Netflix to Launch ‘Blue Giant’ Film in U.S. and Canada – What You Need to Know
Netflix to Stream ‘Blue Giant’ Anime Film in the U.S. and Canada Starting September 1
Netflix is bringing the anime film adaptation of Blue Giant to viewers in the United States and Canada starting September 1.
So, what’s Blue Giant all about? The story follows a high school student named Miyamoto Dai. One day, Dai attends a live jazz performance and is deeply moved by the music. Inspired by this experience, he decides to become a saxophonist, even though he has no formal training or skills in playing the instrument. Dai’s passion for jazz drives him to practice every day, and the film explores whether his dedication and love for music will help him achieve his dreams.
Blue Giant’ Film: Box Office Hit and Global Release
The Blue Giant film first hit theaters in Japan in February 2023. It was a big hit there, quickly earning over 1 billion yen (about $7.5 million) by April 2023. The film also had a special screening at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in June 2023. In North America, GKIDS showed the film in theaters starting in October 2023, and it was later released on Blu-ray Discs and major digital platforms.
The film is directed by Yuzuru Tachikawa, known for his work on Death Parade and Mob Psycho 100. It was produced by Studio NUT, which is well-regarded for its high-quality animation. The screenplay was written by NUMBER 8, who also worked on the Blue Giant Supreme manga.
The music in the film plays a crucial role. The soundtrack is composed by world-renowned pianist Uehara. He also performs as the character Yukinori Sawabe in the film. Saxophonist Tomoaki Baba provides the saxophone music for the main character, Dai, and drummer Shun Ishiwaka plays another character, Shunji Tamada.
The Blue Giant manga, created by Shinichi Ishizuka, is highly praised for its realistic portrayal of jazz music. It has been a major success, with over 10 million copies sold. The manga has won several awards, including the Grand Prize at the Japan Media Arts Festival.
So, if you’re an anime or jazz fan, check out Blue Giant on Netflix starting September 1!