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"Your lines are your emotions"
If you imagine a rabbit is blue then the rabbit is blue. Adapted from a manga, Blue Period was a gentle coming of age story about a high school boy going through the motions until he discovers his passion. I have not read the manga so my review will be based solely on the film.
High schooler Yaguchi Yatora excels at academics and after classes hangs out with his three best friends. Life would seem to be perfect, but he’s merely going through the motions. He finds no meaning or thrill in his days until he’s forced to take an art class. In one blue moment, he discovers his zing and something that makes life worthwhile. He throws himself into his artwork, fighting to make up for a lack of natural talent with determined enthusiasm.
Full disclosure, this kind of film is my jam. I am a frustrated artist and love watching other people perform miracles on paper and canvas even when it is fictional. This was not a film with twists and turns, in fact it was quite predictable. Yet I still enjoyed watching Yatora’s artistic journey as well as his internal journey. Forever comparing himself to others and lacking in confidence, Blue Period explored his steady growth as an artist and as a young man. This film was far from perfect, but for me it was soothing and motivational
The supporting characters were given little time. Ayukawa Yuka (Ryuji), a young transwoman, received most of the attention outside of Yatora. For the most part, the writers were sensitive and showed the prejudice she faced especially within her own family. I disliked how Yatora continued to refer to her by her masculine name instead of her chosen name, other than that he strove to be a friend to her. And Yuka gave him the advice and push forward he often needed. The other supporting characters were there to fill in the canvas.
Blue Period had no villains except for the brutal inner critic that lives within all of us. Yatora came to understand that regardless of how “flimsy and pathetic” people appeared to be, everyone deserved to be loved. Through his art, Yatora began to really see the people and world around him. He learned to stop comparing himself to others and focused on his own path that held mistakes but also wonderful bursts of insight and creative innovation. Inspiration is contagious…pass it on!
"They can't create what I can, a world all my own."
11 July 2025
High schooler Yaguchi Yatora excels at academics and after classes hangs out with his three best friends. Life would seem to be perfect, but he’s merely going through the motions. He finds no meaning or thrill in his days until he’s forced to take an art class. In one blue moment, he discovers his zing and something that makes life worthwhile. He throws himself into his artwork, fighting to make up for a lack of natural talent with determined enthusiasm.
Full disclosure, this kind of film is my jam. I am a frustrated artist and love watching other people perform miracles on paper and canvas even when it is fictional. This was not a film with twists and turns, in fact it was quite predictable. Yet I still enjoyed watching Yatora’s artistic journey as well as his internal journey. Forever comparing himself to others and lacking in confidence, Blue Period explored his steady growth as an artist and as a young man. This film was far from perfect, but for me it was soothing and motivational
The supporting characters were given little time. Ayukawa Yuka (Ryuji), a young transwoman, received most of the attention outside of Yatora. For the most part, the writers were sensitive and showed the prejudice she faced especially within her own family. I disliked how Yatora continued to refer to her by her masculine name instead of her chosen name, other than that he strove to be a friend to her. And Yuka gave him the advice and push forward he often needed. The other supporting characters were there to fill in the canvas.
Blue Period had no villains except for the brutal inner critic that lives within all of us. Yatora came to understand that regardless of how “flimsy and pathetic” people appeared to be, everyone deserved to be loved. Through his art, Yatora began to really see the people and world around him. He learned to stop comparing himself to others and focused on his own path that held mistakes but also wonderful bursts of insight and creative innovation. Inspiration is contagious…pass it on!
"They can't create what I can, a world all my own."
11 July 2025
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