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Lonely Castle in the Mirror

Play trailer 1:58 Poster for Lonely Castle in the Mirror 2023 1h 56m Fantasy Mystery & Thriller Drama Anime Play Trailer Watchlist
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50% Tomatometer 8 Reviews 90% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
Shy outcast Kokoro has been avoiding school for weeks when she discovers a portal in her bedroom mirror. She reaches through and finds herself transported to an enchanting castle where she is joined by six other students. When a girl in a wolf mask explains that they have been invited to play a game, the teens must work together to uncover the mysterious connection that unites them. However, anyone who breaks the rules will be eaten by a wolf.

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Lonely Castle in the Mirror

Critics Reviews

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Rendy Jones RogerEbert.com 06/22/2023
2/4
A more laid-back dramatic offering than other A1-Pictures features that often bear vibrant flashiness. Regardless of the genre and tone, “Lonely Castle” desperately needed some glitz. Go to Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy 10/04/2023
3/4
An affecting piece about -- of all things -- bullying. Go to Full Review Douglas Davidson Elements of Madness 09/26/2023
2.5/5
"Lonely Castle" is a bit of a coming-of-age tale, but it’s a twist on it as an undercurrent theme implies that the “rite of passage” that is surviving junior high and high school is a bunch of bullshit that should be nipped quickly ... Go to Full Review Luke Gorham In Review Online 07/03/2023
In an age where it feels like [AI]could... produce the same complexity of story arcs and depth of character psychology, it’s no good to turn our noses up at imperfect films that capture the imperfection of humanity in a way that doesn’t feel AI-generated. Go to Full Review Sandie Angulo Chen Common Sense Media 06/28/2023
3/5
The entertaining but thinly plotted adaptation explores mature themes, focusing on misfit teens who need a safe space to make friends and be themselves. Go to Full Review Charles Solomon FilmWeek (LAist) 06/28/2023
It's not all it could be and not what you expect from a Keiichi Hara film. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Kirk 06/30/2023 A beautiful, heartbreaking, and life-affirming fairy tale of childhood salvation and compassion mixed in with a somber dosage of how people can be cruel to each other in various ways. A film that asks all of us to please reach out a hand to those in desperate need of it and offer them our unconditional love and support. Lonely Castle in the Mirror is a film that will be discussed with families and amongst children themselves for years to come. See more Michael 06/23/2023 Such a compelling story. Lots of twists and turns some you don't ever expect. Both a heart warming and heart wrenching story. Beautiful animation. Just well done all around See more alphonso 06/23/2023 It was very emotional and a very nice little slice of life See more Rabbit 06/22/2023 This film is so beautiful! I love the concept and the touch of realism. As someone who's also had horrible social anxiety myself, it really hit me. I feel like this won't get the attention that it deserves, but it's so incredible. This is my best film of 2023 so far. See more John 06/22/2023 Really loved the topics covered in the story See more Jess 06/22/2023 Wonderful story with well thought out characters. A great movie. See more Read all reviews
Lonely Castle in the Mirror

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Cast & Crew

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Keiichi Hara

Director

Ami Toma

Kokoro

Takumi Kitamura

Rion

Sakura Kiryu

Aki

Rihito Itagaki

Subaru

Naho Yokomizo

Fuka
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Lonely Castle in the Mirror

Lonely Castle in the Mirror: Trailer 1 Lonely Castle in the Mirror: Trailer 1 1:58 View more videos
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Lonely Castle in the Mirror

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Movie Info

Synopsis Shy outcast Kokoro has been avoiding school for weeks when she discovers a portal in her bedroom mirror. She reaches through and finds herself transported to an enchanting castle where she is joined by six other students. When a girl in a wolf mask explains that they have been invited to play a game, the teens must work together to uncover the mysterious connection that unites them. However, anyone who breaks the rules will be eaten by a wolf.
Director
Keiichi Hara
Producer
Hirotaka Aragaki, Kei Kushiyama
Screenwriter
Miho Maruo
Distributor
GKIDS
Production Co
A-1 Pictures
Genre
Fantasy, Mystery & Thriller, Drama, Anime
Original Language
Japanese
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 21, 2023, Limited
Runtime
1h 56m