Love Live! Sunshine!! 2nd Season

Love Live has come a long way. It’s difficult to imagine now, but when the first season of School Idol Project started back in 2013, idol anime as we know it today didn’t really exist. Just as µ's was the guiding light for the world of school idols, the franchise led the way for the genre, and by the time of the School Idol Movie, it really had become a global phenomenon. So when µ's retired and Aqours stepped forward to take its place, fans were understandably upset and worried that this new iteration would tarnish or override the franchise’s legacy. But it was never ... the goal for Aqours to replace its predecessor, and instead it told its own story about trying to live up to that legacy, and instead accomplishing far more.

While the first season of Sunshine adhered closely to the formula set by School Idol Project, the second season focused on the ways that Aqours was different. The new generation was never going to measure up against the audience’s nostalgia for µ's, and that was reflected in the story. Aqours struggles with challenges that µ's overcame easily, and there are times when they actually fail. These aren’t just failure by circumstance; they will have tried their best and it still wasn’t enough to succeed. We see these characters when they’re at their lowest points, and when they get back up and try again, it makes their victories all the sweeter. The writing is about as subtle as a brick, but it gets the emotions across.

Although, those feelings wouldn’t resonate so strongly if we weren’t so deeply invested the cast and their success. Sunshine relies more heavily on personal drama than its predecessor, and it works because their problems aren’t abstract and artificial walls, but genuine fears and worries to which we can relate. And instead of having to overcome these problems on their own, the other members of the group will reach out to provide support, which sells you on the idea that these characters are actually friends who care about each other’s well-being. It’s true that some members of the ensemble get better treatment than others, with one or two being reduced mainly to one-note gags, but overall the cast is so earnest that you can’t help but root for them.

The growth of the characters is also reflected in the performance scenes, which see the characters becoming gradually more comfortable with complex choreography and each other. For better or worse, CGI has always been a staple of the Love Live franchise, and it’s been getting better with every entry. Early performances looked garish and were plagued by unimaginative camerawork, but both technology and direction have improved vastly, and it’s finally reaching the point that CGI can compete with traditional animation. Performances now come alive with dancing in 3D spaces, and varied shot composition and camera effects make for a real spectacle. It also helps that the songs being performed are really good. Aqours has a diverse discography, ranging from traditional Japanese odori to Broadway show tunes. The soundtrack outside of the performances is excellent as well, effectively matching the tonal shifts over the course of the season. On its technical merits, Sunshine soars.

If I were to look at the anime alone, Sunshine is far from perfect. There’s a lot of valid criticisms that can and should be made, but since that’s not my focus, I’d recommend checking out Yuni’s review, which addresses a lot of them. But for this, rather than just looking at the show itself, I’m also including my own experience watching it, and I find that my enjoyment greatly outweighs any criticisms. For the past 13 weeks, it hasn’t just been the show that I’ve enjoyed, but also being a part of the community that surrounds it. That’s just my personal experience, so it will differ from person to person, but all I can say is that all of the tweets, fanart, and fanfiction that I saw definitely added to my enjoyment.

I’m going to miss this generation. It’s not quite over yet – there’s still the movie – but the end is rapidly approaching. I’ve always appreciated that the Love Live franchise ends stories conclusively; the dream of being a school idol is fleeting, but the lessons learned will last forever. I’m not sure if I’ll be able to love the next generation the same way I loved this one, but the future looks bright, and I can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings.

Ok, Let's talk real now.

I didn't come to watch Love Live Sunshine because I looked for some intense and deep story that involves time traveling or... something like that.

I came here looking for cute idols singing, dancing, aiming high and getting there.
And I got exactly what I was looking for.

In Season 2 we didn't really have a "special" story. It's pretty similar to School Idol Project, with the school being at risk, 3rd years leaving and such. But, it felt like it fit to give some background story so I liked it in the end. (7/10 for Story)

The animation and art was outstanding. The CGI ... dances were executed super well and I have enjoyed every moment watching it.
Of course there were points where the art dropped off, but it was mostly consistent. (9/10 for Art)

Sound- Which includes Soundtrack/OP/ED/Insert songs. That was the real strength of Love Live Sunshine. These were amazing songs and I've enjoyed every single one of them, I listen to them every day because they were so good.

The soundtrack, too, fit quite well and was nice. (10/10 for Sound)

Well, we have 9 characters, which is a pretty nice amount. So it'll be hard not finding a girl to your liking. They were pretty diverse in their personalities yet so close (as they're all idols), the development between the cast as Aqours, or as one grade (Ex: Chemistry between 3rd years) and all the "ships" were quite outstanding. I found myself really bonding with the characters, and by the end of the anime there are no girls I hate. (10/10 for Character).

So in conclusion, this anime got a 10/10 from me. And I RECOMMEND IT. Even if you don't feel like going through the "comedy to drama" story, just listen and watch to the CGI Dances and songs, as they were too good.

The following was written after the 1st episode stream:
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The new season of Love Live! Sunshine is here, and with it a new whole goal.

First of, the visual part was absolutely beautiful, word´s can´t describe how gorgeous the animation is, there´s no doubt that this is the peak of Love Live! animation, the opening sequence goes through various settings which all are detailed perfectly, accompanied by the new opening theme "Mirai no Bokura wa Shitteru yo", which set the stage for a memorable season.

As for the story goes, you can see the development that the characters had in season one, but maintaining that ambitious nature of ... them that lets them keep moving forward.

Now there´s a new goal for the group, it isn´t just saving the school or winning Love Live! anymore, now they´re aiming to make an impact around the world, and do whatever it´s necessary to let a miracle happen.

Also, during the first episode of this season there are a lot of references from the first episode of the first season, but now changing Riko´s and Chika´s role for a moment.

The ending sequence was the most memorable thing to me, sharing a lot of similarities with the first Love Live! endings sequences, the song isn´t only amazing, but it´s also a nostalgia trip through all the franchise in less than 2 minutes.

The wait is over and it was worth it, this season will definitively teach us the meaning of hard work and believing in miracles, and the trip to reach to that point will be a total thrillride, let´s enjoy this moment together!

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Now after 13 episodes has passed, I can safely say that this was the best written season of all Love Live!, they didn´t abused the drama but at the same time you can feel connected to the characters, their growth and personal goals, as well as the collective goals for Aqours, having their own unique approach, both as a group and individuals.

As for the insert songs, they can only be described as legendary, they will be remembered for years to come for the ones that got to enjoy this anime.

By the end of the season you can feel how everything from season 1 and this season was connected to give a satisfying conclusion for the ones that payed close attention to the development of each character.

Personally, I will cherish this season forever.

My original review was already really long. And I still stand by all of it. So, I'm just gonna link a pic of that here (https://imgur.com/a/4Bfs5) so that I have more space to talk about a revelation that dawned on me recently. I swear I'm not going to do this often.

So, I'm now 6 episodes in. And I've bumped up my scores for:
Story: From 3 to 6
Art: Remaining at 9
Sound: From 7 to 8
Characters: From 5 to 7
Overall: From 7 to 8
Enjoyment: From 7 to 8

So, you may wonder be wondering. What could have possibly happened to change all of these scores? Basically, the performances ... are even better than I thought they were. So the thought came to me when I saw the main character Chika do this absurdly complex move on stage. The first thought that came to mind was, "Okay, I don't care how many days she trained, she did not just pull that off flawlessly"

But then I looked back at the dancing there, and some from previous episodes, and some from last season, and it hit me. The reason why I didn't like the last season as much as this one was because the dancing was INTENTIONALLY bad. The choreography was INTENTIONALLY boring.

Seriously, go back and watch Mijuku Dreamer and Yume de Yozora wo Terashitai. Watch how basic the moves are. They aren't even really working as a team yet, they just need to have enough unity to synchronize actions. And they are often just standing in rows and walking back and forth. Really boring stuff. But that's the thing, they're a brand new group. Of course, they can't pull off cool stuff yet.

I genuinely think this was all planned because even watching Omoi yo Hitotsu ni Nare from episode 11 of season 1, nearing the end of the season, it's clear that the choreography is already a huge improvement over where it started. They're interacting with each other much more. And are playing around with weird positioning and aesthetics.

But it only gets better as season 2 goes on. Every live is stronger in some aspect to the last and they are growing in a way that we can track. Rather than that asinine ranking system from the original Love Live outright telling us, through a number, how much they've improved.

This gives credibility to the narrative that Chika could actually do what she does in episode 6. And it gives the entire series a new layer of depth and complexity that I never considered up until this point. Character growth is clearly presented through their craft so they feel so much more real. The plot points assist in that growth, so the story (even if it's still kinda boring) feels more impactful.

That kind of storytelling through what I thought was already fantastic visuals is what has now made an anime that I reluctantly watched, to now being something I can confidently say is very good.

This was an overdue review. Sorry.

Love Love has done so much for so many people, despite what you might think of the franchise.

The story isn't something out of a masterpiece. It is bland and simplistic and the characters have one dimensional personalities. Too bland. Too simple. Sometimes a little too simple.

We were thought to believe that compelling stories have to be meaningful, cathartic. Just like life itself. But we sometimes forget that life does not have to be cathartic. It can be simple. It does not have to be convoluted or complicated in order for it to work. Sometimes it clicks. Just like ... that.

Some things do not have to be complicated for them to work out just fine.

Chika Takami knew that. Her friends knew that.

She wanted to find something that made her life shine bright.

That is something very simplistic in the journey of self discovery.

It does not matter where you come from. What you do. What you believe in and who you find along the way. Sometimes things just click and nobody can take those experiences away from you. This is what the meaning of self discovery truly is. It is purely subjective. If you have learned from them it does not matter what other people think.

Love Live is just that. It clicks. In its simplicity it clicks and brings you along the way.

(And it might not, but it's still your own personal experience)

I met a twelve year old girl this past summer that got into Love Live thanks to a friend. We are fifteen years apart and we spent a whole afternoon talking about the story and characters.

I could have never been able to enjoy a conversation with this young girl if it was any other anime. It was an easy going conversation that to this day I cherish deeply, because it made me see something that I had not seen in myself. In order for things to work, I don't have to think too hard about them.

It does not matter if the story is not as perfect as you might think.

It is so important to remember that things don't always have to be difficult. They can be easy. As adults we constantly say "It's difficult". Sure, it is difficult, but it does not always have to be that way.

Love Live is a beautiful story about accepting the simple things about life, because way too often we don't. We just forget them somewhere in the back of our brains, until we go insane.

In my opinion, this is why Love Live is cherished and relatable amongst so many people, because it's about a simple group of teenagers with simple goals, looking to follow a common dream. Whether if it happens it does not matter. It is still the journey of self discovery.

It was the same for me. I started Love Live not knowing what it was and hearing so much hate about it. I almost thought I was going to hate it as well, yet I found myself compelled into an unexpected world that made me laugh and cry and that made me realize, things don't have to drive you mad in order to work. They just do. Go with the flow. If you can't control it don't control it.

I finally got myself to watch the last episode of this anime after a year of putting it off, knowing full-heartedly that there might not be another anime in this franchise. And I was not let down.

Love Live has made an impact on so many people. For bad or for good it doesn't really matter.

I am just so happy that I was there to see it happen.

(Now please don't kill me for writing this) -Peace

This is a sequel for the anime with same title. I reccomend you to watch the first season before this season, because this anime is an in-depth story about all the characters. So if you want an introduction story watch the first anime.

Story 10/10
Even though this is a music anime, it give you more than music. It will give you a heartwarming story and how all the character bond with each other. The story is so simple, about a school idol group that want to shine. They want to win. All the problem here is just a simple thing, but the pace is something. This ... anime will take us through the journey of how beautiful a friendship is. I just can't describe how wonderful it is. Beside from the story, they also got the comedy too. Usually first half of the episode is filled with a little bit of story and full of comedy. And the second half is vice versa.

