I finally finished Love Through a Prism, and honestly, I’m still a little surprised by how much I ended up loving it.

What’s even funnier is that I started this series all the way back in September. Normally, twenty episodes wouldn’t take me months to finish, but I’ve been going through one of the worst anime droughts I’ve had in recent memory. Since around August, I’ve struggled to find the motivation to watch anything. New releases came and went, my watchlist kept growing, and yet nothing really grabbed my attention.

Except this one.

And that’s saying something because I’m usually not the first person you’ll find recommending a romance anime.

Love Through a Prism Review: A Beautiful Coming-of-Age Romance About Dreams and Self-Discovery

At its core, Love Through a Prism is a coming-of-age story wrapped inside a historical romance. Created by Yoko Kamio and animated by WIT Studio, the series follows Lili Ichijoin, a Japanese student who travels to early twentieth-century England to pursue her dream of becoming a professional painter. There, she meets the talented and emotionally distant Kit Church, and what begins as artistic rivalry slowly develops into something much deeper.

But what resonated with me wasn’t necessarily the romance itself.

What I fell in love with was how unapologetically the series captures the emotions of youth.

Everyone in this story is chasing something. Recognition. Validation. Artistic excellence. A future they can call their own.

The characters aren’t just trying to become successful artists. They’re trying to discover who they are in the process.

There are moments where they feel unstoppable, convinced they’re meant for greatness. Then there are moments where self-doubt creeps in and completely shakes their confidence. That emotional roller coaster felt incredibly authentic. Whether you’re creative, ambitious, or simply trying to figure out your next step in life, it’s easy to see parts of yourself reflected in these characters.

At times, watching the show felt like experiencing a fever dream version of adolescence.

Everything feels larger than life.

Every victory feels monumental.

Every setback feels devastating.

Every emotion feels impossible to ignore.

And somehow, the series embraces all of that without ever feeling embarrassed by its sincerity.

Visually, the anime is stunning.

The early twentieth-century setting gives the entire series a unique atmosphere that immediately stands out. The streets, architecture, art studios, and landscapes are all beautifully realized, creating a sense of nostalgia and sentimentality that perfectly complements the story’s themes. The scenery often feels as expressive as the characters themselves, making even quiet moments memorable.

As expected from a story centered around artists and painting, color plays a huge role in the presentation. There are scenes that feel less like traditional anime sequences and more like moving illustrations brought to life.

That’s probably why so many moments stayed with me long after the episode ended.

Of course, the series isn’t perfect.

There were stretches where I slowed down considerably. Some story beats felt more effective than others, and perhaps that’s part of why it took me months to complete the show.

But looking back, none of those issues outweighed what the anime was trying to accomplish.

Because at the end of the day, Love Through a Prism isn’t simply a romance anime.

It’s a story about dreaming big.

It’s about struggling with expectations.

It’s about finding people who inspire you to become a better version of yourself.

And it’s about discovering who you are while pursuing something that matters.

Maybe that’s why it managed to break through my anime drought when so many other shows couldn’t.

I went into this expecting a romance.

What I got was a heartfelt story about passion, ambition, identity, and growth.

And somehow, that hit much harder than I expected.

Final Rating: 8.5/10

Even as someone who rarely gravitates toward romance anime, Love Through a Prism ended up becoming one of the most memorable series I’ve watched this year.

Last Updated on November 15, 2026 by Yu Alexius