Step into the Masquerade — Ave Mujica - The Die is Cast - marks Bushiroad’s bold new entry into psychological thriller anime. Now streaming on Crunchyroll worldwide, this gripping tale follows a masked girls' symphonic metal band named Ave Mujica that was born from a single night of tragedy. A sequel to BanG Dream! It’s My Go!!!!!, this series explores the new band’s relationships, challenges, and intensifying personal conflicts, as their grip on reality starts to slip further and further.
To delve deeper into the haunting world of Ave Mujica, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Director Kodai Kakimoto and Band Producer Hiroki Matsumoto. Together, they share insights into the creative vision behind Ave Mujica’s dark yet elegant themes woven into the narrative and music.
©BanG Dream! Project
For those who haven’t yet joined the Masquerade, can you describe Ave Mujica in your own words? What’s in store for viewers?
Kakimoto: This anime serves as a sequel to the TV anime BanG Dream! It’s MyGO!!!!! which aired in 2023, but is designed to be enjoyed independently as well.
Ave Mujica is a band that incorporates elements of stage plays and opera into its performances, with metal music at its core. Behind their dazzling stage lies an intricate blend of their desires and shadows.
The story unfolds as viewers are drawn into a twisting, turning narrative led by the lies and truths hidden behind the band’s masks—both metaphorically and physically.
The first episode of Ave Mujica premiered last week with new episodes airing every Thursday! What do you think about the reception among viewers so far?
Kakimoto: I was relieved to see that viewers who watched Episode #1 were already analyzing and speculating about the various elements sprinkled throughout the story, clearly enjoying it.
This episode also serves as a kind of answer key to It’s MyGO!!!!!, allowing viewers to learn the reasons behind Sakiko’s seemingly selfish behavior in It’s MyGO!!!!! Some viewers expressed complex emotions about her backstory. These complex feelings are one of the reactions we hope to evoke through the series. I encourage everyone to continue watching and embrace the intricacies of the characters and story.
©BanG Dream! Project
The first thing anyone will notice about Ave Mujica is its striking artistic direction. How do the gothic aesthetics, such as costumes and settings, contribute to Ave Mujica’s overall narrative tone?
Kakimoto: This story delves into the personas and hidden facets of its characters, and Ave Mujica exemplifies this duality.
From their elaborate costumes and theatrical performances to their stage names, every element of their stage embodies their aesthetic.
These elements also act as mirrors reflecting their inner selves, serving as key tools to portray the duality of their masks. The stage presents an illusion of depth—deceptive, shallow, fleeting yet seemingly eternal—capturing the contradictions of their existence.
Let’s get into the story. Sakiko, the keyboardist and frontwoman of Ave Mujica, experienced a drastic, tragic change in life at the start of the anime that led her to form the band Ave Mujica and set the story’s events in motion. What inspired this curveball? What can viewers expect from the character arcs as the series progresses?
Kakimoto: MyGO!!!!! and Ave Mujica were conceived together from the beginning. Although the titles diverge, the overarching narrative was always about the drama of ten individuals from the two bands.
With MyGO!!!!! representing punk and Ave Mujica focusing on metal, the character placement reflects these differing musical genres. MyGO!!!!! expresses raw emotions, while Ave Mujica wears masks and creates a fictional stage world.
Each member of Ave Mujica harbors hidden truths, and Sakiko’s past, revealed at the start, is part of that.
The story begins with the disbanding of CRYCHIC and its division into two new bands, shaping the narrative and character development in tandem. Through iterative storytelling cycles—creating an outline, letting the characters respond to events, and refining their nuances—we built a story that allows the characters to take the lead.
While this is not a traditional coming-of-age story, the upcoming episodes will showcase drama shaped by the characters’ own choices.
©BanG Dream! Project
Ave Mujica incorporates elements of identity and self-expression, which are deeply complex and personal themes. How do you hope these themes resonate with viewers?
Kakimoto: When we speak of "identity" or "self-expression," societal norms and ideals often accompany these concepts. However, Ave Mujica aims to defy such conventions.
Are individuals who cannot meet societal ideals any less compelling? I don’t believe so.
By embracing their imperfections and personal quirks, viewers might find inspiration to accept or refine themselves without being confined by expectations. I hope this series serves as a companion in their journey toward introspection.
Ave Mujica’s powerful, gothic metal is an essential part of the anime. Are there any real-life inspirations behind Ave Mujica’s concept and music style?
Matsumoto: MyGO!!!!! was created first and Ave Mujica was born as a band to complement it. If MyGO!!!!! represents the light, then the question became where to cast the shadow of Ave Mujica. Since MyGO!!!!! focuses on inward emotions, the concept for Ave Mujica was to incorporate commercial elements.
