I'm sure most of you expect Love Live! to be a group of girls getting together singing and being all moe.... well you're right that's exactly what Love Live is.
It takes place in the life of Kousaka Honoka who's a second year student in Otonokizaka High School in Akihabara. Having just recieved the news that the school has not reached it's application quota and will therefor be closed at the graduation of the current students she and her two friends Minami Kotori and Sonoda Umi decides to do something about it.
As they think of what to do Honoka stumbles upon the idea of becoming Idols which is at first shot down as a poor suggestion but grows on them as they decide to create a group.
As such they train for their first ever live concert and as such the story begins!
I feel like the story of Love Live! is quite average and while there is nothing extraordinary in it there is no big flaws in it either except for a couple of annoying time skips where you just wish that they had another 3 or so episodes to explain what you missed, which is good considering the story of the show is not it's selling point.
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The producers of Love Live! is Sunrise, Lantis and NIS America and personally I feel like the art and animation is nothing out of the ordinary, that is until they add the 3D which can be found during some sequences in for example performances.
The 3D transition is down very smoothly and the 3D itself is very well made which makes me feel like I'm really watching something that's a treat for the eyes, combine it with cute girls who sing songs and act all moe and you have yourself a winning concept.
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The other selling point of Love Live! as it's a series about a school idol group is obviously the sound.
In my opinion the OSTs are nothing special and the songs they sing while good are nothing special (except for Start:Dash! but that might just be me).
I do have to give credit though as through the entire main cast there aren't really any big names as most of the VA's are known from this series in specific and some has not even done any other character.
The opening "Bokura wa Ima no Naka De" by µ's is quite good looking and the song itself sticks very easily and fits with the theme of the show very well causing it to be memorable.
The ending of Love Live! shifts very often as in the first episode it's "Susume Tomorrow" by µ's which quite honestly send shivers down my spine every time I hear it and I'd say it's one of the best endings I've heard so far.
Sadly they switch it out after just one episode for" Kitto Seishun ga Kikoeru" also by µ's which is sung in different versions in different episodes.
Not to say that the second ending is poor but in comparison to the first the quality pales.
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As far as the characters go they don't get nearly enough development in this first season which is a bit disappointing but with only 13 episodes and such focus on 3D and sound it's understandable and because of the type of series it is it's actually somewhat acceptable.
However my expectations are high for good character development with the second season coming up.
Kousaka Honoka: Our MC is an overambitious girl when it comes to things she has passion for however outside of those areas she is quite lazy and likes wasting time however she has a certain charm which allows her to get things her way more often than not which sometimes causes trouble but is also a major factor in the groups success.
Minami Kotori: Kotori is the type of character who is always cheerful and makes sure that the group stays in a good mood, she is very talented all be it she does not see it herself and tries her hardest for her friends, other very similar characters are Asahina Mikuru or Kotobuki Tsumugi.
Sonoda Umi: Umi is the responsible of the main-trio and is quite honestly more or less a more daring version of Akiyama Mio with both very similar looks and personality being very dependable, kind, proud and somewhat easily embarassed. Somewhat of a light Tsundere.
Aside from these three no other character got nearly enough character development.
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For my personal enjoyment I have to say i was pleasantly surprised as I was expecting another K-on! (which did not please me all that much) but I enjoyed Love Live! a lot and I feel like as a stand alone series the first season ended quite well.
But with a second season coming up I think that with more character development and a good story they can turn Love Live! into something great and I'm very interested in the second season starting now in Spring 2014.
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Overall I'd say Love Live! is a good anime that is worth the watch and I have high expectations for the second season which is incoming.
