacks the complexity and spark needed to carry the emotional core of the plot. First of all, Hina has all the emotional depth. She's got the interesting personality and vulnerability that makes her feel so real. Yet the story keeps pushing her to the sidelines in favor of Chinatsu, who is just... boring. She's the template love interest; quiet, pretty, hardworking,inspiring girl with zero spice. It's frustrating because there's so little to grasp with Chinatsu. She's too hard to read, but not in a mysterious or intriguing way, rather in a way that makes it impossible to connect with her. Basically, we're not given any real insight into her character beyond her stillness and bland politeness. That’s it. No meaningful layers, no compelling motivations, just boringness and paleness wrapped in a pretty character design.
Meanwhile, Hina is right there, rich with untapped potential, and the story acts like she’s just a plot device or something to show us Taiki's unwavering loyalty or whatever positive trait it is the writer is trying to make us see. It’s disappointing, honestly. A waste of a great character.
Supersonic_Pain
--- note: I consider this review to be incomplete without mentioning a certain plot point around Episode 14. I guess spoilers abound but I mean, I couldn't talk about one of the big 3 members of the cast without mentioning it --- A pretty paint-by-numbers shounen romance with a little sports (and I do mean A LITTLE) thrown in So, I watch the table of contents for Weekly Shounen Jump, right Analyze what's on the chopping block, new series to keep an eye on, etc. For a while, there hasn't been a big sports hit (despite manga I was quite fond of like Martial Master Asumi and Green GreenGreens) and one of the reasons that I've heard is that Blue Box might be the "sports" niche.
I kind of accepted that when I wasn't reading it but watching the anime, if that's true, wow, it sure is a suck-ass niche.
Watching Blue Box for the sports is like watching Bleach for the romance (no offense to Bleach).
It's barely even there, more of a backdrop for the romance.
You can tell the level of priority each character in the main triangle (more on that in a second) is given by how much attention their sport is given.
Hina's rhythmic gymnastics might as well not even exist. Chinatsu's basketball is given a little more attention but that's just because there's one character who isn't Chinatsu that you can name from the basketball team. Taiki's badminton is easily given the most focus of the 3 but it's still a very, very mediocre adaptation of badminton.
It never really connects to the romance side either. Like, Hina tweaks her ankle and Taiki carries her once. It technically sets the whole thing in motion because Taiki and Chinatsu are On That Grind together and see each other at practice. But you could easily rewrite this to not be about sports at all and make it about the drama club or the student council or professional Super Smash Bros.
Why they didn't use this as an opportunity to introduce love rivals is beyond me. It'd be one thing if they didn't introduce love rivals at all, but they do and they just do not use the sports to their advantage. They kind of tease it with Haryu for about 0.2 seconds and they technically introduce some basketball guy for Chinatsu but they are absolutely 0 threat and are swiftly resolved.
Idk if the editor is making the mangaka add all these rivals before wimping out but whoever is doing this, stop it.
There's no real excitement to any of the games either. The badminton is really the only one that gets any extra amount of focus, there's like one basketball game and it's interlaced with whatever Taiki and Hina are doing at the time. But I never really got that impression compared to something like Eyeshield 21 or Blue Lock (which, granted, are both team sports, compared to badminton) that there was a lot of thought going on during the games, there's certainly a lot less animation compared to something like Blue Lock S1. They just kinda hit the shuttlecock around until someone wins and yeah, that sure is badminton, but you could try and make it a little more exciting.
The stakes also don't feel as high because it has to share the spotlight with the romance. Going back to Blue Lock, if you lose, your dream's over. You might as well quit playing soccer if you are kicked out of Blue Lock. With Blue BOX, it doesn't really feel that urgent if Chinatsu blows out both her knees and has to retire because Taiki and Chinatsu can just have a happy life as salaryman and housewife or whatever.
If the sports aren't good, how's the romance?
Fwiw, the first few episodes, it was kind of nice. I was a few episodes behind (I think I was on Episode 8 by the end of 2024) but when I was making my anime of 2024 tier list, I gave Blue Box a prospective 9. I kind of liked it.
And then, for some unknown reason, they go out of their way to make Hina a rival.
