Audience reviews
20 · Sample from the first available page, separate from the total number of ratings.
hokimika
Don't get me wrong, I didn't put this as "mixed feelings" because I didn't enjoy it, but this is not really something that would be enjoyed by someone who enjoys more straight-forward stories.
The premise is pretty strange, but hey! I'm all for strange stories! The animation was very good (although flashy at some times) and the ending was...somewhat confusing. It's understandable if you take some time to process it, but it was pretty quick and can feel like 30 bullets shot at you if you're not ready. (But it has been a while since I've watched it, so I might be incorrect!) I did find myself a bit bored when they were playing that one game, but I can't speak for everyone.
Overall, it's a very cute and pretty deep story, but I wouldn't reccomend it for those who dislike fast-paced films.
Read at the sourceMutsumiYours
This is a surprisingly difficult movie to talk about.
I neither like it nor dislike it.
The main reason I cannot really say I like it is simple: I do not think it works as a story in the first place.
It feels more like a music video that has been given something resembling a narrative framework.
And because of that, the parts I enjoyed the most were exactly the parts where it stopped pretending otherwise. The live-performance sequences were good.
The “ray” music video was good.
Those are the moments where the film feels most comfortable with what it actually wants to be.
While watching it, I also kept thinking about some of the criticism I had seen beforehand — complaints about how implausible the protagonist’s circumstances were, or how conveniently the conflict with her mother was…
Read at the sourceDoneForSure
Gorgeous, everything.
Went for the viral dance reel, stayed for the story. The timing I would say was a big contribution for the great experience I had watching it. it was actually 'view changing' for me and perhaps my 2nd favorite movie after Your Name. The animation is just gorgeous, the pacing is perfect and story becomes engaging very quick, worldbuilding is very lively and happens subtly, doesn't waste much time on it.
Overall, it was a memorable experience for me and I know it's a type of movie that's not for everyone but if you're looking for a change of taste, give it a shot
Read at the sourceHouseManThe2nd
I've known this movie existed for a while and that was about it, but I finally decided to watch it after a Trash Taste podcast episode, and I'm glad I did. Overall, it was a good movie, I liked the characters, the animation was amazing, and it had a pretty solid story.
The only part I could have done without were the musical/singing sections; I just can't help but cringe at them, though maybe that's just a me issue. The ending didn't leave me feeling overly joyful, but it didn't leave me sad either, it was a nice middle ground.
In the end, I'd definitely recommend this movie. You should really give it a watch
Read at the sourcematt556
Story: 5/10
This has potential, for sure. However the only problem with this is; it's not "enough". It would've been better as a full cour 12~13 episode anime instead. At some point, it just feels like watching a recap of a full season anime. There are a lot of "missing" scenes here and there, or a certain scene that feels like it should be more elaborate. Squeezing this much of a story and interraction into a 2 hours movie is such a waste.
Animation: 4/10
For a 2026 anime, the animation quality itself is not very good. There are some moments where it looks smooth or nicely animated (like the part where they showcased the Tsukuyomi world or Yachiyo's live concert), but there are also some parts where there are a lot of moves involved and animation itself is necessary, like the tournament…
Read at the sourceFaethyvveIcye
If this is your first exposure to any telling or retelling of "The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter" fairy tale, make sure you read the last paragraph of this review at the very least.
Chou Kaguya-hime! is a loving homage to Japanese culture both ancient and modern. There are lots of nods to historical events or cultural phenomena that are barely hinted at that you'll catch and smile at if you either grew up in Japan or are studied in Japanese culture, both historically and with more modern otaku culture.
A decent bit of the story interacts with elements of idol culture, Vocaloid history, and VTuber culture (local and overseas). If you're not one for concerts and and are also more of an outdoorsy person you might not relate much to the main character in this anime. That being said, it's very cl…
Read at the sourcelemonflick77
I really love this movie. It was such an emotional ride. ❤️
The animation and art style reminded me of my favorite anime, My Dress-Up Darling, which I absolutely loved.
I would have rated it a 10/10 if the movie had ended when Kaguya left Earth and went to the Moon. But the whole 8,000-year lore didn’t really click with me. By the end, I honestly didn’t even know what was going on in the story. 😭
But yeah, I absolutely loved the first 1 hour and 30 minutes of this movie. The animation was solid, and the emotional moments really hit me.
