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.