The premise of Blue Giant is a well-trodden path in the world of anime: a young boy hailing from a small town makes the leap to Tokyo to chase his dreams. In this case, our protagonist is Dai, a saxophone enthusiast who dedicates himself to relentless practice. Day after day, he can be found beneath a bridge, pouring his heart into his saxophone, playing until his reed gives out. Unsurprisingly, Dai’s aspiration is to become the world’s greatest jazz musician.
In the movie Blue Giant, there is a deliberate choice to focus primarily on the formation and dynamics of the band, particularly the trio at its core. This trio includes Dai, the main character, as well as two other significant characters: Sawabe and Tamada.
Sawabe is a pivotal figure in the story. He is portrayed as a knowledgeable and self-assured pianist who is well-acquainted with how the club performance circuit operates. His experience and insights become valuable as the band seeks to establish itself in the competitive music scene.
Tamada, on the other hand, is introduced as Dai’s roommate and a high school friend. What sets Tamada apart is his improbable transition into becoming the band’s rhythm section. Despite having minimal prior experience with drums, he decides to give it a shot. This unexpected development adds an element of surprise and underlines the theme of unexpected talent and potential.
The choice of the band name, JASS, is also noteworthy. It’s interesting because, in most scenarios, the selection of a band name can be a contentious or highly debated process. However, in this context, the name is chosen without much discussion or objection, which adds a touch of whimsy to the story.
Blue Giant uses these characters and their interactions to explore the formation and growth of a jazz band, emphasizing their shared passion for music and their journey in pursuing their musical dreams.
In the journey of JASS, as depicted in the film Blue Giant, their progress is marked by dedicated practice sessions and live performances, all of which contribute to their improvement as a band. However, a significant aspect of the film’s success lies in the quality of the music itself, and in this regard, Blue Giant truly excels.
Unlike some other works where music is a secondary element or relies on existing tracks, Blue Giant boasts an authentic and impressive soundtrack. The music for the film is composed by Japanese jazz pianist Hiromi Uehara. Her contribution to the film’s soundtrack adds an extra layer of authenticity and depth to the storytelling.
What sets the soundtrack apart is its homage to American saxophone legends of the 1960s. It doesn’t attempt to replicate the jazz of cool sophistication but instead captures the spirit of bravado and the energy of high-pitched, squeaky notes. This style of jazz draws inspiration from iconic albums like Sonny Rollins’ Saxophone Colossus and John Coltrane’s Giant Steps. These albums are known for their muscular brass and complex compositions, and they reflect the kind of jazz that Blue Giant aims to evoke.
The film’s title itself, Blue Giant, hints at this homage to jazz legends, and the music composed by Hiromi Uehara successfully captures the essence and energy of that era, contributing significantly to the film’s overall impact. It enhances the viewer’s experience by immersing them in the world of jazz and the passion of the characters as they pursue their musical aspirations.
The concert scenes in Blue Giant are nothing short of magnificent, and what sets the film apart is its confidence in allowing these scenes to unfold at length. Blue Giant is acutely aware of the fact that jazz, as a musical genre, is often seen as waning in popularity. Many jazz movies acknowledge this, but they tend to struggle when it comes to discussing the genre with precision or depth.
In one scene, when someone inquires about Dai’s preferred style of jazz (Cool? Bebop? Swing?), he struggles to provide a specific answer, instead saying that he’s into everything. This vague response is followed by an unconvincing attempt to describe jazz as hot and intense. However, rather than relying on clichéd arguments about what makes jazz compelling, Blue Giant opts to demonstrate it.
The stage dynamics of the trio are electrifying when they come together in harmony. As the film progresses, these musical sequences become increasingly ecstatic and abstract. They are filled with swirls of color, brush against cosmic elements, and strive for the sublime. These sequences are incredibly enjoyable and exhilarating, and words often fall short in capturing their essence. If we were to describe them, perhaps hot and intense are the most fitting terms after all. Blue Giant successfully conveys the passion and excitement of jazz through these powerful performance sequences.
While Blue Giant excels in many aspects, one area where it stumbles, at least for some viewers, is its animation. Approximately ninety percent of the film boasts crisp and expressive animation, making it visually pleasing. The jazz club scenes, in particular, are beautifully depicted with their dark wood bars, neatly arranged liquor bottles, and a suggestive ambiance.
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However, where the film falters is during the musical performances, where it introduces motion-captured rotoscoping CG animation. This CG work doesn’t quite blend seamlessly with the traditional 2D animation style, creating a jarring contrast. The uncanny smoothness and high frame rate of the CG animation can feel out of place within the richly textured 2D world, which some viewers may find aesthetically displeasing.
It’s worth noting that opinions on this aspect of the film may vary, as some viewers may not be bothered by the animation style transition, while others, like the reviewer, may find it distracting or unattractive.
Blue Giant is an earnest and straightforward film, staying true to its source material, a hyper-popular manga by Shinichi Ishizuka. Unlike many films, it doesn’t get distracted by unnecessary romantic subplots or excessive melodrama, except for one significant twist. Instead, the movie maintains a focused narrative, allowing viewers to immerse themselves in the world of jazz.
In some ways, Blue Giant can be seen as a musical, emphasizing its remarkable soundtrack and performances. It appeals to those with open hearts and ears, ready to be moved by the rhythm and emotion of the music. The film’s dedication to its musical elements contributes to its unique and engaging storytelling.
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