Overall, still a movie I really enjoyed. ❤️
Read at the sourceEuphoArsTaa
Damn, that went above my expectations. I must say, if you love high quality animation, this one is for you. It's so good to the point you will feel guilty not seeing it in theatres. It's like if Lyoris Recoil and Needy Streamer Overload had a baby together.
Before I watched this anime, I thought it would be a decent yuri, but my goodness was I not expecting countless impact frames, and breath taking visuals. The tints and hues of the frames are breathtaking, always a sucker for those green and blue combinations. The action in the middle of this movie would give JJK a run for it's money, because how tf does a yuri have no business competing with MAPPA!? Not to mention I saw some beauty overlap with My Dress Up Darling, Kaguya reminds me of Marin.
Whenever I watch anime, I always fall in l…
Read at the sourceDI0NYSIUS
STORY: 7.25/10 (Review adjusted based on show length)
Complexity: 6
World-building: 7
Pace: 7
Direction: 9
CHARACTERS: 8.3/10 (Review adjusted based on show length)
Quantity vs. Quality Ratio: 10
Development: 8
Depth: 7 ART, ANIMATION & MUSIC: 9/10 (Review adjusted based on air date)
Art Style: 9
Animation Quality: 8
Soundtrack & SFX Quality: 10
ENJOYMENT LEVEL: 8/10
===============================================
Cosmic Princess Kaguya! is a feel-good, fun, mainstream anime movie that bundles all the trendy entertainment elements into one package. Internet culture, comedy, a good message, action, tough real life—you have it all, and there's nothing wrong with that. It's a movie you can watch with family or friends of all ages and walk away smiling ear to ear. It should be noted that…
Read at the sourceLumenLighter
Its okay, the pacing is kind of ass and the story feels kind of disjointed at places. Story elements kind of pop out of thin air and for a 2 hour long film there really is no time to linger on anything. I am not someone who is familiar with the original story so this was a standalone experience for me and it was a fine one I suppose. The animation is absolutely superb which is expected for a film but it still was a standout for me. Overall unless you kind of want a mindless experience watching cute characters doing cute things with each other then its a fine watch.
Read at the sourcePresident_Megumi
From my Letterboxd Review: “Hard to call this doomed yuri in good faith when one of them was an actual baby when they met, but I'll try not to think about that too hard (the movie clearly does not want me to).”
This was such a surprising love letter to everything I loved on the internet from 6th to 8th grade. Hearing some of those Vocaloid songs in 2026 was such a wild (and perhaps indulgent) time that really enhanced my viewing experience (not to mention the random Beat Saber reference).
Also, generally speaking, I loved the brother character (and his associated group).
I’m giving this is a 6/10 here because I gave it at 3/5 on Letterboxd (and we’re trying to keep things consistent), but it feels more like a 6.5ish to be frank. This won’t be for everyone, but it is pretty fun if you…
Read at the sourceNeonNekoNexus
I just wanted to say that the studios really went all in for this one. The songs are great, the plot takes one big loop into completion. Animation is amazing, everything is fluid, effects are so good that i don't even know if they drew everything by hand.
The most satysfaying part is the happy ending. I really liked this one and I recommend watching this. Action, development, music and animation, everything was very well delivered with nothing lacking.
Honestly 9/10 seems really fair, but for this one i go with 10/10, because in it's own genre there is nothing clearly better. The only contender would be "Vivy: Fluorite Eye's Song", but Cosmic Princess Kaguya packed a stronger punch with it's more condensed plot (because it's a movie).
Read at the sourceDrKindnes
This movie was incredible. The animation was stunning, the story was unique and engaging, and the character dynamics were fun and full of energy. The art style perfectly complemented the futuristic world, making every scene visually captivating. What I loved most was that every character had their own distinct personality and cool sense of style, which made the cast feel memorable and alive. The characters also reacted to events and situations in ways that felt realistic and believable, making it easy to connect with them and become invested in their journeys.
I absolutely loved the twist at the end, and it even brought a few tears to my eyes. Honestly, I struggled to find any major flaws with the movie-the only minor issue for me was that a few moments felt a bit cringe. Other than that,…
Read at the sourceFirechick12012
You're all going to hate me for this, but...I honestly don't understand why this movie is so popular. I originally wanted to check this out because it was directed by the guy who directed the Pokemon: Twilight Wings webseries, which I really liked. I guess now I ought to realize that even good directors don't always put out good stories, and unfortunately, I wasn't big on Cosmic Princess Kaguya. It took me a long time to even finish it, that's how much I couldn't stand it. The story centers on beleagared high schooler Iroha Sakayori, a girl who is living by herself, going to school, and working after getting into a fight with her perfectionistic mother. Adding to her already hectic life is the discovery of a baby glowing from a magical bamboo in the utility pole outside her apartment. Not…
Read at the sourcecaptchromosome
It's like that one Studio Ghibli movie if it was melodramatic yurislop mostly set in a metaverse-esque virtual reality, with extremely generic and repetitive music.
