‘Kaguya Sama: Love Is War – The First Kiss That Never Ends’ Review: “A Charming Cinematic Escapade”

***This Review Contains Spoilers For Kaguya-sama: Love Is War – Ultra Romantic***

Picking up right after the events of the Kaguya-sama: Love Is War – Ultra Romantic season finale, the movie offers a quick refresher for viewers and makes it very clear this is not a good jumping-on point for newcomers. And so Kaguya Sama: Love Is War – The First Kiss That Never Ends deals with the natural fallout of the first kiss between Kaguya and Shirogane that can only happen between these two tsundere. Featuring the top-notch voice acting and smooth animation expected of this series, the movie is not only essential viewing for fans but is hugely enjoyable.

The movie puts Kaguya front and center for much of the story, as the events of last season’s finale have essentially fried her brain. Having to deal with the stress of what her kiss with Shirogane means for the two of them and their future results in her reverting to her more cold and harsh persona. And while at first, it seems like this could be a step back for her character, it leads to some exciting development as she learns to be true to herself and more forthcoming with her own emotions.

But despite the focus being on Kaguya for the majority of the movie, Shirogane still gets a chance to shine. Much like Kaguya, the kiss and the unexpected consequences of it prove too much to bear for the young president. From here, the movie gives him a chance to rise from all the stress and open up about his own shortcomings, and have a chance to be his more authentic self.

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With Kaguya and Shirogane dominating the movie, one unfortunate drawback is that the supporting cast falls into the background for much of the film. Characters like Chika and Ishigami are highlights of the series but don’t really have any chances to shine in this story besides a few fun comedic moments. This is understandable, given the direction of this arc, but it may still be disappointing for fans of the series’ fantastic supporting cast.

In addition to a fantastic cast of characters, Love is War has always had smooth animation, making these characters feel real in their movements while also adding to their exaggerated nature. This is still true in the movie, which features not only that same feel but also some engaging action. The smooth animation is balanced with beautiful backgrounds that draw the viewers in and highlight the characters in each scene. Additionally, the movie does a great job transitioning from the fun and comedic nature of some moments to the more dramatic ones. 

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The animation goes hand in hand with the top-notch voice acting expected of the series. One of the best ways to describe the cast of Love is War, at times, is unhinged, which is due in part to the range of their voice actors. Kaguya (voiced by Aoi Koga) goes from harsh and distant to adorable and cutesy over a dozen times in the span of two minutes, and the voice work always feels natural. Additionally, the voice actors still shine in the more intimate and dramatic moments, especially between Kaguya and Shirogane (voiced by Makoto Furukawa). The realness of their performances enhances the story and helps to bring out the emotional developments of the characters they play.

Overall, Kaguya Sama: Love Is War – The First Kiss That Never Ends has no glaring faults and will undoubtedly be a fantastic time for fans of the series. The only debate it may bring up is why the studio chose to adapt this arc as a film rather than a normal season, but the chance to watch this story in a theater might be all the reason needed. So, for now, fans can enjoy the film and look forward to the fourth season to see where Kaguya and Shirogane’s relationship will go.– Jacob Campbell

Rating: 9/10

Kaguya Sama: Love Is War – The First Kiss That Never Ends is currently playing in select theaters.