Blue Box (manga) explained

Blue Box
Ja Kanji:アオのハコ
Ja Romaji:Ao no Hako
Type:manga
Author:Kouji Miura
Publisher:Shueisha
Imprint:Jump Comics
Magazine:Weekly Shōnen Jump
First:April 12, 2021
Volumes:18
Type:tv series
Director:Yūichirō Yano
Music:Takashi Ohmama
Licensee:Netflix
Network:JNN (TBS)
First:October 3, 2024
Episodes:9
Portal:yes

is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kouji Miura. It has been serialized in Shueisha's Weekly Shōnen Jump since April 2021, with its chapters collected in 18 volumes as of December 2024. An anime television series adaptation produced by TMS Entertainment and animated by Telecom Animation Film premiered in October 2024.

Synopsis

The series focuses on Taiki Inomata, a student at Eimei Junior and Senior High, an athletics-oriented school, where he is a member of the boys' badminton team and is considered simply average. Every morning, he trains to get better early in the gym, often at the same time and place as his upperclasswoman Chinatsu Kano, the star of the girls' basketball team. Taiki quickly develops a crush on her, but is initially too shy to speak to her despite their continual alone time together. His fortunes change, however, when Chinatsu moves in with Taiki's family after her parents leave Japan to work abroad. With Chinatsu now living with him, Taiki aims to slowly develop his relationship with her as they both strive to make it to the national championship with their respective teams.[1]

Characters

The main protagonist. An avid badminton player who strives to succeed despite setbacks. He greatly admires Chinatsu Kano for her dedication to basketball and harbors a huge crush on her. While often awkward and emotional his unwavering determination and sincerity slowly earns him respect from others. His goal is to reach the National Championships a dream he shares with Chinatsu in their respective sports. His mother was Chinatsu's teammate and friend, hence the decision for Chinatsu to move in with Taiki.
  • The main female protagonist. She is the star player of the girls' basketball team. She is one grade above Taiki and is often the first person at practice. She was once a terrible basketball player but her dedication has helped grow into a strong player who hopes to make Nationals. She moves in with Taiki's family when her parents leave to work abroad, and her and Taiki slowly become friends supporting each other. She is oblivious of Taiki being in love with her, but enjoys his company and cares for him deeply.
  • Taiki's childhood friend who is on the rhythmic gymnastics team. She is quite theatrical and loves to tease Taiki. Although initially only seeing him as a close friend, she slowly develops feelings for Taiki later on, despite encouraging him to go after Chinatsu. Taiki is completely oblivious to her feelings, and is often annoyed by her playful teasing, though he does genuinely care for her.
  • Taiki's best friend and fellow badminton player. Quiet and observant he often understands more than anyone else. Though sarcastic (especially with Taiki) he is a genuinely caring and wise person.
  • A skilled badminton player in Chinatsu's grade who ends up becoming a mentor and rival to Taiki. Though he is often hard on Taiki, he slowly grows to admire his tenacity and growing skill.
  • [2]
  • The captain of the badminton team.
    [2]
  • A member of the basketball team alongside Chinatsu.
    [2]
  • A member of the rhythmic gymnastics team alongside Hina.
    Haryū's previous doubles match partner.
  • A skilled badminton player from Sachigawa High who is the rival of Haryū due to having never beaten him in badminton matches.
  • A skilled badminton player from Sachigawa High who is a teammate of Hyōdō despite appearing lethargic.

    • Media

    Manga

    Written and illustrated by Kouji Miura, Blue Box began its serialization in Shueisha's manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump on April 12, 2021.[3] [4] Shueisha has collected its chapters into individual volumes. The first volume was released on August 4, 2021.[5] As of December 4, 2024, 18 volumes have been released.

    On August 3, 2020, the one-shot version of Blue Box had been published on Weekly Shōnen Jump.[6] [7]

    Blue Box has been licensed for simultaneous publication in North America as it is released in Japan, with its chapters being digitally launched by Viz Media on its Shonen Jump website.[8] Shueisha also simulpublishes the series in English for free on the Manga Plus app and website.[9] In February 2022, Viz Media announced that they had licensed the series in print format; the first volume was released on November 1 of the same year.[10] The manga is also licensed in Indonesia by Elex Media Komputindo.[11]

    Chapters not yet in tankōbon format

    These chapters have yet to be published in a volume.

