DESCRIPTION

CAST

MANGA ActionChou Kaguya-hime!
MUSIC Slice of LifeRemember
NOVEL ActionChou Kaguya-hime!
MUSICWatashi wa, Watashi no Koto ga Suki.
MUSIC Fantasyray Chou Kaguya-hime! Version

REVIEWS

• 

  RandomPerson9348

  50/100
  A Film Dragged Down By Its Extravagance

  Cosmic Princess Kaguya is a weird film. It is a digital-first Netflix Original anime film that is also Yamashita Shingo's debut as a director. At the same time, it could be absolutely none of those, and it would make zero difference on the film. In some cases, it might even make it better. I was looking forward to watching this because of all the fun colors and character designs on the KVs and trailers, but I am coming out just...disappointed? Not even angry about having watched a bad film, because it is _not_ a bad film. It's just...disappointing. Spoilers!

  Plot and Characters

  This is where I think the film falters the most. Because there is a really good story in here. A girl who has lost all passion for music because of the growing pains of adulthood being contrasted with the classic tale of the Princess Kaguya is an amazing idea. There is real heart to that core. The film wants to celebrate never letting go of the pure heart that allows you to dream and find joy in the small things, but then...let's go of it on its own. The entire metaverse plotline with Tsukuyomi feels tacked on, as if it was a requirement to be added to the film, and then the script had to be written around the idea of Yachiyo being a permanent character. And by all means, that is not a particularly bad twist either. Not in its emotions, at least. It rejects the idea of growing up permanently by literally having her have to live through thousands of years of waiting to finally reach Iroha again. But its entire execution is very shaky, just like the rest of the plot. The time travel device comes out of nowhere for a complete deus ex machina, and then neatly wraps up by addressing her apparent disillusionment in a matter of a minute with a single scene. The film _wants_ to deal with a mature concept, but does not want the baggage that comes with it. It wants to tell you that Iroha cries herself to sleep, but would rather speed through those parts instead of letting you linger and feel her pain for some time. It will have her narrate terrible things her mother told her, but never show any of it happen in real time. That is because it wants to be loud and flashy and appeal to the widest audience because that's how Netflix makes money. Why would 13-year-old kids watch a genuine meditation on the nature of Princess Kaguya's myth if they can have a Japanese version of KPop Demon Hunters instead? And that is the film's greatest misstep. Not the lack of thought behind the plot; because there is thought behind the plot. But the dishonesty with which it handles it. The comedy works. The music works. The main idea works. But the themes don't. They are always in a constant battle with how they are portrayed. You cannot have your cake and eat it too.

  Presentation

  This film is dazzling to look at. It really is. There are very few mistakes it makes on the visual style of it all. It is always consistent, meaningful and has a clear vision. Characters move with insanely satisfying precision and still have a stylistic charm to every single one of their expressions. All that said, I could say the exact same things about many different properties. For example - Frieren, Jujutsu Kaisen, Oshi no Ko, Shoushimin Series, One Piece, etc. But do you see the difference between them and this film? Precisely. It is supposedly a film, but can be compared to television productions. And that, I think, is the fault of the composition and lighting. While it not bad, by any means, it is also not justified. Cosmic Princess Kaguya looks more like eight episodes of a high-budget anime television show put together rather than an actual film. It lacks the insane cinematography of Shinkai's best, the scale of Miyazaki or the experimental styles of SHAFT. There is nothing distinguishing it from just another anime. So, why isn't it? Why did it even need to be a film? Finally, we need to mention Yamashita Shingo himself. He has done some fantastic work on the openings of shows like Jujutsu Kaisen and Chainsaw Man, and all credit to him for those. They are absolutely iconic openings that stay in your mind long after the show is over. But that works to his detriment in this film. That is because he translates the same storyboards over to a feature-length work. It might all look good, but there is absolutely zero coherence or choreography to the action sequences. Every single fight scene (and this film has quite a few), is composed of very short 3-5 second clip that focus more on being flashy and making the characters look cool instead of letting the audience keep up with what is happening. Why is this an issue, you ask? Put simply - you can completely check out during an action sequence and come back, and you will have missed nothing. The entire 3v3 League of Legends fight section is a confusing mess. The rules of the game are not clear, the fights are not clear, and you only really understand who won because of one flashy cut at the end of the 'fight'. The announcer is more of a clue than the actual visuals. Then, it becomes absolutely horrendous in the fight against the moon people. How are we supposed to understand if our heroes are winning or losing if we have no spatial awareness during the fight? Kaguya dances until the moon people just appear in front of her and take her away. Where were the others? How far were they fighting? How far back did the moon people push them? The premier action sequence of this film has absolutely no stakes or tension in it. I won't say much about the music, because it is actually quite good! That is to be expected considering the voice talent on display here, but they do give some pleasant tracks with groovy melodies. The concert scenes are also quite well-animated and might be the best parts of the film overall. The main voice actors are also putting in some incredible work, with Iroha's Nagase Anna probably being the most standout overall member of the cast right from the beginning.

