Beat & Motion#Anime

As a child Tatsuhiko dreamed of being an animator but gave up that dream after relentless teasing from his classmates. His friends later started a band and music became his new passion. The band eventually breaks up pushing Tatsuhiko to become cynical and double down on his view of dreams being useless. However, while demeaning a friend's dreams, an unknown drunk woman calls him out on this cynical outlook, angrily yelling at him in the streets. This chance encounter revives Tatsuhiko's childhood passion for animation, and he begins again by uploading a short two minute animation online. He is then contacted by Nico, an independent artist he has long been a huge fan of, who wishes to work with him to create an animated music video for her latest song. To his horror, when finally meeting the artist, he learns that she is the same drunk woman who had berated him about dreams before. She appears to not remember their previous encounter and the two agree to work together. They begin to growing closer, encouraging each other throughout the process.

Nico is eventually contacted by a major record label to have her sign on with them. This unfortunately puts her project with Tatsuhiko on hold since the label will hold the rights to her song. Tatsu instead works on creating a different animation for a local contest and also befriends a couple other aspiring animators at his college.

Nico is shocked when the record label has to put her debut on hold due to an influx of artists from another label that had to close down. Nico asks if in the meantime she could write and compose songs. She submits a song to a competition which may lead to a collaboration with a popular pop artist Miyu. Nico's song is chosen but she discovers that Miyu is her childhood best friend, Miu, who shared Nico's passion for music. The two had a falling out and drifted apart after Nico gave up on music. At first Miyu pretends she does not know Nico, but later pulls Nico into another room demanding an answer for why Nico initially gave up on music.

;{{nihongo|Tatsuhiko Hirayama|平山竜彦|Hirayama Tatsuhiko}}

:The main protagonist, the "motion" of the title, had childhood dreams of becoming an animator. After relentless teasing and humiliation from his classmates he gave up on that dream and his passion for animation. By college he grows cynical and feels that not only his, but all dreams are pointless. Tatsuhiko has a chance encounter with an aggressive drunk woman who berates him after he made fun a friends dream. This confrontation causes him to reignite his passion and try again to pursue animation. Despite his cynicism, Tatsu is actually quite thoughtful and kindhearted. He learns how his actions have both hurt and encouraged others. Through his interactions with Nico he grows as a person as they both support each other. He is hinted to have growing romantic feelings for Nico but is unable to confess due to lack of confidence.

;{{nihongo|Nico Kashiwagi|柏木 ニコ|Kashiwagi Nico}}

:The secondary protagonist and the "beat" of the title, Nico Kashiwagi is an independent music artist who Tatsu has been a huge fan of for years. She is the drunk woman who berated Tatsu though she appears not to remember the interaction. She asks to work with Tatsu to create an animated music video for her latest song. Nico, bubbly and passionate, continually encourages Tatsu to pursue his dreams. He in turn encourages her. Under her cheerful exterior Nico hides a lot of loss and pain especially from her Mom's retirement and the falling out she had with her childhood friend, which is evident in her alcoholism, often getting incredibly drunk and belligerent. She is hinted to have growing romantic feelings for Tatsuhiko but continually covers them up with excuses and her infectious optimism.

In June 2021, Shōnen Jump+ launched an eight-part web series titled {{ill|Million Tag|ja|MILLION TAG}}. On the show, manga artists and their editors competed in a contest, with the grand prize winner getting {{yen|5,000,000}} in cash, a chance to serialize their manga on Shōnen Jump+ with at least one {{Transliteration|ja|tankōbon}} volume being published, and an anime adaptation from Netflix.{{cite web|title=Shonen Jump+ Gets Reality Show to Find 'Next Star Manga Creator'|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-06-25/shonen-jump-gets-reality-show-to-find-next-star-manga-creator/.174414|website=Anime News Network|last=Pineda|first=Rafael|date=June 25, 2021|access-date=October 1, 2022}}{{cite web|title=Netflix to Stream Anime of Shonen Jump+ Reality Show's Winning Manga Globally|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-07-02/netflix-to-stream-anime-of-shonen-jump-reality-show-winning-manga-globally/.174697|website=Anime News Network|last=Pineda|first=Rafael|date=July 2, 2021|access-date=October 1, 2022}} Beat & Motion won the contest.{{cite web|title=Shonen Jump+ Reality Show Names Winner With Netflix Anime as Grand Prize|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-08-20/shonen-jump-reality-show-names-winner-with-netflix-anime-as-grand-prize/.176479|website=Anime News Network|last=Mateo|first=Alex|date=August 20, 2021|access-date=October 1, 2022}}

Written and illustrated by Naoki Fujita, the series was serialized on the Shōnen Jump+ app and website from February 25, 2023,{{cite web|script-title=ja:集英社のマンガ家発掘バトル優勝作品、2月25日にジャンプ＋で連載開始|url=https://natalie.mu/comic/news/504593|website=Comic Natalie|publisher=Natasha, Inc|date=December 10, 2022|access-date=December 10, 2022|language=ja}}{{cite web|title=Shonen Jump+ Reality Show Winner Naoki Fujita Launches Manga on February 25|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2023-02-02/shonen-jump-reality-show-winner-naoki-fujita-launches-manga-on-february-25/.194408|website=Anime News Network|last=Cayanan|first=Joanna|date=February 2, 2023|access-date=February 12, 2023}} to January 25, 2025.{{cite web|title=Shonen Jump+ Reality Show Winner Naoki Fujita's Beat & Motion Manga Ends on January 25|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2025-01-10/shonen-jump-reality-show-winner-naoki-fujita-beat-and-motion-manga-ends-on-january-25/.219916|website=Anime News Network|last=Mateo|first=Alex|date=January 10, 2025|access-date=January 11, 2025}} Shueisha published the individual chapters in six {{Transliteration|ja|tankōbon}} volumes.

