Flying Colors
A high school girl, Sayaka Kudō was the bottom of the class. After a year, she improved her deviation value from 30 to 70, then passed Keio University that is considered one of the most difficult to enter in Japan.
The film earned $23.6M at the global box office.
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Flying Colors (2015) showcases carefully calibrated narrative architecture, characteristic of Nobuhiro Doi's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 57 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.3, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Sayaka is shown as a stereotypical "gyaru" delinquent - bleached hair, short skirt, no interest in academics, hanging out with similarly unmotivated friends. She's in 10th grade reading at a 4th-grade level.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 14 minutes when Sayaka is suspended from school after being caught smoking with friends. Her mother, desperate to change her daughter's trajectory, takes her to Tsubota's cram school against Sayaka's will.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 29 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to Sayaka actively chooses to commit to the goal of Keio University. She makes a vision board, cuts back on social activities, and begins her study regimen. This is her choice to enter the world of academic challenge., moving from reaction to action.
At 59 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat Sayaka achieves a major breakthrough - passing a significant practice exam or reaching a milestone that suggests Keio might actually be possible. False victory: the stakes are raised as she realizes how much harder it will get., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 87 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Sayaka fails a crucial mock exam badly, or receives devastating news that her academic progress isn't enough. The "death" of her dream - all her work seems meaningless. She breaks down, questioning if she's truly capable., reveals the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 93 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Tsubota or her mother provides the key insight that reframes everything: it's not about proving others wrong, but proving herself right. She synthesizes her "gyaru" persistence with her new academic skills and finds renewed determination., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Flying Colors's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs a 15-point narrative structure framework that maps key story moments. By mapping Flying Colors against these established plot points, we can identify how Nobuhiro Doi utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Flying Colors within the comedy genre.
Nobuhiro Doi's Structural Approach
Among the 2 Nobuhiro Doi films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.1, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Flying Colors represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Nobuhiro Doi filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Nobuhiro Doi analyses, see Dogwood Tree.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Sayaka is shown as a stereotypical "gyaru" delinquent - bleached hair, short skirt, no interest in academics, hanging out with similarly unmotivated friends. She's in 10th grade reading at a 4th-grade level.
Theme
Tsubota, the cram school teacher, tells Sayaka: "If you believe in yourself and work hard, you can achieve anything." This becomes the film's central thesis about potential versus perception.
Worldbuilding
Establishment of Sayaka's dysfunctional family dynamics: distant father who favors her baseball-playing younger brother, exhausted mother who works multiple jobs, strained sibling relationships. School life shows her isolation from serious students.
Disruption
Sayaka is suspended from school after being caught smoking with friends. Her mother, desperate to change her daughter's trajectory, takes her to Tsubota's cram school against Sayaka's will.
Resistance
Sayaka resists the idea of studying. Tsubota conducts an assessment revealing her elementary-level academics. He proposes the "impossible" goal: Keio University, one of Japan's top schools. Sayaka debates whether to trust this unconventional teacher.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Sayaka actively chooses to commit to the goal of Keio University. She makes a vision board, cuts back on social activities, and begins her study regimen. This is her choice to enter the world of academic challenge.
Mirror World
The relationship with Tsubota deepens as he becomes more than a tutor - a mentor figure who believes in her potential when no one else does. He represents the unconditional support she's never received.
Premise
The "fun and games" of Sayaka's transformation: montages of intense studying, small academic victories, creative teaching methods by Tsubota, her mother's growing support, and her gradual mastery of subjects she once found impossible.
Midpoint
Sayaka achieves a major breakthrough - passing a significant practice exam or reaching a milestone that suggests Keio might actually be possible. False victory: the stakes are raised as she realizes how much harder it will get.
Opposition
Pressure intensifies from all sides: skeptical teachers mock her goals, her father's disapproval deepens, old friends tempt her back to delinquency, and the sheer difficulty of the material creates doubt. Her family tensions escalate.
Collapse
Sayaka fails a crucial mock exam badly, or receives devastating news that her academic progress isn't enough. The "death" of her dream - all her work seems meaningless. She breaks down, questioning if she's truly capable.
Crisis
Sayaka's dark night - she contemplates giving up entirely. Emotional confrontation with her mother, reflecting on the sacrifices made. The weight of potential failure crushes her spirit.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Tsubota or her mother provides the key insight that reframes everything: it's not about proving others wrong, but proving herself right. She synthesizes her "gyaru" persistence with her new academic skills and finds renewed determination.
Synthesis
Final push: Sayaka gives everything to her studies, takes the actual Keio entrance exam, and awaits results. The family unites around her effort. The finale resolves her relationship with her father and validates her transformation.
Transformation
Sayaka stands before the Keio acceptance board, finding her number (she passed). Mirror of opening: same person externally, but completely transformed internally - confident, educated, having proven that belief and effort transcend expectations.