The key visual, main promotional video (PV), and theme song details for the TV anime Blue Box (set to air from October 3 on TBS) have been revealed. In addition, the companies collaborating on the anime have been announced, with ASICS Japan, Adidas Japan, Otsuka Pharmaceutical, Sunshine City, Descente Japan, Mizuno, and Yonex lending their expertise to ensure realistic depictions in the anime. It is rare for so many sports-related companies to collaborate on a new anime.

The key visual prominently features the main characters, including the smiling protagonist Taiki Inomata, his crush Chinatsu Kano, and classmate Hina Chono, as well as key characters like Kyo Kasahara and Kengo Haryu. The PV showcases these characters’ dedication to both their club activities and their romantic pursuits, depicted in a delicate and heartfelt animation. The video brims with youthful energy, allowing viewers to enjoy the highlights from the beginning of the story.

The PV also reveals the anime’s theme songs. The opening theme is “Same Blue” by Official HIGE DANDism, while the ending theme is “Teenage Blue” by Eve.

Blue Box is a coming-of-age love story centered around high school sports, serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump since April 2021. The story follows Taiki Inomata, a member of the boys' badminton team, who falls for Chinatsu Kano, a senior on the girls' basketball team. They meet every morning for practice in the gymnasium. One spring, an unexpected event changes the distance between them... The story delicately portrays the earnest efforts of the characters in their respective sports clubs, as well as the subtle emotional shifts when one falls in love.

Since its serialization, Blue Box has generated significant buzz among readers, winning the “Global Special Prize” at the 2021 Next Manga Awards and securing 4th place in the “2022 Recommended Comics by Nationwide Bookstore Employees” ranking. With over 5 million copies of the manga in circulation, the series also caught attention for its collaboration with Asahi Soft Drinks' Calpis in November 2022.

Official HIGE DANDism Comment

We were moved by the intense emotions in the story, feeling moments where we could forget time and ourselves. The raw, unfiltered words and the breathless rush of youthful passion left a strong impression. The feeling of being driven by both love and sports is different, yet rooted in the same "blue" energy, a color that symbolizes youth. It's something we ourselves have experienced in the process of creating this song. As the characters go through various life experiences, their emotions become more nuanced. I believe this complexity has also been captured in the music.

Eve Comment

Blue Box is a work that reminds me of those times when we were so engrossed in something that we forgot about time. It’s a story that makes the mundane moments of life feel special. Though I am no longer a teenager, I poured the feelings that only someone who has left those days behind could express into this song. I hope people can feel those emotions through the work.

Source : ORICON NEWS