This review will contain spoilers!!

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Liz and the Blue Bird is my favorite anime by far, if not my favorite piece of media ever, and I would go as far as to call it a perfect movie. From the delicate display of its lost-in-life leads to the understated yet emotionally-swelling themes of love and regret, Liz and the Blue Bird weaves a heart-wrenchingly beautiful tale, one that many viewers can resonate with because Liz serves as a truly introspective look into even the very essence of humanity itself.

The story focuses on the relationship between Mizore Yoroizuka and Nozomi Kasaki, two characters you're already familiar with if you've seen the parent story, Hibike! Euphonium. While the dynamic between the two leads was already established in the seasonal, Naoko Yamada greatly expands upon their relationship through masterful direction and visual storytelling that I haven't really seen in any other anime.

The production value is incredible, with a beautifully minimalist art-style, soft and gentle color scheme, and tracks that perfectly complement these traits. Much in contrast to its parent series, Liz lacks the melodrama that is well-associated with Hibike. There are far less moments of dialogue and plot developments in Liz, but that serves to work in its strength. Instead of letting them tell the story, Liz masterfully displays its narrative through incredibly deliberate animation and sound choices. From the characters' detailed body movements to the atmospheric background tracks that flawlessly complement the characters' actions yet never accidentally overwhelm them, every character is brought to life in a way I have never seen before in anime. Liz utilizes a far more subdued method of storytelling compared to Hibike, and tonally it is also completely different as well, but that's okay. Liz isn't about a climactic musical performance with drama weaved into it, but rather it it is about the nature of human connections, cherishing your loved ones while also learning to let them go.

`` The dynamic between Mizore and Nozomi was portrayed in a very melancholic way, directly paralleling the in-universe story Liz and the Blue Bird. Through the movie's 90-minute runtime, you watch the already-fragile relationship slowly break down with each subtle advancements. The term "disjoint" is shown at the start of the movie, denoting the tension and emotional disconnect between the two that permeates the entire runtime. The relationship felt so fragile to its core that one small touch could send the whole thing tumbling down. Mizore's dependence on Nozomi combined with Nozomi's brewing sense of inferiority continued to heighten their conflicting thoughts and emotions, reinforcing the "disjoint" that is present in their relationship. There were so many times I felt it as if everything was about to crumble apart, and each time it left me feeling devastated. I don't remember the last time I watched something that left me feeling like this emotionally, something that felt so visceral that it affected me to my core.

But that feeling is proof of the strong intimacy between Mizore and Nozomi, what it means to be with someone you absolutely cherish. But as life continues to march forward, one must learn that it is acceptable to "let go", learn to stand by themselves without relying on the support of someone else. There's no need to hamper yourself, that feeling of being "lost" is all too familiar with many of us. Everything culminates in the movie's final moments: Mizore's powerful oboe solo represents her learning to find the value in her own self without relying on others while at the same time, Nozomi's confrontation showcases her learning to accept herself and her own values for what they are. In a wider sense, they are both each other's Liz and Blue Bird: they've freed each other from the shackles of codependency. They acknowledge their relationship and, although bittersweet, they've both paved a new road for themselves for the future, allowing them to spread their wings and fly. Despite "simply" being a movie about two high school girls, it tackles the concept of human relationships in an incredibly mature and nuanced way that I've never really seen before in the medium. It showcases that it's okay to let go, to remember your cherished relationships and then pursue your own path in life. Doing so is a very hard and painful choice to make for anyone, but as mentioned earlier, that feeling is proof that the bond truly existed.

____ On a more personal note, Mizore is a character that I relate to so heavily. From her more withdrawn, introverted nature to her anxiety and overwhelming tendency to overthink things, I really connected with and felt for this girl so closely. She felt like a real, human person with normal thoughts and emotions just like anyone else. All the seemingly trivial worries she had were so evocative of my own self, letting me contemplate upon my own life experiences and the feelings I felt back then.``

I can understand why some people would consider this movie slow and boring, but to me it is the most meaningful and heartfelt piece of media I have ever consumed. I could go on and on about why I absolutely love this movie and why it means so much to me. Everything about the movie felt so personal to me and spoke to me in a way very few media have, so I just want to conclude this write-up by simply saying that I am truly, truly thankful to Naoko Yamada and the insanely talented team behind this movie for creating an incredible and heart-wrenching masterpiece that I'll likely never forget.