Blue Thermal review

Serialized in Monthly Comic Bunch, Blue Thermal told the story of a college freshman joining the aviation club. Protagonist Tsuru Tamaki’s journey was substantial, detailing the progress toward becoming a pilot as well as the relational intricacies with fellow club members and even rivals. Undoubtedly, there was enough material in the five-volume anthology to fill a season or two of serialized anime. Instead, director Masaki Tachibana (Princess Principal, Barakamon) attempts to capture the plotline’s most salient moments into a 103-minute film. The result is a feature that overlooks many of the particulars that can make a slice-of-life series so endearing.

The fault isn’t found in the theme. The school club sub-genre often offers an effective two-prong approach. Typically, we get to witness an awkward novice mature into a confident authority. This trek can feel especially rewarding when we have invested hours watching a character overcome a series of setbacks, potentially mirroring our own life journey.

The other virtue of school club anime is that they’re subtly informative. Habitually, each imparts some of the particulars of each pastime or sport into the plotline. It’s nearly impossible not to learn a few things, providing a faint sense of vicarious satisfaction. However, these details aren’t just educational. Often, they provide a sense of authenticity as well.

Undoubtedly, Blue Thermal delivers nearly all of the expected essentials. When we first meet Tamaki wandering around Aonagi University, she’s just as interested in college-age romance as any extracurricular. But that changes when she instigates an accident that damages the wing of one of the college’s prized gliders. Hoping to offset the cost of repairs, she initially joins the Aviation Club as an assistant, generating a bit of opposition with Daisuke Sorachi, a senior student who is asked to look after her.

Club President and senior Jun Kuramochi sees potential in Tamaki, inviting her into a two-seater for a brief flight. While chasing thermals that can lift a glider, providing a longer flight, he notices the traits of a proficient pilot. While Blue Thermal hints at dueling affections for the cool guy on the ground and the hot one in the air, the film doesn’t do much with either.

The bigger problem is Blue Thermal sporadically jumps forward, omitting the scenes that track Tamaki’s growth. During her first flight, Kuramochi warns the lead character not to touch the controls of the glider. But not long after, she’s piloting a glider in a school competition. This moment doesn’t feel earned and you might wonder how Tamaki became so skilled.

Similarly, other aspects of the storyline feel rushed. There’s a meeting with an estranged sibling and supposed to intensify the competition and provide a pulpy sub-plot. Likewise, scenes hint at Kuramochi having meetings outside of school, intended to contribute a bit of intrigue. It’s easy to see how each of these events could fill an episode. But instead, these moments are tragically truncated, prohibiting Blue Thermal from truly soaring.

But the film isn’t without delight. When Blue Thermal’s gliders are hoisted into the serene azure skies, it’s idyllic. Fleetingly, we get to enjoy the panoramic views just outside of Tokyo- a setting that doesn’t receive much cinematic recognition. But it’s every bit as beautiful as the bustling metropolis. Studio Telecom Animation mines energy from Tamaki’s expressiveness. Although a few tears are inevitably shed, most of the time she’s glowing with an infectious spirit. Likely, Blue Thermal won’t have quite the same reaction with viewers.