Blue Period

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The story follows a high-school student named Yaguichi and how he falls in love with art. One thing that stands out the most is the relatability which you can have with the characters, knowing you're into something for the love of it and still not being good enough is something that most humans can relate to. Another aspect this manga covers very well is the interaction between characters and how that affects each of them. I would say the rambling about artistic aspects of the pricing of schools is a bit annoying but it's a necessary evil to understand the severity and the work needed.

A true hidden gem.

Blue Period is focused mainly on the discovery of the protagonist's true passion: art. The manga tries to introduce and explain what art is all about and give some viewpoint. With that, Yatora finds in art the excitement he was looking for while searching for what he wants to do for life.

Despite not being an art student, rather a frustrated one, I find myself being continually identified with the protagonist, his path to improve his skills and all the challenges that entails fully devoting himself to art. Not only because of the joys of fulfilling the objective of what you wanted to ... demonstrate with a painting, but also because of the limitations and the downs when the frustration and the famous "what is missing? what do I lack?" appears.

Blue Period contemplates the path of an art student from scratch, and it also has varied and inclusive characters with whom you can easily feel identified. It captures the milestones of a beginner trying to enter art school in careful detail. In fact, it's actually pretty grounded and realistic with some great characterization. The only negative part that I find positive in the story at the same time is the perseverance of the art professors who accompany the protagonist and the other characters along their path. Taking into account the current educational system, I find that a little bit surreal but splendid at the same time.

Every time I read a chapter I want to draw so badly, and if you also are an art lover like me, you will probably love this story.

Blue Period is absolutely breathtaking. It follows an exploration into the art world by a novice who has to improve his skills at a rapid pace. Every chapter focuses on a different aspect of studying art (emotional or technical) and how our MC overcomes these challenges. Where this manga truly shines though is in its sincerity. I haven't researched at all but I definitely got the notion that this mangaka had studied art in this way too-- many scenes had details so meticulous that they could only have been drawn from real life experience.

The characters, relationships and story all feel real and not like ... cardboard cutouts of anime/manga tropes at all. This really impacted the overall tone of the manga and it felt like I was taking the journey alongside the main character.

Also, I need to mention that the challenges that the MC goes through really echoed my own experiences. Society's view of art, following your passion, family expectations, etc and more are explored in this manga and I know that if you're an artist you may relate to it as well. And even if not it's a damn good drama and you might learn a thing or two about art along the way (I know I did!) After reading this manga I always want to draw! 10/10 from me!

Have you ever been truly passionate about something?

Blue Period is, before every thing, about passion. It may sound cliché but this is the best manga I've ever read about "following your dreams and make them come true" as generic-shounen as it may sound.

Yatora was an uninterested high school student until he found himself in love with art. The first few chapters are about him finding his passion and dealing with the doubt and problems that come with it, the later chapters are more focused on the process of creating art.

This manga is beautiful, from the first few chapters you can see how each character is ... drawn with a slightly different artstyle, reflecting the intricacies of each one of them. The artworks featured in the manga were all created by different artists and the colored pages are works of art on their own.

The story is a classic coming-of-age so the focus is clearly on character development, the main characters (as you can include Ryuji with Yatora) are amazingly portrayed and it's really interesting to see their hardships and how each one of them deal with it. The secondary characters are also nicely done, with each and everyone of them having a solid characterization and motivation.

I think this is not only the best manga currently being published but the best manga overall, never before a manga moved me to the point of tears and made me question myself if I've ever been passionate about something in my life.

I recommend this manga for everyone, don't be intimidated by the art thing, before reading Blue Period I wasn't interested in art at all, now I see myself going to museums every now and then.

I really can't praise Blue Period enough, if you are reading this review, go read this manga as soon as possible, it's truly one of the masterpieces of our time.

By far my favourite manga of all time.
In my opinion its biggest strength is how Tsubasa Yamaguchi manages to convey emotion in its purest, most raw form. There are countable gut-wrenching scenes and you end up rooting for all characters that you come across as they are all fleshed out beautifully and just really made to feel like real people.
I also feel that you don't even need to be that interested or proficient in art to enjoy.
I would recommend anyone to read this manga as I personally feel it has trancended what I previously thought possible of manga as a medium.
Literal masterpiece

Blue Period is not a perfect manga, but its core theme carries the work.

Passion and perseverance, it might seem simple but how rare is it nowadays to see a person fully commit to their dreams, against all odds?

