Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.5

Lonely Castle in the Mirror Blu-ray Movie Review

Lonely Castle in the Mirror is a charming and strange fantasy fable for imaginative audiences. Created by Mizuki Tsujimura, Lonely Castle in the Mirror is a unique and fantastical anime film with a fun and thrilling concept. The Lonely Castle in the Mirror feature-film highlights a fun theme song performed by Yuri. Executive produced by Nobuyuki Iinuma (That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime: Scarlet Bond) and Shigeaki Yoshida, Lonely Castle in the Mirror features animation produced by A-1 Pictures (Fairy Tail, Sword Art Online). Produced by Hirotaka Aragaki (Peach Girl), Kei Kushiyama (Napping Princess, BELLE), Lonely Castle in the Mirror doesn’t fit in a neat little box as an anime project – the film has a creativity that is magical.

Kokoro (Ami Tōma) isn’t a popular girl at school. Instead of gaining the attention of her peers and being a “popular kid”, she instead finds herself being a bit of an outcast from others. Kokoro is taken by total surprise when she discovers a magical portal sitting inside of her own bedroom mirror. After taking an extended break from school, Kokoro decides to enter the portal and she becomes magically transported through the mirror to a new and strange world of magic and enchantments.

The portal brought her to a mysterious castle and she soon is introduced to a strange girl who wears a wolf mask over her face – the girl extends her invitation to Kokoro and to others gathered for a special “game” in the lonely castle. As things unfold, the game begins to become more than just a game – if these youths gathered together can’t unlock the truth of the puzzle game and resolve what unites each and every single one of them together, the wolf-mask girl might cause the more trouble than ever expected. The fate of losing? Being eaten alive by a wolf.

The character journey of Kokoro is one of the best things about the feature-film. Kokoro is a compelling lead hero and her role in the story is one that allows for a relatable and engaging protagonist. Fans of anime films with some character depth and introspective filmmaking will appreciate the character. A noteworthy lead for the film and a character whom anyone who has ever felt alone will relate to.

The chief animation direction and character designs by Keigo Sasaki (Blue Exorcist, World Conquest Zvezda Plot) are fantastic and enormously inventive. The animation style for the film is exquisite and a good enough reason to check out Lonely Castle in the Mirror. Alongside the art direction by Hiromichi Itō (Strike Witches: Road to Berlin, Sorairo Utility), Lonely Castle in the Mirror provides a compelling artistry, tapestry, and sense of wonder. The team of animators involved on the production delivered unique visuals for the film and the fantasy style of the story is enhanced a great deal by their contributions.

The cinematography by Toshiaki Aoshima (Eromanga Sensei, Silver Spoon) and Yohei Miyawaki (Engage Kiss, Interviews with Monster Girls) is lush and stupendous. The cinematography showcases the unique and colorful animation in a compelling way. The cinematography also often reflects the sometimes darker and more gothic aspects of the castle. These elements add to the visual wonder of the production.

The score composed by Harumi Fuuki (Management of a Novice Alchemist, Digimon Adventure: Last Evolution Kizuna) is engaging and provides some compelling notes to the filmmaking. The score is engaging and provides a nice backdrop to the storytelling. The score adds a sense of wonder and mystery to the filmmaking. A good score by Fuuki.

Written by Miho Maruo (Ultra Maniac, Les Misérables - Shōjo Cosette), Lonely Castle in the Mirror is a fun and unexpected little anime feature. The film is often character-centric and it has some slice of life elements alongside the more fantastical aspects of the story. The script is entertaining and the sense of adventure within the mirror world makes the film more enjoyable.

Directed by Keiichi Hara (The Wonderland, Summer Days with Coo), Lonely Castle in the Mirror is well worth seeing. The film has a nice sense of ambition and creativity that makes it noteworthy. The film manages to evoke a sense of whimsy while exploring the mystery of the mirror and the castle itself. Director Hara has fun with the concept and Lonely Castle in the Mirror is visually engaging. Well worth a watch.

Lonely Castle in the Mirror Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Released on Blu-ray by Shout Factory, Lonely Castle in the Mirror is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high-definition in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.78:1 widescreen. The Blu-ray has impressive high-definition visuals with excellent colors and detail. The presentation quality looks outstandingly good with superb definition during the transfer. The animation is colorful and the production is well showcased with the quality of the encoding provided on the release. The Blu-ray provides a nice presentation and one that will surpass streaming platforms (which offer video with more compressed video bit-rates). Blu-ray continues to offer fans the best video quality possible with superior encoding. This is something that will appeal to those wanting to eek out every possible detail in the film and its animation. Though the release perhaps could have been further improved a little by a 4K UHD release and a HDR grade, the Blu-ray presentation still looks admirably impressive and offers a nice visual experience that will satisfy viewers.

Lonely Castle in the Mirror Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release includes a selection of lossless audio options: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (with English subtitles). The lossless audio quality on the release is excellent and provides audiences with an excellent option with either the original Japanese language track or the English dubbed selection. The surrounds were actively engaged during the sound mix and the soundstage allows for good room for the score to be well integrated into the mix.

 Sound effects also sound crisp and invigorating on the release. The lossless encoding is one of the best things about the release. Blu-ray offers audiophiles a superb lossless audio experience – far superior to any offering on streaming video platforms. Streaming video services offer only lossy (non lossless) digital audio with more compression. For those who expect and want the best for the experience, Blu-ray provides the best solution.

Lonely Castle in the Mirror Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The one area of the release that could have been improved more significantly would be the supplemental package. The release doesn't include any audio commentaries, behind-the-scenes documentaries, cast & crew interviews, and other making-of featurettes. These extras would have improved the package and could have added some extra value to the release. The release may also have benefited by having more impressive packaging – some sort of collectors edition with art cards, a booklet with writing on the film, and details on the production. A collector's art box would have spiced up the release, too. As it stands, the release comes in a standard Blu-ray case and the first print run has a limited run o-card slipcover.

Art Gallery includes 177 click-through slides. This is the most significant supplement on the release and it is one that should be considered worthwhile for fans of art books showcasing artwork from a film production. The art is exquisite and there are some great slides showcases art used during the film development and production. Fans of Lonely Castle in the Mirror should check out the slides, which provide an almost art-book-esque look at the animation.

Trailers (HD, 4:10)

Lonely Castle in the Mirror Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Lonely Castle in the Mirror is an engaging and thoughtful anime feature. The production values are great – the animation being at the forefront of the film's success. The art style makes a great impression and helps bring out the best in the story. The film has a creative and engaging art style and the tale unfolds with a sense of mystery and intrigue. The Blu-ray release provides a solid video and audio presentation with quality encoding – especially noteworthy is the lossless audio presentation, providing an enjoyable listening experience during the feature-film. The release also includes a nice art gallery featuring 177 slides of illustrations. The release is well worth a pick-up for fans of the film. Recommended.