Panos Kotzathanasis Asian Movie Pulse Apr 13, 2020

"Fireworks" is a very entertaining anime that will put a smile on its audience through its simple but captivating romance and the surrealistic brush of the titular question.

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John Tones Espinof Jul 22, 2019

Akiyuki Shinbo's film (responsible for the anime of 'Yu Yu Hakusho', among others) works, especially on an aesthetic level, and if you forget about its irrelevance in other aspects. [Full Review in Spanish]

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Rachel Wagner rachelsreviews.net Feb 26, 2019 3/10

Some parts of the story worked and other parts felt very muddled and confusing.

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Jazmine Joyner Ms En Scene Jan 5, 2019

There are funny moments and great glimpses of what this film could've been, but Fireworks leaves a lot on the cutting room floor.

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Alan French AwardsCircuit.com Nov 12, 2018 1.5/4

'Fireworks' features brilliant animation but suffers from weak storytelling. It also features out of touch attitudes towards women.

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Jake Tropila Film Inquiry Oct 27, 2018

Shinbo has a real talent for painting a pretty picture, but the end result of his work can be summed up with one word: flat.

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Chris Stuckmann ChrisStuckmann.com Jul 13, 2018 D+

This is probably one of the worst anime films I've seen that got a theatrical release in America.

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Sandie Angulo Chen Common Sense Media Jul 13, 2018 2/5

Anime teen romance has vibrant visuals but tired storyline.

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Carrie McClain Black Nerd Problems Jul 10, 2018

With a premise adapted from a live-action television film and boasting fantastic animation, Fireworks looked to be promising. While it is many things bright and beautiful, it misses the mark.

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William Bibbiani TheWrap Jul 4, 2018

It's a treat to see a film about young love where the young lovers aren't wise beyond their years; instead, they're prone to making stupid mistakes out of inexperience and perfectly understandable fear.

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Christy Lemire RogerEbert.com Jul 4, 2018 1.5/4

A strange little movie that attempts the tricky feat of combining comedy, drama, sci-fi and romance, but it doesn't get those individual elements right so it never coheres as a whole.

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Sherilyn Connelly Village Voice Jul 3, 2018

Fireworks is very much told from the male point of view, and Nazuna seldom rises above "free-spirited object of desire."

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Ben Kenigsberg New York Times Jul 3, 2018

The unrealized potential makes the rote line style and stagnant backdrops seem all the blander.

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Derek Smith Slant Magazine Jun 28, 2018 1.5/4

Akiyuki Shinbo and Nobuyuki Takeuchi's time-travel device mostly just exists to complicate what is, at heart, a trite and sexist love story.

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Ignacio Navarro El antepenúltimo mohicano Apr 25, 2018 3/5

All in all, the co-directors [Akiyuki Shimbo y Nobuyuki Takeuchi] do not let these heterogeneous elements deprive their film of any harmony... [Full review in Spanish]

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Antonio Trashorras Fotogramas Apr 25, 2018 3/5

It's closer to sensory candy than an enriching experience... [Full Review in Spanish]

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Adrián Carande Cinemanía (Spain) Apr 17, 2018 3/5

Very often, in fantasy, the balance that a story establishes with its day-to-day elements is key to the result. In a way, Fireworks, Should We See It from the Side or the Bottom? understands this... [Full review in Spanish]

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Boon Chan The Straits Times (Singapore) Nov 29, 2017 3/5

The nuances of teenage male friendships and loyalties are sensitively handled: What do you do when you and your bestie both like the same girl?

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Tara Brady Irish Times Nov 17, 2017 3/5

Temporal loops and magic balls make for a strange, colourful combination.

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Michael Leader Little White Lies Nov 15, 2017 2/5

From top to bottom, Fireworks is far too complicated, and frustratingly trite.

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