Kaguya-sama: Love is War redefined the anime rom-com genre, standing out as a masterclass with its unique storytelling and relatable humor. Beyond its deceptively simple rom-com label, the series consists of complex explorations of human relationships, that have captured millions of hearts worldwide.
The romantic elements of the series take place in the third season of the anime, while the previous seasons deliver some of the most relatable and intellectually stimulating comedies in recent times. Now, one might wonder, what exactly sparked creator Aka Akasaka to come up with this modern masterpiece? Despite its current global phenomenon status, Kaguya-sama’s origin had enough uncertainty and self-doubt.
Kaguya-Sama: Love is War Brought a Sense of Escapism to The Fans & The Author Alike
The much-talked-about romcom, Kaguya-Sama: Love is War, was actually born of a rather unlikely spark of creativity. In an interview, Aka Akasaka revealed how the idea occurred to him during a routine day of casually smoking food in his home. It reminded him of the very uneventful school life that he had led as a school student.
To Akasaka, Kaguya-Sama is a personal escapism that helps him re-experience his missed youth. Devoid of real-life romantic experiences, his emotions shaped the narrative of Kaguya-Sama, where intellect and wit reign supreme. As a result, the story follows an elite high school setting, far from reality as it may be, which becomes his dreamscape to explore what he wishes to experience in his own adolescence.
So I thought I could reclaim some of my youth through my own manga. That’s why the setting of Kaguya-sama is my dream, my fantasy. For me, emotions like this often serve as the foundation of my manga.
The moment the show started gaining much fanfare, it became evident that Akasaka’s personal fantasy had actually struck a chord with the audience. It shared similar desires for escapism with the viewers, bringing much-needed relief from complexities in real life. Through Kaguya-Sama, one can enjoy a witty idealized world of love, friendship, and self-discovery that reflects exactly what Akasaka wished for in his lost days of youth.
Aka Akasaka Had a Feeling That No One Would Find His Work Interesting!
Akasaka, however, had many doubts about his project, but they got washed away as he actually ended up creating a masterpiece. In the same interview, he mentioned that he was worried, readers would not like his works. He feared the concept was too familiar and not original. So, he kept questioning his ideas and became anxious about the reception of Kaguya-Sama.
And besides, I thought that “two tsunderes who like each other having battles of the mind” was a very common concept. Of course I believed that I came up with interesting takes on the concept, but still, it was my first time. I kept asking myself, “Are these ideas even good?”
These doubts were quickly quelled when the readers sang praises for the innovative premise of the series. His unique twist on the genre, containing some of the most intellectual romantic battles, was able to do justice to the characters’ motivations.
The success of Kaguya-Sama is solid proof of Akasaka’s ability to weave through a story about all the complexities a typical teenage student faces in his youth. By embracing his own self-doubt, he created a refreshingly honest and hilarious exploration of love and relationships. His doubts about himself now become a poignant reminder that even the most accomplished creators face hardships. And sometimes, the most innovative ideas lie just beyond the boundaries of our own self-perceived limitations.
Kaguya-sama: Love is War is available to stream on Disney+ Hotstar & Netflix.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
