Bloom Into You is set to be remembered as one of this season’s hottest shows, and for good reason. Firstly, it addresses an issue that most of us face at some point in our lives, and secondly, it’s a genuine, heartfelt look at the struggles associated with growing up as someone attracted to the same sex.
So, What’s The Premise?
Bloom Into You follows the story of a girl named Yuu. She’s grown up reading romance manga and seeing relationships on TV, but doesn’t feel that her real life romances mirror these experiences. She wants her partner to be the spark that ignites a volley of fireworks in her heart and sweeps her off her feet. One day, she meets Touko, a member of the student council who feels the exact same way.
There’s an issue, though: Touko is another girl. While yuri shows tend to take a very long time to get going, Bloom Into You features a confession in the very first episode. However, the moment passes and both parties awkwardly change the subject. A seed has been planted, though, and Yuu definitely sees her senpai in a new and exciting way.
Let’s Talk Artistry
This show isn’t looking to reinvent the genre, so there’s plenty of bloom effects and watercolor backgrounds. One thing that’s immediately noticeable, though, is just how gorgeous each and every scene is. Everything from the lighting to the clutter in the student council room has been lovingly crafted to perfection; the animators clearly put a lot of work in, and it shows.
Another interesting aspect is that much of the plot progression happens over instant messenger or text. This is in line with what you’d expect from high-school students, but it’s something that barely any anime shows. Come on – who here doesn’t remember staying up all night talking to a crush online? It’s relatable in a way that few shows are.
Small Details, Large Impact
This is a show that puts major emphasis on some of the smallest things. A split-second expression on the protagonist’s face, a minor pause in conversation as classmates pass, one hand in another. When you’re young, it’s easy to assign more meaning to minor gestures than was intended, and the audience can almost read Yuu’s thoughts simply by observing her body language. That’s not just good character design, that’s good narrative design too.
It’s almost as if the audience is Yuu. Now, as a straight, white, cisgendered male, I’m fully aware that I may not be the best person to weigh in on this show’s realism. However, Bloom Into You deals with this often sensitive subject gracefully and with a certain delicateness, at least in episode one. It’s already an extremely popular manga, and if it keeps up this overall quality, there’s no reason it shouldn’t be an extremely successful anime too.