  Conclusion

  Honestly? Watch it if you're into the art style and vibe. It is still a good "turn-off-your-brain-and-enjoy" type of classic anime film with pleasing animation and good music. But don't look too deep or try to parse what is going on during the action scenes, because there is absolutely nothing to be found in either of those cases. The film was definitely edited for the modern TikTok attention span, so you will hardly find yourself getting bored at any given point. And if nothing else, then watch it to enjoy the genuinely heartfelt and wholesome half-hour that is the very beginning of this film. Once they enter the Hatsune Miku-ruled metaverse, it is time to cut your losses and run!
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• 

  Zaneq

  100/100
  Keep Smiling For Me Kaguya

  __[CONTAINS SPOILERS] __ First of all, I want to thank everyone who took the time and effort to work on this film. It was truly a masterpiece. ~~~ From the very beginning, everything stood out the animation quality, the art style, and the background music. All of it was simply amazing. The characters never felt distant at all. They all felt warm and sincere, especially Inori and her brother. That sibling bond whatever you want to call it I genuinely felt it myself. And when it comes to Kaguya and Iroha… the bond between them… Kaguya having to spend 8,000 years just to reunite with Inori, and even being willing to become an AI if that’s what it took, keeping the promise she made to her and continuing to smile no matter what. Everything about it was perfect enough to make me cry. I’ll admit there were some transitions where we couldn’t fully understand what happened in between, but I don’t think that affected the film overall. It didn’t ruin the structure or the emotional intensity at all. As for the animation quality, I honestly don’t even know what to say. The color design, the art style, and the way the atmosphere was conveyed it all felt like it was crafted by a master. I might even say it’s the best I’ve ever seen. Every scene felt carefully composed, and even the smallest visual details added a lot to the overall emotional weight of the film. There were probably around 4 or 5 songs in the film. I don’t know their names yet, but I’ll definitely be adding all of them to my playlist. They were incredible. There were also references to Japanese famous fairytale. I don’t fully understand those parts, but Kaguya briefly touched on all of them while explaining to Iroha what happened during those 8,000 years without her XD The characters’ reactions felt very natural and realistic I genuinely fell in love with them. Kaguya especially: at first she seemed like just a silly, clueless, comic character, but later we saw how much pain she was actually carrying, how much she wanted to be with Iroha, and how hard it was for her. The same goes for Iroha the way her bond with her mother and brother was restored and became even stronger than before was perfect. Should you give it a try? Definitely. Even if u dont like the plot beyond just visuals and music, the film succeeds because it knows how to let emotions breathe. It never rushes its most important moments, allowing the audience to truly connect with the characters and their feelings. You won't regret it. My score is 10/10 It was an amazing film. It added a special flavor to the winter season. __Iroha, Kaguya I love you both, my babies. Please just get married already <3__ Thank you for reading. Hope y'all enjoy / enjoyed the film like me. ~~~

  __HAPPY ENDO__

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• 

  Souvlakigr

  90/100
  Tradition Reimagined Through Music

  A Review of Cosmic Princess Kaguya!