Viz Media and Shueisha's Manga Plus service are publishing the series simultaneously with its Japanese release.{{cite web|title=Viz Media, Manga Plus Launch Shonen Jump+ Reality Show Winner Naoki Fujita's Beat & Motion Manga in English|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2023-02-24/viz-media-manga-plus-launch-shonen-jump-reality-show-winner-naoki-fujita-beat-and-motion-manga-in-/.195286|website=Anime News Network|last=Mateo|first=Alex|date=February 24, 2023|access-date=February 24, 2023}}

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{{Graphic novel list

| VolumeNumber = 1

| OriginalRelDate = July 4, 2023{{Cite web|url=https://www.s-manga.net/items/contents.html?isbn=978-4-08-883297-5|title=BEAT＆MOTION 1|publisher=Shueisha|access-date=June 2, 2023|language=ja}}

| OriginalISBN = 978-4-08-883297-5

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| LicensedISBN =

|Summary =

|ChapterList =

• Chapters 1-4

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| VolumeNumber = 2

| OriginalRelDate = November 2, 2023{{Cite web|url=https://www.s-manga.net/items/contents.html?isbn=978-4-08-883703-1|title=BEAT＆MOTION 2|publisher=Shueisha|access-date=September 20, 2023|language=ja}}

| OriginalISBN = 978-4-08-883703-1

| LicensedRelDate =

| LicensedISBN =

|Summary =

|ChapterList =

• Chapters 5-12

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{{Graphic novel list

| VolumeNumber = 3

| OriginalRelDate = February 2, 2024{{Cite web|url=https://www.s-manga.net/items/contents.html?isbn=978-4-08-883840-3|title=BEAT＆MOTION 3|publisher=Shueisha|access-date=December 20, 2023|language=ja}}

| OriginalISBN = 978-4-08-883840-3

| LicensedRelDate =

| LicensedISBN =

|Summary =

|ChapterList =

• Chapters 13-19

}}

{{Graphic novel list

| VolumeNumber = 4

| OriginalRelDate = June 4, 2024{{Cite web|url=https://www.s-manga.net/items/contents.html?isbn=978-4-08-884053-6|title=BEAT＆MOTION 4|publisher=Shueisha|access-date=April 18, 2024|language=ja}}

| OriginalISBN = 978-4-08-884053-6

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| LicensedISBN =

|Summary =

|ChapterList =

• Chapters 20-27

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{{Graphic novel list

| VolumeNumber = 5

| OriginalRelDate = October 4, 2024{{Cite web|url=https://www.s-manga.net/items/contents.html?isbn=978-4-08-884223-3|title=BEAT＆MOTION 5|publisher=Shueisha|access-date=August 15, 2024|language=ja}}

| OriginalISBN = 978-4-08-884223-3

| LicensedRelDate =

| LicensedISBN =

|Summary =

|ChapterList =

• Chapters 28-35
• Bonus Chapter

}}

{{Graphic novel list

| VolumeNumber = 6

| OriginalRelDate = March 4, 2025{{Cite web|url=https://www.s-manga.net/items/contents.html?isbn=978-4-08-884335-3|title=BEAT＆MOTION 6|publisher=Shueisha|access-date=January 17, 2025|language=ja}}

| OriginalISBN = 978-4-08-884335-3

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| LicensedISBN =

|Summary =

|ChapterList =

• Chapters 36-48

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An original net anime (ONA) adaptation is in production, with Netflix set to distribute the series globally.

Robbie Pleasant from Multiversity Comics felt the story was "relatable" and "hard-hitting". He also praised the artwork and its use of small details.{{cite web|title=This Week in Shonen Jump: Week of 2/26/23|url=http://www.multiversitycomics.com/news-columns/this-week-in-shonen-jump-022623/|website=Multiversity Comics|last=Pleasant|first=Robbie|date=March 1, 2023|access-date=March 4, 2023}}

{{reflist}}

• {{Official website|https://shonenjumpplus.com/episode/4855956445112219921|Official website at Shōnen Jump+}} {{in lang|ja}}
• {{Anime News Network|manga|27072}}

{{Shōnen Jump Plus}}

{{Netflix original upcoming series}}

{{Netflix original animated series and films}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Beat and Motion}}

Category:2023 webcomic debuts

Category:Animation making in anime and manga

Category:Anime ONAs

Category:Anime series based on manga

Category:Coming-of-age anime and manga

Category:Drama anime and manga

Category:Japanese webcomics

Category:Music in anime and manga

Category:Netflix original anime

Category:Shōnen manga

Category:Shueisha manga

Category:Upcoming Netflix original programming

Category:Viz Media manga

Category:Webcomics in print