Ao no Hako

This series has been a painful watch, and it's mainly because of how it's handling its characters. Hina, who has so much depth and emotional range, is being completely underutilized. It feels like the story keeps sidelining her in favor of Chinatsu, whose character honestly lacks the complexity and spark needed to carry the emotional core of the plot. First of all, Hina has all the emotional depth. She's got the interesting personality and vulnerability that makes her feel so real. Yet the story keeps pushing her to the sidelines in favor of Chinatsu, who is just... boring. She's the template love interest; quiet, pretty, hardworking, inspiring girl with zero spice. It's frustrating because there's so little to grasp with Chinatsu. She's too hard to read, but not in a mysterious or intriguing way, rather in a way that makes it impossible to connect with her. Basically, we're not given any real insight into her character beyond her stillness and bland politeness. That’s it. No meaningful layers, no compelling motivations, just boringness and paleness wrapped in a pretty character design. Meanwhile, Hina is right there, rich with untapped potential, and the story acts like she’s just a plot device or something to show us Taiki's unwavering loyalty or whatever positive trait it is the writer is trying to make us see. It’s disappointing, honestly. A waste of a great character.

This anime started actually pretty good. You have drama, romance and 3 different sports mingled together. The idea was good but the execution was rather poor. The drama takes over most of the time, the dialogues follow the same pattern for 24 episodes and the sports theme is not even a real subplot. Sadly, the dialogues make it look like there will be some kind of progress and then it just cuts off which results in the romance not progressing at all during 24 episodes. Other sports anime do something similar like Ao Ashi or Baby Steps however those anime do this because their main focus is the sport. In Ao no Hako, the sport is mostly meaningless. It just exists to create an environment where the characters interact with each other. It is amazing how little we learned about Badminton, Gymnastics or Mini-basketball in 24 episodes. They didn't even bother showing actual training footage or explaining the basic rules of each sport. It is exactly for that reason as well that the matches and inter high feel so dull.

The studio is very bad. Why did they stop here at the first entrance? Damn them.If I were the director, I would have told him when he gets married here. He is the same person who goes to a place in the trash.But overall I give this work 10 out of 10 because it contains a lot of emotions.I would like to extend my greetings to the author of this beautiful work.But I hope there will be another part because the ending is open and I want to read it when they add a new part. Thank you for listening. May the peace, mercy, and blessings of God be upon you.

--- note: I consider this review to be incomplete without mentioning a certain plot point around Episode 14. I guess spoilers abound but I mean, I couldn't talk about one of the big 3 members of the cast without mentioning it --- A pretty paint-by-numbers shounen romance with a little sports (and I do mean A LITTLE) thrown in So, I watch the table of contents for Weekly Shounen Jump, right Analyze what's on the chopping block, new series to keep an eye on, etc. For a while, there hasn't been a big sports hit (despite manga I was quite fond of like Martial Master Asumi and Green Green Greens) and one of the reasons that I've heard is that Blue Box might be the "sports" niche. I kind of accepted that when I wasn't reading it but watching the anime, if that's true, wow, it sure is a suck-ass niche. Watching Blue Box for the sports is like watching Bleach for the romance (no offense to Bleach). It's barely even there, more of a backdrop for the romance. You can tell the level of priority each character in the main triangle (more on that in a second) is given by how much attention their sport is given. Hina's rhythmic gymnastics might as well not even exist. Chinatsu's basketball is given a little more attention but that's just because there's one character who isn't Chinatsu that you can name from the basketball team. Taiki's badminton is easily given the most focus of the 3 but it's still a very, very mediocre adaptation of badminton. It never really connects to the romance side either. Like, Hina tweaks her ankle and Taiki carries her once. It technically sets the whole thing in motion because Taiki and Chinatsu are On That Grind together and see each other at practice. But you could easily rewrite this to not be about sports at all and make it about the drama club or the student council or professional Super Smash Bros. Why they didn't use this as an opportunity to introduce love rivals is beyond me. It'd be one thing if they didn't introduce love rivals at all, but they do and they just do not use the sports to their advantage. They kind of tease it with Haryu for about 0.2 seconds and they technically introduce some basketball guy for Chinatsu but they are absolutely 0 threat and are swiftly resolved. Idk if the editor is making the mangaka add all these rivals before wimping out but whoever is doing this, stop it. There's no real excitement to any of the games either. The badminton is really the only one that gets any extra amount of focus, there's like one basketball game and it's interlaced with whatever Taiki and Hina are doing at the time. But I never really got that impression compared to something like Eyeshield 21 or Blue Lock (which, granted, are both team sports, compared to badminton) that there was a lot of thought going on during the games, there's certainly a lot less animation compared to something like Blue Lock S1. They just kinda hit the shuttlecock around until someone wins and yeah, that sure is badminton, but you could try and make it a little more exciting. The stakes also don't feel as high because it has to share the spotlight with the romance. Going back to Blue Lock, if you lose, your dream's over. You might as well quit playing soccer if you are kicked out of Blue Lock. With Blue BOX, it doesn't really feel that urgent if Chinatsu blows out both her knees and has to retire because Taiki and Chinatsu can just have a happy life as salaryman and housewife or whatever. If the sports aren't good, how's the romance? Fwiw, the first few episodes, it was kind of nice. I was a few episodes behind (I think I was on Episode 8 by the end of 2024) but when I was making my anime of 2024 tier list, I gave Blue Box a prospective 9. I kind of liked it. And then, for some unknown reason, they go out of their way to make Hina a rival. It's like being handed an empty fishbowl and they're like "oh, but we'll fill it with cool rocks and nice water and some pretty fish" and like yeah, that's cool. We can work with that. And then they just drag you over to Xzibit's house and you're like "Bro, I don't even know who this guy is" and he's got some pimpin' fishtank, going basically from the floor to the ceiling, and there's some really awesome fish, maybe even some exotic fish, there's Bluetooth speakers playing Kendrick Lamar, tons of bass, and you're taken home and they're just like "oh yeah, we're gonna go to PetSmart tomorrow and get you a goldfish." Like why did you take me over to his house and show me this cool-ass fishtank only to slap us back to the fishbowl? To be less abstract, let's talk a bit about the characters. First, the MC, Taiki. He... he sure is. If you put in your average harem MC and added a dusting of sports anime MC, that's basically what you get. He's not perverted or anything, he's just kind of bland. Nothing wrong with some Raisin Bran but you basically get what you get with these MCs. Next, the love interest, Chinatsu. Someone in one of these topics during the show's run brought up Kana/Akane from Oshi no Ko and... yeah. I don't think Hina is as much of an asshole as Kana is (as much as I like Kana), Chinatsu is just Akane if Akane went to therapy. Actually, seeing Chinatsu makes me appreciate Akane more because the whole fishtank thing could easily be Kana vs. Akane too but at least Akane has something going on. Chinatsu is the ~mature~, ~~responsible~~, ~~~a little goofy~~~ (you know that meme where it's a woman in a grocery store with a bag on her head and she's throwing up double peace signs and they're like "she's so crazzzzzzzzzzzzzy, love her!"? That, basically.) one. I'm not going to say she's got no personality and apparently she develops in future seasons (which, I mean, I sure hope so) but the only thing they've done in 25 episodes is make me like her less. (also, she throws a spider without looking out of a second-story window and that's a red flag) She has to "grow" her love in a flowerpot (this time, the analogy is not mine, this is the show) and, like, great, but it also means you're watching a slow, paint-by-numbers, vanilla romance. That kind of shounen romance that ends with the confession and maybe holding hands. I did say it was a TRIANGLE though. They did not have to do Hina like this. So, when they introduce Hina, she's a bratty little gremlin and that is FINE. That is what she could have stayed as. Going back to Aka Akasaka's works, one of the best parts of Kaguya-sama is Chika Fujiwara. She's a girl. But she is just a force of nature, never getting involved in Kaguya and Miyuki's relationship. It allows people who like her to just like her. No waifu wars, no nothing, Chika is Chika is Chika. It allows Kaguya and Miyuki to develop without the threat of "yeah, but I like that person better" because both Chika and the other main character Yu Ishigami have no interest in Kaguya/Miyuki. And if they just stayed that path with Hina, she'd be a great character. She IS a great character... but then they make an unforced error and put her directly in the Taiki/Chinatsu path. And, like, she's only a little more of a threat than Haryu or Basketball Guy. I didn't want Hina/Taiki, there are so many characters she could have been with. Why didn't you put her with Kyo (oh, yeah, they're kind of teasing Kyo with this other girl, I don't like her, Kyo deserves better)? Why didn't you do what I said above and have her date one of Taiki's badminton rivals so at least there's SOME tension and bridge between the sports and romance? Hell, you don't have to have her date anyone at all, that's what Chika did. But, back to the fishtank thing, if you're going to show me a cool fishtank and then give me some hulking, lumbering, one giant eye Solomon Grundy-ass goldfish in a $5 plastic fishbowl, I mean... What did this plotline accomplish? It only makes Chinatsu look worse by adding a character who is clear and honest and forthcoming about her feelings. This show would be a lot better if th…

