Blue Box Anime Review and What to Expect in Season 2

The first season of Blue Box wrapped up this March, delivering a breathtakingly beautiful visual experience paired with one of the highest-quality modern romance stories in anime. Airing as a two-cour series starting in October 2024, the anime brought significant developments to its core love triangle by the time the final episode aired. At the same time, fans were thrilled to hear that Blue Box Season 2 is officially in production.

In this article, I’ll take a look back at Season 1 of Blue Box and explore what we can expect from Season 2 including potential storylines and the likely release window.

About the Original Blue Box Manga

Blue Box is based on the manga of the same name written and illustrated by Kouji Miura. Known for her clean art style and heartfelt storytelling, Miura has earned a strong following thanks to her unique blend of sports and romance elements.

The manga began serialization in Weekly Shonen Jump in April 2021, and it quickly gained popularity for its fresh take on youth romance set within a sports high school environment. As of March 2025, the series has released its 19th volume in Japan. However, for English-speaking audiences, only up to Volume 14 has been officially published as of now.

With its continued success and emotionally charged narrative, the manga provides a strong foundation for the anime adaptation, and there’s still plenty of story left to tell in the upcoming season.

Blue Box Season 1 Review

Blue Box Season 1 aired from October 2024 to March 2025, delivering a full run of 25 episodes. The anime was produced by Telecom Animation Film.

In the sections below, we’ll dive into the key elements that made Season 1 such a memorable experience.

*Please note that the following contains spoilers.

The Central Love Triangle: “Boar, Deer, and Butterfly”

Set in a high school reminiscent of those in Saitama Prefecture, Blue Box revolves around the romantic dynamics between first-year student Taiki Inomata, his Senpai crush Chinatsu Kano, and another key heroine, Hina Chono. Interestingly, their surnames include the kanji for “boar” (Inomata), “deer” (Kano), and “butterfly” (Chono): a nod to the traditional Japanese card game combination “inoshikacho,” which is often used in anime and manga to symbolize a trio or a love triangle.

At first, the story heavily highlights Chinatsu as the object of Taiki’s innocent and sincere affection. With her beauty, grace, and emotional depth, Chinatsu quickly won over fans, many of whom would’ve been satisfied had the story focused solely on her relationship with Taiki. A classic twist is introduced when, due to family circumstances, Chinatsu ends up living at Taiki’s house, which is a setup frequently seen in modern light novels. While this situation seems ideal for growing closer, it actually introduces new emotional complications, making their relationship more nuanced and compelling.

As the story progresses, attention shifts toward Hina, Taiki’s old friend from middle school. While many believed no heroine could match Chinatsu’s charm, Hina emerges as an equally captivating character. Her presence effectively doubles the emotional depth of the series. Hina, though she teases Taiki about his feelings for Chinatsu and outwardly supports him, secretly harbors feelings of her own. Eventually, she confesses to him　while also kindly allowing him to take his time with an answer, knowing his heart still leans toward Chinatsu. This moment sparks emotional conflict in Taiki, who begins to recognize Hina’s genuine warmth and strength of character.

What makes the Blue Box love triangle so gripping—if not downright painful to watch—is that neither Chinatsu nor Hina possesses a single trace of malice. Both are kind, thoughtful, and impossible to dislike. It’s the very perfection of this triangle that makes it so absorbing and emotionally resonant.

The voice acting also adds a powerful layer to the characters. Chinatsu is voiced by Reina Ueda, known for her roles as Reze in the upcoming Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc and Kanao Tsuyuri in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba. Hina is voiced by Akari Kito, who famously brought Nezuko from Demon Slayer to life, as well as Suzune Horikita in Classroom of the Elite. Both voice actresses bring exceptional nuance to their roles, perfectly matching the emotional tone of their characters.

The Importance of Supporting Characters: Kyo and Ayame

While the emotional core of Blue Box is undoubtedly driven by the three main characters, much of the remaining magic comes from the supporting cast, who help move the story along in meaningful and often subtle ways.

Kyo serves as a voice of reason and an emotional stand-in for the audience. As someone who observes the love triangle from a calm, objective perspective, he becomes a comforting presence in the series. His thoughtful comments and quiet support help balance out the drama. Fans may also find themselves curious about Kyo’s own feelings and personal life—for example, who he might secretly like. Exploring that in the future would add another layer to his character.

Another character to watch is Ayame Moriya, who appears later in the first season. She is the younger sister of Karen Moriya, who is dating Kengo Haryu from the badminton team. Ayame steps into the story as the new manager of the boys’ badminton club, and quickly makes her mark.

Ayame plays a key role in pushing the story forward by supporting Hina’s efforts to win Taiki’s heart. She actively supports Hina’s romantic hopes and helps create a situation where Hina and Taiki end up alone together. Though Hina did not want to hear Taiki’s answer—fearing a painful truth—his response ultimately changes the dynamics between them.

Moments like this show how even secondary characters in Blue Box have a powerful impact on the main plot. Their interactions may seem small, but they often lead to major turning points. This careful attention to detail is one of the many reasons why Blue Box stands out as a well-crafted and emotionally resonant story.

Lighthearted Comedy in Between the Drama

In many of today’s most popular anime, even the most serious moments are often balanced with surprisingly relaxed, comedic interludes. Blue Box embraces this approach beautifully. Between the heart-pounding sports scenes, whether it’s a tense badminton match or a heated basketball game, and the emotionally charged romantic developments, the series inserts light and slightly exaggerated comedic moments that offer a gentle change of pace.

