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Blue Thermal
Blue Thermal (available to watch on YouTube here) is a lighthearted sports anime movie about a college aviation club. The protagonist, Tamaki, is a ditzy freshman who means well but lacks self-confidence. She’s scouted by the mature and handsome aviation club leader Kuramochi, who’s impressed by her preternatural skill at piloting a glider.
Tamaki gradually gains confidence but never really develops much of a personality. That was fine with me, and I didn’t mind that she randomly attracts a handful of admirers. It came as a bit of surprise when Tamaki’s older sister, who went with their dad in their parents’ divorce, turned out to be the captain of a rival aviation club, but of course the two sisters reconcile at the end.
The movie’s vibe is very chill. There’s not much explanation of how aviation works as a sport, and there’s almost no training montage. We see a few intermural aviation competitions, but the stakes are low. Overall, I’d say the genre of Blue Thermal is more “slice of life” than “sports drama.”
The movie’s production values are high, and I especially enjoyed the background art, which includes a lot of overgrown green fields and gorgeous blue skies ornamented by lovingly rendered clouds. All of the scene locations are very realistic; like, that’s definitely what a budget hotel for student groups looks like! I’m not sure how the down-to-earth depiction of contemporary Japan might come off to someone who’s never lived there – maybe a bit worn-down and dumpy? – but I found the realism of the setting to be immersive and comforting.
In the end, Blue Thermal is a pleasant way to pass an hour and a half. Not much happens, but that’s okay. The animation is lovely, and not every story has to be exciting or profound.
Tamaki gradually gains confidence but never really develops much of a personality. That was fine with me, and I didn’t mind that she randomly attracts a handful of admirers. It came as a bit of surprise when Tamaki’s older sister, who went with their dad in their parents’ divorce, turned out to be the captain of a rival aviation club, but of course the two sisters reconcile at the end.
The movie’s vibe is very chill. There’s not much explanation of how aviation works as a sport, and there’s almost no training montage. We see a few intermural aviation competitions, but the stakes are low. Overall, I’d say the genre of Blue Thermal is more “slice of life” than “sports drama.”
The movie’s production values are high, and I especially enjoyed the background art, which includes a lot of overgrown green fields and gorgeous blue skies ornamented by lovingly rendered clouds. All of the scene locations are very realistic; like, that’s definitely what a budget hotel for student groups looks like! I’m not sure how the down-to-earth depiction of contemporary Japan might come off to someone who’s never lived there – maybe a bit worn-down and dumpy? – but I found the realism of the setting to be immersive and comforting.
In the end, Blue Thermal is a pleasant way to pass an hour and a half. Not much happens, but that’s okay. The animation is lovely, and not every story has to be exciting or profound.