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太陽よりも眩しい星
12
TV
Finished Airing
Oct 2, 2025 to Dec 18, 2025
Sae Iwata was never cute or dainty like the other girls, and due to her build and strength, she always felt the need to look after her delicate childhood friend and crush, Kouki Kamishiro. But as years passed, Kouki grew taller and more confident, which resulted in them drifting apart. Toward the end of middle school, Sae reconnects with Kouki. Seeing that Kouki is still the sweet boy she once knew, she realizes that her dormant feelings for him have resurfaced. She tries her best to suppress her emotions—but it becomes even more difficult as, come high school, they end up in the same class. Ignoring her deepening feelings may seem like a fool's errand, but this boy that shines brighter than the sun may just prove to be her destiny. [Written by MAL Rewrite]
6.8/10
Average Review Score
67%
Recommend It
6
Reviews Worldwide
Romance anime, even with cliché ones, can be enjoyable when done well. A Star Brighter than the Sun started off as a fun series, but quickly became boring and predictable. This anime has a thin plot that could've easily been wrapped up in 3 episodes, but stretched out to 12. There's no real substance - you could fast forward and not miss anything of importance. The characters are very one-dimensional. Kamishiro is your typical shoujo male lead. A good guy, always smiling, and is conveniently available to save the day whenever there's a problem. His backstory was uninteresting, making him a forgettable character. As for Iwata, hercharacter basically revolves around Kamishiro. It's always "Kamishiro this, Kamishiro that". She rarely took action to find out who the guy likes, yet with teary eyes, she regurgitates "Let's stay friends" multiple times in an episode. Take away Kamishiro, and what remains is a faceless character with no real personality. The supporting characters are cardboard cutouts needed to make the series complete. Positives Well, it looked good with some nice transitions. If you're looking for a light and easy romance without much drama, this story might just be perfect for you. Unfortunately, this was disappointing.
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A star brighter than the sun is one of the gentlest, sweetest romances this season. What stands out is the writing around Sae’s insecurities. Her height and build are treated seriously, but not melodramatically. I think anyone who’s dealt with body image issues will be able to relate to her and find the story believable. The romance with she and her childhood friend is so sweet. I love their chemistry and how genuinely wholesome every moment with them feels. It’s a nice slow burn romance, but there’s enough progress every week to keep you engaged. Nothing gets dragged out either, when characters have problems, theytalk through them and say what’s on their mind instead of letting things snowball. The supporting cast is really good, the main couple’s romance is good and the show looks so pretty. It’s really got everything I like about shoujo romance and very little, if any, of the negatives. I think it’s a very solid coming of age story with two people slowly learning to connect with one another, and Sae is one of my fave characters this season. This is really a must watch for any romance fan! Adolescence is hard. Not only are you dealing with school and other responsibilities but you’re also dealing with a changing body. Puberty can be a bitch and with how judgmental other kids can be.. it can be a challenge to keep your self confidence. This show is one of the best stories about body image issues I’ve seen. Sae being taller and stronger than other girls her age and defying traditional gender appearance standards creates a lot of insecurity and stress for her. It couldn’t come at a worse time either as she’s got a massive crush on her childhood friend, who she used to defend from bullies growing up, and is now the talk of the school. What she doesn’t know is that he’s just as crazy for her now as he was as a little kid and still sees her as the cool girl who saved him! Earlier I said nothing gets dragged out in this story, but that was somewhat inaccurate. The one thing that gets dragged out is the misunderstanding where Sae and Kouki don’t realize how much the other idolizes them. Kouki still sees himself as the weak little kid who Sae had to protect as a child and Sae sees herself as someone who doesn’t deserve to stand next to Kouki because she’s not as feminine as the other girls at school. To their credit, both characters do their best to change that perception the other character has, but their insecurities don’t allow them to pick up on the hints. Even with that, we still see them get closer and rekindle the friendship they had as kids that was somewhat lost as they went to middle school. Because we get progress every week, it doesn’t end up feeling like a chore to watch. In fact, characters becoming friends before taking that romantic step makes relationships feel more earned and satisfying so I had no problem with it. Plus, there’s plenty of cute and wholesome moments between our leads to keep you engaged! The supporting cast is so good here. I absolutely love how supportive Sae’s friends are of her. They are she and Kouki’s biggest shippers and do everything in their power to get them together. They encourage Sae, they help give her the “normal” high school girl experience and they look up to her! It reminded me a lot of the supporting cast from Kimi no todoke and honey lemon soda recently. Ayukawa was a nice male supporting character as well and I said on multiple occasions I would’ve loved for he and Sae to have got together in another world. The way he was the first guy to really treat Sae like a girl and how flustered she’d get around him was cute. Really could yap about this one for ages, Sae and Kouki scratched that Kimi ni todoke season 4 itch I’ve had since last year and the show looks absolutely gorgeous. The art, animation and direction are actually really good for a lower key shoujo adaptation. We ate good this season and I will miss this one a lot. I’m definitely reading the manga asap. A star brighter than the sun gets 10 out of 10.