These scenes are often drawn in a more playful, deformed style, adding a layer of charm without disrupting the overall tone of the story. They help the audience stay emotionally engaged without feeling overwhelmed, making the viewing experience both immersive and refreshing.

It’s during these lighthearted moments that the characters’ charm truly shines. Chinatsu, Hina, Yaiki and others become even more endearing as their personalities come through in a more relaxed, humorous setting. These subtle comedic touches not only provide relief but also deepen the connection between the characters and the audience.

What to Expect from Blue Box Season 2: Story and Release Date

Blue Box Season 2 Story

Blue Box Season 2 begins to focus more deeply on Chinatsu and her personal journey.

Season 1 concluded just as Taiki and Chinatsu made plans for their first official date. Taiki had gone out to buy a new tracksuit, and Chinatsu mentioned a café she wanted to visit. Their promise to meet set the stage for what’s to come in Season 2.

The second season will primarily center around their growing relationship. One of the highlights will be the introduction of new characters: particularly Yumeka Goto, Chinatsu’s former teammate and old friend. Her sudden departure from both basketball and school has left a mark, and her unexpected return stirs something in Chinatsu. This encounter will likely reveal more about Chinatsu’s past and sides of her character we have yet to see.

Of course, the complex love triangle remains a key point of interest. While Hina was rejected by Taiki, it still feels like her story with him isn’t truly over. How Hina continues to fit into their lives will be something fans will want to keep an eye on.

When will Blue Box Season 2 Air?

So, when can we expect Blue Box Season 2 to air?

Although production for Season 2 has officially been confirmed, no release date has been announced yet. The good news is that the manga has plenty of material ready for adaptation, enough to easily fill another season. Depending on the production schedule, a 2026 premiere is entirely possible.

To give some context, the anime adaptation of Blue Box was first announced in November 2023, and it began airing in October 2024, which is roughly a one-year timeline. If the same pattern holds, a spring 2026 release seems likely.

For now, I’m predicting that Blue Box Season 2 will air from April 2026 as part of the 2026 Spring anime titles.

For those who can’t wait that long or want to fully immerse themselves in the original story, the manga is the perfect next step. I’ll explain below where to pick up reading after Blue Box Season 1 ends.

Where to Start Reading the Blue Box Manga After the Anime

Season 1 of the Blue Box anime covers the story up to the end of Volume 9, concluding with Chapter 80 titled “Because That’s Who I Am.”

So if you want to continue the story from where the anime left off, start with Volume 10, Chapter 81: “I Was Hoping You Could Try It.”

As for Season 2, here’s an estimate of how much of the manga might be adapted:

-If it’s a single cour (around 12 episodes): Likely to cover about 4 volumes, from Volumes 10 to 13.

-If it’s a two-cour season (24–25 episodes): It could adapt around 9 volumes, covering Volumes 10 through 18.

This makes Volume 10 the perfect starting point for fans eager to get ahead of the anime.

An official announcement has been made that the next part of the manga will be available to read for free in Japanese: https://x.com/aonohako_PR/status/1905907796144468444

Official Website: https://aonohako-anime.com/

Could Blue Box Be One of the Best Anime of 2025?

The anime lineup for 2025 is packed with heavy hitters, so where does Blue Box stand among them? Within the context of the Winter 2025 anime season, there’s no doubt that Blue Box ranks among the top-tier titles. Season 1 successfully brought the charm of the original manga to life, featuring stunning animation and a voice cast that fit the characters perfectly.

That said, it’s still too early to crown it the best anime of the year. Only the first of four seasons has wrapped up, and even within just the Winter 2025 season, it faces strong competition from critically acclaimed series like Re:Zero – Starting Life in Another World Season 3, Medalist, and Orb: On the Movements of the Earth.

At the very least, Blue Box is already positioning itself as a top contender in the categories of best romance anime and best sports anime. It has the potential to earn a lasting place among the genre’s greats.

If you’re curious about other standout anime titles from 2025, we’re keeping an updated list right here—so check back regularly: Best Anime of 2025.

And for more recommendations, be sure to check out my personal picks for the 30 best anime to watch next: 30 Best Anime of All Time.

Written by

Yusuke-s

Hi! I’m a writer and editor at Japan Web Magazine. Since 2017, I’ve written over 500 articles covering a wide range of Japan-related topics—must-visit travel spots, local food culture, helpful travel tips, seasonal events, anime, manga, and more. I travel all over Japan, from the snowy landscapes of Hokkaido to the tropical beaches of Okinawa. My hobbies, such as hunting for the best ramen shops and keeping up with the latest anime every season, help me share the magic of Japan with people from all over the world. Whether you're a first-time visitor or a Japan fan planning your dream trip, I want to help you experience the best of what this country has to offer. After traveling to many countries around the world, I still love Japan the most, and I continue to share information while making the most of my perspective as someone who was born and raised here. [Connect with me] ▷You can find more of my writing and follow my latest thoughts on Japan over on Medium. A bit more about me: [Traveler at heart] ▷Most unforgettable trip: Chichijima Island, a remote island that takes over 23 hours to reach by ferry from Tokyo! ▷Favorite neighborhood in Tokyo: Kagurazaka [Foodie life] ▷Obsessed with sushi and ramen ▷Proud foodie moment: Scored a seat at the legendary Sukiyabashi Jiro [Passionate otaku] ▷Favorite anime: March Comes in Like a Lion and Attack on Titan ▷Manga I live by: One Piece and Slam Dunk