Art 10/10
The art here is normal for an anime. Not the worst nor the best, just average. Its colorful and bright, which is good because this anime is mostly positive and happy. Also we can feel that they lived in seashore, because the atmosphere is really good. The background also give the same thing, its really beautiful and fit with the story. What i really love from this anime art is the fact that every characters design fit their personality really well.

Sound 10/10
All the VA here is doing a really great jobs, especially the 9 main characters VA. They are not only doing the VA, but the OP and ED song too. Heck, they even have an idol group in real life which we can see them live singing on stage. They also release a lot of song, you can listen to them in your favourite music platform. Me too sometimes enjoy their song while doing homework or when playing some games. VA talk aside, we also have the great BGM. The BGM is not always there. But when it come, you can clearly hear them and enjoy them. Fit really well with the situation.

Character 10/10
The fact that they can made 9 MC and make their personality different is already a big thumbs up. Like i said above. This anime is an in-depth story about the girls here. The only one that changing here is that they are more mature than before, i guess. They all have their own special episode and i really like it. Because we know more about their personality and all. They solve their problem more seriously as we progress through the anime. We can see all the girls here grew up. While yes they are now more mature and serious, they still have the silly side on them. Every episode start with a quick summary of the last episode. And the one that narrator it is the MC. Really, just watch the anime and you can see why i give their characters a 10 out of 10.

Enjoyment 10/10
I really really love this series. Its not only give me a show to watch but they also motivate me. I'm also enjoying all of their content from the anime, game, song, even the seiyuu livestream. I wish that someday i can see their live show. This series is so special for me, i'll definitely rewatch this in near future with dub. If you like the kind of anime that gives you a spirit to continue your life, feel free to watch this. It is helped me a lot during this hard time.

Thats all i can say about the anime. I really don't have a word to describe how amazing this anime is. You should really watch it yourself. They also have a game called LLSIFAS, in there you can read more of their stories if the anime doesn't enough for you to consume. The last thing i wanna say is thank you for reading my review.

0 to 1,1 to 100...

Love Live Sunshine's 2nd Season by the by gives us the conclusion to Aquors journey to the Love Live stage with all the hijinks and heartbreak all under the banner of fixing the mistakes of the original Love Live series and doing it well.

LA first thought that Sunshine's spinoff series was nothing but a pale imitation and meta joke to the original series, however by this second season, this season utterly changed what LA thought of Aquors and their goal.

The second season left off from the first, but this time more character development from the characters that "kinda" needed it. Let's ... start off with Dia essentially getting way more screentime and meme worthy scenes than ever before making her LA's second favorite character by the end of it. Riko and Yohane got a joint character development together and though LA liked Riko and Yohane's friendship and everything, their development was slightly off executed in terms of themes, but nonetheless Yohane continued to be LA's favorite character even through it all. Now the more interesting character developments came from RUBY of all people as well as their rival Saint Snow's Ria Kazuno. This is one of the first things LA noticed Sunshine's second season did better than the original series, that of showing that even rival idols have their own problems of their own in comparison to aRISE who were already famous and popular and knows how to solve everything. Together with Ruby, we get some great double sister sibling character development from Dia, Ruby, Ria and her older sister Seira at the same time. Lastly would be Chika herself and how she develops as both a leader and how she handles everything and trying to be the best to save her school.

-sigh- and even the second season won't give You a PROPER CHARACTER FOCUSED EPISODE...

Sunshine's 2nd season for LA at least showed that it wasn't trying to be a pale imitation of the original, this time, it was gonna fix the mistakes of the original.

From the aforementioned rivals being looked at a different light to the finale and eventual change of goal that Aqours goes through was a welcoming change even if this second season by in large was going at a slightly slower pace but the same flavour and personality it always had in the first season.

The animation done once again by Sunrise was typically of great quality, from the shiny character designs and beautiful backgrounds. The concert scenes by in large though it has Love lIve's typical CGI, like in the first season, it looked polished for the most part in terms of CGI, but the choreography and backgroundings for some of the concerts were GORGEOUS to look at some times. Seriously this might have been Sunrise trying to outdo themselves in the animation department.

In terms of voice acting, it was pretty much the same from the first season, with some highlights of Ai Furihata getting some limelight as Ruby to Aika Kobayashi doing her chunni thing as Yohane. However for LA, the best voice actor goes to Dia's voice actor, Arisa Komiya. Nonetheless the same old voice cast, but for LA, they honed in their character even more this season.

Sunshine's second season because of how it dealt with Aqours' problem head on with a few hijinks here and there, it was serious for the most part as to what kinds of leaps and bounds, constant trials and tribulations Aqours went through to the point, you can't help but root for these underdogs and maybe even make them want to win Love Live! after everything they have been through.

If Love Live Sunshine's 2nd Season did anything for it's finale was give a fulfilling conclusion that we all wanted and Sunshine gave it to us in spades. Yes something this second season outdid or something the original series never did give us was "closure". From giving us what the 9 members of Aqours is gonna do in the future to resolving all plot threads, making us root for these character and maybe Aqours might win and giving us actual closure on what happens to Aqours and the school, something not even the Love Live Movie or the original's second season never did.

From pale imitation of the original, to fixing the mistakes and improving of the original series' formula, Sunshine's Second Season was a great sendoff to the series with no loose plot threads, giving us characters to root for, character development *cough* cept You, seriously no You episode C'MON *cough* that help flesh out the majority of Aqours all under the typical Love Live personality and spunk it had in the original series.

Aqours really did shine by the end of it all...

The second season of Sunshine is truly something. In one way, it's absurd, because it just isn't real to have students be, for example, so loving and passionate for their school.. all the time. In another way, absolutely fantastic. Sunrise have done it again with a charming second season that I think gave me even more than expected, warmer & lingering feelings for Aqours. This might be my favorite LL entry.

