Tsurune: Complete Collection Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		1.0
Overall		3.0

Tsurune: Complete Collection Blu-ray Movie Review

Tsurune is a fun and charming archery drama. The anime series is a drama aimed at sports fans who are interested in the art of Japanese kyudo archery. Created by Kotoko Ayano, Tsurune is certainly a well-done anime with a specific audience. Executive produced by Hideaki Hatta, Tsurune has a lot to offer fans of sports anime with an emphasis on archery. Produced by Megumi Suzuki, Ryuhei Takashima, Shigeru Saitō, and Shinichi Nakamura. The series features voice-work by Yūto Uemura, Aoi Ichikawa, Kaito Ishikawa, Ryōta Suzuki, and Shōgo Yano.

Minato Narumiya (Yūto Uemura) wanted nothing more than to succeed as an archer. Learning the trade of kyudo, Japanese archery, Minato set out to study the craft until he could become the best archer in his field. Upon learning the skill and honing his craft for several years, Minato suddenly decides he’ll simply quit and walk away. Yet his high school Kyudo Club seems to have different plans. The school archery club has decided it’s not Minato’s time to hang in the towel.

Minato is soon being asked to return to the world of archery he held so dear. Now new competitions arise and new students want something to learn from the great Minato - Seiya Takehaya (Aoi Ichikawa), Kaito Onogi (Kaito Ishikawa), Ryōhei Yamanouchi (Ryōta Suzuki), and Nanao Kisaragi (Shōgo Yano) will also push themselves to do better and learn more with the craft and skill of Japanese archery.

The series is all the better and more well-rounded because of the cast of characters. The central protagonist is an interesting lead character. Minato has a hero’s journey as he explores what it ultimately means to excel in the craft and sport of archery. The supporting cast add to the series fundamental charms, too. The character designs by Miku Kadowaki (Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid, Beyond the Boundary) impress and provide a light and charming style that is easy to appreciate. The designs certainly are well done for an archery sports anime.

The animation is one of the highlights of the series. The art direction by Shōko Ochiai (Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid S, Tsurune The Movie: The First Shot) is impressive and there is a lot worth appreciating here. The art style is creative and the colorful aesthetic is something that stands out. The chief animation direction by Nobuaki Maruki (Liz and the Blue Bird, Violet Evergarden) is stunning. Outstanding work and there are plenty of things worth appreciating. The animators did well.

The cinematography by Kōhei Funamoto (Violet Evergarden, Tsurune: The Linking Shot) is colorful, vibrant, and inviting. The cinematography style is well done and offers a bright and charming art aesthetic that makes the series more fun to behold. The animation offers plenty of intrigue for audiences and the cinematographer gets to the bottom of this with sleek visual flourishes.

The score composed by Harumi Fuuki (Lonely Castle in the Mirror, Management of a Novice Alchemist) is charming and adds to the series warmth. The score is energetic and works well for the archery and drama. The music certainly is a step above for a sports anime. The composer provided something engaging.

Written by Michiko Yokote (Children of the Whales, A Lull in the Sea), Tsurune is a fun and charming series for sports fans. The archery series has a lot of cool characters and the concept is fun. This is a series aimed at an audience of archery enthusiasts and those interested in learning more about the world of Japanese archery. The writing highlights the engaging characters, too.

Directed by Takuya Yamamura (Tsurune The Movie: The First Shot, Tsurune: The Linking Shot), Tsurune is a compelling series and it will certainly aim to please (pun intended) for archery fans. The sports element is inherent to the series and the drama with the characters unfolds from there – fans of engaging sports anime and with an interest in archery will appreciate the directing style.

Tsurune: Complete Collection Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Released on Blu-ray by Sentai Fimworks, Tsurune is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high-definition in the original television broadcast aspect ratio of 1.78:1 widescreen. The series has an impressive high-definition presentation. The animation looks crisp and colorful on the release. Breathtaking animation – the evocative art style and cinematography well highlighted. The series presentation capably handles the archery sequences. There is a lot to appreciate for fans of the series.

Tsurune: Complete Collection Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release includes a selection of lossless audio options: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 and Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (with English subtitles). The lossless audio quality sounds impressively crisp and dynamic on the release. The audio quality is engaging and highlights the voice-work alongside the score. Sentai Filmworks has done a great job with the audio encoding. A crisp and fully engaging presentation.

Tsurune: Complete Collection Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Clean Opening Animation (HD, 1:32)

Clean Closing Animation (HD, 1:32)

Japanese Promos (HD, 4:39)

The release also includes a selection of trailers promoting other releases available from distributor Sentai Filmworks: Haikyu!! 3rd Season (HD, 1:34), Run with the Wind (HD, 1:44), Food Wars! The Third Plate (HD, 1:33), and Bloom Into You (HD, 00:54).

Tsurune: Complete Collection Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Tsurune is a fun and charming archery anime series. Fans of Japanese archery will be intrigued by the series. The production benefits from great animation and production values. The Blu-ray release has impressive video and audio. Recommended.