    Anime

    An anime television series adaptation was announced in November 2023.[12] Planned and produced by TMS Entertainment, it is animated by Telecom Animation Film and directed by Yūichirō Yano, with Yūko Kakihara handling series composition, and Miho Tanino designing the characters.[13] The series premiered on October 3, 2024, on TBS and its affiliates, and will run for two consecutive cours.[14] [15] [16] The opening theme is "Same Blue" by Official Hige Dandism, and the ending theme is by Eve.[15] Netflix licensed the series and is streaming it worldwide.[17]

    Episodes

    Reception

    Popularity

    In August 2021, the first volume of the manga had over 170,000 copies in circulation in less than a week after its release.[18]

    In June 2021, Blue Box was nominated for the seventh Next Manga Award in the Best Print Manga category;[19] it placed eighth out of 50 nominees, but won the Global Prize.[20] [21] The series ranked fourth on the Nationwide Bookstore Employees' Recommended Comics of 2022.[22]

    Critical response

    Anthony Gramuglia of Comic Book Resources (CBR) stated, "Blue Box is a sentimental story about human connection. It's beautifully drawn, at times resembling a manga more than a typical . If Blue Box continues, it will likely become an earnest, sincere entry in Shōnen Jumps romantic catalog".[23] Timothy Donohoo of CBR compared Blue Box to Kenta Shinohara's Witch Watch and Shigure Tokita's Don't Blush, Sekime-san! due to both series having concepts and romantic aspects similar to Blue Boxs.[24]