In terms of positives, the work has great art and the art pieces displayed are real pieces, often done by the author's friends, students, and current artists. The main character is well written for the most part, the inner narration and monologue are definitely strong suits to his character, alongside his unfortunately often too relatable backstory. Supporting characters are generally well written but I do hold some ... qualms for perhaps some missed opportunities to expand upon some of them. Regardless, its a very captivating read, the pacing is very fast, which both works to its benefit and detriment.

There is a definite sense of constant movement, but especially at the beginning, sometimes pacing does seem a bit too fast. I would have liked if there were more moments which slowed the story down for the main character and supporting characters to reflect on themselves, but these sorts of moments are too few and far between.

Additionally, my other major critique is the character of Yuka, who at first, seems to be being set up as a deuteragonist, but no such development happens in the story. Unfortunately, for what seems like a long stretch of the middle part of the MC's third year, Yuka doesn't appear in the story, and whats happened is mostly left vague for later. When we do find out, I think the story could have benefited from having Yuka's perspective earlier in the story, showing their inner turmoil to juxtapose against the protagonists. Regardless, I haven't read all of what's published so far and so I am cautiously optimistic to see how Yuka's story progresses.

All in all, this is actually a very good manga, but I just hope it doesn't overstay its welcome. So far, it has been compelling and thought-provoking.

Blue Period is not your typical unrealistic manga with bloody gore and thriller sequences, its is more of a relatable character journey, development, and combination of perseverance and determination to reach the goals of individual and a journey to dive into a diverse world of art industry.

Reading Blue Period is like having a flashback right before my eyes and I relate to yatora journey in the art world and his struggle in achieving perfection in creating a masterpiece. The story build-up is amazing and it feels relatable as it includes daily life and real-life struggles. Blue Period is a fascinating story about the detail of ... the world of art and painting, it gives you a whole new perspective on how broad the art industry is with a pinch of heavy thoughts provoking of an artist journey in creating an in-depth masterpiece

The manga itself is colorful and has an almost perfect art style and successfully portraying the exploration of art and the willingness of a man to change his world and his ambition through the up and downs.

This is one of the best manga I've read in a long time and you should experience the same when you catch up with the recent chapter

MINIMAL SPOILERS

"Art is a language without words" One of the few quotes I still remember from the very first chapter of this manga. As an art student, this manga really felt close to home. It is still below 100 chapters as I type this review, but it will definitely lure you in as it does not only give you a different perspective and knowledge of art but is relatable for EVERYONE, it is not exclusive to the people with the same occupation, or social status of the characters.

ART, simply beautiful and unique. What I love about this is that aside from the main mangaka, ... different people, or so to say, artists, are involved in making the art pieces of the characters, each of them were credited either beside the panels or at the end of each volume. I really cannot wait to see them in full color once the anime is released. Double spreads were breathtaking each time, and not too mention the curviness of the characters that feels real in an anime/manga way.

CHARACTERS. They are diverse! You would be introduced to different artstyles and behavior of characters when it comes to art. You may agree or disagree with the characters' view of art or not especially for the teachers, but that's what makes it all the while challenging and relatable to understand and realize the beauty of seeing art, we view them differently. Blue Period widened my perspective that not all art is beautiful to us, just like to its characters, they have different attitudes when it comes to art, some are passionate about it, some have zero motivation for it, some are there to show off, and some are there to simply enjoy art.


In conclusion, it is still far too early for me to give a full on review, but for now Blue Period is definitely a manga worthy of your time. A hidden masterpiece.

The jaw dropping beautiful art alone of Blue Period attracted me to the series but once I started reading I was dying for new chapters.



The story is about a highschoolers named Yaguchi and how he falls in love with art despite the realistic struggle of becoming an artist and all the excruciating work and depression that comes with simply not being good enough to compete with others , having to take part time jobs in order to cover costs of cram school and painting supplies or the art universities that have such low acceptance rates that illustrate the fear of getting rejected.


If Im completely honest ... I've re-read the series about 3-4 times despite it being so short the story is still so compelling to read since the journey of not only Yaguchis skill in art but also his perception of art changes across the manga an example being that whats normal to you isn't seen as normal to others and that the way people approach a model or subject is completely relative to what you see In the subject matter

Art 10/10 lot of emotion is told from faces and the use of shadows to express the purest of emotions really lets you simply be immersed with the characters

Story 9/10 its a simple story but this actually is a strength since it puts more focus on Yaguchi getting better and better as an artist and dealing with his setbacks

Character 8/10 I love every character shown they all have great back and forth conversations wether its joking and teasing or disagreement which really sells that their high school students

Enjoyment 10/10 would read 3 more times

Overall 10/10 please read

This will be my first review, but if anything, Blue Period is the perfect place to start. It was fascinating, immersive, and engrossing to read about the high-school student, Yaguichi Yatora, who fell in love with art. To follow him from scratch as he challenges himself to become a better artist.