I had a mixed feeling about this one, my first impression of blue box is it would turn out to be a promising romance anime at least that is my perspective in first two to three episodes, not until they added love triangle on it. hear out my own judgement on this. Im really a fan of sports sub-plot that is going on, i like the progress between chinatsu and taiki, i like the concept that the romance and sports elements blended together, to be honest i do really enjoy the early episodes of this. Now, the reason that it had me a mixed feeling about this show, is because i dont understand why the author needed to make hina fall for taiki, that will inevitably cause the show a love triangle, personally, am really not a fan of that kind of trope, i mean i think it wound be much better if they just give hina love interest in other character, i think that could make the show less unappealing for me. Now let me yap my side about why i really cant stand love triangle or harem;why the girl who is the purest toward the main character feeling end up unresoved and always left in the air, why bro said that hina and him have a bad dynamic while in the anime they clearly had the most chemestry, they are the perfect match possible in the show. How many people nowadays are into love triangle that the author takes the courage for them to work on it, because atleast for me i really cant stand it. My overview about this show is my own stand point only and if you ask me whether i hate this anime, i dont really hate it that much im just a bit confused whether i truly enjoy watching it, i still recommend this to those people that love to consume sugary romance, that wound make them a diabetic person. Im still keeping my eyes for season two, and i hope i would finally turn to like it.

I hardly watch sports animes but I ended up watching this one because people were saying good things about it and the rating is really not for nothing, the animation is excellent, the plot doesn't rush at all, it goes at its own pace forming the lore of the characters, the anime appeals to the feelings of adolescence like first love, it's touching especially when you realize how Chinatsu is in Taiki's eyes but I didn't like the ending, it ends in a strange cliffhanger as if something was missing and from here on it has to go to the manga but in the romance part for me it leaves a lot to be desired

