Spoiler-free review

Review in brief:

KyoAni’s last hurrah with K-On! is both everything fans could have asked for and only what non-fans have already come to expect by now. The light plot serves as a backdrop to the Keion-bu goofing off and having snacks, except when it rehashes season 2’s ending. You probably already know what to expect if you’ve seen even a single episode of K-On! ~ the question is whether that is for better or for worse.

Review in full:

The K-On! Movie encapsulates the experience of the anime series in one big, gift-wrapped package. Every element ~ strengths, weaknesses, and miscellaneities, are brought out in full force. It touches upon the very few plot points in K-On!’s story, and does far more than that in regards to its ending. It looks and sounds better than its topic, story, and genre have ever demanded of it, something Kyoto Animation has done time and time again. Yet, more importantly than all else combined, it spends the vast majority of its time doing what it always has; following the Keion-bu as they eat cake, drink tea, and casually goof off all day, every day, no matter the time, place, or circumstance. It is indeed more of the same, but that could mean two very different things depending on your perspective of K-On! and the CGDCT subgenre as a whole.

For most, the production values in this movie are going to be the biggest standout property. This movie contains what could easily be the most intricate depiction of London from a tourist’s eyes the medium will ever see. The locations are so strikingly real that it’s like being there in person, and that’s just in the background art and subtly vibrant palettes. The detailed yet smooth visuals & animation and the masterful framing make some portions of the TV series (which itself was aesthetically well above average all-around) look like a discount studio’s cheap knock-off by comparison. Even details that no regular CGDCT watcher would consider paying attention to, like the accurate flights and times for planes based on their registration numbers or the slightly differing cranial structures of the various ethnic groups depicted, are given careful attention. On top of that, the scenes that take place back home in Japan are given the same amount of care. Only the slightest nitpicks, like the construction of the Shard not exactly lining up with the timeframe of the movie, can be reasonably leveled against this movie.

What, do you expect me to complain about it not being cloudy enough?

This movie’s soundwork is also at a pinnacle for the series. Everyone involved must have developed an intuitive sense for what K-On! sounds like, as even with the nuances that the movie and its new setting brings, everything lines up exceedingly well. The city ambience is markedly foreign yet far from uninviting. The locals speak English in an English accent while maintaining distinct voices. The returning cast’s voices flow so naturally at this point that they effortlessly transition from emotion to emotion, from song to speech to song again, and any inflection that may lie in between. Lastly, even if K-On! has always been less about music and more about merrymaking, both the background and insert songs maintain a colorful variance while still being entirely fitting to the antics of the Keion-bu. It’s poppy, whimsical, simple, and fresh all at once, just as this trip is to the girls.

Yet, while such praises are usually only a good sign, these amazing production values lead into a bizarre issue. Despite all of this painstaking detail put into making the settings as authentic and immersive as possible, the CGDCT antics this movie devotes itself to could hardly care less about all of it. This movie isn’t about a once-in-a-lifetime trip to London or the journey of a young, spirited band. This is K-On! ~ and that means it’s all so that five high-school girls can dork around together and maybe play a song or two. Aside from a pinch of quick music references, some language barrier scenes, and maybe a couple of culture shock moments, the fact that this movie takes place in a foreign city doesn’t even matter. For what it aspires to do, it could have very easily taken place in any other major city with no issue.

So, despite all of the build-up and production put towards a trip to London, this is just one big K-On! episode. The main cast and Sawa-chan-sensei still exhibit all the little nuances they've built up over the series, which combined with the natural character-driven humor would be palatable enough for an episode, but the usual K-On! antics are spread over the majority of this 110 minute movie and the resulting pace is tepid rather than soothing. The other characters present don’t display much character at all, though little time is spent with them so it’s not the biggest issue. Other than the trip and the prep for it, a remade take on season 2’s ending appears as the ending for the movie as well. As before, it’s plain to see coming and requires considerable nostalgia and love for the series plus its characters to achieve the impact it aims for, but the build-up to it is smoother than in the TV series and it doesn’t try to repeat itself, so an improvement is made.

All in all, this is a passable movie. One that puts a lot of effort into things it didn’t need to, but a passable slice-of-life that its expected audience is likely to enjoy. It’s slow and unambitious, but perhaps that’s okay. Life isn’t always a thrilling tale of tragedies & triumphs, often it’s a string of modest or even mundane events. The specific city or the trip as a whole are just about inconsequential to what actually plays out, but at the very least this movie possesses an exquisite backdrop for some simple, lighthearted fun without stagnating itself into self-repetition, even when events that have already been covered are returned to. In that way, it can be a break from the hectic and a refreshing take on the familiar. That’s what lies in the heart of the slice-of-life genre, and while I can see how someone might question this movie’s plot or even its intentions, I don’t see how, with all of the obvious care put into it, someone could question whether it has heart.

Verdict:

Pre-established fans will most likely love this movie; KyoAni knew well what they loved about the TV series. For that same reason, most non-fans don’t have many reasons to appreciate what this movie does; it’s just K-On! with make-up, after all. It’s strange to be in between these two camps, but if nothing else I hope this review helps show that both have had their reasons to exist.

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