Blue Orchestra, which will be adapted into an anime series starting in April 2023, is a youth music manga about a former boy genius who grows through music. It is serialized on the free comic sites "Ura Sunday" and "Manga One," and won the 68th Shogakukan Manga Award in the boys' category. As of August 2021, the total number of copies published has exceeded 3 million. It is said to be Manga One's flagship work! It has attracted attention from music lovers, and many fans are sure to be excited by the announcement of the anime adaptation! Here, we will introduce the author, the story's plot, the fascinating characters, and above all, the highlights and things to look forward to as the anime adaptation is being announced one after another!
About the Protagonist, Aono Hajime
The story begins in the fall of his third year of junior high school, when the protagonist, Aono Hajime, is a boy struggling with his future. His father is a professional violinist, and Aono himself is a former prodigy with numerous awards in violin competitions. However, for certain reasons, he distanced himself from the violin. However, influenced by his teacher and a girl in the next class, Akine Ritsuko, he begins to play the violin again. With the help of Akine Ritsuko and the many friends he meets after entering high school, he grows through music.
Why did he quit playing the violin?
Hajime Aono's father, Ryuji Aono, is one of the few Japanese professional violinists active worldwide. Hajime Aono learned the violin from his father from a young age and loved the sound of his father's playing. However, his parents divorced after his father's scandal, and he left home. Playing the violin reminded him of his father, so he quit playing.
What made him start playing the violin again?
Hajime Aono, who is not good at sports, was hit in the face by a ball during gym class and slept in the nurse's office. He was woken up by the sound of poor violin playing. The violin being played was a girl named Ritsuko Akine from the next class. His homeroom teacher, Mr. Takeda, told him that the violin he was lending to her was the one he used when he was in the orchestra club in high school. The teacher then asks Aono to become Ritsuko's violin teacher. At first, Aono refuses, but the sound of her violin reminds him of his past self, and he is moved to begin playing the violin again in order to teach her.
High School Entrance and After
Hajime Aono, who began playing the violin with Ritsuko, decides to enroll in the orchestra club at Kaimaku High School, Mr. Takeda's alma mater, along with Akine. After enrolling, the two meet Nao Saeki, who has been sweeping competitions since Aono quit violin, and who will later become a good friend and rival. Their growth as they compete with Saeki and Akine in the orchestra club is depicted in a way that is skillfully intertwined with the songs they play.
About the Anime Production Staff and Director
Blue Orchestra, which will begin airing on NHK Educational TV in April, has been announced to be animated by Nippon Animation, known for its many moving works. The series will be directed by Seiji Kishi, known for hits such as "Assassination Classroom" and "Radiant," and the series composition and scriptwriting will be handled by Yuko Kakihara, known for her work on "Cells at Work!!" and "Chihayafuru." Additionally, the high school orchestra performance in the series will be performed by the Ashiarai Gakuen Philharmonic Orchestra (conducted by Yukichi Yoshida). We're confident that this will be a high-quality anime.
Who will voice Aono Hajime and play the violin?
This is an anime adaptation of a manga about orchestral music! The orchestral sounds are highly anticipated, and Shoya Chiba will voice Aono Hajime, while Ryota Azuma will play his violin. Azuma is a violinist active in solo, chamber, and orchestral performances, including winning first place at the 88th Japan Music Competition. You can watch the NHK Music Festival x Blue Orchestra Mini Concert on the official website. It's a spectacular performance, and you'll be excited to hear it in the anime.
About the Author, Makoto Akui
The author is Makoto Akui, a woman. While searching for "Blue Orchestra" or "Makoto Akui" often reveals that the series is on hiatus, it has been serialized biweekly since the end of February 2023, with volume 11 due for release on March 31st. The hiatus was reportedly due to childbirth and childcare, which makes it surprising that she continued to write her work during those times.
High School Orchestra Members
Aono continues to grow in his high school orchestra club. Overwhelmed by the incredible performances of his fellow members, he engages with the music and his inner self, and his youth shines as he works hard and improves with his teammates. Let's introduce these wonderful first-year members of the orchestra club.
Akine Ritsuko
A cheerful girl with a strong sense of justice, she opened up Aono Hajime's heart and led him back into the world of the violin. Although she's a beginner at the violin, her strong desire to improve and her enjoyment of playing make her charming. She's insensitive to romance, but she gradually falls for Aono. She has good grades and is a good athlete.
Nao Saeki
Nao Saeki is a genius violinist who won a competition just as Aono was. A returnee from Germany, he has a soft, airy aura and is charmingly elusive. His laid-back attitude and honesty about his feelings are also comforting to watch. He and Aono are good friends and rivals. And as it turns out, Saeki's father is also Ryuji Aono, which brings changes to his relationship with Aono. He's also a candidate for the next concertmaster.
Kozakura Haru
She has studied the violin since childhood and met Aono Hajime at a competition. Although she has feelings for Aono, she is a modest, kind girl who is considerate of those around her and tends to suppress her own opinions. She is close friends with Akioto Ritsuko, and the relationship and interactions between the two are one of the highlights of the series. She has a history of being bullied.
Ichiro Yamada
Ichiro has studied cello since childhood. He attended the same junior high school as Nao Saeki and is a good friend. He also knows Aono and Haru from watching them at the competition. He's a cheerful, sociable character who can get along with anyone, and is a caring and charming character.
Summary of the Appeal of the Blue Orchestra Anime
The voice actors and performers for the anime adaptation are being announced one after another! While it's fun to read the manga and imagine the sounds yourself, or to use the powerful images to gauge the volume and tempo, the greatest appeal of the anime is that it allows you to enjoy authentic performances in animated form. One of the highlights will be how the differences in sound are expressed, from practicing while imagining the composer's feelings to performing when their emotions are in sync during the actual performance. And as we wait for April, I can't wait to see how the youthful story of the orchestra club members, who clash but still strive together in the same direction, and love, will change when combined with the voice actors!!
