
Want more recommendations for your family?
Sign up for our weekly newsletter for entertainment inspiration
Fireworks
By Sandie Angulo Chen,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Anime teen romance has vibrant visuals but tired storyline.

A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Fireworks
Community Reviews
Based on 5 parent reviews
RIP Shan Yu
Report this review
Talented artists, disgusting content
Report this review
What's the Story?
FIREWORKS tells a familiar story with a teen twist: Norimichi (voiced by Ryan Shanahan in the English-dubbed version of the film) has a crush on Nazuna (Brooklyn Nelson), but so does his louder, arrogant best friend, Yasuke (Aaron Dalla Villa). When the boys compete in a pool race and Norimichi is too distracted by Nazuna's presence to win, she ends up asking Yasuke out on a date. But it's the day of an annual festival in the town, and Yasuke would rather hang out with the other boys, who have an ongoing debate about whether fireworks are round or flat. So Norimichi ends up spending time with Nazuna and discovers that a mysterious ball she found by the sea has magical properties -- to rewind time and replay the day again, so he can be the one she asks out on the date. Norimichi continues to use the magical orb again and again until his day with Nazuna is practically perfect, while Yasuke and the other boys continue to fight about fireworks in anticipation of the festival's big display.
Is It Any Good?
Despite beautiful visuals of fireworks, flowers, beaches, and fluttery first love, this teen romance suffers from an uneven, unnecessarily convoluted plot and some iffy stereotypes about women. There are a few jarring, unexpectedly crude comments -- like about the teacher's "bouncing" breasts, a girl being a "dog," and jokes about betting over a woman's panties -- that will throw some viewers off. And then there's the constant focus on Nazuna's leggy, long-haired, wide-eyed beauty. She doesn't have much of a distinct personality other than being sweet Norimichi's ideal crush. While he gets to relive the day to win her over, woo her, and even save her from a forced move with her mother and new stepfather, she has little agency over the proceedings except to encourage and excite Norimichi. She may not be a pixie, but Nazuna sure is a dream girl.
That said, the movie's Groundhog Day-style romance, while familiar, isn't nearly as flat as the parallel plotline about the boys' bromantic debate about the shape of fireworks and their teacher's hotness. The boys are played for comic relief, but their ongoing debate about fireworks simply isn't that interesting. What is worth seeing, however, is the animation, which is topnotch and includes some lovely, dreamy landscapes, as well as realistic spaces like Norimichi's home, the kids' classroom, and the pool. Unlike the producers' runaway hit Your Name, Fireworks is neither as memorable nor as dynamic as its title suggests.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about who's a role model in Fireworks. Why? What are their character strengths?
Some critics have called this movie sexist in the way it relies on the "damsel in distress" stereotype. Do you agree?
Talk about the romance in the movie. Is the love story believable? Why do you think love triangles (or best friends liking the same person) are so common in popular culture?
How does the movie portray drinking? Are there consequences? Why does that matter?
Movie Details
- In theaters: July 4, 2018
- On DVD or streaming: November 20, 2018
- Cast: Ryan Shanahan , Brooklyn Nelson , Aaron Dalla Villa
- Director: Akiyuki Shinbô
- Studio: GKIDS
- Genre: Drama
- Run time: 90 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: December 24, 2022
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Watch
Our Editors Recommend
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate