Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions!: Rikka Version

As the summary said, this is a recap movie. Which is actually pretty weird. Considering, why did they bother to make a full-length movie just for a recap of season 1? My best guess is, this movie consists 3 parts which shortly describe: a recap of season one, an epilogue of season one, and as a early prologue of season 2. All the main plot elements are served in this half and a hour movie, with a lot of cut towards the secondary plot/subplot, like "Isshiki's heroic moments" for instance. This type of execution is not all that strange actually since Stand Alone Complex didjust the same thing... twice. So, it is best to enjoy this movie as a sort of nostalgia rather than watching all 12 eps long of season 1. New elements do exist. Like a new footage during the prologue and epilogue. A new opening and ending and a bit of after-credit. What you want to expect from this movie is, top notch animation, delicious sound direction and voice acting, top notch animation, and a bit of reminiscent of how sweet the Chuuni romance from season 1. Did I say animation twice? Well, because all the nuance which brought the show alive are mostly from this department. They also a bit condensing some of the unnecessary elements which helps a lot in enhancing the enjoyment. I found myself quite enjoying it during some of the scenes, and not so much in the other (this a recap, duh). So, there is not much to tell from a recap. But if you enjoying the first season and want to be reminded why you liked the first season, Takanashi Rikka Kai: Chuunibyou Demo Koi ga Shita! Movie might help lead you to the world of season one without troubling you to marathon the whole season again.

This isn't a "retelling from Rikka's perspective" this is literally just scenes replayed from the anime, some of which Rikka wasn't around for. When I read this was from her perspective I really liked the idea, thinking it would feature more scenes that took place before the show when she saw Yuuta the first time and her thoughts on their relationship throughout the show, but I got my hopes up thinking that was the case as is not. I'm not sure who this movie is for, if you've never seen the show then this shortened version doesn't give you full satisfaction you would get fromjust watching the show, if you have seen the show then its just an hour of flashbacks. If you've seen it then watch the opening scene and skip to the last half hour. That being said the last bit was pretty heartwarming, would have been better as an OVA.

This movie markets itself as the story of "Love, Chunibyo, and Other Delusions" but through the eyes (eye) of the series' heroine, Rikka Takanashi. For fans of the series, they may hear this concept like I did and think the following: "Oh, that sounds awesome! We can see things we've never seen before in the story and see multiple moments from the series remade to be more fantastical and unrealistic to fit into Rikka's Chunibyo." But instead of doing something cool like that, this movie is just the bare basics of the "Love, Chunibiyo" story to be counted as a recap. Like a cake without any ofthe frosting or the flavoring. Honestly outside of a admittedly really great opening scene and a new ending scene, this movie has nothing of worth to offer. This movie for 95% of itself, doesn't have the soul of the original series and that is obvious with the story obviously feeling like just a random splicing of scenes from the show together that you could find on youtube. I don't get how this movie has such a high rating, this movie is "Love, Chunibyo" without any of the charm or love the main series and sequel film have. So it doesn't even work as an entry point for new fans. In the end, skip this movie. Just watch season 1 of the show, then look up the opening scene and ending scene of the movie on youtube and watch that. Then watch season 2, and then the Take on Me Movie because they are really good also. Besides that also check out the shorts, because they are also better then this movie. And boom, you did it! You just saved your self an hour of your time.

This movie is a summery of the first season of the anime. It works great for specific purposes. If you haven't watched the first season, don't watch it. It doesn't serve as a substitute for watching the anime and it doesn't work as a standalone product. If you just watched the first season, honestly I'd recommend skipping it and going straight into the OVA (slapstick noel) or the second season. What this movie does do well is serve as, well, a recap for season 1. If it's been a while since you watched the first season and you want a quick refresher before getting backinto the show, this is absolutely the movie for you. The little prologues and epilogues serve as a nice little frame to the recap and add a little extra fun character interaction, but I think other reviews have put a bit too much stock in them. It's not like the movie is split into 3 parts with the prologue and epilogue being the first and third part and the recap in the middle, because the new content is quite short and inconsequential. This movie is 90% recap, >10% new stuff. The new content is clearly where the budget went, the animation is quite well done. None of it is critical to the story, if you enjoy the comedy of the CGI fight scenes from the show you'll enjoy the prologue, and the little epilogue is pretty fun and lighthearted, but again, very short and inconsequential. There is a ~30 second after credits scene that sets up season 2, but you really aren't going to miss anything by not seeing it. I enjoyed this movie as a nice refresher before jumping back into the series, as it had been a couple months since I watched the first season and I wanted to start watching the second. Overall, I liked it, but I definitely would have found it tedious to watch had I seen it right after the first season, and had I never seen the first season, there isn't enough context to the recap scenes to understand whats going on. I wish they'd included a little bit of the other side stories, as I don't feel entirely refreshed on where the characters all stand with each other at the end of season 1, but overall it got me excited to jump back into the series.