This review contains spoilers. You have been warned. I watched the first three seasons of Takagisana little less than two years ago nowand probably like most of you reading this review enjoyed it. I like a good romcom a little more than the next guy and I value Takagisans wholesome sliceoflifeoriented approach: unafraid to put romance on the backburner the series primarily focuses on the entertaining and endearing dynamic between its two leads slowly advancing their relationship and romance in the process. However at the time I didnt think much more of the series to me it was just an aboveaverage romcom though more heartfelt and wholesome than the rest. https://i.ur.com/mNKu1et.jpeg A few months back I heard that a sequel movie for Takagisan came out. But I wasnt watching much anime at the time so I only got around to watching it now. And I only chose this film in particular because I wanted to watch something shorter in length and finally finish a series I started long ago. However I was not expecting this movie to enthrall me as much as it did. To put it simply this movie completely blew it out of the park: it absolutely shattered my expectations going aboveandbeyond the original series to tell a heartfelt story of youth and young romance. As I mentioned its been a long time since I watched the TV anime so I cant quite remember how good it was. But even I can tell that this movie is a step above its predecessors. It was so good in fact that I decided to spontaneously write a review for it. https://i.ur.com/FCInxWu.png Despite its somewhat short length this movie brilliantly manages its allotted time balancing its sincere plotlines without any of them feeling rushed or underdeveloped. And thats thanks to this films excellent pacing which knew exactly when to linger on a moment when to skip ahead or move on and when to include a nicelytimed montage with a beautiful Yuiko Ohara insert. The production possibly because of a movielevel budget far surpasses the TV anime. The art looks substantially better acrosstheboard: the cleaner and more detailed character designs allow for a lot more expression in the characters and some of the backgrounds look genuinely breathtaking. The soundtrack gentle and subdued beautifully complements the art to create some remarkably touching moments. Even the directing feels more inspired following show dont tell to a tee and accentuating the beautiful scenery around them. https://i.ur.com/Iq9xmxO.png https://i.ur.com/hPeZjF2.png This films portrayal of youth and the joys associated with it is simply sublime. There are so many beautiful examples of the characters just enjoying this wonderful time of their lives: whether theyre passing the time with friends enjoying a vibrant school life relishing the wonderful summer weather making the most of their school break or appreciating those around them there are so many wonderful examples of youth that romanticize this idyllic period of life. I also love how this film makes far greater use of its setting placing a subdued yet significant emphasis on rural life and Japanese culture as a whole. There are so many beautiful shots of the coast shrines and even birdseye views of the island that werent nearly as prominent in the anime. A scene where a character says its summer is fine but a scene where a character says that and then the view zooms out to show a panorama of the gorgeousblue coast and the sunny island really conveys that its summer and this movie is chockfull of instances like that. https://i.ur.com/HcjcZyX.jpeg https://i.ur.com/ST8b7xf.png The combination of the art and the setting creates an incredibly soothing atmosphere one thats unique to anime with beautifully rural Japanese settings. Theres something intrinsically appealing about this type of anime which idealizes a certain lifestyle or location. Theyre comfortable nostalgic and familiar making me wish I could live this type of life despite my happiness with my current circumstances. And this atmosphere comfortable yet mildly bittersweet excellently complements the movies portrayal of time and its idealized depictions of youth and romance. Time never played a significantly large role in the anime series while there were small developments in the relationship between the main leads the series leaned into its timeless formula to create a comfortable and wholesome atmosphere. However you can consistently feel the presence of time in this film: Takagi Nishikatas middle school graduation is soon approaching Sanae is considering transferring to a faraway high school and Takao is taking class pictures to use as mementos of their tranquil youth. https://i.ur.com/HMCrObx.png The first part of the movie follows the series triedandtrue formula including some nice moments between the leads highlighting the current stage of their relationship and emphasizing the unavoidable passage of time. It felt a lot like the best parts of seasons 2 and 3 but combined into a single movie with far greater production. However the movie abandons its formulaic nature in the middle by introducing a plotline that throws a wrench in their dynamic. Takagi Nishikata stumble upon a stray cat by accident and since shes so cute decide to care for her. Lost in the cats adorableness the leads completely forget their roles: Nishikata doesnt get embarrassed overly blush or overthink things and Takagi doesnt tease Nishikata. Instead they temporarily relieve their positions and abandon their dynamic to focus on caring for and rehoming this cute cat. Honestly I found this part of the movie to be super refreshing it was nice to see Takagi Nishikata relishing their time together and acting like kids temporarily forgetting their slowlyapproaching graduation or romantic endeavors and just enjoying each others company. https://i.ur.com/mHnmuRp.png However good things dont always last. Due to an unfortunate circumstance out of their control the cat is taken from them right after they resolve to adopt her. The cute kitten theyve spent their summer break caring for is now gone and theyll likely never see her again. You can really feel just how painful this separation was for our leads the director did an outstanding job demonstrating their anguish never showing us their faces and lingering on a melancholic scene of them slowly walking across a bridge with the beautiful sunset in the background. https://i.ur.com/MBkXhZD.png The introduction of the cat was not only a refreshing suspension of Takagi Nishikatas dynamic but also a grim reminder that happy times dont last forever. Things change people move on and sometimes its better to let go. This ties in perfectly with the movies emphasis on the passage of time from the beginning warning our leads that they should seize the things they care about before they disappear. Its in this vein when Nishikata sees a crying Takagi that his resolve comes forth. No overthinking or crazy blushing. The girl he loves is crying in front of him. What else should he do but say hell make her happy? I really like this scene because its not some overdramatized or melodramatic confession with loudly swelling music and constant blushing. Theyre both sad and have just witnessed firsthand that things dont last forever: why wouldnt they advance their relationship before it falls apart? No I love you or Will you go out with me? is necessary theyve both been long aware of each others feelings. All they need is resolve and a promise for the future. https://i.ur.com/tn96OIz.png https://i.ur.com/nTDmw0z.png Needless to say I love this part of the movie and I love the way it finishes: it ties up so many looseends both from the TV anime and the films first half. There are so many small details in this final part of the movie that add so much to this already great product. For example the movie not only resolves the romance ending with a mutual promise to make each other happy but also does so at the festival they promised to return to in the second season. The film also parallels its beginning montage with the leads playing the same rockpaperscissors game in the same spots demonstrating how although their relationship has advanced to its next stage theyre still the same as before and theyll continue to get up to the same antics now and in the future. They even pass by a cat and smile showing how theyve fully moved on from the loss of their kitten from before and theres a nice scene of Nishikata offering Takagi his hand clearly demonstrating how hell continue to look out for her. Not to mention the postcredits scene that teases the authors spinoff mangahttps://anilist.co/manga/99549/KarakaiJouzunoMotoTakagisan/ showing Takagi Nishikata happily married with a child finally getting to experience the fireflies from the first part of the movie. https://i.ur.com/tZ0jH99.png https://i.ur.com/xV7jIY0.png https://i.ur.com/Zkvl6m9.png This movie is a love letter to youth young romance and coastal Japan maintaining and enhancing the animes best qualities and combining them into one brilliant movie. The story and message may be simple but its executed with such brilliance that I cant help but love it. And theres no BS romantic drama or pointlessly overdone melodrama just a simple yet powerful story building off of three seasons of development. Because of that I cannot suggest this movie enough especially to fans of the anime.