Warning: This review contains major spoilers for Cosmic Princess Kaguya!
##### (Kaguya's last words to Iroha, before, you know... she comes back as an android.)# This movie is a masterpiece. This movie is fucked up... i cried more than i think i ever have in my life before, even tho the ending technically is happy. first i cried of sadness, and then i started crying of not happiness but acceptance ig? this shit was playing with my emotions right and left. i really liked the final message where the story ties back into the viewer's own "story" and life, some stuff on this movie was very relatable for me (especially since i love vtubers hehe), and that really hit me harder than i ever expected.
The movie starts pretty well, it was interesting right off the bat, the characters are all amazing and likeable right away but then it picks up, and it picks up fast.
Kaguya telling Iroha she loves her and resting her head on her shoulder right before disappearing... i was already sobbing at that part, after this scene i couldn't even feel anything anymore, this shit actually made me numb. but the ending as a whole is what really destroyed me. Iroha saying she went on to find her good ending without Kaguya, and then they both look at each other and start crying because they still want to be together... Iroha saying "I want to be with you, Kaguya", AND THE FUCKING HANDSHAKE AAAA. yeah the atmosphere on this scene is amazing aswell, i mean, just both of them sitting in a beautiful and relaxing VR void while they say their goodbyes. that hurt bad. I also noticed a small detail that i really loved, after Kaguya leaves Iroha starts messing up her apartment, because Kaguya was always messy and had stuff everywhere...
(easily one of the strongest scenes in the movie
Everything about this movie was amazing. i've never heard of this studio before but holy shit, i wish i could've watched this in a cinema. the art style is beautiful and really unique, the animation is amazing, the atmosphere of the whole show is meccha sugoi. especially the music, which for a show that is centered around that theme is always important and they did not disappoint. the concerts felt so real, it genuinely felt like i was there watching it live. the choreography, visuals, energy, everything about the concerts was so so fire. as someone who really loves hololive and their concerts, this felt exactly like that experience, just animated. it was unreal.
I also really liked Iroha's backstory, and how it ties into the turning points in her life after meeting Kaguya. the pacing is honestly fine for most of it, when Kaguya started getting famous as a vtuber, i thought it was going a bit too fast lol, but by the end i realized it didn't really matter for the purpose of this show so ultimately it served the story perfectly.
Personally, this movie hit close to home. it reminded me of my own relationship with my parents which is something that i'm always very sensitive about. also i really could relate to Iroha and how worn out I feel sometimes to the point where i find it better to just settle for a "normal ending" instead of chasing my "good ending". seeing Kaguya inspire Iroha to reach for more made me reflect on that a lot.
I am very very emotional and i cry really easily, but in these past few months i've been getting really good at controlling my emotions so i haven't really let out a real good cry in a long time, but this movie.. oh man i think even my neighbours could hear me sobbing, it was like one of those kids crying where they're so loud, when my usual cry is just me running up my nose, cleaning my tears and pretending i'm okay. instead, i decided to just let it all out for once, this movie deserved a real good cry from me.
I loved it. i really, really loved it. and it's gonna stay in my heart for a while...