Wow, it’s been such a long time since I’ve read a manga that resonated with me on such a level, the pure emotion and gritty reality of the story is really compelling and reminds me of when I struggled through studying art. Yatora is a really great protagonist, he feels so grounded and realistic, his feelings of not knowing himself and his future is something a lot of people can relate to, so when he finally finds something he’s passionate about you genuinely feel happy for him. He’s a kind guy but he has a rough ‘delinquent’ side to him which makes him stand out compared to other protagonists.

The side characters are just as loveable too, I don’t dislike a singe one, they all have their own motivations that differ from one and another and seeing them incorporate that in to their art is an amazing experience! I also want to speak on Ryuji’s (Yuka-chan) character, (I’ll refer to him as a he for now, as Yatora does), at first when his character was introduced I was a little sceptical, only because of my past experiences with lgbt+ characters in manga/anime, I was anxiously awaiting the moment he would be made fun of, or shown as a gag character but I was pleasantly surprised. Not only did the author delve deep in the his mindset about how he views himself, showing his struggles but also developed a backstory so well written and heartbreaking you couldn’t help but cheer him on for his future, reading about Ryuji I couldn’t help but compare his story and struggles to my lgbt+ friends at home, I feel the author has done so much justice to his character, he is great representation and we definitely need more characters like him in anime/manga.

As for the art there’s not much to say honestly. It’s gorgeous, befitting of a manga about art. The way the paintings are all drawn so differently really makes the whole experience much more exiting, and the character expressions are always on point.

Finally, I feel like Blue period is a manga that anyone can enjoy, wether you’re a a current art student, a seasoned artist, or simply someone who appreciates manga. You don’t have to have tonnes of knowledge about art going in to this; as everything, including techniques, materials, art history is all explained along the way, you learn with Yatora. But if you are already knowledgeable in art, you still won’t be bored, Yatora’s story is so similar to what a lot of artists have gone through, you will feel nostalgic and maybe even resentful at lost chances that you can relive through this manga!

10/10 I’d definitely recommend!