Blue Period

Imposter syndrome is a plague that haunts the mind of every creative person and no Netflix anime tackles that anxiety better than Seven Arcs’ slice-of-life drama, Blue Period

Blue Period follows Yatora Yaguchi, a high-school prodigy who’s grown tired of excelling in his academics and searches for something to light a spark in his life. After stumbling upon a beautiful painting from his classmate, Yaguchi joins his school’s art club and commits to learning how to create his own masterpieces.

Despite the praise from his classmates and teachers, imposter syndrome creeps up on Yaguchi causing him to compare his talent against the technical know-how and years of experience from his peers. Yaguchi must overcome his anxiety in order to achieve his dream of enrolling into Tokyo University of the Arts—one of the most prestigious art schools in Japan.

Beyond serving as a great explainer for various painting techniques, Blue Period is a profound coming-of-age story that explores the harsh realities of being an artist. The show doesn’t shy away from its depiction of suicidal ideation, creative burnout, or the soul-crushing adversity that comes with seeking approval from others.