Parents' Guide to

Blue Giant

By Danae Stahlnecker, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 10+

Jazzy drama lauds hard work, vulnerability; has crude jokes.

Movie NR 2023 120 minutes
Blue Giant movie poster: A collage of headshots of three young men intensely playing jazz instruments

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

perseverance, expressing emotions, and overcoming challenges. Characters pursue their dreams even though other people tell them it won't work out.</p> ">
  • Blue Giant movie: Bright light shines on Dai as he plays saxaphone with determination.
  • Blue Giant movie: Dai and Yukinori, on the sidewalk at night, stand facing each other
  • Blue Giant movie: Close up shot of Shunji playing drums on a stage bathed in purple light.

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What's the Story?

BLUE GIANT follows Dai Miyamoto (voiced by Yuki Yamada) as he moves to Tokyo to pursue his dream of becoming the greatest jazz musician in the world. Passionate and sincere, he convinces pianist Yukinori Sawabe (voiced by Shotaro Mamiya) and new drummer Shunji Tamada to join him and form a band. Their journey to fame is a rocky road of struggle and doubt, but their friendship and determination may be just the thing that helps them succeed.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

Viewers are drawn into the coolness of jazz and the heat of youthful determination in this subtle but powerful drama. Blue Giant is an enjoyable adaptation of the Japanese light novel by the same name. The story is pretty straightforward, and montages seem to speed through a lot of the nuances in the original plot. The film makes up for its lackluster pacing with its sincerity and emotional vulnerability. Characters believe that real jazz is more about the heart than about raw skill, so there are plenty of both heartwarming and heartrending moments that make the characters' journeys matter.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about achieving your goals. What challenging things do the characters choose to do to achieve their dreams?

  • What do the characters each learn about themselves by playing jazz? How does playing music help them express themselves?

Movie Details

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