There's not much to the plot-line in this season, very similar to the first series. Second Love Live is coming around, there are concerns about the 3rd years' graduation and what Aqours should do after, ... some more funny sequences and drama, though what Sunshine excels in is portraying the connection between Aqours better, gracing the fans with a rewarding experience and all the more feelings towards Aqours this time around and the whole series and the amount of drama is being kept at bay, not bland & not exaggerated at times at any point.

The artstyle is much better this time around, even the CGI. It didn't feel like a distraction and if you're particularly into idol stuff and cute girls singing and dancing you'll find this to be pretty fun to see actually.

The main girls and also Saint Snow have also gotten their well-deserved development and even though there isn't widely much of it, it's still a lot better and satisfying compared to what felt like a rush and rocky start in the first season. There's all the more reason to like & care for the girls.

The soundtrack of Love Live never decreases in quality. The music is awesome to listen to and the better CGI comes off as an enhancement to the experience. I find myself listening to MY Mai☆TONIGHT and Awaken the power often though since those tracks in particular are some that are of more appeal to my taste.

I don't know what to expect from the movie or even the future series, if there ever ends up being one again. Overall, Love Live is an entertaining franchise that's surely to get you in your feelings which depends on whether you enjoy a show like this or not in the first place. It has been an amazing run and i'm sure the movie's gonna be too.

All here is very brand-new Love Live! because i found many of new things from this series of Love Live!. but, it still have a same format with first series Love Live!.

If the first series tell about "Victory", this series tell us about "Determination". Every character in this series have a lot of development and make me curious "what next will happen?!!". Story looks like not how the member reach their dream but only they activity to spent a time every day before they school shut down. But, thats the point how i love this series. Every character show us they unique personality and how ... they grow up.

"Where theres a meeting theres separation" CMIIW. I think thats the point from the end of this series.

Love Live! (ラブライブ！) is an absolute masterpiece of a series. The masters of otaku anime, Sunrise, makers of Gintama and this very series Love Live!, have truly perfected the formula of making an anime that fits the needs of an otaku, perfectly, to every last inch with no pieces missing. The characters, the things that are said (I know Japanese and watched this series without subtitles), the OST, the art, everything combines to together to make one solid anime. For the uninitiated, Love Live! is made as a 完全男性向けアニメ (Anime made entirely for males). There is no ecchi but there is also 0 male characters. ...

Even though I say all this, and even though Love Live! is OBVIOUSLY in a league of its own, haters are gonna hate, though.

"What about the story bro?!"

"Love Live! ain't got story!"

Who cares. Anime that you don't need to use your head or think to enjoy it is very important. This anime doesn't *need* a story. It is made for maximum rewatchability. The point is, you forget the "plot" that the anime brings forth. And you are infinitely rewatch the show to your heart's content. There are VERY FEW anime that provide this level of watchability, and VERY FEW anime where you can mindlessly watch it and think its the best thing in the world.

奇跡だ！奇跡を起こしたんだ…私たちは。This very show is a 奇跡。A line repeated over and over again. 奇跡。輝きたい。These very lines describe the anime very well. 奇跡だよ！

“You should enjoy the little detours to the fullest. Because that's where you'll find the things more important than what you want.”

-Yoshihiro Togashi, Hunter x Hunter, Vol. 32

To bear dignity in defeat is a common mark of maturity, of respect. But to wholeheartedly accept that defeat, internalizing all of the lessons and experiencing of it, using it as a catalyst for a leap forward into your prospective future?

That's an entire level entirely, and that theme is heavily explored throughout every episode of Sunshine's 2nd season run.

As opposed to the first season, I felt that this season was less about Aqours finding themselves or ... working to become their very best, the entire season instead felt much more introspective, like a rebuild of efforts lost.

More importantly, the season really focused on how Chika and crew took every loss along the way, and turned it into a positive force.

Just like in season 1, it's heartbreaking to see their efforts go completely to waste. They completely failed to even come close to winning Love Live in the last season, and in this season, it's revealed from the first few episodes that their main goal in becoming idols in the first place isn't going to become a reality.

To put it simply, Aqours lost.

In contrast to Muse, I've commented that the starkest difference is that a big focus is put on how much Aqours grinds out of the ditch with their efforts. They struggle, they suffer, they grind harder than any of the girls in Muse do in those first two seasons.

So to see all of those efforts flushed down the toilet should be completely devastating, reflecting the first time they encounter defeat in the first season.

But that's where the season won for me. Despite some imbalance of its characterizations, its over the top humor (it goes full slapstick at some points, much worse than any of the previous seasons), and its heavier moments, this second season absolutely triumphs in its manifestation of its themes.

Of moving forward, no matter what, of lifting your head up no matter how much life just takes a FAT shit on you, of fighting towards your "shine" after you're crushed by darkness, after realizing you don't even KNOW what your "shine" is.

Despite its flaws, the season won me over with just how earnest it is in its delivery of its broad, larger than life strokes. It's not an approach that many can appreciate, and I can see why.

Characterization at some points is less refined and comparatively dull to the first season, and yes, pales in comparison to the seasons of the original seasons. But to that I counter that the growth and characterization of the group as a WHOLE is unrivaled. I did not expect things to turn out this way, for all of Aqours efforts to have been for nothing.

But as Chika realizes in the end of the show, was it all for nothing? Or were the experiences and relationships she forged along the way the true "shine" she set forward to find in the first place?

It's a very basic theme, sure, but Love Live has a surefire way of encapsulating larger than life themes, and injecting pure wholesome passion into my veins like nothing else, and for that, Sunshine triumphs.

<SHORT REVIEW>

Pros:
1. Beautiful music
2. CG way better than 1st season
3. Individual character developments
4. Went to a separate route different from the original series
5. A collaboration with another idol group

Cons:
... 1. First 3 episodes were a sore to get through, so many meme materials.

<LONG REVIEW>

I hated the second season at first. There were just too many meme materials. It's seriously annoying to watch. I struggled through the first 3 episodes and after the first song came out, this series became more and more better, until the point that I rated it an 8/10.

If you don't know, I started watching more anime because of Love Live. I love J-Pop music before that and Love Live fulfilled all my desires by mixing music and tournament together. It's sad to see that series end. After a year, I heard that Love Live was getting a sequel featuring different characters. I was overjoyed by that. Then, I started following Aqours. I love the first season, although there are a lot of points taken from the original series, nevertheless I still enjoyed watching it. Now I will review these 2 seasons together.

A lot of complaints I saw with this series is that it copies the original series very much making a lot of Love Live fans hating this sequel. But this season manages to fix a lot of them. It went down its original path, parting ways with μ's and I like that. The path they took was also very interesting. I won't spoil you but the development the plot decided to take really did shock me. It's way more different than the original Love Live series.

Speaking of Love Live, of course we are going to talk about the music. It's outstanding. Now I won't compare this to those of μ's because they are 2 complete different groups with different singing styles. The songs in this series really stood out to me. I enjoyed listening to each and every track. The dance sequences were also properly choreographed and the CG was much better compared to previous seasons. Personally my favorite song this season were "My Mai Tonight" and "Awaken the Power", especially "Awaken the Power" where I got to see a collaboration with other group, made me like this season even more.

The characters that Sunrise decided to focus a lot of time on this season, were annoying at first, but slowly after each of their own arcs I started to care more about the and to like them more. It's a surprise to me too because I never thought I would like the characters of Sunshine!! this much. A lot of characters got development throughout this season and that's what made me appreciate this season a lot more.

The art and animation was pretty consistent. Nothing to praise and nothing to complain about.

Overall, I love "Love Live! Sunshine!! 2nd Season" a lot. It disappointed me at first but managed to grab my attention back. Great job! 8/10 That's it for my review. Thanks for reading.

When I comes to the Love Live franchcise, all of them are pretty consistent however I feel that Love Live! Sunshine!! Stands out among them.

The story although follows roughly along the same line as LLSIP but I think it benefits it rather than ruins it. Since the stories paralell each other for most of the show but Aqours not seeing the support that µ's got. It talk chika and the others to, be themselves and that is the message that this anime conveys and it does it extremely well.

The art is good, and the CGI looked way better than past installments, however, nothing to brag ... about

The music has increased significantly with more consistent library of songs making me want to dive into every song the group has put out.

Characters who didn't get their deserved development, definitly got it this time around, Ria from saint snow has a character I didn't like in the first season as she came off cold and ignorant. However I completely went 180 on my opinion when I watch her character develop. It may not be perfect but it was definitly an improvement from the first season

Overall Love Live! does it again, Giving us an amazing group to watch the journey of!

Robert's Too Late Reviews back in action! Today's pertinent information includes the fact I'm working the dubbed version, and that I'm going on the premise that you are familiar with season one of Love Live! Sunshine!! I mean, if you're not, why start in the middle of the second season right? The short of it is that I found that this season the Aqours girls find their legs and really pull off a great tale. There is tension and drama and not everything goes the way one would expect, so I wholeheartedly recommend watching if you liked Sunshine!! season 1 or even if you were ... a little iffy on it. This season makes the girls shine. Let's break it down like a backup dancer on stage.

Of note, there will be some spoilers in this review, especially relating to the content of the previous season. I will try to keep it at a minimum but some things have to be covered to make sense.

Story: 9
In the opening we find out that not only did the girls NOT win Love Live! but they didn't even make the regional qualifiers. Not only that, but they were only able to drum up about 10 prospective students. This point is kind of a victory for them, as they wanted to change the zero into a one, and they did so, but it was nowhere near enough to save the school from the impending closing. So the small goal was met, though it didn't affect the overall dire situation, and of course the girls didn't just blast through Love Live! like it was nothing. There's a strong hint of grounding for most of this season. This is much less about winning the moon and stars, and much more about doing their personal best (rebwestey as Ruby might say).

So the issues they are facing are the same as season 1, firstly that they need to get more prospective students, and secondly that they want to achieve their dream of playing at, and winning, the Love Live! competition. Toss in the mix the antagonists from the previous season and the sudden twist their relationship with Aqours takes, and there's some compelling viewing. I felt like we really got to know the girls better this time around as their personalities shined through. Dia is still bitchy, but a softness is brought out in her. Mari is still overly optimistic but finds herself forced to face reality and come down out of the clouds. Each of the girls seemed to have moments like this.

I know in the season 1 review I declared my love for the girls of Muse, but this second season of Sunshine!! really ranks up there with the original set. In fact I think the cast is better presented and explored than in the Muse seasons. I don't remember knowing much about the shy girl in Muse, but I do feel like I know Ruby or You, or even Hanamaru whereas in Muse there was shy girl, cat girl, so forth. The interaction and chemistry in the show seems to be at a peak in this season. For this reason alone, I feel the show is worth viewing.

The original questions remain: will Aqours save their school? Will they win the Love Live! competition? Some of the answers might just surprise you. I was somewhat shocked to learn that not everything turns up roses for these girls, but that's okay, because by going against the expectations of the genre and its ubiquitous 'happy endings' they really caught my attention, and I was in a position of not being sure on what would and what wouldn't happen. This gives the show an edge to it, one that heightens the drama somewhat.

Art: 9
The girls still look good. I really adore the artwork on all of the Love Live! series. The distractions from last season about comparing Aqours to Muse have been obliterated as the girls' personalities helps keep everyone's appearances from being cookie cutters of Muse's girls, as I first had trouble with last season. The detail is superb, the girls are recognizable whether their in their school uniforms, workout clothes, or idol costumes. The idol costumes themselves are interesting and varied, and not overly busy. The art is very cutesy and colorful, befitting the tone and theme of the series. Love it!

