Japanese Films

Blue Period Review: Our favorite feature film of Japan Cuts 2024

Published

1 month ago

August 7, 2024

Nir Regev

Japan Cuts 2024 Review: Blue Period’s film adaptation is a must, must watch for anyone struggling in a creative arts profession. Should be a pre-requisite watch for freshmen in college.

In lead character Yatora Yaguchi’s words to his mother, “Sorry I’m not your ideal son. Maybe I’m talentless… Even so, I love making art. I can lose myself in it and I want to get so much better. I want to see so much more!”

Photo Credit: © Tsubasa Yamaguchi/KODANSHA ©2024 “Blue Period” Film Partners

This Blue Period movie review contains spoilers both for the film and the anime adaptation (TV Series).

We already loved the Netflix anime adaptation of Blue Period and the film adaptation is just as inspiring. The journey of an artist is a difficult rollercoaster with the highest of highs and the lowest of drops every other day. From admitting to yourself you want to be an artist against your better, rational judgement of a stable life… To competing in opposition of unfathomable odds.

In Blue Period, we find teenager Yatora Yaguchi first in denial about his true passion in life in order to be accepted by his peers, mocking its lackluster financial potential to his arts teacher… To full acceptance of himself and his need create art, then discovering how difficult it is from all angles.

From naturally gifted competition being miles, no, ten galaxies ahead of his current skill level… To lack of tuition money forcing Yaguchi to only have one public arts university as an option. With an acceptance rate equal to that of a Princeton University.

The sheer amount of powerful commentary about life in Blue Period is spectacular. One that stays with you is Ryuji Ayukawa’s words about how people have only compliments for those whose talent they find unreachable. That we essentially worship the ultra talented, so we can only give them an endless supply of compliments.

This is said in reference to classmate Maru Mori, whose art Yaguchi admires as larger than life, angelic. Mori also wants those who look at her art to feel a prayer element, so the whole concept takes on a whole range of meanings.

Starting Points and End Results

– Just watching the opportunities some have over others is a daunting case study. For example, character Ryuji Ayukawa starts off in a better place art wise than Yaguchi… But a bad home life and parental scorn over his lifestyle (identifying as a female) is enough to make him quit at the finish line.

Ryuji later even confesses that he knows Yaguchi will make it because he’s simply more driven than Ryuji to get better. But Ryuji’s starting point, talent wise, is hampered by a negative environment, thus limiting natural potential. It could be said that a couple more compliments Ryuji’s way could have changed everything. Which makes you wonder how much of life is talent vs environment.

– Similarly one of Yaguchi’s friends takes note of him not wanting a standard life. Thus, Yaguchi’s friend decides to take classes to become a dessert pastry chef to do what he loves too.

It could be said that if Yaguchi never takes that first step to take art seriously, his friend would have stayed on the regular life track too. Silent conformity takes away passions. There’s so many dimensions to Blue Period as a film and as a series.

Not to mention, few movies capture the absolute anxiety of having your vulnerable creative work of art displayed publicly and critiques/complimented for the first time.

Differences from Blue Period Anime TV Series

– The side characters like Haruka Hashida that were quite impactful in the anime have limited on-screen time in the Blue Period movie. On one side, it’s a difficult task to condense so many interpersonal relationships into one 2 hour film. But on the flip side, if you didn’t already watch the anime (or read the manga), these characters might be lost on you in the movie as a first time watcher.

Yotasuke Takahashi’s dislike of Yaguchi is still alive and well in the Blue Period film but not quite as explored. The lessened emphasis on all the side characters doesn’t hurt the main message of Blue Period as a movie… But it’s hard to say personally if the anime isn’t a pre-requisite to know exactly what’s going on. As I had already watched the anime going into the movie years prior.

It’s notable that the film adaptation is almost identical to the anime (albeit condensed). In a world of where creatives (writers, showrunners etc.) are constantly infringing on the source material, it’s nice to see.

– In the Netflix Anime adaptation of Blue Period, there is a strong scene in which Ryuji is rejected in Episode 3 after admitting to being a male to a date and cries on a bench. This moment is not quite recreated the same way in the film (which opts for an earlier rejection scene from the anime) and doesn’t quite move the audience.

– Johnny Yong Bosch’s animated Yatora Yaguchi characterization is a bit more outgoing than Gordon Maeda’s read of the character as a more serious, sensitive force. Both are excellent renditions of Yaguchi, so it’s more of a ‘Joker’ actor style preference.

Blue Period Review Score:

9.0 – The Blue Period movie is a a quintessential must watch for any artist’s library. Whether you’re in art school or a high school student thinking about checking out your art club, Blue Period will resonate with you.

– See the Blue Period Cast, a Film Synopsis, and a photo gallery at our 2024 Japan Cuts Film Festival site.

– You can get the original Blue Period Manga Collection on Amazon.

More Anime Live Action Adaptation Reviews

Be sure to read:

– Fantasia Fest 2020: Tezuka’s Barbara is a stylish, decadent elixir of dystopian cool (Review)

– Fantasia 2021: Live action ‘Tokyo Revengers’ movie review – Captivating

– Fantasia 2021: Kakegurui 2 live action movie review – Russian Roulette Spectacular

– Fantasia 2020: Kakegurui is a Flashy Joyride, Cult Classic (Review)

– Fantasia 2021: ‘Office Royale’ review – Instant Fun, never a dull moment

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No part of this website or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied, modified, adapted, or excerpted in any way without the prior written consent and permission of The Natural Aristocrat® author Nir Regev.

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Nir Regev

Nir Regev is the founder of The Natural Aristocrat. You can directly contact him at [email protected] for coverage consideration, interview opportunities, or general comments.