Back in early 2020, just weeks before things went south, the folks at Seven Seas picked up an interesting title with the ten-volume complete series Blue Giant from Shinichi Ishizuka. The publisher started to bring it out beginning October 27th, 2020 where they’re done as omnibus volumes for a five-volume run total. The series was originally serialized in Big Comic magazine beginning in 2013 and wrapped up in 2016. A sequel series launched in 2016 with Blue Giant Supreme.
Then it was in October 2021 that we learned that the property is getting an anime feature film that saw a February 17th, 2023 release. The two-hour film has a domestic pickup by GKIDS and now Japanese distributor TOHO has set their plans for a home video release in Japan. The film is getting a regular edition DVD priced at 5,000 yen while the Blu-ray will be a limited edition priced at 11,000 yen.
The limited edition will come with the main disc featuring the promos and commercials while a bonus disc will include stage greeting videos and a completion preview video. The original soundtrack CD is also included along with a 64-page booklet, stickers, and three postcards. A random filmstrip will be included as well.
Check out the full packaging spread below.
The main cast includes:
- Yuki Yamada as Dai Miyamoto
- Amane Okayama as Shunji Tamada
- Shōtarō Mamiya as Yukinori Sawabe
The film is directed by Yuzuru Tachikawa with the screenplay being written by NUMBER 8, who is actually the editor of the original manga and story director for the sequel manga. Studio NUT is handling the animation production with TOHO distributing. Yuichi Takahashi is handling the character designs and serving as the chief animation director.
Plot Concept: Dai Miyamoto’s life is turned upside down the day he discovers jazz. A former high school basketball player, Dai picks up a saxophone and begins practicing day and night, determined to become one of the greatest of all time. He leaves his sleepy hometown for the bustling nightclubs of Tokyo, but soon finds the life of a professional musician is not for the faint of heart. His passion eventually wins over the cocky but talented pianist Yukinori, and after Dai convinces his friend Shunji to learn the drums, they launch a new jazz trio whose rough sound contains a raw energy that quickly wins attention from local audiences. But what does it take to truly be great?
Previous promos and visuals:
[Source: ANN]
