Tsukigakirei

I've watched Tsuki ga Kirei three times so far. Once by myself when it originally aired (2017). Once with friends soon afterward. And once again more recently (2022). Every time it was an absolute treat.

BROAD SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW

For one thing, this is a romance where the couple actually make progress in their relationship. The "will they, won't they" conflict is resolved fairly early in the series, and we get to move on to the story of "how they".

As someone more timid, introverted, and awkward, I found myself relating deeply to both of the lead characters. Unlike me at their age though, these characters demonstrate decisiveness when it counts. (Hence the progress.)

On the note of age, it's worth pointing out that the main characters are in middle school. They sometimes make immature choices. So viewers would do well to keep in mind that they are naive teenagers. If you can do that, you will hopefully spend less time feeling frustrated by certain decisions and more time empathizing with and understanding the immaturity (even if it doesn't make it any less stressful to watch sometimes).

Fortunately, the characters are fairly self-aware and grow through some of these immaturities over the course of the series. (In contrast, there are a lot of anime where high schoolers or even full-grown adults act like middle schoolers for the entire duration of the series, in which case it's completely infuriating. This is not one of those series.)

Shifting away from the lead characters, it's also worth pointing out that the entire cast of characters contributes meaningfully to the narrative. Middle school classmates/friends who give us a chance to see who are leads are independent of the relationship. Mentor figures to each of the lead characters who are perceptive and empathetic. Parents who make mistakes but clearly mean well for their children. And the side characters even have their own relationships with each other. (Be sure to watch the post-credits scenes to get the most of these extra tidbits!)

This is a "slice of life" in the truest sense, in which the animation studio invites us to immerse ourselves in a world that would continue to unfold with stories, even if our main characters weren't part of it.

The show is not without its flaws. I suspect there were some production issues, as there were some instances of awkward, immersion-breaking CGI and live footage inserts. However, as far as I saw, these were only ever used for crowds and background elements. Really though, this was probably the only indisputable flaw in the series, and it had little effect on my enjoyment.

While not a flaw per se, there are definitely some elements of the show that will be subject to taste. For example, it's a bit of a slow burn, but I quite enjoyed the intimacy of the experience and how it let viewers breathe and savor each moment. Also, while I found parts of myself in both of our lead characters, some viewers may not find their experiences relatable, and that's okay. There are plenty of romances out there with plenty of different personalities.

This anime is definitely staying on my list as something to rewatch again in another few years. :]