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: ja:気になる先輩との距離が一変し…ジャンプの青春ラブストーリー「アオのハコ」1巻. https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/520799b70ad159d2932dc1fd9c0ef6ae50e33448. Yahoo! Japan. August 4, 2021. August 5, 2021. ja. August 5, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210805232258/https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/520799b70ad159d2932dc1fd9c0ef6ae50e33448. dead.
    2. Web site: Hodgkins. Crystalyn. Blue Box Anime Reveals 3 More Cast Members. Anime News Network. September 21, 2024. September 21, 2024. October 4, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20241004232921/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2024-09-21/blue-box-anime-reveals-3-more-cast-members/.215836. live.
    3. Web site: Hodgkins. Crystalyn. Shonen Jump Magazine Launches 2 New Manga as Phantom Seer Ends. Anime News Network. April 4, 2021. May 20, 2021. April 5, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210405033501/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-04-04/shonen-jump-magazine-launches-2-new-manga-as-phantom-seer-ends/.171437. live.
    4. Web site: ja:スポーツ強豪校を舞台にした青春部活ラブストーリー、ジャンプで始動. https://natalie.mu/comic/news/424114. Comic Natalie. Natasha, Inc.. April 12, 2021. May 20, 2021. ja. July 26, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220726075954/https://natalie.mu/comic/news/424114. live.
    5. Web site: ja:＜今週の新刊＞テレビアニメ＆劇場版も話題の「僕のヒーローアカデミア」 「ダンダダン」「空挺ドラゴンズ」も. https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/a13faa17da5c8048bd32f2056c36fd44cd34876c. Yahoo! Japan. August 1, 2021. August 3, 2021. ja. August 3, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210803233752/https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/a13faa17da5c8048bd32f2056c36fd44cd34876c. dead.
    6. 三浦糀. Amzk0303. 1289945630249345025. ja:【宣伝】本日発売の週刊少年ジャンプに読み切り「アオのハコ」掲載させて頂いてます。. August 3, 2020. August 18, 2022. ja.
    7. 三浦糀. Amzk0303. 1284870171140558849. ja:【宣伝】8／3発売の週刊少年ジャンプに読み切り「アオのハコ」掲載させて頂きます！. July 20, 2020. August 18, 2022. ja.
    8. Web site: Donohoo. Timothy. Blue Box Is Shonen Jump's Latest Bad(minton) Romance. Comic Book Resources. May 2, 2021. May 20, 2021. June 28, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220628184544/https://www.cbr.com/shonen-jump-blue-box-sports-romance-debut/. live.
    9. Web site: Hazra. Adriana. Viz Media Releases Blue Box Manga in English (Updated). Anime News Network. April 10, 2021. May 20, 2021. June 28, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220628184743/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-04-10/viz-media-releases-blue-box-manga-in-english/.171584. live.
    10. Web site: Mateo. Alex. Viz Announces Fall 2022 Book Releases Including Mission: Yozakura Family, Thus Spoke Rohan Kishibe Manga, Jujutsu Kaisen Novels. Anime News Network. February 15, 2022. February 15, 2022. February 18, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220218001541/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2022-02-14/viz-announces-fall-2022-book-releases-including-mission-yozakura-family-thus-spoke-rohan-kishibe-/.182623. live.
    11. Web site: Pineda. Rafael Antonio. Elex Media Licenses Arakawa Under the Bridge, Blue Box Manga. Anime News Network. March 15, 2023. March 15, 2023. March 15, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230315091708/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2023-03-15/elex-media-licenses-arakawa-under-the-bridge-blue-box-manga/.195975. live.
    12. Web site: Cayanan. Joanna. Kōji Miura's Blue Box Manga Gets TV Anime (Updated). Anime News Network. November 19, 2023. November 19, 2023. July 4, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240704221732/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2023-11-19/koji-miura-blue-box-manga-gets-tv-anime/.204600. live.
    13. Web site: Hodgkins. Crystalyn. Blue Box TV Anime Reveals Teaser Video, More Cast. Anime News Network. December 15, 2023. December 15, 2023. December 16, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231216011250/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2023-12-15/blue-box-tv-anime-reveals-teaser-video-more-cast/.205557. live.
    14. Web site: Hodgkins. Crystalyn. Blue Box TV Anime Reveals More Cast, Staff in 2nd Teaser Video (Updated). Anime News Network. March 23, 2024. March 23, 2024. March 23, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240323095029/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2024-03-23/blue-box-tv-anime-reveals-more-cast-staff-in-2nd-teaser-video/.209111. live.
    15. Web site: Hodgkins. Crystalyn. Blue Box Anime's Main Promo Video Reveals Theme Songs, October 3 Debut. Anime News Network. September 7, 2024. September 7, 2024. September 7, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240907082822/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2024-09-07/blue-box-anime-main-promo-video-reveals-theme-songs-october-3-debut/.215210. live.
    16. Web site: Tai. Anita. Blue Box Anime to Run for Continuous Half-Year. Anime News Network. September 29, 2024. September 30, 2024. September 30, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240930103821/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2024-09-29/blue-box-anime-to-run-for-continuous-half-year/.216148. live.
    17. Web site: Mateo. Alex. Blue Box TV Anime Unveils New Trailer, Key Visual (Updated). Anime News Network. July 6, 2024. July 7, 2024. July 7, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240707022324/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/daily-briefs/2024-07-06/blue-box-tv-anime-unveils-new-trailer-key-visual/.212920. live.
    18. Web site: ja:漫画「アオのハコ」コミックス1巻、発売即日10万部の重版が決定！ 累計17万部突破で大躍進. https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/2675826da391d4f6f578c0840de5924051760799. Yahoo! Japan. August 10, 2021. August 21, 2021. ja. August 21, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210821234337/https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/2675826da391d4f6f578c0840de5924051760799. dead.
    19. Web site: Loveridge. Lynzee. Voting Opens for Tsugi ni Kuru Manga 2021 Awards. Anime News Network. June 21, 2021. June 21, 2021. June 22, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210622153538/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2021-06-21/voting-opens-for-tsugi-ni-kuru-manga-2021-awards/.174159. live.
    20. Web site: Loveridge. Lynzee. Kaiju No. 8, Oshi no Ko Win Next Manga Awards Web, Print Categories. Anime News Network. August 24, 2021. August 24, 2021. August 24, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210824190524/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2021-08-24/kaiju-no-8-oshi-no-ko-win-next-manga-awards-web-print-categories/.176367. live.
    21. Web site: ja:「次にくるマンガ大賞2021」ノミネート作品発表 ウマ娘、【推しの子】、葬送のフリーレンなど話題作続々. https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/ecf073b24d908bee3f9622d56a0bdc4d8e3d56ea. Yahoo! Japan. June 18, 2021. July 24, 2021. ja. July 25, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210725073502/https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/ecf073b24d908bee3f9622d56a0bdc4d8e3d56ea. dead.
    22. Web site: ja:書店員が選んだおすすめコミック2022、第1位は龍幸伸「ダンダダン」. https://natalie.mu/comic/news/463266. Comic Natalie. Natasha, Inc.. January 27, 2022. February 26, 2022. ja. January 27, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220127090234/https://natalie.mu/comic/news/463266. live.
    23. Web site: Gramuglia. Anthony. Shonen Jump's 5 Newest Manga, Ranked. Comic Book Resources. June 18, 2021. June 22, 2021. October 19, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211019105133/https://www.cbr.com/shonen-jump-new-manga-choujin-x-candy-flurry-elusive-samurai/. live.
    24. Web site: Donohoo. Timothy. Shonen Jump's Newest Goldmine Is Awkward Romances. Comic Book Resources. September 15, 2021. September 15, 2021. February 3, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220203125203/https://www.cbr.com/shonen-jump-awkward-romance-witch-watch-sekime-kubo/. live.

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