Sound: 9
The opening and closing themes are as 'pop music' as they come, but they work and are a lot of fun. I didn't like the themes as well as I did Muse's, but they stand strong on their own. The voice acting is varied and interesting, ranging from a high pitched younger girl to a deep, mature sounding senior. The 'leader' of the group has a bright and bubbly voice, and the oddball comedic relief retains her dramatic flair. All the things I wrote in the review of season 1 of Sunshine!! apply. No changes in voice actors that I heard, and they all performed very well. I do believe Mari uses more Italian in this season than the last but the story explains that by pointing out she is moving to Italy for college after graduation. Helps to practice the language I guess.

If I had to give a few complaints, it would be Ruby the high pitched first year's voice, as it strayed near annoying at times, and her occasional flinging around of the term 'rubwestey' or whatever. She doesn't do this often, so it's not a huge thing. The other complaint would be that Mari is a little too bright and cheery sounding sometimes, which I could see getting on people's nerves. I didn't even mind Hanamaru and her continuing to say 'zura' after nearly every line.

There's a fair bit of songs performed and while they all kind of mesh into one if you're not huge on that music scene, they all sounded really good and had a toe tapping beat. They might not have been memorable by themselves, but they also weren't 'oh dear god make it stop' bad either.

Character: 8
The show shines in the characters as they are more fleshed out through this season. We see less 'movement' or growth, such as Mari's slapping Kanan in season 1, or Dia's whole overall attitude. But what we do see is that the girls hold very firm to the personas they presented in the first season. As I said there is a little growth, such as Dia softening a little, but for the most part we get the girls as they are, and their character traits seem to be far more solid than last season. They've all found their place and niche, and work all the better for it.

Each girl seems to get a good deal of screen time, and I didn't ever feel like they were leaving a girl out in the cold. Muse sometimes made me think the freshmen (shy girl and cat girl) were kind of skipped over, but Sunshine!! doesn't feature that. Every girl has their own well defined motivation, their defined personalities, and a stable overall interaction between all of them.

Enjoyment: 8
I found that I liked season 2 better than season one, even though there are some somber moments to be had, especially towards the end of the series. Because of the results of season 1's actions, I felt there was no guarantee on exactly what the girls were going to achieve, which helped pique my interest instead of just watching the girls sit back and basically conquer the world. The tension that maybe, just maybe, they wouldn't make all their goals held my attention.

The ending episode is pretty grand, and I really enjoyed it. It did well in wrapping up everyone's storyline in relation to the events of the show, and gives the emotional release that I enjoy. And I'm hard to please with endings!

Best Girl: Yoshiko a.k.a 'Yohane' once again. She's still up to her antics and silliness, though there are moments even she is scared, frustrated or upset. She's still hilarious though, and I love her for it.

I had a great time with the entire Love Live! series, so if you are into idol anime at all, then I think not only is Sunshine!! season 2 great, but the entire series is worth watching. Love Live! outclasses in many ways other shows such as the Idolmaster series, and comes close to standing equal to K-On, though I'd say K-On is less idol, more slice of life. Either way, Love Live! Sunshine!! is a great idol anime, and a lot of fun. Come, descend with me my little demons and watch this series!

This show isn't for everyone. If you are annoyed by cheesy moments, lots of emotional and melodramatic moments, your probably not gonna like the show. But for me, I enjoyed it thoroughly. Sure it's cheesy, but it's overflowing with charm.

Story: Story is pretty ok. I really didn't like the "saving the school" plot of the last season but this season actually made it me care more about it without having the plot take up almost every episode. A step in the right direction but I still would've preferred it not be so plot-heavy

Art: The normal 2D art is acceptable but the CG has really made ... steps forward. The performances look great and a lot less distractingly cheap compared to LL: SIF

Sound: This is completely subjective but I really love Aqours' music. Like last time, every couple of episodes has an insert song and I really liked all of them. I definitely recommend the show to people who like their music if you haven't seen it already. The actual OST in the background is ok too.

Character: Characters get more moments and when they do, the show really shines. The best episodes in my opinion is when they focus on one or two characters with little plot, just letting them all do their thing. Though one issue I have that might annoy people is that sometimes when characters aren't in the spotlight they kind of resort to using their catchphrases a lot. It's like the writers wanted to recreate the success of nico nico nii but overdid it by a longshot. Also, some characters don't get as much screentime as others like You and Kanan.

Overall, this show is really flawed but something about it is really charming and light-hearted. I feel like the people I'd most recommend this to are people who like Slice of Life, definitely people who like idol and musical shows, and people who liked the original Love Live! (though which one they like better is up to the individual, I personally enjoyed this more despite the flaws). Watch Season 1 before this, its pretty good and it, and the show in general seemed to get better as it went on. This show is still going in my favs because, I'm biased to liking the music, and it definitely made me feel something in the end and get me really attached to the characters despite the flaws. Hoping the movie delivers.

TL;DR Yoshiko is best girl, puppet show is best episode in the whole franchise, Love Live memes are top tier, and enjoy idol hell!

SPOILER FREE

That was the Rubesty, Zura!

Really though, Love Live Sunshine! has been really good. I'll be the first to say that the original grasped me more (as I'm a HUGE fan), but this was still amazing nonetheless! Love Live Sunshine has been a treat, full of smiles, songs as good as the original and improved CGI.

If you're a Love Live fan watch this season for sure, if you haven't seen it before, be sure to watch the original first i'd say (but this isn't a bad start either).

Won't bore you anymore with my fan-girling, now for the more analytic stuff;

... Story: 8

Originally this score was lower because it seemed as though the plot was a carbon copy of the original. Then the added a slight twist (that I won't reveal to keep it spoiler free) that still had the similarities in the plots being more than the differences. But what won me over wasn't these little differences, it was the more meaningful interactions (such as with other idol groups) in the story that built on the plot.
Sure the plot is similar to the first series, but that's hard to avoid when the whole basis is of "school girls becoming idols and trying to win love live". Slightly repetitive at this but a fun, and surprisingly emotional, story, that improved a lot from season 1 to season 2.

Art: 9

THE CGI LOOKS GREAT! Really happy to see these improvements as it now makes the performance scenes tonnes more enjoyable. Nice and easy on the eye, can't complain really.

Sound: 9

I'll be the first to say that some of the songs in season 2 have topped those of the previous season and the original. Aqours have great voices and the songs they sing all come together really well. Not quite Snow Halation good, but great in there own right.

Characters: 8

So the approach taken was, of course, to make characters that somewhat resemble someone from the original Love Live series. This approach was pretty weak in the first season as it felt like redoing what had been done. However this season, during the character development episodes we see our characters grow to be unique. These episodes really saved the day for these characters, making them more lovable and personal.
What really won me over however is the interactions between characters. The clear bond between the girls in each year. It really was pleasant seeing Kanan treat Mari like a princess, or Hanamaru and Ruby bonding (or just seeing Hanamaru is general).

Enjoyment: 9

When watching this season, I didn't sit and binge like I do many other anime series. Instead I'd watch a couple at a time, saving the smiles and purity of Love Live for when I needed it. This season will make you laugh, smile and maybe even cry ( I know I did once). Could, and will, happily watch this season again in the future.
Only reason it isn't a 10 is because it didn't have that wow factor that glues your eyes to the screen.

Overall: 8.5

How sad that I can't give this a higher score.. but it's just not the same. That said Love Live Sunshine! season 2 is another great season, with really pleasant episodes for the individual characters. The characters' growth as individuals, and as a group, sure makes it things enjoyable and helps make the plot shine.
Love Live Sunshine! found it's radiance from my perspective and I would recommend watching this season to the end.

I want to write my impressions of Love Live Sunshine!! season 2 but don't feel like I have that much to say so I will just list what is on my mind.

In season one the characters, while enjoyable, felt like they relied too much on their gimmicks and would fall apart in a longer series. This season address that concern and actualizes many of the characters that felt too gimmicky, especially Ruby and Dia whose relationship is focused on in a later episode. Basically the gimmicks are already established, and still used, but this season spends more time making each girl feel like a real ... person, which is nice.

There was a great improvement in the musical performances in this season compared to the first with very good looking cg dances that were choreographed quite well. I particularly liked Miracle Wave which is performed at the end of episode 6. I don't know if they are using completely different software or if they just got better at the technique but all of the cg in the dances looks noticeably better.

The overall positive, emotional and passionate feel of Love Live Sunshine!! driven by Chika's desire to shine is carried by the entire cast of girls in this season so it feels motivating to watch. This season feels like the goal is for Aqours to make their mark on the world and to share their community, who throughout the seasons supports them in their performances for the Love Love. It's actually really endearing to se all fo the Uranohoshi girls supporting Aqours along with the girl's families.

Lastly, setting aside the seriousness this season continues to deliver on what I believe Sunshine season one did even better than the original Love Live, and that is having the girls engage in cute meaningless nonsense with all of their silly personalities. I think that is what Love Live as a series does best and it's always enjoyable to watch.

If you liked any of Love Live I would highly recommend going ahead and watching this season as it may be my favorite of all of them.

I always knew about this franchise through memes and gifs, so two or three months ago, I decided to binge the whole series. Sunshine season one was a MASTERPIECE, I felt like that's how you should end a first season. I was so excited I binged the second season, but around the halfway point, the whole the school is closing down plot didn't really phase me anymore.

What I loved about the original series was I got a sense of WHY the girls loved their school to death and what saving it meant to them. However with the second season of sunshine, the only reason ... I could see everyone wanting to save the school was because they all met there. Now that's not a bad reason why, but since the girls always hanged out together and had a good amount of chances to save the school, I didn't get why they were so upset like they didn't make any progress or do anything at all. With mari, dia and kanan, I totally get why they felt so bad they couldn't save the school, they had the authority and some influence in the school, but for the first and second years, they could still ALL go to school together.

I love yohane and riko the most but what uspet me was instead of yohane actually improving as a character she remained the same. I expected once she talked to riko about why she had her complex and continues to use it, she'd either stop doing it as much or find some compromise with it but instead she just embraced it more for some odd reason. It felt like some characters had some development while others remained the same, it only bugged me because we had literally a whole segment where everyone said how being an idol changed them.

Ever since I finished sunshine season two, I've been hooked on the mobile game. Aquors has such good music, it always brightens my mood, my favorite song have to be zero to one, it really hits home. I really enjoyed season two of my new favorite franchise, but every time I think of the ending, I don't feel anything. I wanted to feel sad and excited for the movie based on the final episode but I had more of an "oh, it's over now? mkay" moment instead. Sunshine was a bright and sunny day then all of a sudden it became party cloudy with a high chance of rain for me, season one was everything I wanted. Season two felt like it pulled on my heartstrings a little too much for my taste.

This is my first review so a few notes:
• Will contain LIGHT SPOILERS (unrelated to the main plot or indirect as much as possible)
• I don’t know much shit about analytically reviewing a show so if it’s a BUU BUU DESU WA feel free to tell me.
• Not every point I made came from me. I didn’t have a SHINY revalation to suddenly think of such ideas. This is a disclaimer, so to speak.

Got through the cringe? Well there’s more:

Love Live is [the only] one of those shows for me to have such mixed opinions of. Basically it is a regular cute-girls-doing-cute-things show but *WITH DRAMA*. Now explaining ... how I am attached to this franchise would be too long and too hard, so to summarize: It started as a somewhat guilty pleasure which then developed into something I unironically adore. So it wouldn’t be a surprise that when this season came out I stayed until midnight just to see the latest episode. It was a fun ride, but personal enjoyment alone doesn't make a series great.

STORY:
From the beginning of ‘Love Live! Sunshine!!’ , Aqours had a goal –“ to shine”. With how the story plays out, I can say they did. They even shined brighter than their predecessor, μ's. The way the series was handled is an improvement over the original. How they did it is through focusing and expanding on plot points that were pretty much ‘extras’ in the original School Idol Project. That’s not the only thing though. The most notable improvement you can see in the story is the change in one major aspect of the show. This change is mostly the reason that differentiates it from the original. But for something that is the defining aspect of the show, it had dragged on for too long. It is special, just not when its repeatedly shoved into your face until the end.

