Grand Blue is one of the currently airing comedy anime this season and also the latest work of Kenji Inoue, whom you may recognize as the man behind Baka to Test. The story follows Iori Kitahara, a freshman at Izu University as he moves into his uncle’s scuba diving shop. Iori is excited about his new life and dreams of all the good things to come in his college life, such as making friends, meeting beautiful girls, and most of all creating unforgettable memories in college. However, as soon as he arrives at the diving shop, his life becomes crazy and filled with hilarious scenarios which he never expected. From his rowdy and always naked upperclassmen who teach him how to drink his life away, to his group of friends who are far from ‘typical’, the anime never ceases to bring one to tears from the comedic absurdity of it all.
With that said, the anime is not for everyone. Being a slice of life anime set in college, Grand Blue’s humor manages to resonate more with the older bunch who are currently in college or have already graduated and fondly look back to their life at that point in time. The scenes are more catered towards adults and often feature (censored) nudity among guys often done for humor and fanservice shots for the female audience.
But wait! This isn’t just an anime about drinking and partying. Let us not forget that the main theme of Grand Blue is diving. Let me quote a line from the anime here: “Were you excited when you started college life?”
Many of us may have looked back in our past to think about how excited we were when faced with something new. This could be when we first picked up a hobby that seems fun and cool, a new anime that introduced something new to its genre, or perhaps when we first entered high school or college. Whatever it may be, it would always feel like your world is changing and the rush of new experiences derail you from the old and beaten path your life had been taking. That was the first thought I had when thinking of what Grand Blue had to offer aside from its top-tier comedy. The show teaches us the secret to enjoying life to its fullest and that is to always be ready to dive in. Dive into the ocean and see it in all its beauty and wonder. Dive in and experience drinking and partying. Dive in with friends whom you may share nothing in common with aside from knowing how to have a good time. Being open to new experiences can lead us to getting that life we yearn for.
All in all, Grand Blue is one of the funniest shows I’ve seen. As for you dear reader, it’s not too late to pick up this show and enjoy it like I do.
Remember what Grand Blue teaches us: People who only choose to experience what they know will never experience the joy of learning to do something you haven’t done before.
So why not try this show out? Dive in!