Sasaki and Miyano: Graduation – Anime Movie Review & Summary

Sasaki and Miyano are high school students who recently started dating. Miyano is a BL fanatic who introduced this hobby to Sasaki, his upperclassman. The pair bonded over their mutual interest in Boys Love manga. Over time, Sasaki developed a crush on his friend. It took Miyano some time to come to terms with his mutual feelings. At last, they confessed to each other. Sasaki and Miyano have been in a relationship ever since.

Sasaki is a year older than Miyano. Currently a high school senior, Sasaki is about to graduate. He is busy preparing for university entrance exams. Miyano does his best to provide moral support. He accompanies Sasaki on his examination day. He also offers BL manga as good luck charms. Despite his schedule, Sasaki and Miyano always make time to hang out. They share the same commute to school and often chat while waiting at the train station. Their favourite conversation topics include BL manga.

Lately, Sasaki's physical desires have grown. He wants to be more affectionate with his boyfriend. Although the couple has touched and hugged, Miyano gets a little shy. Sasaki promises to refrain himself until exams are over. However, Sasaki has fallen ill with a fever. Miyano decides to visit his boyfriend's house to look after him. As the couple spends alone time in the bedroom, intimacy is on their minds.

Sasaki and Miyano's friends know about their relationship. Miyano's friends, Kuresawa and Tashiro, are highly supportive. Sasaki's friend, Ogasawara, seems less receptive. He refers to Miyano as a "fudanshi" and makes peculiar assumptions about their romance. Meanwhile, the couple is trying to figure out how to navigate their relationship around their families. Sasaki's older sister meets Miyano for the first time. Yet, Sasaki introduces him as a friend from school rather than his boyfriend.

Sasaki's friend, Hirano, is also a high school senior. He lives in the school dormitories with his roommate, Kagiura. Kagiura is on the school's basketball team. The two have a close relationship. Hirano looks after Kagiura, from helping him with homework to waking him up every morning. Kagiura soon develops a secret crush on Hirano. However, he has trouble confessing his feelings.

Sasaki and Miyano: Graduation is a superb movie sequel, exhibiting the same qualities that made me adore the original series. This sweet high school love story continues to be charming and genuine. As I reacquaint myself with the main characters, I'm quickly reminded of their endearing personalities. Both protagonists have gentle souls and compassionate spirits. They treat each other with kindness, respect, and understanding. Sasaki and Miyano: Graduation warms my heart with its positive vibes.

The Sasaki and Miyano movie focuses on the newly dating couple navigating their relationship. The story portrays their bond through many enchanting scenes, from cheerful chats to cute gestures. Each adorable exchange captures the wholesomeness of a teenage romance, bringing the biggest smile to my face. The clumsy remarks, bashful reactions, and spontaneous moments of tenderness add to the story's sincerity. Sasaki and Miyano strengthen their feelings as they learn more about their boyfriends. Their schoolboy crush evolves into a nuanced form of love.

Beyond an emotional connection, Sasaki and Miyano: Graduation explores physical intimacy. Like regular teens, the lead characters have lustful urges. The story handles this topic tastefully, showing decorum without seeming sleazy. After some lighthearted flirting, the couple's passion unleashes in an exhilarating encounter. The movie is coy about on-screen affection, likely censoring itself to avoid a maturity rating. Nonetheless, it works cleverly within constraints and still conveys desire. You'll be glad to see Sasaki & Miyano have grown closer as a couple.

Sasaki and Miyano: Graduation doesn't shy away from LGBTQ+ themes. The leads must consider telling friends and family about their same-sex romance. In all my years of watching BL, I've rarely seen a Japanese anime tackle a gay coming-out storyline. This movie sets the standard by depicting the experience with grace and sensitivity. Not all characters react agreeably, but the story never dwells on the angst. Instead, it emphasizes communication and empathy to promote its uplifting messages. The film takes an incredibly dignified approach to a delicate topic.

The Sasaki and Miyano movie complements its optimistic narrative with bright, colourful visuals. These dreamy aesthetics immerse the audience in a magical romantic fantasy. The anime has a distinctive style by using floating shapes to convey emotions. This technique maximizes the story's whimsical and effervescent ambiance. Also, the characters have visually appealing designs that reflect their personalities, from expressive eyes to blushing faces. However, I would like to see more detailed backdrops. The generic backgrounds lack depth and richness.

Sasaki and Miyano: Graduation has a happy ending, providing closure to the high school chapter of the love story. If I must nitpick, the movie's short length prevents it from exploring the themes deeply. Some character arcs, like Sasaki's sister, can benefit from further development. Also, the secondary couple feels like an unfinished subplot that drops off after the first few minutes. However, the minor flaws have little bearing on my appreciation for the Sasaki and Miyano movie. I cherish this BL anime for its sentimental romance, heartfelt messages, and emotional depth.