Review of Tsukigakirei

Going into a romance show, I've had my experiences with white album 2 and toradora, where white album 2 was a love triangle done well, and toradora being 2 lovers that are blind. I was expecting a basic love triangle going into the show and came out with a smile on my face with emotions through the roof. Tsuki ga Kirei tells the story of 2 inexperienced lovers that are extremely shy, and have a respectable amount of privacy and room for each other. This tells a different Story 9/10 Tsuki ga Kirei tells the story of 2 inexperienced lovers that are extremely shy and have arespectable amount of privacy and room for each other. This tells a different tale, as there is a rare chance of encountering fan service and avoids any sort of sexualization of anything. Where I feel the story, shines are the general themes of reality set throughout the story, seeing how they play a big factor where plots turn around, and how it affects the plot development. This show incredibly captures high school relationships, as a main way of communication for the main characters are using texts, or LINE in the show. Although this would seem like a boring turnaround for the show and be a lame and lazy way of holding conversations with no atmosphere, I feel its applaudable in this situation due to the lovers being shy and having trouble holding conversations, as it is how they open to each other more and indulge in each others life.

Art 5/10
Mostly the reason why the art is so low is due to the CG in the show being extremely horrific. The creators being lazy put cg models for characters in crowds and in cutscenes, and it just ruined the mood. Having an emotional moment be ruined by everyone but the main characters being cg and looking super shit ruined it for me.
Also, I didn't mind the character art and how they looked, it's somewhat basic but nothing too major.

Sound 7/10
The music is nice, but it isn't anything special that'll blow you out of the park. Some nice piano instrumentals, opening and ending is pretty good, but nothing spectacular.

Characters 8/10
Part of the reason I wasn't liking the show at first was because I saw a lack of character development and neither of them were trying to break out of their shyness. However, I soon noticed that they did include character development in there, they showed that they found out ways to work around it, and I loved it. Kotarou, being shy with talking likes to express his emotions through literature and uses it to express his true emotions on paper. Akane generally likes to demonstrate her emotions through LINE, building courage by squeezing her plush enough due to her anxiety, and finds enough courage to tell others about her relationship status.
Akane can work through her anxiety and tell Kotarou how she feels, and Kotarou also finds courage to stand up for himself and give himself a goal to work for. One thing that Kotarou lacks in life is reasoning. He lacks the drive to do homework, spend quality time with his parents, he only spends time at the library and dance practice because he feels comfortable there. As soon as he finds a reason to do school work and be more efficient in life, you see Kotarou shine with his true colours, as you do with Akane.
The big reason I like the characters so much is how it can pass for a legitimate story, as the characters are realistic with how they work around their problems. It's not supposed to be all happy moments, as the tv show outcome is how it would happen in real life is super different, but this show shows a strong sense of reality in many of the outcomes in the show, won't say too much to spoil.
However, one thing the show lacks imo is a proper supporting cast. I understand having the center point be around Kotarou and Akane, but you can try and include Kotarou's line of friends into the story as well and play some sort of role. It seems that the show declares them as outcasts, and only puts them in moments to where they think is enough to classify them as supporting cast, but generally they had no effect on the story. Akane's did, but Kotarou's group of friends play no general meaning other than to stand there as blank silhouettes with the basic generalization of "supporting cast"

Due to the character development being different and each character having their sort of escape from reality that works into the plot are reasons that I admire the two main characters.
However, due to the lack equality for the supporting cast on Kotarou's side mainly it will bring the score down slightly.

Enjoyment 10/10
I generally enjoyed watching a good romance. The best one I’ve seen so far out of 4 different ones. Even though there are moments where I question the show, there are more moments where I am in awe at how well a show can capture the emotions of a quiet relationship and working around their limits. Although the Art isn't the best and ruins some parts, there is the story that makes up for it that gives it a twist on reality driven events, having the plot revolve around the sense of reality as well and what the true meaning of "love" is. Love is like the same question as "what is the meaning of life". There are different ways people can answer that based on their experiences living and going through everything they do. This show talks about Love as a reason. A reason to change, a goal to grasp, and something to work for as long as you live. It gives you life knowing that you have achieved "love" with someone people question in the show as "why him". The show generally doesn't answer that question, but it leaves you to answer it. Love is something that just happens. The second they laid eyes on each other they start blushing and becoming shy to one another, already sharing a emotional connection on a psychological plane. Love at first sight is what the show generally demonstrates, but loyalty coming along with it, having no doubts and achieving goals as a couple to make yourself the best people you can possibly be by maintaining a relationship with each other.

Love gives Life a meaning.

Overall Rating 8/10
Looking at what truly makes the show shine I’d give this a 9 or even a 10/10 for being an awesome and enjoyable romance. However, due to key details being left out and the art and sound not being too good my overall rating is
8/10
thanks for reading