*sigh* It finally ended. The last episodes were a total bore. What started like an interesting piece, slowly became something else. I don't why, but for the last months we got nothing but sh***y romances. Class daikirai, marriage, office, the ones with the travel agency.... They look so good on paper and then you watch it and you find out its not. Yes, I know its hard to get a new "the dangers in my heart", but c'mon! We don't need the same level (yes we do! shhhh), but at least try... *sigh* Anyway. From the start: the visuals are great. The designs, color palette, animation flow etc. All great. The audio: also good (more than decent). At times, the levels might've been a lil bit under, but generally the soundtrack was mostly ok. The VAs were good. The OP and ED were fine I guess. I don't really remember them. Mostly so for the 2nd half, but thats because of the story, I'd say. The production value seems high, the mixing was decent, the directing was good. The pacing is kinda all over the place (most of the times, seems to drag on for no legit reason), or maybe I'm wrong because I was annoyed. Yes, I am ff-ing all of this because those are not the issue. The story is meh. I can see what they were trying to do and I have nothing against it. But the plot is terrible. I don't know the sauce, I don't care about the sauce, but I will assume the sauce is the problem. Thats because the story has a feeling to it that goes from start to end, it doesn't feel like the studio went "You know what? Lets fk this up!". I also know that sometimes it is hard to adapt something thats written on paper, with no voice (other than those in your head) and you must give them life. Because what happens in one page doesn't need more than 5 seconds of visuals. And vice versa, sometimes "he is terrified for x" needs 2 minutes of visuals to make us realize as to why "he" is terrified. As I said, I get that, but I still think the author is the problem here. I don't know if he wanted to go this way, or maybe he never got an input for the anime's script (although most author have that when the OK is given), but the result remains the same. So. Highschool, all sports, romance, blah blah, all of that. They needed a place where all the "main" people could meet and interact, i get it. Then you bring in variables. Also good. And then you go for changing the main protagonists. Wait, what? Well, true, it never was about those two only, but thats what we were left to believe, by way of story construction. Thats why the second half of this anime is sht. More or less, dunno where it started and I won't rewatch. You wanna make it a triangle? Insert the 2nd girl first. Make it so that she's asking him out or something. That way people will feel for her. But no, we got something meh. We get to know him and the 1st girl. Good, now we can get giddy, expecting stuff, waiting to see how their relationship will evolve, how they will develop as characters. Because thats why we're here. At least I hope its "we", all of us, yes? And so we get what it looks like the start of something, then the "2nd half" (again, dunno exactly when) makes it all about focusing on the 2nd girl. Her feelings, her story, her anything. The first girl is not out, but you can feel the shift. "Bro, she has layers, see?" I don't care about her layers! Fk her layers! You gave us a ship, then you try to give us something new. No, ty! Or are you trying going for something NTR? Then add that tag, pls. I know drama is needed to make for a better story, but thats when is done correctly. Yes, I felt for her in the last episodes, but that was because of the visuals and VA acting, not because I was sad for her and I hoped she'll succeed :))) Also quickly, beside good old fashioned drama, we also get small misunderstandings, not having discussions like two normal human beings in a modern society. Especially from him. Some strong inner thoughts without a real reason behind those. Afraid and assuming. But I guess (or hope) thats intentional, made so by the author, to resemble a teen (a dumb one) and to help develop his character in the next season(s). Cheap tricks. Next, character development. Well, not really. We DO have some attempts, some monologues, but I think those have the opposite effect. "I know it is bad, but I'm gonna take advantage of our friendship and do it anyway" is good for character development but that also tells us that she is a sht person :)) And yes, I am talking mostly about her because frankly I don't remember much about the others. I do remember that most of the first episodes were about him and the 1st girl looking to eachother and giving short answers for the entirety of the scene, while some monologues run in the background. But I don't remember if he has a character development. Sorry, thats on me. In my defence, I forgot most of the show when the "2nd half" started and the story's quality dropped. I got sick and tired of seeing Hina's face all the time. So, an excellent artistic representation of a meh story. With cheap tricks for drama and misunderstandings. No return value. I mean, no matter how good the visuals are, trying to rewatching up to a point and then skip half a season, until the last 1-2 episodes seems redundant, don't you think? If it gets a second season I will keep watching, because now the story should get good. Plus, new pairs might become interesting to watch. At least I'm hoping "they" will become one :)) I'm giving it a 6 and mixed feelings. Like I said, no matter how nice it looks or sounds, if you make me skip half of season, because its boring or cringe, thats a no-no. But I'm sure lots of people will give it a high score and recommend it, so we'll get a new season, surely. Have a lovely evening!

Blue box is a sports/romance anime that mixed the two themes beautifully. Sports being a driving factor for the character's feelings, and romance being the main emotion that results in that. Throughout the show we get to explore themes and emotions that are extremely realistic. I find myself relating to so many themes in this show, like feeling insuperior to someone you like, or the dilema that comes with choosing someone over someone else, feeling left behind, being hell bent on your goals, etc. If i had to put it, its like its written by someone who actually had a social life. The author really had a good understanding of cause and effect, which I find lacking in most romance animes. The things the characters do, what happens to them, actually has long lasting effects on their behaviour which I really appreciate. Every buildup, had meaning, and made for a very satisfying payoff in the end. Its not like your typical romance anime where something "romantic" happens (some stupid miss understanding followed by incoherent screaming probably) and then the characters don't change from then, and then suddenly all the emotions explode for no reason at episode 11. Instead this show takes you on a journey, showing you what effects every event had on the characters, further showing the author's understanding in well... humans I guess. Like pushing a ball on a hill, if you want to make a big impact on it's way down, you gotta push it to the very top. Characters are wonderful, they really are, no other way to put it. They're so well thought out they each have their own coping mechanism its incredible how human they are. For me Taiki is very relatable and very likeable, you just can't help but root for this guy on his journey, one thing I also like about him is that he knows how to draw the line. Just a small detail that I appreciate. Not to say the show doesn't have flaws, I kinda don't like the dynamic in Taiki's trio. Its supposed to be Taiki, Hina, and kyo. But its more like Taiki and hina, Taiki and Kyo. I know I said the chracters are great but Moriya is a stupid 1 dimensional plot device character that starts to delve in to the realm of unrealistic trash romance anime characters. very unfortunate. Overall this show is goated, you can trust that a lot of the things that happen here (accept for the whole living with your crush thing... and Moriya) are realistic and you'll probably find a piece of yourself in this anime. Every build up is worth it trust me, you'll love it as long as you had a social life during high school.

