Photo/Illutration “Blue Giant” (Toho Co.)

“Blue Giant,” a jazz-themed manga series, boasts 9.2 million copies in print, but the long-running comic could never provide a key element of the story: the actual music.

Now, an animated feature film adaptation of Shinichi Ishizuka’s manga has made up for that shortfall, featuring the work of world-class jazz pianist Hiromi Uehara.

“In jazz, whose key element is improvisation, the same music cannot be performed repeatedly,” said Yuzuru Tachikawa, the film’s director. “I put the instant sparkles and their ephemerality at the core of the drama.”

The film focuses on Dai as he comes to Tokyo and leaves Japan to become the world’s greatest sax player.

Together with transcendental pianist Yukinori and beginner drummer Tamada, Dai aspires to perform in Japan’s top jazz club.

The soundtrack was composed by Uehara, who also played the piano for the film.

One scene of the characters giving a live performance based on Uehara’s music is the highlight of the film.

“I intentionally made their music sound subdued at the beginning when they form a band, and then brought together the music and visual elements to reach the climax,” the director said. “I hope the audience will experience their live performance in a good environment of a movie theater.”

“Blue Giant” is currently showing nationwide.

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