The thing about this story, is that it's so relatable that it hurts. Passion, love, frustration, desperation, and fears; all captured beautifully through these characters that are so real to me. To see them fall in love with something, but knowing that it can be both a blessing and a curse to feel so ... deeply for it, was emotional. I am no artist, at most I only sketch as a hobby, but this feeling is universal no matter the passion.

There was a point where some characters have to give their dreams up because being an artist is not always ideal. It's harsh, expensive and unfortunately, not always a successful path. It's a reality that is painful to admit, and I found it fitting that it was addressed as such, but a sad one nonetheless.

The art style of this manga is incredible. The facial expressions, body language and atmosphere used in Blue Period are able to convey such detailed messages to the readers that it leaves me breathless. More than once have I been able to emphasize strongly with characters just by what they're expressing through the panels, and with the amazing story writing, even felt stressed or frustrated LIKE them. Like, I was incredibly stressed for Yaguichi during his exams and had to pause to take a nervous breath when he started to freak out, haha!

Overall, Blue Period is an addictive read, and I implore everyone to try it out before dismissing it outright.

What is that one manga that you really love and is very inspiring?
Yep, that's Blue Period.

Blue Period may not be the usual action focused or one that tries to make you depressed. It doesn't try to be special that way. However instead, the manga excels in what it is trying to do. Be an inspiring, emotional and relatable read to the more older audience in the medium.

So, what is it about?
The story is about Yaguchi Yatora, a high school student who is not only very unsatisfied and doesn't feel anything with what he does but also, doesn't have the type of money ... to waste around or have second chances. But things change.

He discovers the art of drawing. That's it, and then, he makes the choice of making money through art. While yes, art is not something very popular or even relatable, the manga presents his life with obstacles that are often in a students life. And it does it so well, that its a masterpiece at what it was trying to do.

Is the art good, in this art manga?
Yes, it is. It may not be the most phenomenal drawing but its good. The character designs are great as well. This being a monthly manga, you always get a good amount of 40+ plus pages per chapter of greatness.

How are the characters?
The characters are amazing. Such relatable characters, the fun, the emotion and everything experienced with them makes you just really like Blue Period. They are definitely the top-of-top in many regards, the relationships really feel real and something that is very relatable in the life of a student.

How is the main character is particular?
Amazing. I can't tell how much I relate to this guy. The challenges he faces, and how he resolves them is brilliant. The main character is not a pro at art or something, it's indeed very much of a challenge, one that is full of different emotions, feeling and energy.

Do I enjoy it?
If it wasn't obvious, and I need to say it: Yes! Absolutely! The binge has been nothing but a very fun read. And I am so grateful that it has 40-50 pages every chapter and many dialogues too! Though it being monthly always saddens me. I will be re-reading it entirely again at some point too!

Overall thoughts on it?
This is the epitome of an inspiring manga. Everything is done right, nothing is wrong and it is peak at what is trying to be. I enjoyed every chapter, I had fun, I had tears in my eyes, I was moved. A manga about discovering passion done perfectly. Easily 10/10

This is my first review, and I'm writing it because this manga had a more profound impact on me than almost anything I have read.

Never before have I related to a character as hard as in this manga. The experiences that Yatora has are ones that resonate with me. The idea of struggling through challenges in order to reach a point where you yourself think that you're good enough is a really important concept, not only for artists, but pretty much anyone who is working towards a goal.

This manga actually pushed me towards something that I never thought about: truly doing what you love. Just ... doing things for others really isn't what's most important. Doing what you want for yourself is invaluable (even if it goes against the wishes of others).

The unease of transitioning into new experiences is highlighted often in the manga, and it's portrayed in such a realistic way I thought I was looking in a mirror. Doing things that you never thought you would do, or liking things that you once considered a joke... People change, but people also have things that they hide from others just to keep a public image. As someone who does art, and for the longest time scoffed at the 'weird' and 'modern', Blue Period taught me to take a second look. It taught me to try and grasp what an artist was feeling while making a piece, or try to understand the process behind something that may mean something to someone, and nothing to another.

This manga actually taught me about myself and the art that I thought I knew, and I feel like that is something rather hard to do.

