Blue Thermal - What We Know So Far
Written and drawn by Kana Ozawa, the manga "Blue Thermal: Aonagi University Athletic Association Aviation Club" debuted in April 2015. It became a serialized manga, eventually ending in November 2017 before it was collected into five volumes. In August, Anime News Network reported that producer Toei is making an official anime movie adapted from the series. Additionally, a trailer for the "Blue Thermal" feature film was released alongside the announcement.
The "Blue Thermal" movie is directed by Masaki Tachibana and co-written by Tachibana and Natsuko Takahashi. Filmmaker Tachibana has helmed several anime series, including "Princess Principal" and "Barakamon," but this would be his feature film debut (via IMDb). Meanwhile, Takahashi's previous screenwriting credits include the 2002 anime "Tokyo Mew Mew," "Guyver: The Bioboosted Armor," and "Farewell, My Dear Cramer" (via IMDb). So far, "Blue Thermal" appears to have an experienced production team behind it.
Naturally, fans of the original manga volumes may be curious about the usual production details of the new "Blue Thermal" anime film. Here's everything we currently know about the release date, cast, and plot.
What is the release date of Blue Thermal?
The exact release date of "Blue Thermal" is unknown. However, Toei has named the month the film will be released. According to Anime News Network's August announcement, we know "Blue Thermal" will debut in Japanese theaters in March 2022. Given this date, it's a safe bet the feature is currently in post-production, or else the film is completely finished.
Nothing has been listed about the "Blue Thermal" release date for audiences in the United States, but it usually takes some time for an anime film or series to arrive stateside after debuting in Japan. If there is a theatrical release in the U.S., fans should expect it to hit theaters much later than March 2022. If it goes directly to video on-demand or streaming, it may take even longer for the anime film to become available for American manga and anime fans. Ultimately those fans will have to be patient. For now, the best guess for a "Blue Thermal" U.S. release date is late 2022 or even early 2023.
Who is in the cast of Blue Thermal?
Three principal voiceover actors were announced as part of the official cast of "Blue Thermal" when Anime News Network first reported on the movie in August. The voice cast includes Mayu Hotta as the movie's young heroine, Tamaki Tsuru, "Lupin" actor Nobunaga Shimazaki as Jun Kuramochi, and "My Love Story!!!" voiceover actor Junya Enoki as Daisuke Sorachi. The Jun Kuramochi and Daisuke Sorachi characters are members of the same glider club that Tamaki joins when she arrives at college.
So far, those three are the only voiceover actors listed as part of the film announcement or on the "Blue Thermal" IMDb profile. All three actors are accomplished performers in their own right, with Shimazaki notably appearing in Robert Rodriguez's "Alita: Battle Angel." With this in mind, it seems likely more voice cast members will be announced as the "Blue Thermal" release date nears.
What is the plot of Blue Thermal?
According to Anime News Network and the "Blue Thermal" official site, both the "Blue Thermal: Aonagi University Athletic Association Aviation Club" manga and the movie follow freshman college student Tamaki Tsuru. Tamaki has always played sports but plans to focus on romance when she starts college. However, those plans change when she accidentally damages fellow student Daisuke's glider. When she is forced to join the aviation club to pay for the glider, freshman Tamaki is surprised to find herself falling in love with flying and slowly becomes more invested in the club.
Ozawa's manga is originally five total volumes, so it will be interesting to see whether the filmmakers streamline the story into a single film, similar to the 1980s "Akira" feature film adaptation, or if this is the first installment in a series of movies. Toei could split the comic into five separate films depending on if they see the series as a profitable franchise.
The official "Blue Thermal" anime feature film arrives in March 2022.