The show Kaguya-sama: Love Is War has caused anime fans to fall in love with the series over its three-season run, even flying above Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood in the all-time rankings on MyAnimeList the day the season three finale aired, following a pattern very few have been successful at. But what is it about this show that has captured the heart of its fans?
Kaguya-sama: Love Is War is a romantic comedy showcasing an overly dramatic cat-and-mouse game between the two protagonists, Miyuki Shirogane and Kaguya Shinomiya, who are persistent in forcing the other protagonist to admit their love for each other first. Miyuki Shirogane and Kaguya Shinomiya are both the top student body representatives, and often the other representatives get roped into their shenanigans. The anime has currently run for three seasons, with another project announced directly after the season three finale aired recently. But what is it about this anime that has granted its continuous rise in popularity since its 2019 debut?
Romance And Antics To The Extreme
One thing that makes the romance anime stand out is how it handles romance. Rather than secretly pining for each other, flirting, or overplayed stereotypes, the protagonists are aggressively competing to force the other to admit their love. It feels more like a psychological battle of wits likened to Light and L's frequent back-and-forth events in Death Note than a romance.
For example, the social dynamics of Line read receipts have never felt more life-and-death than in the first episode of season three. Many times their internal monologues sound like lawyers defending their clients to the bitter end. What would be a normal person's last thought filled an entire episode of a ridiculous, yet oddly exhilarating edge-of-your-seat fight between the two protagonists. The mental gymnastics of both protagonists are a trademark of the series, often heightening every situation to feel like life-or-death, making the anime feel like an emotional gladiator tournament.
The anime ramps up the antics with each season. Every passing glance and off-handed comment could send the other protagonist into a mental spiral trying to decipher how to outsmart the other, while both having the same goal of pushing a confession out of the other first. The competitive nature of this anime makes it really unique compared to most romance anime.
Chika... And The Other Side Characters
Although the anime has incredibly interesting and dynamic protagonists, they don't overshadow the equally interesting and wacky side characters. The most notable of which, Chika, was so well-loved and popular, that she became a meme during the first season's run, with the special ending theme song Chikatto Chika Chika sung and danced to by the character, which has received millions and millions of views through dance covers and remixes alone.
Chika is the secretary of the student council that Kaguya and Miyuki are in charge of. She is eccentric, childish, and oblivious. She is also known to be obsessed with the idea of love and often is involved in the protagonist's antics without realizing it. She is also multi-talented, from rapping to speaking five different languages. This odd mix of personality traits makes her stand out from other characters, not just in Kaguya-sama: Love Is War, but within anime as a whole.
Chika isn't the only interesting character, however. Yuu Ishigama, the treasurer of the student council, is a gloomy otaku and ex-member of the cheer squad. Ai Hayasaka is Kaguya's assistant and has four distinct personas to handle different situations. Other characters in the series seem to be equally odd and diverse in personality, making most of them memorable additions to the cast.
A Modern Retelling Of The First Monogatari
A monogatari, put simply, is a traditional Japanese long narrative tale much like an epic novel. Kaguya-sama: Love Is War is a modern loose retelling of The Tale Of The Bamboo Cutter, which is often also called The Tale Of Princess Kaguya. The monogatari stars Princess Kaguya, who is born of the moon and is sought after by five suitors.
Many of the characters are inspired by characters from this monogatari, influencing everything from names, to backstories, and even the personality traits and interests of the characters. Aside from Kaguya's obvious connections to Princess Kaguya, Miyuki is based on the fourth suitor, Chika is based on the second suitor with a habit of cheating during games, Ishigami is based on the fifth suitor who fell to his death, and Ai is based on the celestial envoy from the tale.
Although it is a very loosely inspired modern adaption, it does not follow the same story as the original monogatari. However, it is referenced throughout especially in the character's personalities themselves as well as a few choice references throughout the anime. Reading up on the original monogatari might provide a deeper context than watching the anime without knowing, and is a piece of classical literature worth checking out.
Kaguya-sama: Love Is War is streaming on Crunchyroll