Not to mention the gorgeous art that Yamaguchi utilizes. It often reflects the mood of the current scene well, and the shading is done in usual screentone, but occasionally in a watercolor-esque style that reflects the subject matter at hand.

The characters throughout Blue Period grow and change realistically as well, even minor characters that are seen less than others have goals in life and are constantly striving towards them. The characters grow and react equally as well as Yatora himself, sometimes having deep rooted problems that they too grow out of.

I firmly believe that if you are a person who has a goal in mind, artist or not, this manga is worth a read. It's a hidden gem of realistic and detailed experiences involving characters who are uniquely relatable. This manga is one of my favorites of all time.

At the time of writing this review, a well-deserved anime adaptation of Blue Period has just been announced, so congratulations to Ms. Yamaguchi.

Blue Period is an absolute masterpiece. I don't hand out 10s unless I come across something really special, and Blue Period is definitely worth anyone's time.

Even if you don't have an interest in art, Blue Period is guaranteed to resonate with anyone at some point over the course of its story. Whether it be through art, music, craft, even one's personal identity, the desire to create is inherent to humanity, it is the reason we exist as we do today. Blue Period ... expertly captures all of the joys and fulfillment that comes with creating, portraying it as the means of expanding one's worldview and expressing their true selves.

However, it's not all smiles and rainbows. After all, Blue Period is named after the term used to refer to Pablo Picasso's deep depression. This manga touches on some poignant themes, and not all of them are uplifting. Creating might bring joy to the artist, but with it comes pain, fear, anxiety, and doubt along the way. Yatora experiences some significant roadblocks throughout the story, and he doesn't always pass through unscathed. The same goes for every other character, most notable of which is Ryuji, whose character touches upon themes of sexuality, gender norms, and self-identity.

I'll finish my review by talking about the art: it's gorgeous. Probably to be expected by a manga about art, but the visuals are incredible nonetheless. It has almost a watercolor look which feels appropriate given the subject matter.

very realistic approach on coming of age. It tackles a lot of question i tend to get when i was in high school and the leap of faith following your passion while make a living out of it. there are actual moment where i can self insert on many of the character and their struggle. (p.s. although it's art heavy, the struggle actually applies on any field of work).

the down side is it, the story tends to go heavy too fast in the later chapter which lead to heavier rereadablity and it can get really technical on art related stuff early on which doesnt sold ... me on actually read the technical stuff. i usually skip it when it gets to unneccessary

i gave it a 10/10 due to the character development and story wise is pretty amazing. Also for an art manga, the art did justice on it and even play on real world art.

this story was such a amazing story i stopped focusing on art bc my parents made me focus on school again this manga helped me alot mentally the mc is someone i can relate to. i never have read anything that made me want to change tbh i slapped my face really hard at like 2am bc i wanted to go back to art thats how much this story rly did for me. overall all the characters well writtin nothing feels forced with the relations they have with each other not too close n not too distant. ;) try it out

At first when I see this manga on social media, I was kinda hesitated, not because I didn't think its not good but its just I'm just lazy to read.

I love to read manga that are seriously so interesting. When I was so bored couple of days ago, I decided to read this manga. As I started, I was captivated, it really is beautiful. I can relate so much with the main character yatora, not with his hard work tho. I'm not aiming for arts but for animation.

I also started drawing just seeing my classmates being good at arts, but I progressed ... to the point that I can draw but I don't consider myself a good drawer, and because of my laziness, for 2 years I don't have progress while knowing that time flies and gonna regret it later. When I read this manga, I was urged to work hard too, I know that not all hard works will pay but definitely it had a something for your future foundation. That's what I learned to this manga.

I am hoping for an anime adaptation of this, and I consider this as one of my favorites.

As an artist, for some reason I've been stalling to read this, NON-ARTIST OR NOT PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE READ IT!!!

The main character is a high school student named Yaguchi, and he's really relatable on several different levels. The struggle of trying to be good. The feeling when you don't fit in. When it's clear that people think you didn't try hard enough. Trying to get into an art university. All these struggles are what makes you truly appreciate this manga, there are even art tips you learn along with Yaguchi. (that's the perks of reading manga and having a beginner to an advanced artist as ... your mc!)

Yaguchi grows so much, not just in art skills but also in character. I really relate to this dude, and the other characters could have a whole manga for themselves too. Everything is fantastic and so well written I can't criticize anything.

As a guy who is 16 and chose science for high school, this manga for the first time in my life made me question about my choice. Unfortunately I can't change my choice because of my country and my living conditions.

