BL Metamorphosis

BL Metamorphosis (Japanese: メタモルフォーゼの縁側, Hepburn: Metamorufōze no Engawa, lit. 'Veranda of Metamorphosis') is a Japanese manga series by Kaori Tsurutani. BL Metamorphosis was serialized digitally in the monthly manga magazine Comic Newtype from November 17, 2017, to October 9, 2020. A live-action film adaptation premiered on June 17, 2022.

BL Metamorphosis
First volume cover, featuring Urara (left) and Yuki (right)
メタモルフォーゼの縁側 (Metamorufōze no Engawa)
Genre	Slice of life^[1]
Manga
Written by	Kaori Tsurutani
Published by	Kadokawa Shoten
English publisher	NA: Seven Seas Entertainment
Magazine	Comic Newtype
Original run	November 17, 2017 (2017-11-17) – October 9, 2020 (2020-10-09)
Volumes	5
Live-action film
Directed by	Shunsuke Kariyama
Produced by	Hidehiro Kawano Yutaka Tanito Hiroko Ōgura
Written by	Yoshikazu Okada
Released	June 17, 2022 (2022-06-17)

Since its release, BL Metamorphosis won the New Face Award at the 22nd Japan Media Arts Festival Awards and was nominated for the Manga Taishō in 2019 and 2021.

Plot

Yuki Ichinoi, a 75-year-old woman lonely after the death of her husband, comes across a BL (boys' love) manga in the bookstore one day and buys it out of curiosity. This catches the attention of one of the bookstore clerks, Urara Sayama, a shy 17-year-old high school student and a fujoshi with no friends. As Ichinoi returns to buy more BL manga, the two develop an odd friendship despite their 58-year-old age gap.

Characters

Yuki Ichinoi (市野井 雪, Ichinoi Yuki)

Portrayed by: Nobuko Miyamoto^[2]

Urara Sayama (佐山 うらら, Sayama Urara)

Portrayed by: Mana Ashida^[2]

Media

Manga

BL Metamorphosis is written and illustrated by Kaori Tsurutani. It was serialized digitally on Comic Newtype from November 17, 2017, to October 9, 2020.^[3][4] The chapters were later released in five bound volumes by Kadokawa Shoten.

At Anime Expo 2019, Seven Seas Entertainment announced that they had licensed the series in English for North American distribution.^[5][6]

No.	Original release date	Original ISBN	English release date	English ISBN
1	May 8, 2018 (2018-05-08)^[7]^[8]	978-4-0410-6830-4	April 28, 2020 (2020-04-28)	978-1-6450-5295-1
2	November 8, 2018 (2018-11-08)^[9]^[10]	978-4-0410-7350-6	July 28, 2020 (2020-07-28)^[11]	978-1-6450-5504-4
3	June 8, 2019 (2019-06-08)^[12]^[13]	978-4-0410-8224-9	December 22, 2020 (2020-12-22)^[14]	978-1-6450-5783-3
4	March 10, 2020 (2020-03-10)^[15]	978-4-0410-8841-8	March 30, 2021 (2021-03-30)	978-1-64505-995-0
5	January 9, 2021 (2021-01-09)^[16]	978-4-0411-0813-0	September 28, 2021	978-1-6482-7304-9

Film

A live-action film adaptation was announced in January 2021.^[17] The film is directed by Shunsuke Kariyama, with scripts by Yoshikazu Okada, and produced by Hidehiro Kawano, Yutaka Tanito, Hiroko Ōgura. It premiered on June 17, 2022.^[2][18] The film won Best Picture at the 32nd Japanese Movie Critics Awards while Nobuko Miyamoto won the Diamond Award (also titled the Nagaharu Yodogawa Award).^[19]

Reception

BL Metamorphosis appeared on the top 50 best manga in the magazine Da Vinci.^[20] It was the #1 top-ranked manga in the women's category by Kono Manga ga Sugoi! and was named the #1 Best Manga of 2019 in Kono Manga o Yome!^[21][22]

Publishers Weekly described the series as having an "unhurried pace" and praised the artwork, comparing it to Princess Jellyfish due to its female-centric view on subcultures in Japan.^[23] Rebecca Silverman from Anime News Network also praised the story, describing it as a "lovely story of friendship" built on common interests.^[1]

