Anime Review Kaguya-Sama "Love is War"
- Author Sinistra
- Creation date
Regarded as possibly the best romantic comedy anime, "Kaguya-sama: Love is War?" returns to the delight of fans. Directed by Shinichi Omata and penned by Yasuhiro Nakanishi, it's based on the highly acclaimed weekly seinen manga by Aka Akasaka, known in English as "Kaguya Wants to be Confessed To: The Geniuses' War of Love and Brains." The narrative centers on the intellectual duel between affluent heiress Kaguya Shinomiya and diligent top student and council president Miyuki Shirogane, each determined to have the other declare their love first, due to their immense pride. In different hands, this could have been a mundane "battle of the sexes," yet "Love is War" consistently rises above such tropes.
The series, with its James Bond-style opening sequences (complete with a catchy tune from Masayuki Suzuki, "Japan's King of Love Songs") and a flair for dramatic escalation, established a comedic foundation of extreme overreaction in its first season. The complex plots hatched by Shinomiya and Shirogane to elicit a love confession from the other are unpredictably thwarted by nosy friends, chance, or their own panic at getting close to one another. The show maintains a maddening yet comical deadlock, with the obstinate protagonists refusing to concede their feelings to each other or themselves.
The engaging back-and-forth is kept lively by how the comedy is rooted in the characters' traits; Shirogane's intense work ethic is a result of his family's financial struggles, while Shinomiya's emotional fragility is due to her opulent yet isolated upbringing. The exceptional voice acting by Makoto Furukawa as Shirogane and Aoi Koga as Shinomiya maintains the deliberately exasperating dynamic, humorous and lively, even without the meddling of the fan-favorite agent of chaos, Chika Fujiwara (voiced by Konomi Kohara, who excels at portraying effervescent hyperactivity), and the human punchline, Yū Ishigami (Ryōta Suzuki, delivering a consistently flat tone).
The narrative in the first season primarily explored Shinomiya's perspective, delving into the deep-seated insecurities that fuel her relentless psychological warfare with Shirogane, and her struggle with emotional transparency. The latter half of the first season unveiled a surprising sincerity, revealing the depth of 'Love Is War' and its potential for more than mere comedic relief at the expense of its characters. The second season promises to extend this empathy to the supporting cast, starting with Ai Hayasaka, Shinomiya's suffering yet devoted aide. Continuing the structure of the previous season, each episode is divided into three or four short stories, with the first episode of the new season featuring a comically absurd situation centered around Hayasaka, highlighting the extreme measures she takes to fulfill Shinomiya's demanding tasks and ensure her mistress's contentment.
Moreover, it seems that the animation studio A-1 Pictures has invested more resources – the scenery and characters are rendered with meticulous care, showcasing a particular fondness for exaggerated facial expressions in nearly every close-up shot. Even the episode's most ordinary moments are animated with vibrant, lively movements and attention to detail. This approach is somewhat reminiscent of series like Nichijou, as 'Love is War' employs anachronistic tributes to other genres and styles.
If you're a fan of rom-com slice of life anime, this series is a must-watch. The visuals are striking, and it serves as an excellent introduction to anime for newcomers.
The series, with its James Bond-style opening sequences (complete with a catchy tune from Masayuki Suzuki, "Japan's King of Love Songs") and a flair for dramatic escalation, established a comedic foundation of extreme overreaction in its first season. The complex plots hatched by Shinomiya and Shirogane to elicit a love confession from the other are unpredictably thwarted by nosy friends, chance, or their own panic at getting close to one another. The show maintains a maddening yet comical deadlock, with the obstinate protagonists refusing to concede their feelings to each other or themselves.
The engaging back-and-forth is kept lively by how the comedy is rooted in the characters' traits; Shirogane's intense work ethic is a result of his family's financial struggles, while Shinomiya's emotional fragility is due to her opulent yet isolated upbringing. The exceptional voice acting by Makoto Furukawa as Shirogane and Aoi Koga as Shinomiya maintains the deliberately exasperating dynamic, humorous and lively, even without the meddling of the fan-favorite agent of chaos, Chika Fujiwara (voiced by Konomi Kohara, who excels at portraying effervescent hyperactivity), and the human punchline, Yū Ishigami (Ryōta Suzuki, delivering a consistently flat tone).
The narrative in the first season primarily explored Shinomiya's perspective, delving into the deep-seated insecurities that fuel her relentless psychological warfare with Shirogane, and her struggle with emotional transparency. The latter half of the first season unveiled a surprising sincerity, revealing the depth of 'Love Is War' and its potential for more than mere comedic relief at the expense of its characters. The second season promises to extend this empathy to the supporting cast, starting with Ai Hayasaka, Shinomiya's suffering yet devoted aide. Continuing the structure of the previous season, each episode is divided into three or four short stories, with the first episode of the new season featuring a comically absurd situation centered around Hayasaka, highlighting the extreme measures she takes to fulfill Shinomiya's demanding tasks and ensure her mistress's contentment.
Moreover, it seems that the animation studio A-1 Pictures has invested more resources – the scenery and characters are rendered with meticulous care, showcasing a particular fondness for exaggerated facial expressions in nearly every close-up shot. Even the episode's most ordinary moments are animated with vibrant, lively movements and attention to detail. This approach is somewhat reminiscent of series like Nichijou, as 'Love is War' employs anachronistic tributes to other genres and styles.
If you're a fan of rom-com slice of life anime, this series is a must-watch. The visuals are striking, and it serves as an excellent introduction to anime for newcomers.