Her Blue Sky
High school student Aoi Aioi lives with her elder sister, Akane, after a tragic accident took their parents away 13 years ago. Because Akane has since been taking care of her single-handedly, Aoi wants to move to Tokyo after her graduation to relieve her sister's burden and pursue a musical career, inspired by Akane's ex-boyfriend Shinnosuke "Shinno" Kanamuro. Shinno was part of a band until he left for Tokyo to become a professional guitarist after the sisters' parents passed away, and he was never to be seen again.
The film earned $4.7M 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%)
Her Blue Sky (2019) reveals carefully calibrated plot construction, characteristic of Tatsuyuki Nagai's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 48 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.2, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 2 minutes (2% through the runtime) establishes Aoi lives a quiet, responsible life in her rural mountain town, caring for her younger sister Akane while suppressing her own dreams and feelings about the past.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when Shinnosuke, the 18-year-old version of Shinno from 13 years ago, mysteriously appears before Aoi, disrupting her carefully controlled emotional life.. 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 27 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to Aoi actively chooses to spend time with Shinnosuke, deciding to confront her past rather than continue running from it., moving from reaction to action.
At 53 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Notably, this crucial beat Aoi and Shinnosuke share a deeply emotional moment where she feels truly alive again for the first time in years, but this false victory masks the impossible nature of their situation., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 80 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Aoi must face that Shinnosuke will disappear and that her relationship with him was never truly real—it was a manifestation of her inability to let go and live., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 86 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Aoi realizes that truly honoring Shinno means releasing both him and herself—allowing the past to be past so she and Akane can both pursue their futures., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Her Blue Sky's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping Her Blue Sky against these established plot points, we can identify how Tatsuyuki Nagai utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Her Blue Sky within the animation genre.
Tatsuyuki Nagai's Structural Approach
Among the 2 Tatsuyuki Nagai films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.3, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Her Blue Sky takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Tatsuyuki Nagai filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional animation films include The Bad Guys, The Quintessential Quintuplets Movie and Fate/stay night: Heaven's Feel I. Presage Flower. For more Tatsuyuki Nagai analyses, see The Anthem of the Heart.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Aoi lives a quiet, responsible life in her rural mountain town, caring for her younger sister Akane while suppressing her own dreams and feelings about the past.
Theme
A character mentions that sometimes you have to let go of the past to move forward, and that holding onto old feelings can keep you from living fully in the present.
Worldbuilding
Establishment of Aoi's relationship with her sister Akane, the upcoming music festival in town, and hints of Aoi's past romance with Shinno who died 13 years ago.
Disruption
Shinnosuke, the 18-year-old version of Shinno from 13 years ago, mysteriously appears before Aoi, disrupting her carefully controlled emotional life.
Resistance
Aoi struggles with whether to engage with Shinnosuke or avoid him. She debates the impossibility of the situation while being drawn to this ghost from her past.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Aoi actively chooses to spend time with Shinnosuke, deciding to confront her past rather than continue running from it.
Mirror World
Akane's budding romance with the modern-day Shinno's bandmate parallels Aoi's past, showing the contrast between freely pursuing love versus being trapped by regret.
Premise
Aoi reconnects with the younger Shinnosuke, reliving moments from their past relationship. She rediscovers the passion and dreams she abandoned after his death.
Midpoint
Aoi and Shinnosuke share a deeply emotional moment where she feels truly alive again for the first time in years, but this false victory masks the impossible nature of their situation.
Opposition
Reality closes in as Aoi realizes Shinnosuke cannot stay, her sister needs her support, and clinging to the past prevents both sisters from moving forward with their lives.
Collapse
Aoi must face that Shinnosuke will disappear and that her relationship with him was never truly real—it was a manifestation of her inability to let go and live.
Crisis
Aoi processes the painful reality that loving Shinnosuke means letting him go, confronting 13 years of suppressed grief and lost dreams.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Aoi realizes that truly honoring Shinno means releasing both him and herself—allowing the past to be past so she and Akane can both pursue their futures.
Synthesis
Aoi says goodbye to Shinnosuke, supports Akane's choices, and begins to reclaim her own dreams and authentic self, integrating past and present.
Transformation
Aoi is shown moving forward with her life, no longer frozen by the past, finally able to feel the fullness of the blue sky—alive, present, and open to the future.