'All You Need is Kill' Review: Stunning Animation Trapped in a Familiar Time Loop
- Becca Johnson
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
By Becca Johnson - January 16, 2026
You’ve most likely heard of Doug Liman’s Edge of Tomorrow (2014) starring Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt, but the knowledge of it being based on a Japanese light novel titled All You Need is Kill has passed most of us by. The newest adaptation of this novel, directed by first-timer Ken'ichirô Akimoto, keeps the original title as it brings the story to life in animated format. When a massive alien flower known as ‘Darol’ unexpectedly erupts in a deadly event, its unleashes monstrous creatures that decimate the population of Japan. Rita (Ai Mikami) must navigate the trauma and repetition of death until she crosses paths with Keiji (Natsuki Hanae), a shy young man trapped in the same cycle. Together, they must fight to break free from the loop and find meaning in the chaos around them. Jumping off the screen with vibrancy and life, All You Need is Kill shows off beautiful animation and a great original score, though the initially intriguing story delivers a little too much familiarity.
From the get-go, it’s clear that All You Need is Kill’s best asset is the visuals. The animation style is stunning, with a vibrancy and bright colour palette that leaps from the screen. All the creatures we meet along the way have a very cool design, and the human characters themselves look fantastic, too. It’s a really inventive animation style that mimics pop art in such a fun manner. The aesthetic also has plenty to offer up the further we progress through the run-time, meaning that there’s always something new and exciting to see. The final battle in particular looks absolutely stellar, giving the movie an exciting, entertaining climax that looks the part, too. All You Need is Kill is worth seeing for the visuals alone, as the animation really brings this story to life.
Clocking in at just 82 minutes, All You Need is Kill wastes no time. The story moves at a fast pace, kicking into its time loop premise promptly and offering up action aplenty without making you wait for it. The story rarely pauses for breath, instantly thrusting us into Rita’s fight for survival as she attempts many methods of breaking the loop she’s trapped in. Seeing our characters devise ways to learn more about Darol in order to beat it is an intriguing angle. It’s an easily digestible, thoroughly entertaining story that boasts a little something for everyone. There’s a light humor within the script that makes the film feel even more breezy, killer action sequences featuring menacing creatures and playful visuals, and even a bit of romance to add further stakes to the narrative. When Rita meets Keiji, a man who appears to be stuck in the same loop as her, a really interesting spin is put on the story. The pair are resilient and desperate for survival, easily allowing up to get behind their cause and see them succeed. Whether it be the action, the character interactions or the beautiful visuals you’re enjoying, there’s certainly something for everyone.
However, the issue with a run-time this breezy is the lack of depth, which All You Need is Kill really falls victim to. Characters aren’t developed or given much of a backstory outside of their time loop antics, and the bubbling ‘romance’ between Rita and Keiji is minimally explored. Rita is a cool character, but not getting to know her is a detriment, as we can only go so far when rooting for her. She is not very reactive to waking up and experiencing the same day every single morning, instantly getting on with ways to escape the loop. Whilst this is certainly entertaining and allows for some instantaneous action and even some humor, it lacks believability and emotion. Speaking of the time loop, by the year of 2026, this is a very tired idea. Not only have we seen the adaptation of this exact story in a different format before, but all movies of this ilk wind up feeling overly similar. Whilst this boasts stunning animation that sets it apart, the story is predictable and familiar. All the tropes we’ve come to expect from Groundhog Day-esque movies are present, which may leave some viewers feeling underwhelmed.
Whilst opting for thrills and action is seldom a bad thing, this proves that sometimes, a longer run-time is favourable for further development, depth and believability. Still, what director Akimoto offers up is nothing short of commendable. Brimming with life due to a stunning animation style, and offering up plenty of action against its time loop backdrop, All You Need is Kill is an entertaining, enjoyable watch that impresses with its fast-paced filmmaking. The story may not have lasting impact due to its familiarity, but hopefully, the visuals and exciting climax will.
'All You Need is Kill' is out now in US cinemas.
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