Where to pick up the Grand Blue manga after the anime?

Grand Blue is a beloved anime and manga, considered by many to be one of the funniest stories ever made. The series was originally adapted into an anime by Studio Zero-G in 2018, consisting of 12 episodes with a relatively small portion of the source material adapted. After a long hiatus, the anime sequel has also been announced and will be airing in the Summer of 2025.

Due to this, fans may be curious about where the first season of the anime left off and whether the manga is worth reading. Grand Blue is adapted up to chapter 21 of the manga. Hence, fans can pick up the manga from chapter 22.

Grand Blue is a chaotically fun series following Iori, a new university student who begins living with his cousins in a new town. While hoping to enjoy his freshman year, Iori is soon dragged into the antics of his upperclassmen’s Diving Club, where drinking takes priority over sleeping.

While his college life is far from what he imagined, Iori forms a close bond with every member of the Diving Club and learns about the freedom of the water, which he once feared. Grand Blue is a perfect blend of comedy and sport, where every new chapter follows the new shenanigans of the cast.

The individuals surrounding Iori, right from the crazed otaku Kohei to his frequently disgusted sister Chisa, greatly contribute to the hilarity of the story. The manga, created by Kenji Inoue and Kimitake Yoshioka, has been airing in Kodansha’s Seinen magazine called Good! Afternoon since 2014.

Due to an irregular release schedule, it currently only has 101 chapters, divided over 24 volumes. As mentioned earlier, the first season of the Grand Blue anime ends by adapting chapter 21 of the manga, after which fans can pick up the source material from chapter 22.

This will go deeper into the twisted camaraderie and disorderly life of Iori and his friends, as they drink more than ever, try finding love, and juggle their college activities. Key characters such as the fan-favorite Sakurako Busujima and Iori’s obsessive little sister will also be introduced.

While Grand Blue retains its aspect of unique comedy, it also begins highlighting romance, drama, and slice of life more in the later story. Iori, in particular, becomes a highly admirable individual, despite his alcoholic tendencies, and attracts the attention of several women around him.

The story doesn’t become a full-fledged harem, but it displays Sakurako’s efforts to woo Iori while Chisa and Aina attempt to resolve their unaddressed feelings towards the protagonist.

Is the Grand Blue manga worth reading?

The Grand Blue manga is undoubtedly worth reading for fans who wish to experience pure comedy, compared to those such as Gintama which rely more on references. The source material contains hilarious interactions, comedic gags, and a cast of unforgettable characters.

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Additionally, the art is stunning and elevates every scene, especially the parts under the sea. The anime is a faithful adaptation and has captivated fans, but it ultimately only covers a fifth of the source material. Given the large hiatus it took for the sequel to be released, viewers will have to wait for a considerable period before catching up to the main story.

The manga, on the other hand, has the ninth-highest-rating on the platform MyAnimeList and has exhibited significant development for the characters. Therefore, whether it be before or after the second season is released, we highly recommend checking out the Grand Blue manga.

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