Awards

Year	Award	Category	Result
2018	4th Next Manga Awards	Web Manga	Shortlisted^[24]
2019	12th Manga Taishō	Manga Taishō	Nominated^[25]
	22nd Japan Media Arts Festival Awards	New Face Award	Won^[26]
2021	14th Manga Taishō	Manga Taishō	Nominated^[27]

References

1. Silverman, Rebecca (July 29, 2020). "BL Metamorphosis GN 1 & 2". Anime News Network. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
2. Pineda, Rafael Antonio (November 25, 2021). "Live-Action BL Metamorphosis Film Unveils Cast, Staff, Summer 2022 Opening". Anime News Network. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
3. "75歳老女とBLマンガの出会い描く「メタモルフォーゼの縁側」など、Web新連載2本". Natalie (in Japanese). November 17, 2017. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
4. Pineda, Rafael Antonio (September 7, 2020). "BL Metamorphosis Manga Ends on October 9 (Updated)". Anime News Network. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
5. Pineda, Rafael Antonio (July 5, 2019). "Seven Seas Licenses Bloom Into You Novels, Primitive Boyfriend Manga, More". Anime News Network. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
6. "Seven Seas Announces Ten New Manga and Light Novel Licenses at Anime Expo 2019". Seven Seas Entertainment. July 12, 2019. Retrieved February 6, 2021 – via Anime News Network.
7. "老婦人と女子高生、BLマンガが縁で出会った2人「メタモルフォーゼの縁側」1巻". Natalie (in Japanese). May 8, 2018. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
8. "【5月8日付】本日発売の単行本リスト". Natalie (in Japanese). May 8, 2018. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
9. "「メタモルフォーゼの縁側」著者が描く、インドア派ガールの"好き"との出会い". Natalie (in Japanese). November 8, 2018. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
10. "【11月8日付】本日発売の単行本リスト". Natalie (in Japanese). November 8, 2018. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
11. Sherman, Jennifer (July 28, 2020). "North American Anime, Manga Releases, July 26-August 1". Anime News Network. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
12. "好きを語る相手がいることの喜び「メタモルフォーゼの縁側」3巻帯に宇垣美里". Natalie (in Japanese). June 8, 2019. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
13. "【6月8日付】本日発売の単行本リスト". Natalie (in Japanese). June 8, 2019. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
14. Sherman, Jennifer (December 22, 2020). "North American Anime, Manga Releases, December 20–26". Anime News Network. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
15. "【3月10日付】本日発売の単行本リスト". Natalie (in Japanese). March 10, 2020. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
16. "【1月9日付】本日発売の単行本リスト". Natalie (in Japanese). January 9, 2021. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
17. "「メタモルフォーゼの縁側」実写映画化、女子高生と老婦人のBL通じた友情描く". Natalie (in Japanese). January 7, 2021. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
18. Hodgkins, Crystalyn (February 22, 2022). "Live-Action BL Metamorphosis Film Reveals Trailer, Poster, More Cast, June Premiere". Anime News Network. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
19. "第32回日本映画批評家大賞の結果発表、作品賞は「メタモルフォーゼの縁側". Natalie (in Japanese). April 6, 2023. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
20. Pineda, Rafael Antonio (December 6, 2018). "Detective Conan Manga Tops Da Vinci Ranking". Anime News Network. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
21. "このマンガがすごい！今年の1位は「天国大魔境」と「メタモルフォーゼの縁側」". Natalie (in Japanese). December 11, 2018. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
22. "「このマンガを読め！」1位は「メタモルフォーゼの縁側」、このマンに続き". Natalie (in Japanese). December 19, 2018. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
23. "Bl Metamorphosis, Vol. 1". Publishers Weekly. April 23, 2020. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
24. Loveridge, Lynzee (August 23, 2018). "Raise wa Tanin ga Ii, Senpai ga Uzai Kōhai no Hanashi Take Top Prizes at Tsugi ni Kuru Manga Awards". Anime News Network. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
25. "マンガ大賞2019、ノミネート13作品が決定". Natalie (in Japanese). January 21, 2019. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
26. Pineda, Rafael Antonio (March 1, 2019). "Hisone and Masotan, Penguin Highway, Origin Win Media Arts Awards". Anime News Network. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
27. "マンガ大賞2021、ノミネート10作品が決定". Natalie (in Japanese). January 25, 2021. Retrieved February 6, 2021.

External links

• BL Metamorphosis (manga) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia