The upcoming anime adaptation of Blue Giant has released a new trailer and a visual. The film is set to premiere on February 17, 2023.
Information about the music staff for the anime has been released. They include popular Japanese pianist and jazz composer Hiromi Uehara who also serves as the music director, saxophonist Tomoaki Baba, and drummer Shun Ishiwaka who is affiliated with the Japanese music ensemble Millenium Parade (Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 Season 2 opening song).
“We are extremely fortunate to have Hiromi Uehara, one of the best pianists in the jazz world, as our music director. Together with Tomoaki Baba on saxophone and Shun Ishiwaka on drums, two sincere young players, they spun the sound of the movie Blue Giant through a process of trial and error. It is powerful music. There is much more I would like to say about the sound, but I will hold it back and hope that everyone will enjoy the movie.”
Statement from original creator Shinichi Ishizuka
The film, which was first announced in 2021, will be directed by Yuzuru Tachikawa at studio NUT. It was originally set to premiere this year but was then moved to February of next year.
Blue Giant is a jazz-themed manga by Shinichi Ishizuka. It was serialized in Shogakukan’s Big Comic from May 2013 to August 2016. It also got two more manga sequels namely Blue Giant Supreme (2016-2020) and Blue Giant Explorer (2020-present). Seven Seas Entertainment has licensed the manga series in English, describing the plot as follows:
Dai lived a normal high school life in Sendai: a city of hot summer days and rainy nights. Between basketball, part time jobs, and an uncertain future, something was missing. And that thing was music. With his days in senior year running out, Dai swears a heartfelt vow: “I’m gonna be the best jazz player in the world.” But what do you need to be the best? Talent? Effort? A lucky break? Or maybe just a deep, pure love for music, and too much stubbornness to know when to quit.
The manga won the 62nd Shogakukan Manga Award in the General category, as well as the 20th Japan Media Arts Festival Award.
Source: Official Twitter, Comic Natalie
©2023 Blue Giant Movie Project