## “Blue Box”: A Slam Dunk for Authenticity Despite Lack of Sports Expertise
The anime adaptation of Kouji miura’s manga, “Blue Box” (Ao no Hako), has returned for its second season, captivating audiences with its realistic portrayal of high school sports. What makes this achievement even more extraordinary is the revelation that director yuichiro Yano (known for “Moyashimon” and “Lupin the Third: Part 5”) and screenwriter Yūko Kakihara (“Buddy daddies,” “Cells at Work!,” “Chihayafuru 2 & 3”) had no prior experience with sports before embarking on this project.
Produced by the renowned Telecom Animation Film studio (“Tower of God,” “Lupin III: Part IV,” “Orange”),”Blue Box” manages to capture the essence of competitive sports at the high school level with remarkable accuracy. Yano openly admitted to relying heavily on expert advice, stating, “Since I don’t play sports, it can be challenging to depict them accurately. Whenever a basketball or badminton expert was present, I would constantly ask questions to understand the nuances of specific situations.”
Interestingly, the team initially considered collaborating with professional athletes but ultimately decided against it. They wanted to avoid portraying high school sports with an overly professionalized lens, opting instead for a more relatable and authentic depiction of student athletes. As Yano explained, ”we wanted to focus on the experiences of ordinary high school students, adding a personal touch while staying true to the spirit of the story.”
The creative team also benefited from the insights of the manga’s author, with Kakihara highlighting the author’s invaluable contributions. “She was incredibly cooperative, even tho our consultations weren’t frequent. Some characters don’t always express their true feelings, so I would often ask her about their underlying thoughts and motivations behind each line,” Kakihara shared.
Adding another layer of authenticity, Kakihara sought feedback from her niece, a high school student actively involved in her school’s basketball team. “My niece loves ‘Blue Box,’ and she’s part of her school’s basketball team. Her positive response reassured us that our portrayal of basketball resonated with someone who lives and breathes the sport,” Kakihara revealed.
“Blue Box” follows the story of Taiki Inomata, a senior at Eimei Academy, a school renowned for its rigorous athletic program. Taiki joins the badminton team, steadfast to excel, but consistently finds himself trailing behind Chinatsu kano, a freshman and his secret crush who happens to be the rising star of the school’s basketball team.
Despite Taiki’s respectable badminton skills, his popularity pales in comparison to Chinatsu’s, making his hopes of reciprocation seem distant.Though, a twist of fate brings Chinatsu to live with Taiki, unexpectedly bridging the gap between them.
Driven by his desire to be a worthy partner for Chinatsu, Taiki sets his sights on qualifying for the National Championship, pushing himself harder than ever before, both on the court and in his budding relationship.
“Blue Box” is a testament to the power of storytelling to transcend personal experience. By incorporating realistic elements and relatable characters, the anime reminds us that narratives centered around adolescent life can deeply resonate with viewers who have experienced similar journeys. This approach, prioritizing authenticity and relatability, makes “Blue Box” a compelling watch, notably for a younger audience seeking stories that reflect their own realities.
It’s fantastic too see “Blue Box” garnering such positive attention for its authentic portrayal of high school sports, especially considering the lack of prior sports experience from director Yuichiro Yano and screenwriter Yūko Kakihara. [1]
This raises an interesting point about the nature of storytelling and realistic depictions. While lived experience can certainly enrich a narrative, “Blue Box” demonstrates that meticulous research, observation, and collaboration can bridge the knowledge gap and deliver a compelling and believable portrayal of a sport.
To maintain this authenticity, the creative team likely collaborated with experts in basketball – perhaps former players, coaches, or even sports analysts. This consultation would have been crucial in ensuring the accuracy of game techniques, strategies, and the emotional nuances associated with competitive sports.
It’s a testament to the skill and dedication of the “Blue Box” team that they could achieve such a high level of realism without firsthand experience. This success story highlights that passion, research, and collaboration can overcome perceived limitations and pave the way for truly engaging and credible sports narratives.
