Anime Review: Kaguya-sama: Love is War

ANIME REVIEW:

Kaguya-sama: Love is War

RENZ BAUTISTA

Where should I start? Basically, this is my all-time number one favorite anime from all the anime that I have watched.

Kaguya-sama: Love is War is what I can say a perfect romcom (romance-comedy). The anime was adapted from a manga series by Aka Akasaka with its first season produced by A-1 Pictures during the Winter 2019 anime season (12 episodes) and its second season airing during the Spring 2020 anime season (12 episodes). With its third season currently airing, it is the most highly-rated season and currently the most exciting.

[SYNOPSIS s1] In the renowned and famous Shuchiin Academy, the student council, composed of school top representatives, student council president Miyuki Shirogane, who is the number one student of the school (and of the nation), and vice president Kaguya Shinomiya, the eldest daughter of the Shinomiya family and who greatly excels in any field imaginable such as dancing, archery, and martial arts. The school envies the two as they embody the perfect couple. However, even though they have developed feelings towards each other, they do not want to confess it as the first to confess loses the game wherein their pride and honor is at stake, hence the title. With the student council composed of the quirky, funny and noisy Chika Fujiwara and the timid and shy Yuu Ishigami and other supporting characters, who knows what will happen in the student council room and what will the game of love do to these two main characters? [END OF SYNOPSIS s1]

PHOTO SOURCE | MY ANIME LIST

The story is a perfect “relate” to most teen romances nowadays – that of answering the big question of who is making the first move. However, it will not be easy for them as their pride as the top students of the academy is at stake. The comedy happens as how they play the mind games and of course, the wildcard Chika Fujiwara who always turn the tides of the scene and set more reactions due to her unpredictability (You will be admire her character design and of course, her sudden appearances). Overall, the character design is great, although the main premise may be repetitive, but the way on how they execute creative ways to portray tops my mark on the progression. Just to add, *some* love advice may be applicable to real life.

Moving on the technical part, the animation is very great and smooth. I did not recall any CGI being used and other animation flaws. The music, especially its opening and closing themes are very good. The one ending theme with Chika singing and dancing is what actually hooked me to watch the anime and buy the manga. I would recommend watchers to not binge this series (i.e. watch all the episodes at once) because you will miss out the excitement a lot.

If I were to rate it, it would be a ONEMILLION/10. It is the anime that tops my MyAnimeList (particularly the second season) and will be always the first anime to hook me to buy a manga. I would very much recommend this to people finding their first romcom anime or to people who just want a chill and comedy-filled anime. [R]

JOLLIBOTS

My eyes couldn’t believe what I saw As I walked through the drive through Such beautiful pieces of art Jollibots, how I want to pursue

I saw Jollibee And I fell in love He felt so heavenly Like an angel sent from above

I asked my mom if she could buy me some Knowing very well that she’d decline Sure enough, she did, Don’t talk to me, I’m not fine :(

- Ben Nivera

COMFORTABLE WITH YOU

A cold breeze of wind. The stars twinkling above us... Your presence feels warm.

- Zoeline Honrado

A LATE NIGHT ENCOUNTER

Night at a café. The door suddenly opens... A familiar face.

- Zoeline Honrado

https://forms.office.com/r/QKnV7yj4SE