Fall 2021 Anime: Blue Period

Synopsis

For delinquent high schooler Yatora Yaguchi, his life was already determined: fooling around in high school, going to a good university, and becoming a salaryman like many others. For him, it’s the only safe way to live, even if it’s a boring one. But after being introduced to art, he found his calling in the beautiful yet unrelenting world of painting. The problem is, the road to becoming a painter is full of uncertainties, with Tokyo Art University only having a 0.5 percent acceptance rate and living as a painter is definitely not a “safe” way to live.

Comments

Dany Muhammad – The Indonesian Anime Times

“An anime about every illustrator’s insecurity” is how my friend labels this anime. I’m not an illustrator nor working in the field of visual design, so I can’t ensure that assertion myself. However, I have been in a situation where I have to make an important life decision. This is why Yatora’s conflict is very relatable. To be in his shoes, to be confused and unsure if our choice is the correct one, is something that not just illustrators can relate to.

This is why you don’t need to become an illustrator to enjoy Blue Period. The anime has a broader, more universal appeal. In the first episode, we can see how Yatora finds his calling in painting, but unsure if it can be a good career choice. The second episode even becomes more relatable because he has to convince his mother, who also thinks that Yatora can’t make a living as a painter. The execution is not as good as many hope for, but the intention is clear. Blue Period is an anime about the insecurity of realizing that you actually have something you want to do. I think this is a universal feeling that anybody has experienced before.

I think the only thing that could dampen your interest is the animation. It’s not that it is EX-ARM bad, but for an anime about personal expression, the Blue Period just feels too safe. Yet in the era where unmanageable high production value could lead to production problems (see Wonder Egg Priority, SK8), maybe playing it safe is for the best. The one who definitely won’t play safe here is Yatora, and he’s ready to bet all of his life in the world of painting.

Facts and Figures

Screenshots and Trailer

The Indonesian Anime Times