internetfemcel's Blog

Back to internetfemcel's Blog

In 2009, a show called 'K-On!' would revolutionize anime culture forever. With its stunning blending of animation, music, and grounded storytelling, it would embed itself into the hearts of fans all across the globe. In its wake, a new sub genre of anime was formed. Four years later, 'Love Live! School Idol Project' was released to mass critical acclaim among otaku. It blended the real world's idols with an anime that took inspiration from 'K-On!', proving to be a formula for massive success. 'Love Live!' would go on to gain a sequel season and multiple subsequent series. Fast forward to March 16, 2017. 'BanG Dream: Girls Band Party' (affectionately shortened to 'Bandori') releases, and takes the idol style of marketing and expands it to fit 25 members across five bands. Now, 'Love Live!' has always had a great story. But to many, it felt restrictive in its genre as the story always played out in a similar fashion. Enter Bandori. Its day-to-day storytelling along with a wider range of characters and units attracted many previous fans of 'Love Live' (and Idolmaster. This series is notably missing from the retrospective because I don't know enough about it. Apologies!). It would go on to gain three seasons of anime and a spinoff series, each better than the last. Recently, properties like 'Love Live!' and Bandori have begun to have mass falloffs in popularity, with the 'Love Live!' series closing three of its mobile games in the past three years. With the stage open to new competitors, who will step up to the challenge?

We'll begin with the past and work our way toward the future, starting with the dissection of Kawaragi Momoka. Momoka is a 20 year old guitarist and former member of 'Diamond Dust', an idol band. In many ways, it's very possible to read Momoka as the 'after' scenario for most girls band anime-- an example of what happens when the afterglow fades, leaving us with the cold, harsh truth. People drift apart, are pulled in entirely different directions in the transition from high school to adulthood, and can't afford to stay in one spot forever. It's something I appreciated in 'Love Live! The School Idol Movie' that's done even better here as Momoka and Honoka have a lot in common. Leaders of their groups, both aiming for the top with their music while brandishing an earnest smile, but with a key difference between them: one knew the dream was over, while the other did everything to keep it alive.

Asahi Rokka is the guitarist of Bandori's RAISE A SUILEN. Just like Nina, she's a country bumpkin making her way to Tokyo, inspired by a band to start making music. Rokka and Nina feel like echoes of one another, and their parallels cannot go unnoticed. Nina's the next step in writing for the genre, adding more depth and realness to Rokka's character. Her snarky side and snappy remarks play in contrast to the past's protagonist, and her demeanor is by all means an improvement. Bandori was hopeful, a gleaming star to guide. Girls Band Cry is bittersweet, yet 100% realer in every way. These anime share a few key aspects that are absolutely worth mentioning, firstly the phrase 'Girls band revolution'. It's used by Momoka in episode eight, and a similar phrase is used by Rokka in episode one of 'BanG Dream! 2nd Season': 'Girls band era' (I know someone says the direct quote in Bandori but I can't find it anywhere. If you or someone else knows, please tell me.). These two quotes play in direct parallel to one another. To revolutionize, you must raze the previous era and cast it all to the wayside. 'Girls Band Cry' does exactly this in its evolution of the past tropes and style common in Bandori. GBC feels like a logical next step for the genre, and I'm confident that it will continue to blaze a trail to make a name for itself.

This is, of course, analysis at the end of the day. Just another lens. That being said, it's a really interesting lens to view the show and its characters through, one which adds another layer of depth and builds upon the idol/band genre. I'm confident that with the mass success of this show, the next girls band revolution will be legendary. Here's to the future, and thanks for the past.