Blue Period anime is a school drama Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Tsubasa Yamaguchi. The series has been serialized in Kodansha’s seinen manga magazine – Monthly Afternoon since June 2017. Also, it was collected in eleven tankōbon volumes as of September 2021. The series has licensed in English by Kodansha USA. An anime television series adaptation by Seven Arcs premiered in October 2021.
The anime follows the story of Yatora Yaguchi, who is a fairly popular student who excels in school but often deals with inner emptiness and frustrations. One day he became fascinated by a painting at his high school’s art club so deeply that it inspired him to try his hand at painting. Later, he has inspired by a friend, Ryuji “Yuka” Ayukawa. Also, he subsequently joined the art club, becoming more deeply involved, and attempts to apply for the Tokyo University of the Arts as his choice of college.
Characters Overview
Yatora Yaguchi (Blue Period)
He is a second-year high school student. Even though he’s always goofing off with the bad company, he still manages to keep high marks. Yatora is near the top of the pecking order at school and should be happy with his life, but he feels a void inside of him. After some interactions with art that leave him spellbound, a spark has lit within him, and he decides that he wants to attend the most difficult art school in the country to get into – the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and major in oil painting.
Ryuji Ayukawa
She is a friend and classmate of Yatora’s and is a member of the art club. She is well-liked in her class and has a distinct sense of style. The kids at school call him Yuka-chan, a nickname they came up with by using part of her last name, Ayukawa. She hopes to attend the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and major in Japanese-style painting. She invites Yatora to join the art club.
Yotasuke Takahashi (Blue Period)
He is a young prodigy who Yatora meets at the art cram school. Even though they are the same age, Yotasuke’s artistic talent and skills are on a whole other level. However, he lacks good communication skills and is quiet and reserved. He aspires to attend the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and major in oil painting, just like Yatora. He has a bunch of practically identical shirts.
Haruka Hashida
He goes to the same high school as Yotasuke and meets Yatora at the art cram school. His hobby is looking at other people’s artwork, so he goes around to various art museums to garner extensive knowledge of art. He’s sociable and speaks in a Kansai dialect. He befriends Yatora, who feels self-conscious around the art crowd.
Maki Kuwana (Blue Period)
She is a highly respected young girl who goes to the same art cram school as Yatora. She comes from an art family. Her parents are alumni of the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts, and her sister was at the top of the list of accepted applicants to the university. Thus, she feels a lot of pressure to live up to the same expectations. However, she doesn’t let those feelings show and maintains a cheerful attitude.
Maru Mori
She is a third-year high school student and the president of the art club. Maru’s petite and isn’t good at sports but is passionate about art. She aspires to get admitted to the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts’ Painting Department. She paints a picture on a giant canvas which later becomes the catalyst that awakens Yatora to the world of art.
Masako Saeki (Blue Period)
She is an art teacher at Yatora’s high school and is the art club advisor. She possesses a gentle aura and always has a smile on her face but gives the art club students sharp-witted advice backed by her knowledge and experience.