Blue box is one of the best recent jump projects. Not only is it a brilliant romance story, but it’s a great sports animanga too. It perfectly balances romantic development with the characters’ personal and athletic growth while never going too far in either direction. It’s such a fun and realistic watch. The characters behave like normal people, they communicate, they work through problems and most importantly, it shows young people at a critical juncture in their lives, trying to find their way in an increasingly complicated world. It also has the distinction of being one of the few shows with two genuine best girls who I could not fault you for falling in love with. Both choices are well written, have their own advantages and depending on the week, you’ll find yourself going back and forth on who you like more. If you’re a fan of romance, sports or just want a somewhat realistic manga where the leads act like normal people, this is a no brainer. The show looks gorgeous and has an awesome cast. It’ll make you laugh, smile and cry, but it’s a great journey. What I love most about Blue Box is how it really strikes this great balance between showing Taiki chasing and achieving his athletic and personal goals. I have never seen an anime covering badminton before and my only exposure to the sport was through high school gym class. I found myself becoming very interested in the sport and I really like how the author breaks downs the rules, fundamentals and walks us through Taiki and the other characters’ approach to a match. Yea, you got that usual anime over dramatic inner monologue stuff, but for the most part it feels pretty realistic. Taiki doesn’t just instantly become the best badminton player around. He has raw talent, but it still needs refining and I found the way he bounced back from losses to be very motivating. All his wins feel earned because we see the hard work he puts in. I think with any sports anime, it’s very important to have the leads earn their way to the top, but also important to not drag things along too long. This author gets it and did a great job. On the Romantic front, this is exactly the sort of pace I like. Taiki likes Chinatsu from day 1, but it’s a combination of circumstances, his work ethic and his own courage that gradually brings them closer. I hate when characters get together too quickly so this sort of slow burn build up and the love triangle that develops just works for me. I am a sucker for tension and drama and this show has it in spades. Further to the love triangle point, I think this is one of the best ones I’ve seen. Like I said, you can’t go wrong with Hina or Chinatsu. One is the childhood friend who Taiki can be himself around and has always supported him, world class gymnast and one of the prettiest girls in town. The other is a future WNBA star, first to the gym last to leave, beauty and athleticism AND perhaps most importantly, someone who gives Taiki an ideal to strive towards. It’s one of those situations where no matter who wins, you’re gonna be sad for the loser and feel bad, but that’s how life goes. You don’t always get what you want and everyone can’t be happy. The show doesn’t rely on fan service or the overly cliche love triangle moments, instead it shows a teenage boy who has genuine reasons to like both girls go back and forth and really struggle internally to choose what’s best for him. It’s done in a very believable manner too. As someone who’s been in that position before, I really empathised with Taiki and I fully support his choice at the end. I am just really glad they showed how you can like two people at once for different sort of reasons and depending on the time/day, you can lean more in one direction or the other. Humans are selfish and we naturally want everything, it would be so easy to keep stringing people along because of the validation it gives you, but It wouldn’t be fair to others. Respect to Taiki for the way he owned the situation and handled things. The main trio are the big draw, but the side characters are great in this too. People like Kyo, Amane, Kengo etc., act as great mentors and guides for our leads, giving them encouragement and advice both as athletes and people. Often I find them saying the sort of things I would tell the leads if I were there next to them. It’s always good to have a voice of reason in the series and these characters help with that as well as being fun in their own right, especially Amane who came in the last few episodes and stole the show! Telecom were in their bag production wise. The show looks amazing. I have not read the manga, but from what I’ve seen, the art actually looks better than the manga designs. The animation is very fluid, backgrounds are so lush and detailed and voice acting is great! One of the best productions of the last year for sure. I could gush about this show all day. It was awful for my anxiety because I knew someone I cared about would end up getting hurt with a rejection at the end, but it’s just a testament to how well written the story is that I felt that attached to the characters. It’s one of the easiest and fastest 25 episode watches ever because of how well done each and every episode is. Do yourself a favour and watch it. Ao no Hako gets 10 out of 10.

Blue Box is one of those rare anime that nails both the sports and romance sides without overdoing either. It’s got just the right amount of slow-burn tension and everyday sports grind to keep you hooked. The story isn’t super crazy or anything, it’s a high school setup, you kinda know where it’s going, but it still hits really well. The art fits the vibe, nothing crazy either but just very clean and beautiful to look at. Characters feel real. Taiki’s not some overpowered main dude, just a hard-working, awkward guy you end up rooting for, without being that overly awkward stereotype that can turn off some western viewers. Both girls in the love triangle are great, and honestly, sometimes it’s hard to even pick a side. All the supporting characters are great too, felt real and contributing in some way. And by the way, the English DUB was solid. Overall very happy and left me sort of chasing that feeling for something similar. iykyk. If anybody knows an anime that hits this same sports/romance balance, please drop it in the comments!

This anime is a love letter to love itself. The feelings this show will make you feel cannot be put into words - and feelings for someone that we're afraid of putting into words is one of the things Ao no Hako (Blue Box) does best. This anime captures perfectly the feelings of falling and being in love. And what it does best is not the good part of it that everyone sees in songs, but the insecurity, the vulnerability, the inexperience, the uncertainty, the worrying, the despair, and, finally, the hope that it all works out. Each and every character is extremely relatable, and the anime overwhelms you with a huge abundance of the character's vulnerability in such a way that you, the viewer, become vulnerable as well. This is an anime you'll never be ashamed of showing others your love for it. It treats every scene, every character, every interaction with the upmost respect. This is a brilliant adaptation of its not so well known Manga, and has animation that is much much more beautiful than what you would expect for this kind of anime. Blue Box is a traditional romance anime, but honed to perfection. It uses all of the tropes you have seen before, yet either adds on to them, or perfects them, in a way that feels extremely comfortable and reassuring. It is also an anime with a ton of self-respect. Sometimes you would assume that the story will go one way since it would be marketable to, but it doesn't. Sometimes you think it would use cheap tactics to keep the viewer engaged, yet, in the end, you feel completely fulfilled. Sometimes you think the anime would sexualise its female characters, or make the main character gather a harem, but it never does any of that. There is beautiful music in here too, as all of the songs manage to pass on the feelings that the show is trying to purvey onto you. The blend of sports and romance is perfectly done - it almost makes you feel like this isn't a "sports" and "romance" show, but a "sports-romance", as if they were completely intertwined. This anime is an ode to the beauties and tragedies of love. It's a reminder that love can bring suffering. But that its beauty is still attainable. And that's why it's a hidden gem that you definitely should watch.