It's like being handed an empty fishbowl and they're like "oh, but we'll fill it with cool rocks and nice water and some pretty fish" and like yeah, that's cool. We can work with that.
And then they just drag you over to Xzibit's house and you're like "Bro, I don't even know who this guy is" and he's got some pimpin' fishtank, going basically from the floor to the ceiling, and there's some really awesome fish, maybe even some exotic fish, there's Bluetooth speakers playing Kendrick Lamar, tons of bass, and you're taken home and they're just like "oh yeah, we're gonna go to PetSmart tomorrow and get you a goldfish."
Like why did you take me over to his house and show me this cool-ass fishtank only to slap us back to the fishbowl?
To be less abstract, let's talk a bit about the characters.
First, the MC, Taiki. He... he sure is. If you put in your average harem MC and added a dusting of sports anime MC, that's basically what you get. He's not perverted or anything, he's just kind of bland. Nothing wrong with some Raisin Bran but you basically get what you get with these MCs.
Next, the love interest, Chinatsu. Someone in one of these topics during the show's run brought up Kana/Akane from Oshi no Ko and... yeah. I don't think Hina is as much of an asshole as Kana is (as much as I like Kana), Chinatsu is just Akane if Akane went to therapy. Actually, seeing Chinatsu makes me appreciate Akane more because the whole fishtank thing could easily be Kana vs. Akane too but at least Akane has something going on. Chinatsu is the ~mature~, ~~responsible~~, ~~~a little goofy~~~ (you know that meme where it's a woman in a grocery store with a bag on her head and she's throwing up double peace signs and they're like "she's so crazzzzzzzzzzzzzy, love her!"? That, basically.) one. I'm not going to say she's got no personality and apparently she develops in future seasons (which, I mean, I sure hope so) but the only thing they've done in 25 episodes is make me like her less. (also, she throws a spider without looking out of a second-story window and that's a red flag)
She has to "grow" her love in a flowerpot (this time, the analogy is not mine, this is the show) and, like, great, but it also means you're watching a slow, paint-by-numbers, vanilla romance. That kind of shounen romance that ends with the confession and maybe holding hands.
I did say it was a TRIANGLE though.
They did not have to do Hina like this.
So, when they introduce Hina, she's a bratty little gremlin and that is FINE. That is what she could have stayed as. Going back to Aka Akasaka's works, one of the best parts of Kaguya-sama is Chika Fujiwara. She's a girl. But she is just a force of nature, never getting involved in Kaguya and Miyuki's relationship. It allows people who like her to just like her. No waifu wars, no nothing, Chika is Chika is Chika. It allows Kaguya and Miyuki to develop without the threat of "yeah, but I like that person better" because both Chika and the other main character Yu Ishigami have no interest in Kaguya/Miyuki.
And if they just stayed that path with Hina, she'd be a great character. She IS a great character... but then they make an unforced error and put her directly in the Taiki/Chinatsu path. And, like, she's only a little more of a threat than Haryu or Basketball Guy.
I didn't want Hina/Taiki, there are so many characters she could have been with. Why didn't you put her with Kyo (oh, yeah, they're kind of teasing Kyo with this other girl, I don't like her, Kyo deserves better)? Why didn't you do what I said above and have her date one of Taiki's badminton rivals so at least there's SOME tension and bridge between the sports and romance? Hell, you don't have to have her date anyone at all, that's what Chika did.
But, back to the fishtank thing, if you're going to show me a cool fishtank and then give me some hulking, lumbering, one giant eye Solomon Grundy-ass goldfish in a $5 plastic fishbowl, I mean...
What did this plotline accomplish? It only makes Chinatsu look worse by adding a character who is clear and honest and forthcoming about her feelings.
This show would be a lot better if the "Hina likes Taiki" plotline was never added.
Did I like anything about this show?
- It looks very nice. The artstyle is pleasant and there is some great lighting at times.
- Hina's a cute, funny character. Admittedly, these are my biases showing through (for comparison, my favorite Rent-a-Girlfriend character is Ruka) but she carries the show for me.
It's not awful but I also don't plan on coming back for S2 and it's kind of a disappointment considering how much I liked it at the beginning. It even ends on kind of a sour note, which only reinforces my decision.
