I don't have anything against anime with a school setting in particular, but I do feel it's been really overdone. So yeh, another show about school girls starting a new club in Japan. Despite the rather dull setting, I was getting pretty interested in the show in the earlier episodes because not only was the show really pretty, but it seemed like it was going to focus highly on Yosakoi, and I was going to learn something new and exciting. I really like shows that get me interested in a new hobby or thing I didn't know much about before. Sometimes the new thing becomes a big part of my life (as was the case with Hikaru no Go, Akagi, and Prince of Tennis). Maybe Yosakoi could become a new self interest of mine thanks to anime?
Sadly for me, instead of focusing on Yosakoi, the show ended up being mostly about the girls and their character development. The girls could have been in any club, really, as the dancing wasn't what was important to them. What was important was getting out of comfort zones, making your own decisions, making up with siblings, and other such character developments the girls had, which was unrelated to Yosakoi. I should have expected the show to be this way, but I didn't so it kind of disappointed me.
The final few episodes throw in some extra drama to build up some additional tension. Regardless whether or not the scenario regarding Hana's family that occurred in those last episodes is realistic or not, it felt really unnecessary to the show as a whole. But the last episode was the really lame part. I was excited to see an epic final uninterrupted dance performance, kind of like what Lucky Star did (though Lucky Star wasn't even a show about dancing lol). Not only did we not see much dancing at all (almost all of what we saw was just recycled from the opening, curse you tiny budget!), but some things happen that pretty much invalidate all the drama made in the last few eps. It's like the last three or four or so episodes were all just a waste.
This show reminded me a lot of Tari Tari, another show where they start a club (this time about singing), and the majority of the show ends up being not much about the club, but character development of the members of the club. This storytelling archetype is fine, but it kind of makes the actual club 2nd place in importance, which I don't really like much. There exist club shows that also have the character development but continue to keep the focus on the main theme. Shows like Chihayafuru, Hyouka, and Ping Pong. Over time after watching those shows I grow more interested in the characters than the main thing, sure, but I like that the shows don't forget their roots.
Anyways rambling aside, the show was alright. If you have a thing for shows with mild teenage drama (like parent/child tension) that sometimes talks about yosakoi, then try this show out. At the least, you can watch the opening theme and tell me how my taste in music is so good/bad lol. 7/10