Solid 8/10 When it was airing I saw some of its promotional stuff and it was the characters playing basketball and badminton. I thought it would be in and out sports anime with main male and female characters being the best friends encouraging each other to be better and all eventually leading them to developing romantic feelings for each other. While the romance angle is there but not quite like what I had imagined. Also not an anime with in and out sports stuff. It’s actually a story of high school. While the sports is there and it is taken seriously and showed at a certain extent but it is more of 30-40% sports and 60–70% school life. I actually quite liked it. It makes you laugh and actually has a good story but at times you may feel it is dragged a bit too much (you will understand what I am talking about when you watch this)but considering how it all started it makes sense for it taking its time. I never really felt bored watching it. It has a good animation even for the sports part. The animation generally is quite well done and it suits the story as well. If you want to watch a well balanced high school anime between sports and personal/school life then you could go for it, I can guarantee this that you will not get bored. Welp with that, the season 2 is already announced and I think it would be coming this year only so I am looking forward to it.

"Utterly Disappointment" is how I’d describe it after watching. While Ao no Hako or Blue Box was really entertaining to watch, as for someone who tends to overrate things this was an easy 10/10 for me, at least it SHOULD have been. It checks all the boxes: great sports, solid story, good romance, school setting, and a love polygon. Everything else is on point too: the characters, art, animation, BGM, music, etc. TMS really did a fantastic job producing this. The flow and execution is just... *chef’s kiss*. The sports were really great too, gosh, I could rewatch that scene where Taiki is up against Yusa all day long. But that’s not the point of why I wrote this. This is actually one of those shows where I REGRETTED watching it. Why? Well, if you haven’t seen it yet, I’d recommend going for it first. But after watching, you’ll understand exactly what I mean. If you want to dive deeper into my take, here’s the breakdown but MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD: The story follows Taiki, your average sports boy who falls in love with the main heroine, Chinatsu. Then there’s Hina, his childhood friend who realizes her feelings for him a little later in the show. Now here’s the twist: have you ever wondered why the losing heroine, Hina, has more favorites on MAL rather than Chinatsu? Well it’s because in this whole season the actual development between Taiki and Chinatsu is basically just “agreeing on what to do and not to do.” And that’s it. According to the synopsis despite them living under the same roof, if you’ve ever watched "Gimai Seikatsu" you’ll get on what i meant: not much actually happens, As a chronic romance enjoyer I fail to see the "romance" between them. Most of the time it's more focused on Taiki's effort to be recognized by Chinatsu, and her being passive-aggressive to him for the whole show. The first half was fairly good imho except for our main ship progress. There’s little to no progress with them but the sports plot is really solid. After halfway through the season things get more interesting when Hina finally realizes her feelings. Of course, it’s always this thing where Taiki is already interested in other girl, Chinatsu, This exact twist is pretty generic and nothing new I would say, but up until Hina's story gets played out with the flashbacks; her reasons for liking him and the effort she makes to be loved by him. THAT’S when it gets good. We see some heartwarming scenes between them, a dedicated ending just for her, I mean come on. Hina easily became my favorite girl. But don’t get me wrong though, both heroines have their ups and downs. Honestly you can't go wrong with either: Chinatsu is kind and caring while Hina is more on the energetic and cheerful side. You decide. Then we get to the end and THIS is the part that made me regret watching. The author basically said “We don’t need her anymore,” and just crushes Hina's persona. They absolutely DESTROYED her in the last few episodes, leaving her with the worst possible cliffhanger. Sure, we get a tiny glimpse of Taiki and Chinatsu's relationship improving but as a non-source reader (and a proud Hina Nation gang), I felt like this whole arc was a waste of time. They literally built Hina's character up to be the best as possible in the show and then tossed her aside. I get that it might be necessary to move the story forward and maybe even important for her character development or so that we watch the next season, but still the way they ended this season? I call BS and that thing alone made me strip two points of it. I knew some will disagree with me, but you can’t deny the fact that Hina carried the "romance" side of this show (still I'm not saying Chinatsu didn't have its own fair share). Yes it’s a Shounen demographic meaning it focuses more on the MC’s struggle to get the heroine (or to progress the plot). But bro seriously though... you can’t write a second heroine with the best backstory and arc, only to destroy her at the very end ughhhh, good thing Season 2 has already been announced and if the themes stay consistent I hope Hina gets the attention she deserves this time. That alone could make up the emotional mess of this season’s ending *:pray:*. Other than that, it's a well-made anime that I’d still recommend if you enjoy sports, school settings, and most importantly ONLY if you love polygon-ish romantic drama where you're okay when the author blatantly shits on the losing character. I gave Blue Box 8 out of 10 TL;DR: Good show. Solid sports, fluid animation, has all the themes, decent story built-up, poor closing, 8/10.

This is a strange opera. The plot is very simple: a guy has a cruch on an older girl and they SLOWLY get into eachother. So what's new from a general romance story? 2 things: the fact that they live together and the existence of Hina. I referenced the bare minimum from the story just to start the review. About the first point, I don't think I need to go further: you'll se by yourself. About the second one, let's just say that it's not by chance if Hina Chono has double the likes of Chinatsu and Taiki combined... she lowkey carries the whole 1st season by herself. Without this character, I don't think this serie would have gotten this much attention. I don't know if I even wanna recommend it because it's very much just a general romance with never-going-to-happen-in-real-life moments, dumb MCs and nowhere-to-be-seen character development or depth added to secondary characters. I've seen quite a few romances (Kaguya-sama, Your Name, Clannad: After story and Violet Evergarden just to name a few) and Hina stands in a solid top 3 of "Most well-written characters" because she did what she could at the right times. With some mistakes because, she isn't perfect and that's what makes her top up for me (remember, she's like 15): in her shoes, how many would haven't done the same thing? If you know you know. I know it seems like I'm just yapping about Hina but I really think about her when I think about Blue Box. That's it. Waiting for season 2 to fix some stuff 'cause stuff needs to be fixed.