If you like your romance anime where Nice, Hardworking Guy meets Nice, Hardworking Girl and they Slowly Fall In Love, you will like this. If you are interested in the sports aspect... you probably won't like this.
Kouji Miura, please let us see Chinatsu Ballin'
VinMur92
I don't understand the beauty of it. Blue Box is a romantic/sports anime that deals with the adventures of Taiki, a boy who is part of the school's Badminton team and who falls in love with the Basketball player Chinatsu. The plot is that the latter finds herself living in our protagonist's house. Nothing else... One of the best aspects of the anime is undoubtedly the quality of the animations, which are fluid and well-finished in detail, making both the romantic and sports scenes enjoyable. The musical section is also well done, with a soundtrack that accompanies the emotions of the story without particularly standing out. Anotherpoint in its favor is the realism with which the sports environment is represented, avoiding exaggerations and maintaining a credible tone.
However, the plot does not shine for originality and follows patterns already seen in many other works of the genre, without particular twists. The characters are also not very interesting and fail to leave a real impact. Furthermore, the pace of the narration is quite slow, especially in the central episodes, so much so that it makes you want to watch them at increased speed. Ok, it's a slice of life, but in many episodes almost nothing happens.
Ultimately, Blue Box can be appreciated by lovers of light romantic stories, however, I wouldn't consider it a must-watch and I don't understand the hype that has pervaded it since before its release, probably the manga is better.
Rating: 6.5, thanks to the technical quality, but if I were to base it only on the story, it would be a 4.
jmhj
Blue Box isn’t breaking new ground—it’s a straightforward romance with a dash of sports thrown into the mix. But does its familiar setup make it any less impressive? Not in the slightest. This take on Kouji Miura’s well-loved Shounen Jump manga nails plenty of what made the original work shine. Romance adaptations often fall flat when compared to their origin, but Blue Box stands out as an exception. The animation pops with sharp, stunning visuals that bring every feeling and movement to life with real care and depth. Yuki Hayashi, as expected, delivers a knockout soundtrack that tugs at the heartstrings. The characters here feel genuine andrelatable, each one pulling their weight without any pointless padding. Main characters can sometimes drag a show like this down, but Taiki bucks that trend with solid growth that keeps you rooting for him.
The anime sticks close to the manga’s big moments, handling them with smart direction that doesn’t miss a beat. On top of that, we’re treated to a generous 25 episodes of this high-quality production—a feast! Whether you’re a fan of the manga or coming in fresh, this is a romance I’d easily suggest to anyone.
Can’t wait for season two!
Plot: 7.5
Characters: 9
Animation: 9
Soundtrack: 9
Enjoyment: 9
TH_Boston
Honestly, I really love the first like 1-10 episodes of this anime, the romance is very good, very sweet, the pacing is perfect, but I have a feeling that if this anime is really 24 episodes, and if it keeps the pacing at this speed, it might get boring and repetitive, which unfortunately, it turn out to be it, around like episode 10 to the end, it's repetitive, the pacing turns out to be too slow, in a span of 1 episode, almost nothing happen (if something happens, it's the same thing you get like 10 times already) The main problem of all the boringness ofthis anime is because the genre, the "sport anime" genre. I think the "sport" genre from anime is kinda bad, anime is meant to be for kids (yeah, I know that anime has some really wild story or blablabla, but in the big picture, it's still for kids or teenagers) so, the main idea of sport anime is like 'MC can't win this competitor, they need to stronger than that, and they trained, and win that competitor' and repeat that. That's why this anime is repetitive, I think the studio doesn't even care about the sports plot, I think they like the romance plot more (which me too), so, they don't put an effort to the sport plot, yeah, the animation is very good, but the story is just need a lot more effort.
The main cast of this anime (Taiki and Chii) relationship is too slow. The first half of this anime develops the relationship at a perfect speed, but at that one point, the relationship just stops, and the other "main" character, Hina, is getting to the main story. To be honest, Hina's part is not as good as Chii's part. Chii's part is perfect if we don't count the stopped part, but Hina's part is weird; it feels like it was just randomly put in to make it harem for some reason.
Sorry for my terrible English, but I use Grammarly to help me, so this is my best effort
Thank you.
