In recent years, Netflix has acquired a variety of high-quality anime series, including JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean, Sakamoto Days, Baki Hanma, Beastars, The Seven Deadly Sins, and many other notable titles. Typically, the adaptation of anime tends to significantly boost sales for the corresponding manga, and Netflix has successfully achieved this with one of its latest major series, Blue Box.
For those who may not know, Blue Box is unlike any other sports anime currently on the market. Instead of focusing solely on a single sport, like many series such as Hajime no Ippo, Haikyu!, or Blue Lock, it intertwines two sports: badminton and basketball.
The story centers around two high school students, Taiki Inomata and Chinatsu Kano, who are both players in badminton and basketball, respectively. The main characters in this anime support each other, encouraging one another to reach new heights. The manga adaptation was first published in 2021 by creator Kouji Miura, who continues to release new chapters to this day.
Blue Box Achieves Major Milestones
The Blue Box manga has recently announced that it not only sold out its initial volume but has also surpassed all other volumes in terms of reprints, thanks to the successful anime adaptation. Following is a translated statement regarding the anime adaptation: “A reprint decision has been made! JC has decided to reprint all volumes of Blue Box (up to volume eight) which has reached over 7 million copies in circulation. Thank you for your continued support.”
The Humorous Secrets of Blue Box
You might be surprised to learn that the creator of Blue Box seemingly knows little about sports when he created this brand and continues to write it. In a recent interview, Kouji Miura stated, “Because I’m not an athlete, it’s very challenging to depict them accurately. Whenever someone mentions having experience [in basketball or badminton] around me, I feel compelled to ask what’s going to happen in a specific situation. I find it hard to draw from my own experiences.”
Miura also discussed why the story focuses on two high school students rather than professional athletes: “This is a story about high school students; we feel it’s better not to make them too professional. We believe it’s possible to create something more relatable based on experiences that ordinary people have during their high school years, adding a touch of realism.”
Currently, Blue Box is in the second half of its initial season, although there is still no confirmed information about a second season. Produced by Telecom Animation Film, the series certainly has the potential to ensure a bright future based on its manga and anime foundation.