Blue Box is a slow-burn slice-of-life romance that stands out for its emotional realism and gentle storytelling. What starts as a typical “crush on my senpai” setup quickly shifts into something deeper and more grounded. The story doesn’t rely on overused tropes or forced coincidences, even when the main characters begin living under the same roof—it handles these situations with surprising maturity and subtlety. Taiki, the main character, is kind-hearted, patient, and genuinely supportive—not just toward his crush, Chinatsu, but also his friend Hina, whose quiet strength and emotional growth are beautifully portrayed. Chinatsu feels like a real person, focused on her goals, yet quietly forming a bond with Taiki that is soft and unspoken. The presence of sports adds a refreshing drive to the story and gives the characters something to strive for beyond romance. Every character has their own depth, even the supporting ones—like the calm, understanding Taki's friend was, who always knows what to say. The pacing can feel slow at times, but that slowness adds to the realistic charm, making each connection feel earned rather than rushed. Blue Box doesn’t scream drama or fantasy—it whispers growth, warmth, and emotional honesty. A beautiful watch if you're looking for romance that feels human.

The hotly anticipated sports romance anime, Blue Box, finally wrapped up its first season, and I’m… a bit conflicted, but not in a way you might think. Now I’m just gonna rip the band-aid off immediately, I like this anime and I’d recommend this to anyone if you’re in need of some non-action anime to watch. That said, I’m not really on the same hype train that everyone else is with this series. Before I get into my issues with this series, let’s get into the positives first. Blue Box is one of the few romance anime that I’ve seen with a love triangle that I actually think works. In this anime, the love triangle is utilized to really highlight and drive home the emotional discrepancies between the three main characters: Taiki Inomata, Chinatsu Kano, and Hina Chouno. I like how Taiki is at the center of the triangle since he spends the most time with both Chinatsu and Hina. Instead of playing the safe route like other romance storylines with this particular trope, the anime actually has the childhood friends interact with one another, which in this case, further builds the dynamic between Taiki and Hina. If the story ever wanted to hit us hard emotionally with what happens later on, it wouldn’t have been as emotionally impactful if the childhood friends barely had scenes together, or verbally and lazily drilling into us the idea that Taiki and Hina have known each other for a very long time. There is also a good balance in screen time given between Taiki’s scenes with Chinatsu and Hina separately, however, I will later get into the dynamic between Inomata and Kano. I also liked the sports side of this series. Each main character is part of a different sports team in their high school, which I like because that not only sets the characters apart in that aspect, but also gives us different subplots to follow. Taiki excelling to be the best first year in the badminton team is a good motivational narrative set piece for his character to grow and eventually reach the same level of that his crush, Chinatsu, is at with basketball. While I might not be the biggest fan of sports stories in entertainment - even to the extent of a preference of watching actual sports over shows like this - I found quite a few of these subplots to be intense and something to come back every week for. I found myself invested in Inomata’s growth as a badminton player. That said, I found both Chinatsu and Hina’s perspectives on their own sporting adventures to be slightly lacking. We barely get a real deep dive into what these two characters do outside of surface level exposition; early on in the first half of the season, we are constantly reminded that both Kano and Chouno are top prodigies in basketball and rhythmic gymnastics respectively. However, outside of maybe one or two scenes where Chinatsu plays a basketball game, the show barely fleshes out their own individual growth as athletes to the same extent that Inomata receives. That said, whenever the show fully locks in to focusing on a sports tournament, or a character overcoming an athletic block that is stopping them from reaching the next level in their development, it’s handled really well. Blue Box works really well as a sports drama, and in my opinion, this is mainly the more consistent aspect of the writing, even if it’s far from perfect. While Blue Box might excel as a sports drama, this series is also a romance anime, and this is where my issues with this series begin. First off, I already explained the positives in the love triangle and how it doesn’t fall as flat as other anime that utilize this trope. However, the main couple of this series, Taiki Inomata and Chinatsu Kano, honestly don’t feel like a couple, at least for now. The reason why I say this is because their relationship doesn’t really give me any romantic vibes outside of Taiki having an insane crush on Chinatsu. These two characters initially meet when they run into each other all the time in early morning practice in their school gym, and Chinatsu eventually moves into Taiki’s place as a roommate. Inomata and Kano obviously share quite a few scenes together, however the romantic development between these two feels so stagnant in this season. The furthest their scenes take these two are either a cute moment where they root for each other in their respective sports teams, or Taiki constantly reminding viewers that he has a crush on Kano. Very rarely do we get scenes between these two characters that actually progresses their feelings towards one another. There are even moments where the show subtly gaslights us into believing that there was so much emotional development between the main couple, when there really wasn’t. During the second half of this season, Chinatsu very subtly admits that she is starting to develop feelings for Taiki, but I don’t really buy that because the majority of the second cour has her separated from Inomata due to her not staying at Taiki’s house for an extended period of time. Sure, they still see each other in school, but they are in different grades and in different sports clubs, so it’s not like they spend as much or even more time together to make that confession airtight. For most of the entire season, Chinatsu is primarily distant, and even at times cold, to Taiki. Sure, they hang out and live in the same house, but they honestly don’t even have a dynamic that in any way resembles what I would consider to be romantic. I’m not asking for these two to be lovey-dovey right away, but for a season that contains twenty-four episodes, I would’ve at least expected significant strides in the romance between the actual main couple that this series revolves around. Now, I don’t want to make it seem like this anime is a failure or anything. I still find Blue Box to be very entertaining, and I have no doubt that later seasons (if that actually happens) will inevitably develop the dynamic between Taiki and Chinatsu more. While that aspect is a drawback for me, it unfortunately is a massive drawback at least for this season since the entire plot revolves around the relationship between these two main characters. But again, there are plenty of things I liked about Blue Box. The animation is very crisp, the direction definitely puts Blue Box atop of other romance anime, and like I said, I find this series so far to be a pretty good sports drama. Even as a drama, I like some aspects about the narratives in this show, like the inclusion of Ayame Moriya. Sure, I find this character to be really annoying, but I like the role she serves in the story; a loose cannon whose naive views on relationships ultimately pushes Hina to fully pursue Taiki. All of this obviously leads to the emotional climax of the entire season, and the last set of episodes that lead up to the big moment, along with the penultimate episode of this season, also contain some great drama between the characters that actually has me excited for more. Hopefully, this does get a second season because I want to see actual story development in future installments in this series since this season has definitely left just a little bit to be desired. If Blue Box can finally lock in and actually progress Inomata and Kano’s relationship, then this series would be great all around. Hopefully that becomes true with more seasons.

