Aokana: Four Rhythm Across the Blue - The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		1.0
Overall		3.0

Aokana: Four Rhythm Across the Blue - The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie Review

Aokana: Four Rhythm Across the Blue is an action-packed sports anime with fantasy elements. From the original story by Nachi Kio, Ryōichi Watanabe, and Ryūsuke Mutsu. Original character designs by Itsuka Yūki and Suzumori. Broadcast on AT-X, Aichi Television Broadcasting, TV Osaka, and TV Tokyo, Aokana: Four Rhythm Across the Blue features animation production by GONZO (Burst Angel, Chrono Crusade). Theme music is performed by Mami Kawada (OP) and Ray (ED). Featuring voice performances by Nozomi Yamamoto, Misato Fukuen, Azumi Asakura, Madoka Yonezawa, and Nozomi Yamamoto.

Masaya Hinata (Nozomi Yamamoto) discovers a world with far more magic than he ever bargained for when he meets the beautiful and headstrong girl, Asuka Kurashina (Misato Fukuen). Attending a nice school with a huge body of students, Masaya finds himself getting involved in the world of a newer sport: Flying Circus. The sport involves players using anti-gravity footwear and floating in the air.

Engaging in sports is more magical than ever before as Masaya takes the stage and meets more girls in competition: Misaki Tobisawa (Azumi Asakura), Rika Ichinose (Madoka Yonezawa), and Mashiro Arisaka (Nozomi Yamamoto). Students used to only daydream about what it might be like to walk in the air and drift across the clouds. Not anymore – the magical world of Flying Circus provides a game unlike sports of any other kind and it pushes the envelope. Who will emerge as the best player in the sport of Flying Circus? Can Masaya survive (romantic entanglement) while surrounded by so many beautiful girls? Romance floats in the air – literally (this time)!

The character designs by Keiya Nakano (Atelier Escha & Logy: Alchemists of the Dusk Sky, Keijo!!!!!!!!) are one of the strengths of the production. The designs are vibrant and fit the personalities of the characters. The engaging character designs are a good attribute of the production.

The animation is bright and colorful and there is a lot to appreciate about the visual quality of the series. The animation features chief art direction by Makoto Ujiie (Brynhildr in the Darkness, In Search of the Lost Future). The chief animation direction by Keiya Nakano (My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU, That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime), Satoshi Koike (Noragami Aragoto, Cuticle Detective Inaba), and Shinpei Koikawa (Aquarion Logos, High School DxD Hero) impresses as well. The team of animators involved on Aokana: Four Rhythm Across the Blue helped to craft something special. The series also benefits from lush cinematography by Takeo Ogiwara (Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo, Wonder Egg Priority).

The score composed by Elements Garden (That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, Bodacious Space Pirates) is a nice element of the production, too. The music adds some sense of adventure to the storytelling. The score is exciting and works as a fun backdrop to the action beats of the series.

Written by Reiko Yoshida (Girls und Panzer, K-ON!), Aokana: Four Rhythm Across the Blue has some solid scripting. Yoshida is a talented scriptwriter. Yoshida handles the series concept and characters well. The result is something fun and charming.

Directed by Fumitoshi Oizaki (Place to Place, Romeo × Juliet), Aokana: Four Rhythm Across the Blue is a fun and adventurous series with charm and energy. The series has a fun sense of style and this aspect benefits the series production. Oizaki explores the sports world with the fantastical elements of anti-gravity. Flying Circus is an interesting sport in sports-anime as Aokana: Four Rhythm Across the Blue has a fantasy quality of floating in air. The director showcases this aspect of the series with compelling visuals.

Aokana: Four Rhythm Across the Blue - The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Released on Blu-ray from Funimation (now Crunchyroll), Aokana: Four Rhythm Across the Blue is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high-definition in the original television broadcast aspect ratio of 1.78:1 widescreen. The video quality on the release is excellent overall and the colorful and vibrant animation is well reproduced. The line art is crisp and well-detailed. The encode handles the animation nicely.

Aokana: Four Rhythm Across the Blue - The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release provides a selection of lossless audio presentations: English Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround sound and Japanese Dolby TrueHD 2.0 (with English subtitles). The lossless audio presentation sounds crisp and engaging. Dialogue is well reproduced. The score is highlighted well on the release. The sound direction by Hiroto Morishita (I'm Quitting Heroing, Tomodachi Game) is reproduced as intended on the release.

Aokana: Four Rhythm Across the Blue - The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Textless Opening Song "Contrail" (HD, 1:32)

Textless Closing Song "a-gain" (HD, 1:31)

Textless Closing Song "a-gain" Sunset Version (HD, 1:31)

Trailers (HD, 6:28)

Aokana: Four Rhythm Across the Blue - The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Aokana: Four Rhythm Across the Blue is a sports anime exploring the compelling sport of "walking on air" with Flying Circus. The sport changes things up with floating in air gameplay. Fans of fun sports anime with fantasy elements will enjoy Aokana: Four Rhythm Across the Blue. The Blu-ray release provides an excellent video and audio presentation. The only major drawback to the release is the underwhelming supplemental package. Fans of Aokana: Four Rhythm Across the Blue should consider picking up the set for their collection. Recommended.