Kagami no Kojou

In a tranquil neighborhood of Tokyo, seven students are avoiding going to school—hiding in their darkened bedrooms, unable to face their family and friends—until the moment they find the mirrors in their bedrooms are shining.

At a single touch, they are pulled from their lonely lives into a wondrous castle straight out of a Grimm's fairy tale. This whimsical place, oddly lacking in food and running water but full of electrical sockets, is home to a petulant girl in a mask, named Wolf Queen and becomes their playground and refuge during school hours. Hidden within the walls, they're told there's a key that will grant one wish, as well as a set of clues to find it. But there's a catch: the key must be found by the end of the school year and they must leave the premises by five o'clock each day or else suffer a fatal end.

As time passes, a devastating truth emerges: only those brave enough to share their stories will be saved. And so they begin to unlock each other's stories: how a boy is showered with more gadgets than love; how another suffers a painful and unexplained rejection, and how a girl lives in fear of her predatory stepfather. As they struggle to abide by the rules of the game, a moving story unfolds, of seven characters trapped in a cycle of misunderstanding and loneliness, who are ultimately set free by the power of friendship, empathy, and sacrifice.

(Source: Erewhon Books, edited)

Anzai, Kokoro Main

Touma, Ami Japanese

Inoue, Akiko Supporting

Kiryuu, Sakura Japanese

Ookami-sama Supporting

Ashida, Mana Japanese

Mizumori, Rion Supporting

Kitamura, Takumi Japanese

Hasegawa, Fuuka Supporting

Yokomizo, Naho Japanese

Masamune, Aasu Supporting

Takayama, Minami Japanese

Kitajima-sensei Supporting

Miyazaki, Aoi Japanese

Ida-sensei Supporting

Fujimori, Shingo Japanese

School Nurse Supporting

Takizawa, Karen Japanese

Kokoro's Mother Supporting

Aso, Kumiko Japanese

Obuse, Kensuke Assistant Producer

Hara, Keiichi Director

Nagatomo, Takakazu Episode Director

Yuuri Theme Song Performance

Reviews

Jan 27, 2023

kumajoi

Recommended

My first impression. The foreshadowing is wonderful. Reminds me of my childhood. A slightly dark story continues, but at the end you can see the path of light.

- Great foreshadowing
As written in the story synopsis, this is the story of seven junior high school students who are unable to go to school due to various problems, and the castle's master, who wears a wolf mask.
The original novel was released in 2017. In 2018, the bookstore grand prize (given to the book that bookstores want to sell the most). Many people admire this story.

I saw the movie without reading the original novel. Until the middle of ... the story, there are scenes that calm down, but overall it's dark. There is also fear. However, at the end, the foreshadowing gathers and the heart trembles at the ending. By the middle of the movie, I kind of figured out the trick of the movie. When I finally figured out that it was the right answer, my emotions were greatly elevated. It may be a simple, common trick. But a wonderful script that could make use of that trick.

I think fans of the original novel will be happy with this movie. Of course, the original author is also pleased (details will be described later). I want to read the original novel as soon as possible.

- Character expressions and clothes
Junior high school students who are unable to do not go to school. The theme is a little heavy. Sometimes they darken their faces, sometimes they get scared. But they also have times when their hearts soften, and times when they have courage. Many facial expressions are drawn. Personally, I like how the character's clothes change with the seasons. Of course, the everyday world and castles are also wonderful.


Well,
In my reviews, I often write about what it looked like when it was released in Japan. This time, I was able to participate in a talk event with director Keiichi Hara and author Miduki Tsujimura.
Director Keiichi Hara has been join in many Japanese animations, including the Crayon Shin-chan movie. The original author of Miduki Tsujimura is a popular writer. Her novels are often turned into drama series and movies.

## After that, little spoilers





There were various talk topics, but I would like to tell MAL two things.

1. In the middle of the movie, characters say great lines. (That is, I highly recommend watching with subtitles.) At the talk event, I was able to see the post-recorded script, but the lines was handwritten. In other words, a lines that was added at the director's idea during recording. The director apparently recorded it as Plan B, but he realized it worked as a foreshadowing, so it was used.

2. "Anywhere door" shoes problem. They go back and forth between the room and the castle through mirrors. Like Doraemon and Nobita. When Tujimura wrote the novel he wasn't thinking about shoes. However, Director Hara prepared shoes in front of the mirror. Tsujimura seems to have been impressed by this. This is with Doraemon!
Tsujimura says he loved Hara's anime since he was a kid. Especially Chimpui. (Tsujimura has also written a script for a Doraemon movie [Doraemon the Movie: Nobita's Chronicle of the Moon Exploration (movie 2-14)] ). Director Hara has participated in Doraemon and other Fujiko F. Fujio animations for many years.
Tsujimura was thrilled to be working with one of his favorite animators, Hara. Great anime makes great animators for future.


A personal story at the end of the review.
I thought back to my childhood. There were times when I was sad. It's a small thing now, but I remember the feeling. Children's world is small because what they can do with their power is limited. Especially Japanese children. I remember struggling too. What I can do is release that littleness.
And do the exact same thing for me as an adult.

Reviewer’s Rating: 8

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Jun 16, 2023

AeroGunz

Mixed Feelings

Informative

Well-written

“Lonely Castle in the Mirror” is what happens when You have a pretty nice idea with a twist and absolutely butcher the drama in it.

