Kaguja-sama wa kokurasetai: First kiss wa owaranai

A standard rom-com ends with a kiss and "they lived happily ever after", but Kaguya is far from a normal romantic comedy that ends with a kiss because there are still many things left unsaid, many steps to be taken, and many secrets and problems to be dealt with. So instead of watching the frolicking of a newly formed romantic couple, we get an intense drama that becomes stronger than the comedic aspect of the show at times. Kaguya reveals more layers to her character than there are in an onion, and Miyuki will again have to grapple with the masks we put on. It's beautifully paced and if you choose to watch the movie in TV format (4 episodes) you'll be surprised at how well it’s handled. You wouldn't even know it was a movie, that’s how nicely and logically the story is divided. However, the level and style of animation are simply made for the big screen. It looks gorgeous, and the film is full of unexpectedly creative shots and scenes that are anything but ordinary. I thoroughly enjoyed it all. Kaguya doesn't work for me as a hilarious comedy, the only actually funny part was the "trial", however, it does work as a decent romance (although only at the very end) and it’s also a solid and complex drama. 9/10 (2023.04.03)