The members of Ave Mujica conceal their faces with lace masks, which lends itself to a dark atmosphere with horror elements. Additionally, because the characters can change as part of a play-within-a-play, theatrical elements were incorporated.
So, rather than starting with gothic elements, the basis was more in horror and theatrical influences.
Both as characters and in terms of music, MyGO!!!!! and Ave Mujica are quite contrasting, so I think it would be interesting to focus on these differences.
©BanG Dream! Project
What was unique about composing the music for Ave Mujica from other bands/projects? Was your approach any different?
Matsumoto: This isn't about comparing to other bands, but rather about the music production of Ave Mujica. The most important thing in creating the music for Ave Mujica is to "create what I think is good." This is the key point. Without that, I wouldn’t enjoy the work, and it would be disrespectful to the members who sing and play the music, as well as to the listeners.
Working in the music industry, sometimes deadlines lead to compromises or disagreements, and there are often moments where you think, “I actually would rather do it this way...” But, of course, this isn't a solo project, so it's hard to completely eliminate differing opinions. However, I make an effort to communicate as much as possible with the writers, staff, and everyone involved to avoid such discrepancies.
Not only for the anime, but for live performances and music, I’m confident that all Ave Mujica members and staff are looking in the same direction and delivering the best work. I believe the staff of the anime and music team are enjoying themselves and are able to be true to themselves. A project where everyone is doing what they want—doesn’t that make it invincible? (laugh)
What role does the heavy metal music play in expressing the characters’ emotional states and internal conflicts?
Matsumoto: I can’t quite speak in detail since only the first episode has aired, but I think it’s already clear that all the members of Ave Mujica carry deep darkness within them. The dark and thrilling music of Ave Mujica is a very suitable platform to push those emotions forward.
The only track I can talk about right now is the opening theme, "KiLLKiSS," but just talking about this one song, it conveys the tension and deep darkness within the anime. The unreleased tracks, too, express their emotions fully, so I hope you’ll continue to follow the anime in anticipation of those.
©BanG Dream! Project
Music is often called the “universal language.” Do you think that Ave Mujica’s music can transcend cultural and language barriers to convey the emotions of the characters and story?
Matsumoto: I’d like to say yes, but this is a difficult question. Of course, even if the lyrics aren’t understood in a foreign language, there are songs that are good as instrumentals, and some people might think that’s enough. Metal in particular has this tendency, and I believe that Ave Mujica’s music also has this aspect. However, since the anime is a character-driven narrative, lyrics need to be given importance. I would say the ideal form of music is one where it works as an instrumental while also conveying additional meaning through lyrics.
Because of this, Bushiroad is putting effort into translating the lyrics, which is a big part of why I believe we’ve been able to share Ave Mujica’s music with people who previously couldn’t access it. After all, we can’t stop putting effort in learning and producing new things just because our fans worked hard learning Japanese (laugh). I just realized, but the fact that you’re reading this interview means that Ave Mujica has already crossed the language barrier to some extent. I believe the same goes for music.
Music and visuals often go hand in hand, especially in a series like Ave Mujica. How did the gothic aesthetic influence not only the look of the series but also its music and sound design?
Kakimoto: Ave Mujica’s music can be classified as metal, particularly symphonic metal, with its classical and majestic atmosphere. This style reflects the perfectly-crafted masquerade and Sakiko’s roots as a classical composer.
However, just as the masquerade serves as both a stage and a reflection of the band members, the sound is designed to balance its grandeur with a sense of illusion. Rather than seeking profound truths, the music aims to offer an intoxicating escape from reality and guilt, embodying the mysterious world of Ave Mujica.
©BanG Dream! Project
Lastly, do you have a special message you’d like to share with overseas guests of the Masquerade?
Kakimoto: Thank you for enjoying Ave Mujica.
As the series unfolds, Ave Mujica will face various challenges, revealing fleeting yet distorted beauty through their choices. I hope you will continue to follow their journey and witness the complex story that lies ahead.
Matsumoto: Thank you for loving music and anime from Japan, this small island nation. It’s quite difficult for us to travel abroad frequently, so I apologize for not being able to make such opportunities often. But, rest assured, your support and enthusiasm are definitely reaching us.
We are working to enrich content so that you can enjoy it from overseas, but we also want to deliver Ave Mujica's music directly to you. Until the day we can meet, and even after that, we’d be happy if you could continue supporting Ave Mujica. I believe that one day we’ll meet, and we’ll be able to communicate through music!
©BanG Dream! Project
Blending the raw intensity of heavy metal and psychological drama, Ave Mujica - The Die is Cast - invites you into a dark, exquisite rhapsody. Once you step foot into the enigmatic world of the Masquerade, there is no turning back.
Ave Mujica - The Die is Cast - is now streaming on Crunchyroll. Follow the Official X account for the latest updates and announcements.