Anyway about the story; not only it is very personal to me but it also has some of the best writings in the manga I've read.

Almost all the characters feel unique and interesting. Character designs are great, I loved it. I would love more if the author delves into the characters backstory for Miki and Murai particularly and character motivations for characters like Neko ... sensei.

'Yaguchi Yatora' is the protagonist I've always wanted in anime/manga history period. I'm tired of a protagonist who overcomes every challenge thrown at him (Kirito and Asta), same goes for protagonists who cry too much (Deku and Takemichi) and also for the protagonists who suffers/lose too much (subaru).
He is perfect blend who doesn't lose too much, he doesn't always overcomes all challenges, clutches during important points in the story, he gets setbacks and finds a way to bypass/move through certain tasks/challenges.

The information the manga provides for every artwork is amazing and you can feel the care the author has for the story. Some of the panels are breathtaking and very well drawn.

The pace of the story is great even the bonus chapters are good and provides worldbuilding.

Overall this is definitely a must read for any person who wanna delve into art and is definitely worth a read even besides the art the story is amazing. This manga is defintely in my top 3 favourites.

I have never felt so compelled to write a review on a manga until I read this masterpiece. I feel very much reborn as a person - it is such a refreshing feeling. I don't think I can put it completely in words on how to describe this manga.

You don't have to appreciate the subject of art to love this beautiful piece of storytelling. It is so well paced and it's sense of progression is perfect for our MC, Yaguchi Yatora.

From his struggle of searching for something he's passionate about as he transitions from HS to College, finding a career or major. As ... many students are, finding that ONE thing you want to do, is hard for many- truly relatable.
The MC, a honor-roll delinquent, falls in love with art. He goes from a apathetic teen, thinking dimly about his future, to blooming into a wonderful and caring individual pursuing his newfound dreams.

BUT he has NO experience with art. This is where you go, ok so he's gonna magically become a genius painter? - Nope. You see him overcome his challenges, take in resources, improve himself, practice, practice, practice. He FULLY devotes himself to art and accepts that he ISN'T a genius and there are those naturally better than him, but walks his path straight on, with no regrets.

All the relationships in this manga feel so real, so caring, so heartfelt. All his support from his parents, best friends (omg they're the best), and fellow artist are truly a great support system for him.

This coming of age story makes my heart melt and I literally cried at chapter 26, watching his whole journey.

This manga definitely deserved its awards:
"Winner of the 13th Manga Taisho Award in 2020.
Winner of the 44th Kodansha Manga Awards for best general manga in 2020."

Blue Period is about a boy named Yaguchi Yatora, a student who never thought about art until the day he took up the brush. It is a known fact that art universities are pretty expensive for the most part and due to his financial condition he couldn't have opted for a private art university leaving him only one choice: Tokyo University of the Arts. Being a public university it has a very low acceptance rate and therefore there are people who take the exam more than once to get admitted.

Story: Being a manga based on art, Blue Period has certainly done well. There are ... certainly a lot of things that you can know by reading the manga.
It captures an artist's problems well: art-block, desire for perfection to the point that you're scared to draw, the sensation of the brush being "too heavy", the sudden lack of creativity, deadlines, deteriorating skills due to lack of practice and more.
There is calm before a storm but a clear sky after the storm passes. Thus,
It also does not fail to capture the good parts too: being inspired by your classmates and finally getting motivation to work again to make a painting which pulls a person in, the realizations, the feeling of the brush getting "lighter" again, the feeling of being able to breathe again and more.
There are many more things that make the manga amazing and worth it.
I particularly like this manga because it is really unpredictable and has not failed to keep it up. I feel like the manga is still pretty underrated.

Art: I think the artstyle is pretty good and consistent, even though it is all black and white, the mangaka never fails to capture the essence of the paintings. I liked Ono Konatsu's paintings a lot.

Character: It's good to see that the mangaka has not only just focused on the mc but also other characters one by one. I really liked Yuka's story arc, it had a lot of depth and Yotasuke's was pretty good too. Yatora has been learning, adapting and improving ever since day one, though it isn't too consistent since every artist has a fair amount of turning points, he still learns from them and it has been shown pretty well.

Enjoyment: I love reading this manga and it is pretty relatable for me and i think it is somewhat relatable to every person out there, no path in life is completely smooth and artists have it pretty hard and really are amazing. I hope you will like this too.

Overall: For me it's one of my 10/10 manga, it's really amazing.
Views, interpretation and perception are subjective and ever-changing but i hope that you will like it too!