Grand Blue Review: A whirlwind of youthful brilliance and laughter

Comprehensive evaluation and recommendation of Grand Blue - Granblue -

■ Public Media

TV anime series

■ Original Media

comics

■ Broadcast period

July 14, 2018 - September 29, 2018
2:25～

■Broadcasting station

MBS, TBS

■Frequencies

half an hour

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 12

■Original Story

Kenji Inoue and Kimitake Yoshioka

■ Director

Shinji Takamatsu

■ Production

Animation Production: Zero G

■Works

©Kenji Inoue, Kimitake Yoshioka, Kodansha/Grand Blue Production Committee

■ Story

When Iori Kitahara entered university, he decided to stay at his uncle's diving shop in Izu. Iori was looking forward to a youthful campus life, but what he encountered were strong men who knew nothing about rock-paper-scissors other than baseball-style paper scissors. Iori was noticed by the members of the diving club, and before he knew it, he joined in the mayhem and was forced to spend his first day of university in just his underwear. Iori's youth took a strange turn when his beautiful cousins ​​Nanaka Furutegawa and Chisa ignored him...

■Cast

・Iori Kitahara/Yuma Uchida/Kohei Imamura/Ryohei Kimura/Shinji Tokita/Hiroki Yasumoto/Ryujiro Kotobuki/Katsuyuki Konishi/Chisa Furukawa/Chika Anzai/Nanahana Furukawa/Maaya Uchida/Azusa Hamaoka/Toa Yukinari/Mana Yoshihara/Kana Asumi/Gen Nojima/Takuya Eguchi/Shinichiro Yamamoto/Junya Enoki/Yu Mitarai/Natsuki Hanae/Kenta Fujiwara/Robert Waterman/Chairman Kudo/Jun Fukuyama/Toshio Furukawa/Shinji Kawada/Kaya Mizuki/Nana Mizuki

■ Main staff

・Original work: Kenji Inoue ・Koutake Yoshioka ・Director: Shinji Takamatsu ・Character design: Hideoki Kusama ・Chief animation director: Yoichi Ueda ・Art director: Minoru Akiba ・Prop design: Hiroshi Ogawa ・Color design: Aiko Matsuyama ・Director of photography: Hideki Imaizumi ・Editor: Masaki Utsunomiya ・Sound production: Saber Links ・Music: Manual of Errors

■ Main Characters

・Iori Kitahara is a first-year student at Izu University. When he visits the Kotegawa family, where he is staying after enrolling, he encounters the members of "Peek a Boo" at his uncle's diving shop, "Grand Blue." He is invited to join the club. He is afraid of water and cannot swim.

・Imamura Kohei A first-year student at Izu University. He looks like a blonde, good-looking guy, but is actually a genuine otaku. He is tricked by Iori into joining "Peek a Boo".

Shinji Tokita is a third-year student at Izu University. He is the president of the diving club "Peek a Boo". He happens to meet Iori, a first-year student, and invites her to join the club.

Ryujiro Kotobuki is a third-year student at Izu University and a member of "Peek a Boo." He is very serious and knowledgeable about diving. He was the one who got Iori, who can't swim, interested in diving.

・Furukawa Chisa A first year student at Izu University. Iori's cousin. Her family owns a diving shop and she loves the ocean. Her dream is to become a diving instructor.

Nanaka Kotegawa is the poster girl and instructor for the diving shop "Grand Blue." She's beautiful, has a great figure, and is kind, but she dotes on her younger sister, Chisa, too much.

Azusa Hamaoka is a third-year student at Aoba Women's University. Although she attends a different school, she is a member of "Peek a Boo." She misunderstands the relationship between Iori and Kohei, and tries to support Iori at every opportunity.

・Yoshihara Mana A first-year student at Aomi Women's University. In order to make a glamorous college debut, she joins the tennis club "Tinkerbell", but ends up failing. Then she meets Iori and Kohei...

