BLUE GIANT

Blue Giant

Characters

Dai Miyamoto

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Shunji Tamada

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Yukinori Sawabe

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Blue Giant: A Jazz-Fueled Anime Odyssey That Hits All the Right Notes

“Jazz is super intense and rough. Jazz is the music of emotions.” These words, spoken by protagonist Dai Miyamoto in Blue Giant (2023), encapsulate the heart of this electrifying anime adaptation of Shinichi Ishizuka’s award-winning manga. Directed by Yuzuru Tachikawa (Mob Psycho 100), Blue Giant is a cinematic love letter to jazz, ambition, and the raw power of friendship. With a sublime soundtrack by renowned pianist Hiromi Uehara, breathtaking visuals, and a story that balances grit with emotional vulnerability, this film is a standout in the growing canon of music-driven anime. Here’s a deep dive into why Blue Giant is a must-see for cinephiles, musicians, and anyone who’s ever chased a dream.

The Story: A Trio’s Quest for Greatness

Blue Giant follows Dai Miyamoto (voiced by Yuki Yamada), an 18-year-old former basketball player from Sendai, Japan, whose life is transformed after a chance encounter with jazz. Gifted a saxophone by his brother, Dai dedicates himself to mastering the instrument, practicing relentlessly by a riverbank in all weather conditions. With no formal training and only three years of experience, his audacious goal is to become the world’s greatest jazz musician. Moving to Tokyo’s bustling nightlife, Dai teams up with Yukinori Sawabe (Shôtarô Mamiya), a cocky but prodigiously talented pianist, and Shunji Tamada (Amane Okayama), Dai’s childhood friend who takes up drumming with zero experience. Together, they form the jazz trio JASS—a name that, while eyebrow-raising, captures their raw, unpolished energy.

The narrative traces their journey from dingy bars to larger venues, grappling with the harsh realities of the music industry, personal insecurities, and the sacrifices required to pursue greatness. While the story hits familiar coming-of-age beats—think sports movie montages repurposed for musical training—it stands out for its sincerity and focus on emotional resonance over melodrama. A unique storytelling device, flash-forward documentary-style interviews with older versions of the bandmates, adds a reflective layer, framing their struggles as a pivotal moment in their lives.

The Soundtrack: Hiromi Uehara’s Masterpiece

The soul of Blue Giant lies in its music, composed and performed by jazz pianist Hiromi Uehara, a Grammy-nominated artist known for her work with Chick Corea and Stanley Clarke. Uehara’s original score, inspired by jazz legends like Sonny Rollins and John Coltrane, is a tour de force that elevates the film into a near-concert experience. The soundtrack captures the muscular, emotive bravado of 1960s post-bop jazz, with soaring saxophone solos, intricate piano runs, and dynamic drum rhythms that pulse with life.

What makes the music exceptional is its integration with the narrative. Each performance by JASS reflects their growth as musicians and individuals. Early gigs are rough, with clashing styles and missed notes, but later sequences—like the climactic performance at the So Blue club (modeled after Tokyo’s Blue Note)—are transcendent. Uehara’s compositions don’t just play in the background; they dominate, taking up nearly a quarter of the film’s two-hour runtime. The extended concert scenes, described by reviewers as “a concert in the theater,” never feel indulgent because they’re so intricately tied to the characters’ emotional arcs. Even non-jazz fans will find themselves captivated by the raw energy and passion.

Uehara’s involvement goes beyond composing; she served as a consultant for the piano animation, ensuring authenticity in Yukinori’s playing. This attention to detail is evident in the film’s depiction of jazz as a collaborative art form, where the saxophone, piano, and drums must sync perfectly. The film educates viewers on the roles within a jazz trio: the pianist sets the harmonic framework, the drummer drives the rhythm, and the saxophonist weaves melodies within those boundaries. This technical insight, paired with the emotional weight of the performances, makes Blue Giant a masterclass in musical storytelling.

Visuals: A Kaleidoscope of Emotion

Blue Giant’s animation, produced by studio NUT, is a visual feast that transforms jazz into a sensory adventure. While the everyday scenes—Tokyo’s dimly lit jazz clubs, crowded streets, and Dai’s riverside practice spot—are rendered in crisp, expressive 2D animation, the performance sequences are where the film truly shines. Tachikawa employs a mix of hand-drawn 2D, 3D CGI, and motion-capture techniques to create dynamic, almost psychedelic visuals. As JASS plays, the screen erupts with swirls of color, tongues of flame, and electric currents flowing from the instruments, evoking the “physical ecstasy” of live music.

These abstract visuals, especially during Dai’s saxophone solos, are reminiscent of Pixar’s Soul but feel uniquely suited to jazz’s improvisational spirit. One standout moment shows Dai’s notes as blue light pouring from his saxophone, shaking objects in the room like a Jurassic Park-style tremor—an homage to jazz as a transformative force. However, the use of 3D CGI has sparked some criticism. Some viewers find the shift from 2D to 3D jarring, particularly in drumming scenes where Shunji’s stick grip appears less refined. Despite this, the animation’s ambition—blending styles to capture the intensity of live performance—largely succeeds.

Characters and Themes: Passion Meets Perseverance

The trio’s dynamic is the emotional core of Blue Giant. Dai’s unyielding enthusiasm and sincerity make him instantly likable, even if his dream seems delusional. Yukinori’s technical prowess and initial arrogance provide a foil, while Shunji’s inexperience and determination to keep up add relatability. Their chemistry evolves from awkward clashes to a deep, unspoken bond, mirroring the improvisational harmony of jazz itself. The film avoids unnecessary subplots, focusing squarely on their musical journey and the sacrifices it demands.

Thematically, Blue Giant is about passion, perseverance, and the cost of ambition. It acknowledges jazz as a “dying genre” but counters this with the trio’s belief in its emotional power. Dai’s assertion that jazz is “hot” and “intense” isn’t just lip service; the film shows this through performances that move audiences to tears and trance-like states. However, it doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities of chasing dreams—Dai works manual labor jobs to survive in Tokyo, and the trio faces empty venues and personal doubts. A late twist introduces unexpected tragedy, adding emotional weight without veering into melodrama.

One critique is the film’s male-centric focus. Despite Uehara’s pivotal role in the score, female characters are relegated to minor, supportive roles, a choice that feels at odds with the film’s theme of challenging old-world hierarchies. Still, the characters’ relatability and the story’s earnestness make it easy to root for JASS.

Reception and Impact

Blue Giant has garnered widespread acclaim, with a 7.9/10 on IMDb and strong praise on platforms like Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic. Reviewers call it “a marvel, a joy, a spectacle” for its animation and scoring, with fans on X describing it as “life-changing” and “a masterpiece.” Its theatrical run in Japan and limited North American release in October 2023 were met with enthusiasm, and its availability on Netflix and Blu-ray has broadened its reach. Some manga fans note that the film condenses the ten-volume source material, skipping early arcs and backstories, but most agree it retains the story’s emotional core.

For musicians, the film resonates deeply. Reviewers with musical backgrounds praise its authenticity, from the depiction of practice routines to the emotional stakes of performance. One IMDb user, a blues musician, called it “perfect” for capturing the avant-garde jazz spirit, while a Reddit user highlighted Uehara’s piano animation consultancy as a rare commitment to accuracy.

Why It Stands Out

Blue Giant isn’t just another music anime; it’s a celebration of jazz as a living, breathing art form. Unlike Cowboy Bebop’s eclectic jukebox style, Blue Giant dives deep into jazz’s emotional and technical nuances, making it accessible to newcomers while satisfying purists. Its blend of grounded storytelling, transcendent music, and bold visuals creates an experience that feels like “watching a live performance as animation can get.” The film’s sincerity, paired with its refusal to romanticize the grind of artistic pursuit, makes it universally inspiring.

Final Verdict

Blue Giant is a triumph of passion and craftsmanship, a film that captures the euphoria of music and the heartache of ambition. Hiromi Uehara’s score is a revelation, the animation is daring, and the characters are unforgettable. Whether you’re a jazz aficionado or simply love stories about chasing dreams, this anime will leave you inspired and moved. As one X user put it, “It will make you believe in the power of art and the human spirit.” Catch it on Netflix, rent it on Fandango at Home, or grab the Blu-ray—and prepare to be swept away by the sound of tomorrow’s jazz.

Rating: 9/10

Sources: IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, Metacritic, The Guardian, The Verge, ScreenRant, X posts