There might not be a style of music so revered or reviled as jazz. Notorious for being inaccessible, and even indecipherable at times, the genre has been both propped up – and continuously dragged down – by swirling myths of extreme musicianship, tortured genius and a sound that's ripe for satire and critique. Despite an uptick in its popularity with the rise of smooth jazz in the 80s and 90s, the scene as a whole remains an enigma for your average Joe. Yet cinema continues to provide an outlet, whether that be in the form of a relatively small-scale Polish cinema offering like Pawel Pawlikowski's Cold War (2018) or as part of a billion-dollar company's output in Disney-Pixar's Soul (2020).
Based on Shinichi Ishizuka's incredibly popular manga series, Blue Giant follows Dai Myamoto (voiced by Yuki Yumada) who moves to Tokyo to pursue his dream of becoming the world's greatest jazz musician. It's in the capital that he meets passionate yet serious jazz pianist Yukinori (Shôtarô Mama), a precocious talent initially sceptical of Dai's lack of experience. Joined eventually by Dai's landlord/roommate Shunji Tamada (Amane Okayama), who learns how to play the drums, the fearless three-some become ‘JASS'.
Backed by a specially composed soundtrack from Japanese jazz pianist Hiromi Uehara, who takes inspiration from sax legends like Sonny Rollins and Stan Getz, the film revels in its music. Director Yuzuru Tachikawa lets the compositions play out in real time, adding swirling and glistening colours to toe-tappin' concert scenes of the young group finding their sound. It's an effective if unconventional musical. One that lives (or dies) by its authentic jazz sound.
So much so that as a piece of anime, it's unlikely to inspire as much wonder as recent box office hits like Weathering With You or Your Name. Despite some impressive visual flourishes, BLUE GIANT's strength lies in its core. As a trio, they're hard not to root for. Dai's dreamy enthusiasm is the glue that holds them together as they set their sights on performing at the renowned jazz club So Blue – based on Tokyo's famous Blue Note jazz bar.
It's an earnest piece of cinema, filled with a grit-‘n'-grind attitude towards success. There are seemingly few barriers that can't be overcome with a little introspection and a lot of practice – save for a rather abrupt twist that provides the film with some last-minute melodrama. But it does capture the essence of a band on the up. The ‘second album syndrome' wouldn't exist if it weren't for those famous first albums that changed the course of music history. Dai, Yukinori and Tamada are note-perfect as a young band with the reckless ambition to produce moments of genius, and the energy of the band's rise is reflected in a mixture of animation techniques that let the concert performances really sing.
Ultimately though, one's enjoyment of the film may likely rest on your tolerance level for saxophones. And despite being handsomely made and admirable in its message, it may test more cynical audiences with its sincerity. Still, it's hard not to get swept away by its loveable characters and killer soundtrack – and no, you don't have to ‘listen out for the notes not being played‘.
BLUE GIANT will be released in selected cinemas across the United Kingdom and Ireland from 31 January 2024 in Japanese with English subtitles
