Grand Blue: Is It Worth Watching in 2026?
Our verdict — 7.8/10, worth watching
In short: Yes, if you want one of the funniest anime comedies around and don't mind crude, booze-soaked college humour. Grand Blue now has three 12-episode seasons (2018, 2025 and July to September 2026), all directed by Shinji Takamatsu, and a fourth was announced after Season 3's finale. Despite the scuba setting, it's mostly about drinking, nudity and friendship.
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Worth it for the laughs. Grand Blue's reaction faces, escalating misunderstandings and committed stupidity make it one of the most quotable anime comedies. There's little plot and no big drama, which is the point. If crude humour isn't for you, you'll know within one episode.
The premise
Iori Kitahara moves to the seaside town of Izu for university, living above his uncle's dive shop, Grand Blue. He imagines a bright campus life; instead he's adopted by Peek a Boo, a diving club of muscular, permanently half-dressed upperclassmen who mostly drink. With his otaku classmate Kohei, Iori slowly learns to dive, and to survive the club.
Season by season
- Season 1 (Zero-G, July to September 2018, 12 episodes). The setup and many of the funniest episodes.
- Season 2 (Zero-G, July 8 to September 23, 2025, 12 episodes). Director and scriptwriter Shinji Takamatsu returns after a seven-year gap.
- Season 3 (July to September 2026, 12 episodes). The first season set overseas, in Palau.
- Season 4. Announced right after Season 3's finale, with Takamatsu returning. No release date yet.
The manga
Grand Blue is written by Kenji Inoue and drawn by Kimitake Yoshioka, serialised in Good! Afternoon since 2014. It's still running and remains ahead of the anime. There's also a 2020 live-action film.
Who it suits
If you liked Gintama's silliness or Konosuba's chaotic group dynamics, this is for you. For gentler college comedy, try something like Wotakoi instead.
Frequently asked questions
Is Grand Blue really about diving? Partly. Iori learns to scuba dive and there are some lovely underwater scenes, but most episodes are about drinking parties, misunderstandings and the diving club's antics.
Is Grand Blue appropriate for everyone? No. Expect constant drinking, lots of (comic) male nudity and crude jokes. It's aimed at adults.
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