Now I did say Aqours achieved their goal to shine, but not actually entirely. Aqours’s main goal is really to “find their OWN radiance.” This is the series’ biggest flaw. It stops at improvement. It doesn’t go for anything new. I can understand that it wouldn’t be Love Live if did do so, but the premise, setting and charcters were already enough for that. Yet they just had to copy the plot and only decided change some aspects to make it seem new. Let me tell you, being new and being different are two separate things. LLS just settled on being a twist from the original. Aqours may have shined brighter, but the radiance didn’t start from them.


ART:
Being a popular franchise in Japan, you can expect this to be high-budget. So with the privilege of having high production value, does the art really deliver? Yes and No. It was used where it mattered, and it really shows in the final product – from the CG, backgrounds(which perfectly resemble their real-life counterparts) and even the characters themselves. Where it does fail though is when the scenes don’t “matter” enough—the comedy and slice of life moments. Basically, if the scene is meaningful or dramatic, it is a pleasure for the eyes. If not, its crappy to the point that even memes were made out of it.

SOUND:
Probably the best thing about to come out of LLS 2 are the songs. It’s amazing when an OP and ED can add so much to the story itself. The OP, with a more serious tone, prepares you for what’s going to happen and the ED gives you the theme of the show with the feelings of the characters themselves. As for the insert songs, they are the culmination of the growth of Love Live as a franchise. Ever since SIP the songs were already diverging from the normal idol-type songs. It is only in this season of Love Live that the songs are so diverse while also, again, meaningful and adding to the narrative.

But if the OP, ED or insert songs are not your thing, there is always the soundtrack for the shows. This includes, but is not limited to: melodramatic piano, “ZURAAAAA”, and “Dakara, Yohane yo!” There is, sadly, a decrease in “Shiny!” and “Buu Buu Desu Wa!” however that is made up for by lots and lots of “PIGIII!1!!1!” and “Kagayaiteru” to ensure there is never a dull moment throughout the show.

CHARACTERS:
It wouldn’t be Aqours without its members, and it wouldn’t be Love Live without character-specific episodes. Yes, the franchise still suffers from giving a certain character a certain episode in order to highlight her charm and to create “character development”. But how do they showcase a character exactly? It’s really simple, honestly. First, you got to think of a catchphrase or a pose for her. Second, you basically turn her into a living meme. And when its finally her time to take the spotlight; you create a new problem totally unrelated to her character, make a whole episode revolving around it to show ‘development’ , then not actually fixing it by the end…ok, maybe that last part was pointed towards a specific character [ I can’t help it if it’s one of my best girls , can I? ]
For a serious answer though, Aqours both as a group and each individual member(for better or worse) have come far since the first season. Of course, the character-specific episode remains, but some of it did help to advance the plot. The main problem is actually how the characters’ screentimes were balanced. For a show which aimed to promote each and every single girl, it failed to do so. Some were given too much screentime while others were barely noticeable throughout the season. I mean, a scene where the main character is chasing a non-existent gift could better be used for her best friend who was only showing up when giving a salute.

THEME:
This is something I personally want to add since it is also what gives Love Live! Sunshine!! its identity. This is something SIP lacked, or atleast didn’t give focus to. THIS is what allowed everything—story, music, character— to connect to the viewer. At least for me it did. Its best to watch and interpret yourself, but if I had to put it in a few words:

Step! ZERO to ONE

ENJOYMENT & VERDICT:
As a fan, there is no way I wouldn’t enjoy it. Nothing else to say there. I love it regardless of my viewing experience and my opinions on it. It was a fun, Thrilling One Way ride from start until the end. A solid 98/100 for me.

As for my verdict on the series, all I can say is that it is an improvement. If you look at it as the successor to μ's, it would be an 8/10. If you look at it as a series in general, it is a 7/10. Why? The reason why LLS is good is because it gets compared to SIP. If you look at it as just Love Live! In general, flaws will definitely be seen.

So is it worth a watch? Despite me shitting on it, YES. It is a show full of WONDERFUL STORIES and wonderful characters. It has beautiful character design with a story that is actually given an ending within only 2 seasons. But most of all, its a fucking lovable cancer show. If you appreciate the show for what even if at times it is devoid of logic, you’re gonna have an enjoyable experience.

What are you waiting for? Hop on this HAPPY PARTY TRAIN of hype and enter Idol Hell.

Love Live: Sunshine is an okay series but a disappointing follow-up, and its main issue is that it's much too derivative of the original series. While watching, I couldn't help but think about all the things that could have been done to make this a much more interesting sequel.

There are many good things about this series, of course. Visually, it looks much better than the original. I also enjoyed the character moments very much, my favorite being those focused on Ruby and Dia. During the first season I was worried that the characters might be too gimmicky and shallow, but most of them developed pretty ... nicely in the second season. I even ended up having some empathy for Yoshiko, who started off as my least favorite.

The main problem with Sunshine, as stated before, is that it follows the formula set by the first series too closely, which results in a story that's much weaker than the original series. I would have enjoyed Sunshine much more if it focused more on the struggle of being recognized after the success of μ's instead of retreading the same ground for most of the series. Sunshine ends up feeling like a story with a beginning and end but not much of a middle, which deflates a lot of the impact at the end of the series. Once I got to the end, I wasn't really emotionally invested as much as I was wondering, "Is this really it?". It felt as if I had skipped over the entire process of getting there.

I'm also disappointed because this sets a precedent for future installments in this franchise. I would like to see Love Live become a more varied and interesting franchise, but Sunshine shows me that the show's creators are very hesitant to deviate from the formula set by the first series.

tl;dr: If you liked Love Live for the story, you won't like Sunshine very much. If you liked it for the character spotlight episodes, the music, or some other reason, you'll probably enjoy it.