As Taiki Inomata’s ambitions meet a cruel roadblock inBlue Box, his indomitable spirit prevents him from fading altogether in the face of recent adversity. Despite a recent crushing defeat preventing his advancement to the nationals and joining Chinatsu, Taiki doesn’t lose sight of his chances for self-improvement. In the release ofBlue Boxepisode #9, Taiki’s resolve meets a reasonable limit as the compounding stress of both competitive sports and his schoolwork causes him to fall under the weather.
As asports, coming-of-age, and romance anime,Blue Boxrenders a compelling and grounded vision of teenage life, told through the internalized thoughts and outward actions of Taiki and his classmates at Eimei Academy. But it also presentsthe reasonable limits of even star athletes when they’ve pushed themselves too far, and crucially, who comes through to care for them in these moments. InBlue Boxepisode #9, a pair of classic romance tropes for any massive K-drama and general romance fans will soon emerge for Taiki Inomata.
When Does Episode #9 of Blue Box Release?
Produced by Telecom Animation Film, Based on the Manga by Kouji Miura
Blue Boxreleases new English-subbed episodes on Netflix every Thursday,with episode #9 set to release on Thursday, June 03, 2025, at 8:30 AM PT (11:30 AM ET).Part of the Fall 2024 anime season,Blue Boxwill run two consecutive cours at twenty-five episodes, carrying it through to the end of the Winter 2025 season as well. This means viewers will see dozens of the belovedWeekly Shōnen Jumphit adapted in season 1, withTaiki’s love life and athletic pursuitsprominently on display.
As Netflix ramps up its production of hit anime, moreWeekly Shōnen JumpandShōnen Jump+series join its library with simulcast releases, often exclusively.Sakamoto Days, based on another of the hottest series in Shueisha’s flagship publication, will joinBlue Boxin its second cour in 2025. ButBlue Box’sparticular edge in this lineup isa blend of relatable shōnen sports and romance. With a female author, Kouji Miura, however, it balances the gentler aesthetics of a shojo manga.
What Happened in Blue Box Episode #8?
Taiki Hits a Brick Wall Called Sajikawa Senior High
As Taiki and Chinatsu prepare for their prefectural qualifiers, they share a moment enjoying their company and a calisthenics session before Taiki’s big day inBlue Boxepisode #8.Taiki characteristically spends much of their time gawking at Chinatsu while they warm up together, planning to get closer once they both achieve their goals of reaching the nationals. But Chinatsu, not wishing to wait until such a point, asks Taiki a simple question up-front: what cheer is best to wish him luck at badminton. Taiki assures her of a simple chant, “Score!”
While Taiki scores a few points, he runs into a handful of challenges at the qualifiers, and he’s not alone either, with Haryu-senpai encountering Shota Hyodo, a future Olympian badminton athlete, as his rival and doubles opponent alongside Taiki. During the event,Taiki meets another player from Sajikawa in a moment straight out ofHaikyuu!!,kindly reminding a sleeping rival player that his wallet fell onto the ground. But as the player, revealed to be Shuji Yusa ponders upon meeting Taiki, kindness has no place on the badminton court.
Sakamoto Days is Being Hyped as Anime’s Next Big Hit But That Call May Be Premature
Sakamoto Days premieres in January, but after the latest trailer, people have started growing skeptical that it will live up to the hype.
The truth holds firm as Taiki finds Hyodo and Sajikawa High’s finest as tough opponents in doubles alongside Haryu. But it becomes brutal to see Taiki meet an even more crushing defeat in singles, where the gap in his abilities with his opponent, Yusa, is clearly defined. As Hina Chono appears too late, seeing Taiki at his low point after the match, it’sa stern reminder that even extraordinarily hard workers like Taiki might not get the rewards they deserve. But as Taiki returns home, he finds Chinatsu got into the nationals inBlue Boxepisode #8.
Taiki’s Obsessive Hard Work Catches up With Him in Blue Box Episode #9
Romance Fans Get Treated to a Pair of Classic Tropes in the Next Episode
As Taiki reels from his loss, knocking him out of the nationals while seeing his senpais Haryu and Chinatsu advance, he shifts focus to the greatest, most relatable high school adversary: midterm exams. InBlue Boxepisode #9, this familiar specter surfaces for Eimei’s students, sending even its most composed stars, like Hina Chono, into a furious, focused frenzy as they juggle their extracurriculars with their studies. The pressure of this, and the pain of the recent loss, pushes Taiki too far,with him falling ill inBlue Boxepisode #9, giving way for two popular romance tropes to occur.
Not only does Chinatsu appear to take care of Taiki in the next episode ofBlue Box, but the two get remarkably closer, and she shows impressive attentiveness. Knowing the recent events were a crushing blow to Taiki’s ego,this is a classic instance of the “Florence Nightingale Effect"defined byTV Tropes. However, the best part for romance and K-drama viewers is that another bonus trope will surface in the episode in an instantly recognizable and crowd-pleasing scene.
Blue Box Episode #8 Review: Final Thoughts
An Important Moment to Endear Viewers to Taiki
While it might be disappointing to see Taiki’s hard work fail him, despite him being motivated by the power of love and youth inBlue Boxepisode #8. The episode, for sports anime fans, is an important indicator that the protagonist still has a long way to go.Itmarks the difference between a bland power fantasy and an engaging drama where the hero’s growth feels like a genuine achievement. While it’s a shame viewers weren’t treated to footage of Chinatsu’s game in tandem, budgetary constraints and lack of adaptable manga source material are largely to blame.
This episode is a strong instance of Telecom Animation Film’s gorgeous animation, even if certain instances show cracks, such as antialiasing issues with CGI shuttlecocks in slow-motion shots.Such animation is wisely used mostly for unusual shapes like shuttlecocks or animating background athleteswhile keeping focus on engaging characters, with Taiki’s conflicting joy and anguish on full display. The end ofBlue Boxepisode #8 is a formative development to which any aspiring teen athlete can relate: no matter how hard one prepares, anybody can lose.
InBlue Boxepisode #9, the sports drama might take a backseat, but in a way, this shows how three-dimensional its characters are beyond the occasional use of 3D CG. Taiki Inomata isBlue Box’schance to explore similar sports drama toHaikyuu!!, but with real chances to explore romantic ships that the latter anime could never, a rewarding prospect for many viewers.
Blue Box
Cast
Taiki Inomata, a junior high student at Eimei Academy, is a dedicated badminton player with a crush on Chinatsu Kano, a star basketball player. Their paths intertwine in unexpected ways when Chinatsu moves in with Taiki’s family. Balancing sports, school, and budding feelings, Taiki aims to prove himself worthy of her admiration while striving for Nationals.
