Opus.COLORs is an original anime that wasn't popular to begin with. A terribly slow first episode alongside very weak production values didn't help it either. But hidden behind this awful first impression, there is actually a solid and emotional story. It has a little bit of everything: Mystery, Drama, (BL) Romance and even short insert songs along the "Perception Art" pieces shown. The story starts of with the Staircaster competition. Six Teams, each consisting of an elite "Artist" and "Grader" from Eisen High School, enter an art contest for the best "Perception Art". Perception Art is essentially a drawing in a VR space, but veryadvanced, including even sounds and smells. These are created by the "Artists", then published and advertised by the responsible "Grader". Alongside establishing these premises, the contest is mostly about introducing the rather large supporting cast of this show and only lasts 3 episodes.

Afterwards, the main character Yamanashi Kazuya, who has the special ability to experience feelings from the artist of a Perception Art piece, is asked to help the school staff find the author of an unauthorized Perception Art drawn on school grounds. Realizing this "Scribble" might be connected to an accident he was in 10 years prior to the story, he sets out to find it's creator.
On this journey, there is a lot of content on the other characters introduced in the Staircaster competition, who join Kazuya's quest one by one. This eventually develops into a very emotional mystery drama, as Kazuya gets closer to the awnsers of his questions.

The relationships between the characters, alongside the progression of the main characters, is probably the strongest point of the show. And even though the supporting cast is a bit oversized, the characters did get their time to shine in their own sidestories.

The whole concept of how Perception Art's standing among traditional art and the importance of both Artists and Graders for the success of this art form is also an important and intriguing part of the show.

Personally, I'd say this show really grew onto me. And if you are interested in an emotional story in the world of Sci-fi Art and it's hardhips, or just looking for some Boys' Love in the current drought of that genre, Opus.COLORs might be for you.