■Subtitle

Episode 1/Deep BlueEpisode 2/In the WaterEpisode 3/New WorldEpisode 4/Men's ConEpisode 5/Too LateEpisode 6/First BuddyEpisode 7/DoublesEpisode 8/Men's CocktailEpisode 9/King's GameEpisode 10/Landing in OkinawaEpisode 11/It's a MisunderstandingEpisode 12/Otori

■ Theme songs and music

・OP1
・Period 7~10
・Grand Blue
・Lyrics/Shonan no Kaze ・Composition/Shonan no Kaze ・Arrangement/Shonan no Kaze・STANDALONE
・Song: Shonan no Kaze

・ED1
・Period: 7~10
・Al Fine of the Deep Blue・Lyrics/Ryutaro Fujinaga・Composition/Ryota Suemasu・Arrangement/Ryota Suemasu・Singer/Izunokaze

Comprehensive evaluation and recommendation of Grand Blue - Granblue -

"Grand Blue" is a TV anime series that aired in 2018 and is based on the manga of the same name by Kenji Inoue and Kimitake Yoshioka. The work depicts humor and friendship on the themes of college students' youth and diving. Below, we will provide a detailed review and recommendation of this anime.

Story and Characters

The protagonist, Kitahara Iori, moves into his uncle's diving shop in Izu when he enters university. Iori was hoping for a youthful campus life, but what he encounters there are some strong men who don't know how to play rock-paper-scissors other than baseball-ken. They are members of a diving club called "Peek a Boo," and they catch Iori's eye, and before he knows it, he's joining in on their wild fun. As Iori faces his first day of university in just his underwear, his youth takes a strange turn.

The charm of this work lies in the unique characters. Iori is afraid of water and cannot swim, but he gets involved in the diving club, which is humorous. Imamura Kohei is a blonde, handsome man, but inside he is a genuine otaku, which is an interesting contrast. Tokita Shinji is the president of the diving club and is responsible for inviting Iori to join. Kotobuki Ryujiro is very serious and knowledgeable about diving, and he is the one who gets Iori interested in it. Kotegawa Chisa and Kotegawa Nanaka are Iori's cousins. Chisa loves the sea and aims to become a diving instructor, while Nanaka is beautiful and stylish, and dotes on her younger sister Chisa. Hamaoka Azusa joins "Peek a Boo" from another school, Aomi Women's University, and misunderstands the relationship between Iori and Kohei and tries to support Iori. Yoshiwara Mana joins a tennis club in an attempt to make a glamorous university debut, but fails, and meets Iori and Kohei.

Animation and performance

Zero G is in charge of animation, with character design by Hideoki Kusama and chief animation director Yoichi Ueda. Art direction is Minoru Akiba, prop design by Hiroshi Ogawa, color design by Aiko Matsuyama, cinematography by Hideki Imaizumi, editing by Masaki Utsunomiya, sound production by Saber Links, and music by Manual of Errors. The animation, created by this team of staff, vividly depicts humorous scenes.

In particular, the depiction of the diving scenes is realistic and beautiful, allowing you to visually enjoy the blue and transparency of the ocean. In addition, the characters' silly antics and comedy scenes are well-drawn and sure to make you laugh. Director Shinji Takamatsu skillfully combines these elements to create storytelling that keeps the viewer engaged.

Music and theme song

The opening theme "Grand Blue" is sung by Shonan no Kaze, and its refreshing and powerful melody perfectly matches the atmosphere of the work. The ending theme "Konpeki no Al Fine" is sung by Izuno Kaze, and is a song that evokes the beauty of the sea and the brilliance of youth. These theme songs play a role in further deepening the worldview of the work.

Ratings and Recommendations

"Grand Blue" has been highly praised as a coming-of-age anime that depicts humor and friendship. In particular, the dialogue between the unique characters and the beauty of the diving scenes have left a strong impression on viewers. The original manga is also very popular, and the anime adaptation has gained even more fans.

Here are some reasons why I recommend this work:

• Enjoy the humorous story and characters
• The beauty and realism of the diving scenes are fascinating
• A work that evokes the brilliance of youth and friendship
• The theme song deepens the worldview of the work
• The original manga is also very popular, so you can enjoy it even more.

"Grand Blue" is especially recommended for those who like youth anime and comedy anime. It is also a perfect work for those who are interested in diving and want to enjoy the beauty of the sea. Please watch this work and enjoy the story of youth and friendship of Iori and friends.