"Blue Box" was one of the most anticipated romance anime of 2024. With its Shonen Jump background and an already established fanbase, many expected it to be a unique mix of sports and romance. However, instead of being a balanced cocktail of both genres, the anime leans heavily on the romance aspect, with sports serving as more of a background theme. Despite this, Blue Box stands out due to its mature storytelling, well-developed characters, and an engaging love triangle that keeps viewers emotionally invested. The story follows Taiki Inomata, a hardworking and ambitious member of the badminton club who dreams of becoming an athlete on the national level. However, unlike other sports anime protagonists who are already talented prodigies, Taiki is far from his goal. He is still struggling, still growing, and his journey is one of perseverance rather than natural genius The love triangle is the heart of the anime’s first season. Unlike typical romance anime where misunderstandings and indecisiveness drag things out, Blue Box takes a more realistic and mature approach. Taiki isn’t an oblivious protagonist—he knows who he loves and when the time comes, he clearly communicates his feelings, ultimately turning down one of the two girls in Episode 24. This resolution marks a shift in the story, leading many manga readers to joke that the “real Blue Box” starts now, as the focus on sports is expected to increase from this point forward. One of the strongest aspects of Blue Box is its character writing. The main trio of Taiki, Chinatsu, and Hina all feel like real people rather than typical anime archetypes. Taiki’s determination and hard work make him a compelling protagonist, especially since he isn’t overpowered or naturally gifted like many other anime protagonists. Chinatsu and Hina each have their own goals, struggles, and personal growth, making them feel independent rather than just existing for the sake of romance. Even the side characters are well-written and contribute meaningfully to the story. While the anime has some typical anime quirks, it remains more grounded and mature than most other romance anime, making it stand out in the genre. For those expecting a sports-focused anime, Blue Box might be a bit disappointing. While sports play a role in the story, they mainly serve as a backdrop for the characters’ emotional struggles and personal growth. The first season primarily focuses on the love triangle arc, so the sports aspect is not the main attraction. However, with the love triangle resolved, as a fan, I am hopeful that future seasons will bring more emphasis on the competitive side of badminton and other sports. Blue Box is a refreshing take on romance anime, blending sports themes with a mature and emotionally engaging love story. The well-developed characters, realistic romance, and satisfying character growth make it stand out in the genre. While it may not fully satisfy those looking for a true sports-romance hybrid, it offers a strong and compelling romance story that goes beyond the usual tropes. Pros: ✔ Well-written characters with meaningful development ✔ Mature and realistic love triangle resolution ✔ Strong emotional depth in relationships ✔ Great mix of romance and sports elements (even if romance is dominant) Cons: ✖ Sports aspect is more of a background theme than a main focus ✖ Some viewers might find the pacing slow 8/10 A must-watch for romance fans, but sports fans might need to wait for future seasons to see if it expands into a true sports-drama mix.

The show starts off with a very good verst episode. All the main characters are very likable and good characters. The show looks nice and the character are drawn very good. They are pleasant to look at and are backed by good writing and good dialogues. The animation is very good and that includes the sports and the subtle facial expressions of the characters. Some of the closeup of the face are very good. The characters are emotionally intelligent and perceptive. This is a sports anime and there is good sportsmanship. Romance and sports fans will appreciate this anime. In particular badminton and basketball fans. I highly recommend it. I personally liked this more than Haikyuu and Blue Lock.

