I almost skipped going to my local Cineworld – it’s quite a trek at 30 miles – but I'm genuinely pleased that I did. This isn't about whales; instead, it follows "Dai," an aspiring saxophonist who travels to Tokyo with ambitions of conquering the world. He unexpectedly shows up at his friend "Tamada's" door looking for a place to stay for a few days. Those few days, naturally, stretch out longer than anticipated, and their friendship begins to feel the strain (the visitor snores!). While visiting a small bar, "Dai" meets "Akiko," the jazz-loving owner, who directs him to a live venue where he encounters "Sawabe," a pianist whom he attempts to persuade into forming a band. They’re both eighteen, but the latter has been playing for roughly fourteen years longer than his new friend, so understandably feels some skepticism! That feeling doesn't last long once he hears him play and they quickly decide they need a drummer to prevent them from drifting into the unpredictable territory that can come with improvised jazz! It turns out that his "landlord" is surprisingly good at keeping time by hitting a Coke can – but can he step up his game and transform this duo into a trio ready for the city’s most prestigious club, “So Blue”? The plot itself feels somewhat predictable, complete with some outbursts of frustration and disagreements. However, it does effectively highlight just how physically demanding these musical performances are. Hands are covered in calluses and bruises, playing the sax puts a strain on breathing, and at times it seems doubtful they’ll even make it through the beginning. There's nothing straightforward about the challenge they’ve set for themselves or the commitment and sacrifices required to achieve (or fail to achieve) their goal. The animation is uneven; the CGI doesn't work nearly as well as the hand-drawn sequences, but what truly shines is the synchronization with the musicians – it can be incredibly immersive at times. If you appreciate this kind of music, then you’re in for a treat featuring Coltrane, Stitt and others. The saxophone (Tomoaki Baba), piano (Hiromi Uehara) and drums (Shun Ishiwaka) aren't afraid to start tentatively and (particularly the drummer) quite raw, but as the story progresses and they develop confidence, so too do their performances, leading up to a tragic ending that really gets your foot tapping. I’d say there’s no point in seeing this if you don’t enjoy rambling, meandering, and frankly rather musically self-indulgent performances; however, the powerful combination of intensely syncopated animation and music was quite compelling for me. Yes, it's a bit lengthy – but it's worth experiencing.

Source on TMDB