Blue Box

(10+) So hard to rate this one, because the animation is gorgeous, the story is long and smartly done, all the characters are likeable, and I really admired how deeply the series dived into the sports played by the characters: badminton, basketball, and gymnastics. If just for those factors, it's an easy "10"! But, but, but... I really DON'T understand the male protagonist's choices when it comes to the romances he's offered! At all. I think the gymnast should have been an easy call, but it wasn't, and I thought she was the most likeable and interesting BY FAR. A second season has been announced, and I will be 100% watching it, but I was not thrilled with how everything shook out. Props to the two male sidekicks, both were great, as was the addition of a female secondary character in the last 4 or 5 episodes. Lots to work with for another season! Two points off on this season, though: 1 because I think there should have been a more definite end, and 1 because I'm still thinking the best character in the series didn't get a fair shake!

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1. Unique Blend of Romance and Sports The series beautifully combines two genres: heartfelt romance and intense sports drama. This dual focus sets it apart from most other stories that focus heavily on just one of these genres.

It captures the challenges of balancing personal relationships with the demands of competitive sports, something relatable for many.

2. Relatable and Realistic Characters The characters, especially Taiki and Chinatsu, feel grounded and relatable. Their personalities, struggles, and growth make it easy to empathize with the Their awkward yet sweet romantic tension makes for a wholesome and engaging watch.

3. Stunning Artwork (Potential for Animation) The manga's clean, expressive artwork is one of its highlights. If animated by a studio like Kyoto Animation or MAPPA, the sports scenes and emotional moments could be visually stunning.

4. Wholesome Storytelling Blue Box emphasizes steady emotional growth over unnecessary drama. This makes it a refreshing story compared to more melodramatic romance or sports series 5. Cross-Genre Appeal Fans of both romance (Your Lie in April, Horimiya) and sports (Haikyuu!!, Kuroko no Basket) would find something to enjoy, giving it broad audience appeal.

6. Pacing and Tone The slow, slice-of-life pacing, combined with the energetic sports sequences, could offer a nice balance for viewers looking for something heartwarming but not too heavy.

This anime is going to be my favourite romance series of all time. Every character in this anime is such a green flag, and you'll be loving them more and more while watching the whole episode. And the animation is gorgeous!! I haven't read the manga yet, I think this is a very good adaptation of the manga by seeing the story and scenes. The art style also perfectly suits the anime, as it complements the series' slow-paced and delicate narrative, giving it a calming and reflective atmosphere. What I also love about Blue Box is how it captures that feeling of being young and figuring things out-whether it's your feelings for someone or what you want to do with your life. Both Taiki and Chinatsu are at this point where they're trying to chase their dreams, and that uncertainty of youth really comes through. It's not all smooth sailing for them, and that makes the story feel even more real.

In the end, Blue Box is more than just a sports or romance series. It's got this charm that's hard to explain, but once you're hooked, you're hooked. If you're into stories that feel real, where the emotions sneak up on you and the characters grow right in front of you, then Blue Box is definitely worth checking out.

Really curious about this anime being a fan of sports and was really surprised by the story line and the characters. I really like the approach that the main character is fighting to get better and improves each episode. Beautiful animation and efforts with the episodes. Chinatsu is all about being number one and tries her best not to get attached to anyone. Then realizes she has a heart and not a robot and little by little she opens up more and more making the scenes organic and easy to root for her. Taiki is one of the MC best friends but secretly has a crush on him and does not know how to express her feelings and struggles to see him slip away. Shes awesome as well in her own sport.

I'm not really a fan of watching romance anime with comedic undertones. Honestly, that's not my demographic.

However, I'd heard interesting things about the manga, with its spokon and slice-of-life undertones, and it made me curious to delve into this world.

Obviously, it wasn't easy; I was expecting a lot more spokon than what I saw, and maybe a bit more tragedy.

The reality is that I stumbled upon a very mature work, about teenagers in the midst of discovering their true selves, unrequited love, and emotional turmoil.

I feel the character development is very interesting, and it's a tender, heartfelt work that deeply cares for its characters and gives them just the right amount of everything.

Taiki and Chinatsu's bond is extremely awkward, embarrassing, slow, and gradual. Honestly, I find the one he has with Hina, a longtime friend who is truly in love with him and tells him so, without beating around the bush, taking risks.

We're all Taikis. We don't realize anything and we chase the impossible, the unattainable, that's what motivates us. Unfortunately, we don't realize that we have very valuable people at our side who love us deeply, sometimes more than we deserve.

The art, the lines, the soundtrack are a delight; you can truly feel the emotions in what we see and feel.

Perhaps on the downside, the series is slow at times, which is why many people dropped it and continued watching other anime seasons. Perhaps, perhaps, with a little more spokon and a little more darkness, the series would be more interesting. Maybe this is just my opinion...