At first glance You might think we will follow seven different characters on their journeys. That’s a negative. We see the plot and follow mostly one of them, our MC - Kokoro Anzai. One day, while avoiding school she is transported through the mirror into a castle in the middle of nowhere. There she meets six more young teenagers and a mysterious girl, clothed in a red dress and a wolf’s mask.
They are given a challenge: Enter the room that ... cannot be entered by finding a key. There will be granted one wish. They have about a year to do so.
That’s the premise and I think it’s pretty solid. Mixing red riding hood with a little bit of Alice through the looking glass and The Wolf And The Seven Little Goats (which turned out to be a real story for kids. I did not know that. You learn something everyday) to create a world that needs little explanation apart from “Just roll with it”. I think that’s one of the most solid world buildings I’ve seen. You don’t need more. You know the rules of the real world and You know the rules of fairy tales and fables. That’s it. Thanks to that the movie can concentrate more on the plot itself.

The plot… yeah… here’s where we start to stumble.
Despite having seven characters that are pretty unique when it comes to background and reasons to avoid school the movie does jack shit with all but three. Kokoro, Aki and Rion are the only ones that are given at least some time to get to know. The rest are just there to fill space. Yes, we get to know each person’s reason but it’s done in such a half-assed way that You won’t get to care that much. Shame because I would love to know more about them. That said, Aki's trauma isn’t treated too well. It’s just used as a catalyst for the last act. Nothing more, nothing less. Due to the fact that her experience is pretty serious (more so than most others) I think it’s a disservice to the character and the situation itself. The only trauma that’s played… adequate (no way I’m calling it well written, it’s not) is Kokoro’s. I won’t spoil it but it gives a pretty nice view of her reasons to avoid school.
The rest of the traumas are done in a very cheap way to make us give a damn. Some sob moments with sad music in the background. Lazy, unoriginal and done far too late in the movie to make me care.

I think the movie's biggest problem is the size of the cast. There are too many characters for a 2 hour movie. There is no way the writers could do them justice. I get that it’s an adaptation of the book but making the cast smaller ( I would say, max 5) and giving all of them more time to shine would work wonders for the overall plot. As it stands the characters are too one dimensional (apart from our MC of course) and useless. Most don’t drive the plot forward or even help with world building. They are just there. Shame cause I think most of them had potential. Of course there are characters that were written to the story only to be token characters and You can tell from the start.

Now for, probably, the best part of the movie - the mystery. There are actually two. One is the room of wishes, the other is related to the characters. I really have little to complain about any of them. There were clues to solve both. Some better than others and the most important one (referring to the character one) was given not by background but by framing. I actually appreciate that. What I didn't like is how the characters are basically morons. If they would just ask basic questions about each other, they could decipher one of the secrets before the halfway point. I get they all have their reasons to avoid talking about themselves but even at the halfway point, when they know each other for over 6 months now, they still barely know anything. Since it’s shown that they interact with each other on a pretty close basis I have a hard time believing no one spilled the beans about themselves sooner.

The last problem I personally have with the script is the lack of tension for all but the third act. They have a deadline to achieve their goal. They all have a reason to do so (some better than others) and yet everything is framed like it’s a summer camp. There is only one scene when they are actively looking for the key and even that is killed by flirting. Tension is present in just one scene. One tiny scene at the start of the third act. That’s all. Even the events after it that should be nerve wrecking, given the situation, are pretty laid back.

Now… after all that You might think that this movie is a waste of time. It’s not. It is a pretty solid, middle of the road story about troubled youths. Their struggles, fears and hopes. The interactions between the characters (at least the characters that were given some better material) are pretty enjoyable and worth the time. Even some scenes that are there just to show how close everyone became aren’t all that bad.

Would I recommend this?
Not with a clear conscience. It’s not bad, but there are so many better movies out there that this one is for people that don’t mind mediocrity in writing.

Reviewer’s Rating: 6

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May 11, 2024

graspulver

Not Recommended

I was really disappointed with this adaptation from manga/book to anime. So many details were missing, even important ones. It's a shame because the book is really good. Watching it, you don't even get to know the main character properly. Of course, she doesn't talk much, but she has a lot of inner monologues that build up her character. The other characters have as much personality, which is a shame. Everything is so random, and the pacing is even worse because the movie is so rushed. Let's not talk about the animation.
I wouldn't recommend this movie, and I'd rather suggest reading the book. I ... haven't read the manga, so I can't really say anything about it.

Reviewer’s Rating: 1

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	There's actually an epilogue to this film Jax - Apr 8	9 replies	by Jax »» Jul 1, 2:04 AM
	Poll: Kagami no Kojou Episode 1 Discussion ( 1 2 ) Usopp8000 - Jan 1, 2023	51 replies	by Rei_III »» Jun 30, 11:09 AM
	Over a year, movie is still loved by many people. kumajoi - Feb 9	5 replies	by BassDrivenM »» Mar 24, 2:46 PM
	Is this English Dubbed? OtakuSociety8 - Feb 10	3 replies	by Akmalbarg47c »» Feb 12, 9:07 AM
	Beautiful movie, if it gets a local release, don't miss it. blenderben - Dec 25, 2022	3 replies	by sxnchit »» Jun 20, 2023 10:20 AM