Cosmic Princess Kaguya!

Watching this felt like eating pop rocks for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Only pop rocks. All day. My senses are overstimulated, my belly still wants proper food. That's not to say that pop rocks are bad, no, these pop rocks (visuals) are the highest quality I've ever tasted, but even the most awesome things are only good in moderation. I wish there was either a better plot, or better characters, sometimes just one of those is enough to carry a movie. Loud and quirky gremlin characters can be done well (see Nimona, Konosuba), but every character in this movie is astoundingly stereotypical and forgettable, it'skind of impressive how they make the plot seem okay in comparison (it still was meh and made me feel nothing). I don't expect a writing masterpiece from an anime, still I feel like they could've taken some budget from that animation, slowed some scenes down a little, and spent more on writing. I'm doing this review because I spent months looking forward to this, the animation's excellent, I just wish it didn't lack in the other aspects so that I'd give it a 10 as I was expecting to.

I am the type of person who will Watch anything at least once. If you Are the same, im here to tell you that you can skip this one. The storyline has some interesting aspects to it, like the princess kaguya story and the reincarnation thing, but they did it in the worst way possible. The plot was uniquely bad and all over the place, and the characters (especially kaguya) were extremely annoying. The songs were objectively ass, and very repetitive. I’ve heard the same songs a million times before, and they all sound the same. If you haven’t watched it already, i would suggest spendingyour time on something else, because this movie was not worth it.

A modern retelling of the tale of Princess Kaguya this is a visual delight as it follows a story of friendship, love, and growing into who our stars want to be in their future. The story embraces both the old and the new as it quickly establishes itself in a near future world where people have easy access to a fully immersive virtual space and can easily. Sakayori Iroha is moving her life at a mile a minute doing everything to meet expectations she and her mother have put on her shoulders, only a few scheduled moments with friends and the concerts of Yachiyo Runami,an AI idol to give her a reprieve. Then she finds a baby in a glowing hole in a telephone pole and everything suddenly changes in her life. Genuinely the journey is lovely, and the medium used to tell it is great. Transforming the magical-realism setting of many myths into a digital space where people are acting as their game avatars is a grand idea, but it is also nice to have those moments where they are back in the real world and Kaguya and Iroha are able to just be teenagers. The visual language is detailed and really shows the passion for both the story being told and the stories it is retelling. Kaguya's digital avatar has bunny ears and a moon hair pin, some of the characters show up as peaches streaking across the sky before coming down to the ground, using concert light batons as actual defensive batons. Everything shot in a cinematic style that embraces not just the animation medium but the reality of the world they are in, scenes on earth are framed in simple shots to convey the story of day to day life while those in the virtual use camera tricks that can only be done in a space not constrained in the same way. The movie might not be for everyone, but if you like this kind of thing, if you can appreciate vtuber and idol culture, and if you like the classic stories then you will hopefully enjoy it almost as much as I did.

Cosmic Princess Kaguya! is a distinctive anime that blends visual elegance, emotional storytelling, and mythological inspiration with modern science-fiction elements. Drawing inspiration from the legend of Princess Kaguya, it transforms this familiar tale into a cosmic-scale narrative about destiny and choice. Rather than being a simple space-fantasy, the anime explores themes of loneliness, belonging, free will, and sacrifice with surprising depth. One of the strongest aspects of the series is its character development. Kaguya is not portrayed merely as a “mysterious and powerful princess”; her inner conflicts, sense of alienation from both Earth and the cosmos, and the difficult decisions she must face are revealed graduallyand convincingly. The supporting characters are also well-written, each contributing meaningfully to the central themes and helping the audience better understand Kaguya’s emotional journey. Visually, the anime truly shines. The cosmic landscapes, combined with lunar imagery and a carefully chosen color palette, create scenes that feel almost painterly. Lighting is used especially well during dramatic moments, enhancing the emotional impact without feeling excessive. The soundtrack complements the visuals perfectly, shifting between melancholic and epic tones to sustain the atmosphere throughout the series. From a thematic perspective, Cosmic Princess Kaguya! successfully examines the tension between an inescapable fate and the power of personal choice. Instead of presenting these ideas directly, the anime allows them to emerge naturally through its narrative, encouraging viewers to reflect on questions such as identity, purpose, and where one truly belongs. In conclusion, Cosmic Princess Kaguya! is a mature, visually striking, and emotionally resonant anime that leaves a lasting impression. It is especially recommended for viewers who appreciate mythological influences, thoughtful storytelling, and strong aesthetic presentation.