Extremely fun!

I had low expectations for this one. I love Studio Colorido's work. But the concept here struck me as odd. Cute idol girls aping off of the classic story of Princess Kaguya with an emphasis on the idol performances? I've certainly heard of weirder things, but what an odd concept. It seemed a bit gimmicky, almost a bit nonsensical in ways.

I'm happy to report that this is actually good stuff. This is not REALLY an idol film, and more an earnest Zoomer-esque rendition of the classic Kaguya story. It hits all the beats of the original by blending in silly, fun, and wacky anime sensibilities. And it feels really enjoyable! Even though the concept might make you sigh, like, "Oh boy, they're really doing this, huh?" just like the main character, Iroha, and the titular Kaguya, you can't help but gush and smile.

There's a lot to praise here. The animation is top notch. Studio Colorido is constantly punching above their weight, and even though many of their other Netflix releases have been hit or miss, they've always been amazing quality animation and sakuga. This is some of their best work! The animation is an absolute delight to the eyes. You can really tell the animation team was absolutely in love with this concept, and put their entire heart and soul into basically every scene. The reactions of the characters, particularly Kaguya, are so great, and the world design really evokes past works in their repertoire like A Whisker Away. The music is also lots of fun. It's traditional idol flair which people who are accustomed to the genre should expect, but it was always very entertaining.

Finally, as mentioned, the narrative is on point. There are obviously other Kaguya stories you could watch or read, and I definitely don't think this one is the go-to. But it's a fresh take on the story. It really feels like they're going to do their own thing and deviate from the traditional lore, just by nature of the modern setting and internet framing of the story. But even despite some deviations, they really stay true to the folklore surrounding Kaguya. And any deviations that are made really evoke the mood of the folklore, really trying to get you to relate to the emotions and circumstances. I loved this, because it can be hard to relate to Kaguya in many of her other iterations. By framing the story here around extremely likable protagonists, you really start to feel for their joys and struggles, especially if you already know the Tale of Kaguya, and know how the story is supposed to go. You're waiting for the beats to be hit, and they hit them quite masterfully here.

The complaints for Cosmic Princess Kaguya are minor but not something you can easily brush off. Firstly, HOLY, this movie is high octane. It is tailor made for a distracted audience. It is constantly moving. No scene stays still for very long, and there are very few slow moments for you to take a breath and catch up with what the film is laying down. Action scenes are punctuated by lots of explosions and loud bangs, conversations are fast paced and hyperactive, and there is a lot of audio-visual noise. It's good noise, I love it. But it's like visiting a nightclub: all bright lights and loud sounds, and that can get a bit tiresome. And this is NOT a short film, clocking in over 2 hours long. If you drop attention, you'll feel like you're missing a detail, so it can be a bit tiresome to watch this.

The narrative also loses itself in its denouement. They really want to give a little modern spice to the narrative in the last little bit. But it just seems a little bit excessive. You reach a point before the twist where there is a very natural, satisfying ending. They do go on to give a satisfying ending that I enjoyed, but I feel like I didn't really need it. I was already satisfied. It's like reaching the end of a delightful full-course dinner, and then suddenly the chef runs out, saying, "Actually, here is this fabulous dish, compliments of the chef!" Sir, that's enough slices! I'm full! I don't need any more!

But if the biggest complaints I can give are, "My lobster is too buttery, my rice too fluffy, my steak too juicy," that's hardly a complaint at all. This is a great watch, with a dash of fun anime nonsense and cool folklore blended in a modern package. It's also fun and family friendly, so an easy recommendation to normies who want to try something unique and different. Lots of fun and a treat!