About half-way through the movie, inside of the virtual reality thingy, there's a match of what's basically League of Legends that takes up like 20 minutes, that's kind of important to the plot. It's kind of random, and it just happens, and that's basically how most the movie is. It's not even one of those movies where you can turn your brain off and enjoy it, simply because it has no redeeming qualities besides the animation. The plot is unbelievably all over the place, especially the last 30 mins. The characters are mid at best, and annoying at worst.
To top it all off, this makes for the longest animated movie I've seen…
Read at the sourceKatsutoSaki
I just completed the anime Cosmic Princess Kaguya! ONA yesterday. And I must say, I felt compelled to add my thoughts about the show here.
This review may contain very mild spoilers, at least not as much as the synopsis on this page.
To kick off, this is another anime by Netflix. And the thing about Netflix is that their content is very easy to follow with no depth to the show they make. And despite their colorful and fluid animations, these shows except for a handful have never been memorable. That is, you watched it, you may have liked it and moved on with no whatsoever lingering thoughts about what you just watched. But this movie although it follows a similar path, it hits differently. And the result is quite memorable with lingering thoughts and pondering about what you experienced.…
Read at the sourceSobornost
Style versus substance is a debate as old as time. It doesn’t really matter which one prefers, but it helps to know of which a work is most constituted.
Chou Kaguya-hime! is a retelling of the story of Kaguya-hime, the princess of the moon found in bamboo. Here she’s still a princess, but she’s found instead inside a glowing lamp-post, by Iroha. Iroha is a high school student balancing her first taste of independence, her studies, and her part-time job. On top of that, she’s heavily invested in the virtual world of Tsukiyomi – a virtual space that features gaming, streaming, music and more. In particular, she’s a big fan of Tsukiyomi’s AI… owner? administrator? mascot? Yachiyo.
Though initially a baby, Kaguya quickly grows into a teenager (skipping over what probably would have been a mo…
Read at the sourceSSJ-SUP3RM4N
How much of a draw the music itself is in any one music anime can vary. Does the music complement a story? Is it the main subject matter? Does it tell a story completely on its own? In the boom of the music genre that the medium has seen this decade, every entry benefiting from it has been defined by how music is incorporated into those stories as well as how the production of the music influences the greater approach to those animes’ design. Cosmic Princess Kaguya, one of Netflix’s first anime offerings of 2026, uses its music to take a tale as old as time and turn it on its head. What exactly do I mean by that? This review will give one take on that question. Let’s begin.
As the synopsis states clearly, the basis of this story is a modern-day retelling of one of Japan’s oldest, arguably…
Read at the sourceemberreviews
Cosmic Princess Kaguya! is a stunningly animated and moving remix on the classic Kaguya myth that I should theoretically care about much more than I actually do. With auteur animator Shingo Yamashita helming his first feature film as director, this one’s packed to the brim with explosively vibrant and fluid animation, incredibly cute character designs, and a warm, lush color palette that makes every scene burst with life and energy. I will say though that Yamashita’s particular style, when used in such high concentrations as it is here, does lend to a certain uncanniness that strikes me as a bit too “video game cutscene”-y at times.
While I’m not exactly a fan of the core Kaguya myth, I do like the balance this film strikes between maintaining its original framework and breaking out of it…
Read at the sourceHoangThanh12
Is the story unique? It doesn’t try to reinvent everything, but the way it presents familiar themes feels fresh enough to stay engaging. Even when certain moments are a bit predictable, I still enjoyed it a lot because the execution and overall vibe really carry the experience.
The art style fits the story very well. It has a distinctive look that enhances both the emotional and atmospheric moments, making everything feel more immersive rather than just “pretty visuals.”
As for the characters, they feel quite well-rounded. They’re not perfect — they have their own strengths and flaws, which makes their interactions and development more interesting. No one feels unrealistically overpowered or one-dimensional.
Character reactions are generally believable. The way they respond to situation…
Read at the source
