Lonely Castle in the Mirror Review

Bullying has profoundly impacted my life. As I explored in my A Silent Voice feature, the insults directed at me took a toll on my mental health, leaving scars that have yet to fully fade. It will always be a part of me, influencing how I interact with others. However, one aspect of my life that was rarely affected by these experiences was my schoolwork. I rarely missed school because of bullying, nor did I fear that what happened there would intrude upon the sanctity of my home. Unfortunately, this is not the case for everyone. Lonely Castle in the Mirror delves into how bullying affects both mental health and school life, while also highlighting how, even in our darkest moments, we can still form genuine friendships.

We meet Kokoro Anzai (Micah Lin) as she attends a class designed to help her transition back to school after a prolonged absence due to bullying. By May, she is still unable to return. One morning, she wakes up, goes downstairs for breakfast, and tells her mother she isn’t feeling well. While at home, her mirror suddenly glows with a vibrant, magical light. Approaching it, she reaches out, places her hand on the surface, and is unexpectedly pulled inside.

In this mirror realm, she finds herself in front of a grand castle, where she is greeted by a mysterious young girl known as the Wolf Queen (Vivienne Rutherford). Kokoro is led inside and introduced to six other teenagers. The Wolf Queen then presents them with a challenge: a hidden key lies somewhere within the castle, and whoever finds it will be granted a wish. They have until March of the following year to uncover its location.

Animated by A-1 Pictures, the film’s greatest shortcoming is its visual blandness. While each of the studio’s projects maintains a distinct style to some extent, they all share a similar aesthetic, making Lonely Castle in the Mirror visually underwhelming. The character designs are serviceable, and it’s refreshing to see the cast wearing multiple outfits, yet the background art occasionally fades into obscurity. Although the animation is by no means poor, it lacks the visual impact needed to make the film stand out among A-1 Pictures’ other works, leaving me wishing for more.

While the visuals may falter, the narrative more than compensates. Its perspective on bullying is genuinely refreshing. Many films—including, to some extent, A Silent Voice—suggest that bullies can and should be forgiven. In contrast, Lonely Castle in the Mirror firmly asserts that you are not obligated to forgive your bullies and that they should be held able for their actions. The film also powerfully conveys the profound effects of bullying, as we see Kokoro confined to her home, unable to return to school. However, even as her school life remains a nightmare, her experiences in the castle with the six other children show that it is possible to form genuine friendships, even in difficult times.

Initially, Kokoro primarily bonds with Aki (Giselle Fernandez) and Fūka (Zoe Glick), as they are the only other girls in the group. However, as time es, she begins to interact with the boys as well, first with Rion (Huxley Westemeier) and later with Subaru (Kieran Regan), Masamune (Adrian Marrero), and Ureshino (Riley Webb). Together, they play board games, have heartfelt conversations, and eventually open up about their struggles. Though they may seem different on the surface, they soon realize how much they have in common, and it is heartwarming to watch this group of strangers gradually become true friends.

However, as their bond deepens, the film introduces a heartbreaking dilemma. If anyone finds the key and claims the wish, everyone will lose all their memories of the past year. This leads to a devastating ultimatum: should they pursue their wish, or should they preserve the friendships they have formed?

Although it may lack visual flair, Lonely Castle in the Mirror is a deeply moving film that explores its themes of bullying and friendship with remarkable poignancy. It is a heartfelt and rewarding experience that is well worth watching.