I must say, there's nothing special in this anime, no heavily emotional drama, usual misunderstanding, common romance-anime-character mentality, cute anime art style, and the list goes on and on... But, as long as it's well composed, then what's wrong with having nothing special? I mean, when it comes to romance-centric stories, there are only 2 types I wouldn't recommend, first one is the ones dominated with cringy or overly annoying characters, and the second one are those with too much romance-drama where the MC tries too hard to get their love interest's heart (which even I would go like, go and look for someone elsedude), but this one is neither of them.
Okay so straight up I'll say.. Watch episode 1 then watch episode 12 and you won't have missed anything really important. In a nutshell.. Dense protag, misunderstandings, and cack blocking the whole time. No comedy, side characters are 1 dimensional, main guy is only liked cause he is "nice" main girl is an idiot. And the whole time they talk in riddles to each other.. "I have someone I like... But I won't say who." kind of crap.. (When they are both in love with each other.) Anyways just a waste of time romance anime, no banter, no wit, no love, no romance.. Just many awkward conversations andanxiety induced internal monologues.. It tries to be pure romance, with no comedy to like the characters, and no drama to sympathize with the characters. So you're left with a frustrating feeling every episode.. (And the confession scene was also pretty bad too.. They said "I like you." then walked away, after they already chased after each other.) Normally I don't review shows.. But considering they want to make a season 2... But had almost no romance progress or a likable, hateable, or memorable character in the first season. I'd rather they use that time slot for a different anime.. (It'd be like Rent-a-Girlfriend got 4 seasons without 1 mutual consensual confession.. And I couldn't stand another show like that again so soon.)
Adolescence is the stage of life where self-image and identity often begin to clash with the expectations of the world around us. A Star Brighter Than the Sun (also known as Tamahoshi) explores this fragile period through a romance that focuses on the slow process of learning to understand oneself. At the center of the story is Sae Iwata, a girl who often feels overshadowed by the people around her. She is taller and physically stronger than many girls her age, something that constantly feeds her insecurity in a world where femininity is often associated with softness and delicacy. Without exaggerating this conflict for melodrama,the series treats Sae’s body image struggles with sincerity and restraint. Her doubts feel grounded and believable, reflecting those anxieties many people experience while growing up and comparing themselves to others. Much of the emotional core comes from Sae’s relationship with her childhood friend, Kouki Kamishiro. When they were younger, Sae was the one who protected Kouki from bullies, standing tall both literally and figuratively as the stronger presence between them. As they grow older, however, that dynamic begins to shift. Kouki becomes the admired and charismatic student everyone notices, while Sae begins to feel that she no longer belongs beside him. What Sae doesn’t realize is that Kouki never stopped seeing her as the same brave and dependable person who once stood up for him. In his eyes, she remains someone deeply admirable. This mutual misunderstanding becomes one of the story’s central emotional tensions. Sae believes she isn’t feminine enough to stand beside Kouki, while Kouki still sees himself as the weak boy she once relied on. Both characters admire each other deeply, yet their insecurities prevent them from recognizing how much they matter to the other. The romance between them unfolds as a slow burn. The series builds its emotional momentum through awkward conversations, subtle gestures, and gradual realizations. Their chemistry feels warm and genuine, and the relationship develops steadily enough that the story continues to move forward without feeling stagnant. The supporting cast also plays an important role in shaping Sae’s journey. Her friends are particularly supportive, encouraging her and often acting as enthusiastic observers of the developing relationship between her and Kouki. Their presence adds warmth to the story and helps give Sae the kind of normal high school experiences she sometimes feels she doesn’t deserve. Other characters bring additional perspectives to the narrative. One notable example is Ayukawa, whose interactions with Sae highlight another side of her personality. His presence briefly introduces a different dynamic, showing how Sae reacts when someone openly treats her as a girl rather than focusing on the traits she feels insecure about. From a production standpoint, the anime adaptation produced by Studio KAI keeps its presentation simple but effective. The visuals rely on expressive character animation and soft color palettes that complement the atmosphere of the story. It may not aim for spectacular visual moments, yet the overall presentation remains polished and consistent with the tone of the narrative. The pacing can occasionally feel slow, largely because the story spends considerable time exploring Sae’s internal struggles. The central misunderstanding between Sae and Kouki about each believing the other is out of their league also lasts longer than necessary. However, the series still maintains steady emotional progress, letting the characters to grow closer over time. In conclusion, A Star Brighter Than the Sun works best as a coming-of-age story about self-acceptance and emotional growth. Through Sae’s journey, the series explores how deeply insecurity can shape someone’s perception of themselves, and how meaningful it can be to have someone who reminds you of your worth. The romance itself remains sincere, allowing the story feel less like a dramatic love story and more like two people gradually learning how to connect with each other and with themselves. Anyway, keep in mind that no opinion is ever purely objective, and every perspective remains open to discussion. Even so, each viewpoint still holds its own value. If you happen to see things differently, simple mutual respect is more than enough. That same respect is the spirit behind this reflection as well. Wishing everyone a peaceful day ahead, and thank you for taking the time to read.