Classmates Discussion Thread!

[Markie]

Our side バナナ (Banana) this month is Classmates!

Jess and I are going to be watching the movie, but you're welcome to follow along in the manga!

Please make sure you tag spoilers!

[Rachel]

Whelp, I know what I'm going to watch this month for the nth time! :D Thank you!! major spoilery excitement following.
(view spoiler)[EVERYTHING about the band scene (and the park scene immediately following!) is amazing!! Oh man. The movie is a very faithful adaptation except for cutting the teacher's chapter (totally good decision, would break the flow of the movie too much) though that does mean Sajou's train phobia doesn't really get explained much in the film. I watched the movie first and just FELL IN LOVE with the entire production, the voice acting, the animation, the music, it's all so gorgeous! Oh, and when Kusakabe jokingly calls Sajou "anata" which is something wives often use as an endearment for their husbands... Gets me every time. (hide spoiler)]

[Rachel]

Just listened to the ep and jumping in to say there are a few sequels to the manga! Graduates is available digitally and will be in print this summer with a new translation (a two volume series) and there are two more unlicensed sequels, one of which may still be ongoing? I can't say what those are about but Graduates deals with their impending graduation and the directions they each want to go in in their lives and whether they can make their relationship work with that.

[Markie]

Rachel wrote: "Just listened to the ep and jumping in to say there are a few sequels to the manga! Graduates is available digitally and will be in print this summer with a new translation (a two volume series) an..."

Awesome!! I'll have to go check those out! Thank you!

[Nabilah]

Oh man I love the movie so much. While I was in Japan I managed to get a Doukyuusei pin. I still occasionally revisit it and watch AMVs because I am in love with the artistry and the direction. The movie has such a dreamy look to it, with the watercolor backgrounds, the faceless extras and the naturalistic voice acting. I also like it when the movie includes panels intercutting the scene, clearly invoking manga panels. The character designs also manage to adapt the manga's distinctive style really well which is impressive given how difficult I feel it would be to adapt Asumiko Nakamura's art style to animation. Yep, this is probably the best BL movie that currently exists, artistically and writing wise.

[Markie]

Nabilah wrote: "Oh man I love the movie so much. While I was in Japan I managed to get a Doukyuusei pin. I still occasionally revisit it and watch AMVs because I am in love with the artistry and the direction. The..."

I 100% agree that it's one of the best I've seen. It's gorgeous, the story tugs at the heart strings and it's so freaking cute.

I'm jealous that you've been able to visit Japan! I'm hoping to be going there next year or the year after.