Jazz up your January with a big screen performance that combines an award-winning story with a score by world-renowned musicians. Yuzuru Tachikawa’s BLUE GIANT will be released in selected cinemas across the United Kingdom and Ireland from 31st January 2024 in Japanese with English subtitles.
Synopsis
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 practising 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?
Review
When I started watching Blue Giant, I was suddenly hit by a small wave of anxiety. A general concern that I didn’t deserve to watch it, and that I simply wouldn’t get it due to my incredibly minimal exposure to Jazz as an art form. However, similar to shows like Haikyuu and Free!, Blue Giant grounds itself so that it’s both accessible for casual audiences and honest and authentic in its approach to Jazz. In a way, it acts as a very legitimate introduction to Jazz, focusing on its interpretive nature, its connection with enthusiasts, and even the harsh reality of the music industry regardless of genre.
At the centre of this world are three wannabe stars; saxaphonist Dai, Pianist Yukinori, and newbie drummer Shunji. While this film is about breaking into the realm of Jazz, it’s also a story about three people who bond, fight, and embrace this passion for music. What’s so endearing about Blue Giant is that these characters have their own reasons for wanting to play. Dai simply wants to play music, Yukinori wants to become a successful musician, while Shunji became engrossed in Dai’s passion and wanted that feeling for himself. These contrasting and conflicting ideals cause tension, but it also brings out the best in them, whether its performing on stage together or tutoring one another; pushing each other to become great. This circumstantial relationship becomes a friendship that extends well beyond a love for music.
Blue Giant really takes its time to develop the main cast in a way that makes them relatable and instantly likeable. It’s impossible not to be dazzled by Dai’s talent, amazed by Yukinori’s commitment and dedication, and sympathetic towards Shunji’s position as a beginner; an outsider even. Jazz may be the main component that holds this film together, but it’s the characters that truly elevates it. The performances are fun, grounded, and ripe with energy that flows beautifully through the entire cast. Their bond, and indeed their journey, feels real and the level of energy just pulls you in.
Obviously, the characters can’t do all the work. Blue Giant is an incredibly visual and playful feast, which honestly surprised me. Not that I was expecting it to look bad in any way, but I didn’t know how it would handle Jazz on a visual level. Evoking the spirit of Jazz, Blue Giant enters the world of the abstract with unique styles of animation that imbues each musical solo with a story and a feeling directly linked to each character. It’s very subtle and effective storytelling that emphasises the power of music and allows each character to express themselves freely, revealing their vulnerabilities and insecurities. However, to truly capture the performance of each musician, the film utilizes 3D animation, which does look absolutely stunning and ridiculously fluid, but the transition and blend of the two styles is often quite jarring. It doesn’t deminish or take anything away, but it is slightly distracting to begin with.
As previously mentioned, Jazz is not my forte, so watching Blue Giant was surprisingly enlightening. I was immersed in an entirely new sound, and a movie such as this really provided the opportunity to experience music in a different and more playful way. You don’t have to enjoy Jazz to fully appreciate what Blue Giant has to offer, but I feel as though if you understand Jazz’s nuances, you can harbor a more resonant understanding and appreciation. Luckily, Jazz doesn’t carry the movie. Of course, it’s integral to the story, but the heart of the story originates with the characters. Jazz is simply their guide. Even though Jazz isn’t for me, Blue Giant is a wonderful treat on a visual and audible level. The ways in which sounds and visuals intertwine and clash is remarkably clever and clean. It’s seamless storytelling without dialogue. The music tells a story, and the visuals bring it to life like paint on a canvas.
Verdict
Blue Giant is a warm, fun, and visually abstract feat that beautifully tells the story of friendship, success, and failure. The film doesn’t punish you if you’re new to the Jazz genre. Instead, it openly welcomes you to experience the experimental and deeply personal journey that Jazz has to offer. Filled with stunning animation, a fantastic array of fun characters, a touching story, and a unique sound pallet, Blue Giant is a full on sensory gift.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