✨ Review – Ao no Hako ✨ Alright, let’s get into it. First of all, I see a lot of people evaluating Ao no Hako based on the manga — “oh, because in the manga this is explained”, “in the manga the female lead is more developed”… Not here. I’m judging the anime for what it set out to do and what it has shown so far, ignoring future continuation — even though it’s obvious there will be one. 📊 Scores 💖 Romance: 8/10 (If it were just about Hina, it would be 10/10) 😂 Comedy: 8/10 Hina Chono carries this on her back… do I have a favorite? I think that’s pretty obvious. 🎧 Soundtrack: 8/10 Good, well placed, and fits the anime’s tone. 🎬 Animation: 9/10 Way above average for a romance anime. 📖 Story: 7/10 Nothing groundbreaking: a school romance with some sports elements. 🧠 Characters: 10/10 This is where the anime truly shines. Let’s go full Jack the Ripper and break this down ✅ Positives The anime’s biggest strength is its characters — not just the main ones, but the entire cast. Each character feels unique and multifaceted, instead of being a walking cliché defined by a single trait. The interactions feel extremely natural. These are people acting like actual people. It avoids that annoying romance package: forced misunderstandings, absurd situations, people falling on top of each other, and drama over the smallest things. The romance also flows naturally, at its own pace. However, there’s something worth pointing out: the anime clearly gives more focus to one of the girls. This created a strong preference on my side, while the other ends up with much less development and only a few truly impactful moments. Speaking of Hina: she is, easily, one of the best characters in the show. Every time she’s on screen, the anime improves. Charisma, timing, presence — she just works. ❌ Negatives The biggest issue for me was the last episode. No spoilers: what was that decision? Yes, I know there will be a continuation, but still… it’s the kind of ending that’s frustrating because of how it cuts the experience. Another point is the protagonist, Taiki Inomata. He’s not bad — not at all. He’s not useless or uninteresting. But did he really have to be that passive? It’s a classic romance cliché that personally annoys me a lot. Another point — which might not even be entirely negative — is that the main duo ends up being less interesting than the rest of the cast. It’s kind of surprising how Taiki works better when interacting with other characters, or even with the secondary love interest, rather than with the main counterpart of the story. It may sound counterintuitive, since we’re talking about the core of the anime, but that’s genuinely how it felt: the show becomes lighter, more dynamic, and more engaging outside of its own “main duo.” 🎯 Conclusion What we have here is a romance that flows naturally, respects its pacing, and is supported by very well-written and human characters. That makes the dynamics feel believable and engaging, without relying on exaggerated tropes. In the end, it’s a solid anime. 🔥 Final Score: 8/10 💖 Hina is 10/10. Versão em PT-BR ✨ Review – Ao no Hako ✨ Vamos lá. Primeiramente, vejo muita gente avaliando Ao no Hako com base no mangá, “ah, porque no mangá isso é explicado”, “no mangá a protagonista é mais desenvolvida”… Aqui não. Vou analisar o anime pelo que ele se propôs a apresentar até agora, desconsiderando continuação, embora seja óbvio que vai ter. 📊 Notas 💖 Romance: 8/10 (Se fosse só pela Hina, seria 10/10) 😂 Comédia: 8/10 A Hina Chono carrega isso nas costas… tenho uma favorita? Acho que já deu pra perceber. 🎧 Trilha sonora: 8/10 Boa, bem encaixada e coerente com a proposta do anime. 🎬 Animação: 9/10 Muito acima da média para um anime de romance. 📖 Enredo: 7/10 Nada inovador: romance colegial com pitadas de esporte. 🧠 Personagens: 10/10 Aqui é onde o anime brilha. Bom, agora como Jack, o Estripador, vamos por partes ✅ Pontos positivos O maior acerto do anime está nos personagens, e não só nos protagonistas, mas no elenco como um todo. Cada personagem tem uma personalidade própria, multifacetada, sem cair naquele clichê de ser definido por uma única característica. As interações são extremamente orgânicas. São pessoas agindo como pessoas. Isso evita aquele pacote clássico irritante de romance: mal-entendidos forçados, situações absurdas, personagens caindo uns em cima dos outros e drama por qualquer coisa mínima. O romance também flui de forma natural, no tempo dele. Mas aqui entra um ponto importante: o anime claramente dá mais destaque a uma das personagens. Isso acabou criando uma preferência muito forte da minha parte, enquanto a outra recebe um desenvolvimento bem mais limitado, com poucas cenas realmente marcantes. Falando da Hina: ela é, tranquilamente, uma das melhores personagens da obra. Sempre que ela está em foco, o anime sobe de nível. Carisma, timing, presença, ela simplesmente funciona e muito bem. ❌ Pontos negativos O maior problema, pra mim, foi o último episódio. Sem spoilers: que decisão foi aquela? Sim, eu sei que vai ter continuação, mas ainda assim… é um tipo de final que irrita pela forma como corta a experiência. Outro ponto é o protagonista, Taiki Inomata. Ele não é ruim, longe disso. Não é inútil, nem desinteressante. Mas precisava ser tão frouxo? Esse é um clichê clássico de romance que, pessoalmente, me incomoda bastante. Outro ponto, que talvez nem seja exatamente negativo, mas vale comentar, é que a dupla principal acaba sendo menos interessante do que o restante do elenco. É curioso perceber como o Taiki funciona melhor quando está interagindo com outros personagens ou até com o segundo interesse romântico, do que quando está com a contraparte principal da história. Pode parecer contraintuitivo, já que estamos falando do núcleo central do anime, mas foi exatamente essa a sensação que tive: o anime se torna mais leve, mais dinâmico e até mais envolvente fora da sua própria “dupla principal”. 🎯 Conclusão Temos aqui um romance que flui naturalmente, respeita seu próprio tempo e é sustentado por personagens extremamente bem construídos e humanos. Isso faz com que as dinâmicas sejam críveis e envolventes, sem precisar apelar para exageros. No fim, é um anime sólido. 🔥 Nota final: 8/10 💖 A Hina é 10/10.

Blue Box is the second high-profile sports series of the season whose manga I’m already a huge fan of, though I can certainly say I’m much less conflicted about my love for this one than Medalist. Its deft blending of the sports and romance genres, along with a keen eye for connecting the thematic similarities between the two, gives us an incredibly moving story about high schoolers trying to balance their respective sports careers with their budding romantic feelings. The love triangle that forms amongst Taiki, Chinatsu, and Hina is just dramatic enough to be wildly captivating, building off the central themes of effort and mutual support to show why certain characters feel the way they do, often stubbornly so. It also remembers to show some love to its sports side as well, with the different rivalries that spring up throughout the series spurring everyone towards constant improvement. Production-wise, this show has the very weird quality of starting off hugely over-ambitious, leading to shaky cinematography, less than stellar compositing, and questionable CG assets; but then seeming to mellow out and become more economical with its efforts as the episodes progressed, lending to much higher overall quality while still sneaking in some solid action cuts here and there. Much like the manga, the character designs are immensely gorgeous, with the unique designs for the eyes giving them an extra air of impact, and the extreme lighting choices further support that warm and fuzzy feeling of simply observing your crush and the emotional buoyancy that provides. Tie it all together with an uplifting score filled with soaring string and woodwind lines and you’ve got yourself the start of a generational romance series whose second season I simply cannot wait to see.