8. Blue Period
Release Year: 2021
Genre: Drama
Studio: Seven Arcs
Where To Watch: Netflix
Why It Rocks: While it might be cliche to rank an anime about making art so high on this list, the emotional ebb and flow of Blue Period’s story more than speak for its placement. Blue Period follows a once-aimless high schooler named Yatora Yaguchi as he boldly dives into the art world. What makes Blue Period special, outside of its explainer on the beginner and intermediate rules of traditional painting, is that it’s unafraid of showing the vulnerability and jealousy Yaguchi and his peers feel during their journeys to become professional artists. The show also isn’t shy about explaining why aspiring artists are often called starving artists.
