Blue Box Ep. 5 “Aquarium” is all about exactly what it says in the title. All in one of the most lavishly animated aquariums I’ve ever seen in any anime series. And yet, it all is merely serving as the backdrop to the developing relationship between Taiki and Chinatsu…and also the developing storm of a love triangle.

Blue Box Ep. 5 “Aquarium”: Details

This is also the episode where we get hints of that love triangle.

Blue Box Ep. 5 “Aquarium” is the fifth episode (you can read my reviews for Ep. 1, Ep. 2, Ep. 3, and Ep. 4 here) of the very first season of this romantic comedy and sports anime. Said anime is the anime adaptation of the manga of the same name by Kouji Miura (I Love You, My Teacher). Telecom Animation Film (Tower of God, Shenmue: The Animation, Astro Note) and TMS Entertainment (Detective Conan, Lupin the Third, Anpanman) are both responsible for the anime, with them doing the animation, production, and planning, respectively.

Production Cast

Keiko Oyamada is the director behind Blue Box Ep. 5 “Aquarium”, with Yuuko Kakihara as the writer, and Yuichirō Yano as the storyboarder. As for Blue Box as a whole: Yūichirō Yano is the director behind the anime. Yūko Kakihara is the writer, Miho Tanino as the character designer, and with Takashi Ohmama responsible for composing the music.

Speaking of music: the opening theme song for Blue Box is “Same Blue” by Official Hige Dandism. Meanwhile, “Teenage Blue” (ティーンエイジブルー) by Eve is the ending theme song for the same.

Voice Cast

Blue Box Ep. 5 “Aquarium” features the voices of Shōya Chiba as Taiki Inomata, Reina Ueda as Chinatsu Kano, Chiaki Kobayashi as Kyo Kasahara, and Akari Kitō as Hina Chōno. The other notable voice role in this episode is Yuma Uchida as Kengo Haryū, Kengo Kawanishi as Shoichiro Kishi, and Shogo Sakata as Ryosuke Nishida.

When and Where to Watch

Blue Box Ep. 5 “Aquarium” made its airing and streaming debut (aka. simulcast) on October 31, 2024. You can watch episode of the anime only on Netflix. In fact, you can only watch this entire anime on Netflix due to it being an exclusive there.

Blue Box Ep. 5 “Aquarium”: Synopsis

At last! We finally see the scene in this thumb!

Alas, Blue Box is an ongoing anime that only fairly recently made its debut. In fact, Blue Box Ep. 5 “Aquarium” only just made its debut five days ago as of this writing. Thus, I will present to you Netflix’s official synopsis for this episode instead of a spoiler-filled plot summary. You can read that synopsis below:

With both players going neck and neck on the court, will Taiki win his match against Kishi — and will Chinatsu invite him to the aquarium?

Blue Box Ep. 5 “Aquarium”: The Good

Blue Box Ep. 5 "Aquarium" screenshot 1.
The fishies are some of the best parts of this episode.

It’s actually a really tough call to say what is the best part of Blue Box Ep. 5 “Aquarium”. If I had to definitely pick one…it’d be the story. With the characters playing a big role in that, and especially due to Taiki and Chinatsu. Watching them interacting with each other while they have fun in the titular aquarium is just adorable. Also hilarious due to Taiki being too anxious about being with Chinatsu to even enjoy the aquarium, and even moreso when you can deeply sympathize with that level of anxiety. Kouji Miura has proven once again that she knows how to write a good romcom story in addition to a good sports story.

The very close second of why this episode is great though is the animation. Telecom Animation Film and TMS Entertainment continue to do a marvelous job with the animation. Especially in this episode, I believe. The lighting is just gorgeous, and feels very realistic for light scattering through water to illuminate the aquarium interior. Even the fish are just gorgeously animated, and have very realistic motions to boot too. The animators didn’t have to do any of that, but it makes the episode so much better that they did. And as a last touch, the katsu meal Taiki eats in this episode looks positively scrumptious. It’s nearly as good-looking as something out of Black Butler -Public School Arc-. That, by the way, is a massive compliment if you’ve ever watched that anime.

Blue Box Ep. 5 “Aquarium”: The Bad

Blue Box Ep. 5 "Aquarium" screenshot 2.
Seriously, look at that lighting. Look at it.

Honestly, if you’re a fan of bloody action, then Blue Box Ep. 5 “Aquarium” may not be for you. Yes, it has a bit of action in it. However, the action is all sports action, and it’s only a tiny portion of the episode. Most of the episode is romcom and romantic drama. If you want action, then may I recommend watching Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Solo Leveling, Kaiju No. 8, DDDD, DAN DA DAN, and/or Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online II? Those anime should have more than enough action to satisfy any action junkie cravings.

Tune back in to THS to find out more about Blue Box and other anime when we do.

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Blue Box Ep. 4 “If He Wins”: Let’s Get Serious [Review]