  It is genuinely difficult to take a classic folktale, one that has been told countless times in many different forms/interpretations and turn it into something I never expected the moment I pressed play on this film. To elevate something so deeply rooted in history with such evident love, while simultaneously adding a distinct artistic voice not only in how the story concludes, but also in its genres, its worldbuilding, its themes, and the message it wants to convey, all without losing what made the original tale so timeless, is an impressive achievement.

  With its modern transformation into a musical set within a fantastical VR world, Princess Kaguya does not merely discover our world, human emotions, and behavior. Instead, she embarks on an entirely new journey, one that enchants you from the very first moment. The film seamlessly creates an immersive experience that constantly captivates you, thanks to the charm radiating from every single frame.

  The love and dedication behind the production are visible everywhere, especially in the outstanding performances of the voice actors, the music (which I fell in love with from Yachiyo’s very first song), the beautiful animation of the VR world, the video games and characters they play, the musical and dance sequences, the comedy, and the emotions conveyed throughout the entire runtime. All of this is brought together by a unique directorial vision that smartly thrives and mesmerizes, whether in the vast VR world or in Iroha’s small, run-down apartment (don’t worry queen, we’re all going through it).

  

  There is a lot of polish in the production, and the characters themselves are incredibly compelling, especially Iroha, who remains consistently relatable and lovable within just a few scenes. As more of her past is unlocked, she truly begins to change over the course of the film, largely due to the influence of the endlessly charming Kaguya.

  Kaguya, just like in the original folktale, enchants everyone around her and displays incredible talent in everything she does, though in this version, it has nothing to do with mastering aristocratic etiquette, and everything to do with becoming the number one streamer in the VR world. From the very beginning, she is a child who is endlessly fascinated by learning new things, and she conveys that purity and joy through every action she takes, instantly placing her at the very top of the list of characters that NEED to be protected at all cost.

  

  At this point, I would strongly recommend watching the film if you haven’t already. For the first 100 minutes, the story closely follows the classic narrative with a beautifully modern touch. From there on, however, the script takes a different turn, one that I personally find extremely clever and perfectly fitting for everything we’ve experienced so far. (That’s your spoiler warning, shoo shoo.)

  __Spoiler Talk __

  Just as the film seems ready to fulfill the inevitable fate dictated by the invisible “destiny” of the original folktale, that notion is dismantled in the final half hour. Kaguya does not simply disappear from the story but instead, we continuously witness her everlasting influence on Iroha. Through small glimpses of renewed enthusiasm for life, and by thinking of Kaguya, Iroha realizes that her story cannot end this way. She must chase her happy ending, exactly as Kaguya taught her, and change the fate she may have unknowingly locked herself into by settling for what she once called a “normal ending.”

  She is finally able to move on with all her childhood trauma, reconnecting with her family and by finally taking her life into her own hands, she is now able to complete new songs without being held back by her past. She writes one filled with love and sings it until it reaches Kaguya’s own heart, reminding her of the time and beautiful moments they shared, moments that could never be erased by something as simple as a cloak, proving that destiny is not something to be accepted, but something that can be rewritten.

  I also found Yachiyo’s reveal particularly beautiful. From the very beginning, you can sense that she has a special connection, especially since her debut song is performed only once, purposefully meant to ignite our heroine’s journey and ultimately reunite her with Kaguya. The reanimation of her avatar into a humanoid form allows her to once again experience what she loved on Earth in the first place: tasting food again, filling her life with joy instead of tedious obligations. Perhaps those initially bland pancakes finally held an invaluable flavor for both of them this time. (In case you missed it, there’s a lovely post-credits scene! ❤️)

  I may be getting ahead of myself, but on just the 22nd day of the year, this film already feels like a strong contender for Anime of the Year. It delivers a complete audiovisual experience along with emotional beats that will undoubtedly leave a lasting effect on anyone who watches it. I can already feel that impact myself, as the film has led me to reassess certain things on a personal level and if any piece of media can do that, I truly believe it has achieved the highest possible accomplishment.

  Thank you, Cosmic Princess Kaguya. ✨
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