During the AnimeJapan 2024 event, many announcements were made and a variety of novelties were shown. Among them, one of the most notable has been the new promotional video for the anime adaptation of “Blue Box” (“Ao no Hako“), a manga written and illustrated by Kouji Miura. The video confirms the scheduled premiere for the Fall 2024 season (October – December) in Japan, and also announces new members for the voice cast.
Kouji Miura began publishing the manga in Shueisha‘s Weekly Shonen Jump magazine in April 2021. Kouji Miura is also the author of other mangas such as “Sensei, Suki desu.” and “Aozora Rubber,” while “Ao no Hako” is based on a one-shot that he published in 2020.
Voice Cast
- Shouya Chiba as Taiki Inomata
- Reina Ueda as Chinatsu Kano
- Akari Kitou as Hina Chouno
- Chiaki Kobayashi as Kyou Kasahara
- Yuuma Uchida as Kengo Haryuu
Production Team
- Yuuichirou Yano (Kami no Tou: Tower of God, Kimi ni Todoke, Lupin III: PART IV) is in charge of directing the anime at Telecom Animation Film studios, while UNLIMITED PRODUCE by TMS is responsible for planning and producing the project.
- Yuuko Kakihara (Orange, Hataraku Saibou, Tsuki ga Kirei) is in charge of writing and supervising the scripts.
- Miho Tanino (Kami no Tou: Tower of God, Tsukumogami Kashimasu, Phantasy Star Online 2: The Animation) is in charge of character design and animation direction.
Synopsis
“Blue Box” combines elements of romance and sports in a school setting. The story follows Taiki Inomata, a high school student and promising badminton player. Taiki finds himself in an unexpected situation when Chinatsu Kano, a girl he has long been in love with and star of the women’s basketball team, starts living in his house due to family circumstances. Despite being excited about the proximity, Taiki struggles to balance his feelings and his dedication to badminton.
As the story progresses, Taiki and Chinatsu share moments together, both on and off the court, leading Taiki to reflect on his feelings and ambitions. The plot explores themes of friendship, youthful love, and the pursuit of personal excellence. Through their interactions, Taiki and Chinatsu support each other in their respective sports, strengthening their relationship and helping them overcome the challenges they face.
The story of “Blue Box” also focuses on personal growth and character development as they navigate the complexities of school life and interpersonal relationships. Throughout the series, the characters experience ups and downs, both in the sports realm and in their personal lives, adding depth and realism to the story. The series is appreciated for its balanced focus on romance and sports, as well as its ability to authentically portray the emotions and dilemmas of teenagers.
Without a doubt, a project to keep an eye on, although there are still months to go before its premiere, it is a title to consider in advance, don’t you think? Come on, leave us your opinion in the comments, you know, we’ll be reading! 😉
Images Source: TSM Anime JP Official YouTube Channel, YouTube
