Grand Blue Dreaming

Iori Kitahara arrives at college looking forward to a fresh start, but his plans get derailed when he moves into a seaside share house and meets a pair of loud, boisterous upperclassmen who live for parties. Drawn into the local diving club more by drink-fueled antics than by sport, he slowly becomes part of a ragtag group that switches between absurd late-night revelry and earnest moments beneath the waves. The show keeps things light, piling on physical comedy and misunderstandings, while still giving space to the friendships and small personal growth that form around their seaside routine.

Released in 2018, Grand Blue Dreaming adapts Kimitake Yoshioka's manga for television, with Kenji Inoue and Shinji Takamatsu listed among the creative leads. The anime features Yuma Uchida as Iori, Ryohei Kimura as Kouhei, Chika Anzai as Chisa, Kana Asumi as Aina, and Toa Yukinari as Azusa.

The series didn't land major industry awards, so there's no long list of trophies to cite. That said, it earned steady fan recognition and frequent mentions in community polls and discussions, helping the franchise maintain visibility beyond the manga's readership.

Among anime fans, Grand Blue Dreaming made a mark for its outrageous party sequences and absurdist humor, leading to lots of fan art, cosplay, and meme circulation online. Its depiction of club life and scuba diving, played for laughs and affection, found a particular niche with college-age viewers and those who enjoy loud ensemble comedies.

Critics and viewers gave it generally positive marks, reflected in a vote average around 7.7 out of 10 on some platforms. Reviews tend to highlight the show's timing, physical comedy, and likable ensemble, while noting the tonal flip between over-the-top alcohol-fueled scenes and quieter, sincere diving moments. At its core the series centers on friendship, emerging adulthood, and how a silly subculture can shape someone during their college years.