Story - 6/10
Love Live has a rather simple story. The school, the girl’s attend is being shut down, because there isn’t simply enough students to fill the school, and they don’t get enough applications from the junior high students to stay open. So as you probably can guess what happens next, a group of girls decide to form an idol group known as μ's. So their aim to get recognized, so that other students come to their school and to do that they enter the Love Live competition, a competition for school idols, to get recognize and save their school, simple enough. 2nd season is more of the same, they enter another Love Live competition but for a different reason, which I won’t go into detail. The story is not what’s important, with this series, with the sound of it’s pretty much a sports anime you can say in some ways, with the slice of life add to it.
Characters - 10/10
Like I said earlier, there’s not much to get from the story of Love Live, but it’s not story that’ll get you attached to this show, it’s more of the characters interaction with each other. This anime focuses more on the characters and how each one of them develops. There are 9 main characters which form the idol group μ's. Apart from their obvious main character, the rest of the girls pretty much get the same amount of attention to them.
Starting off there is Kousaka Honoka, the center and leader of the group, the one who is always upbeat and tries to keep the group together, even though she is not the best of anything in her group, she always tries hard.
The other second years is Sonoda Umi and Minami Kotori. Umi pretty much balances Honoka as she is the more level headed friend and thinks logically, she does write the group’s songs, and makes the other girl’s work hard as she is pretty committed to the group even though she doesn’t show it. Kotori makes the group the costumes, and pretty much an air head like Honoka also the fan service moe character type.
The first years are Koizumi Hanayo, Hoshizora Rin and Nishikino MAKI-CHAN!!! Hanayo is the very shy and quiet reserved type girl, however when it comes to Rice and Idols, she changes from the quiet girl to the very enthusiastic girl.
Rin the nyanamazing tomboy of the group, she is considered the most athletic and most coordinated in the group, perhaps due to the being the sporty type and she is considered a great dancer as well.
Maki-chan!!! My favourite character and oshie is the last of the 1st years. She is partly a tsundere, as she doesn’t really show her true feelings when around the group except when she admitted when she believed in Santa. Maki is the composer of group and considered their best singer and she is so kawaii.
And last but not least the third years. Ayase Eli, Toujou Nozomi and Yazawa Nico. Eli is like Umi, as she too is more a level headed serious type of character, however she acts this way because she is trying to represent as a role model. She is the choreographer of group along with Umi as she has dancing experiences and also she plans on how the group promote themselves.
Nozomi is the wise and voice of reason girl in the group. She is the spiritual leader of group, literally, as she foresaw the group being made and gave the group the name. She is also the teaser of the group, as she teases the other girls a lot, plus washi washi.
And then we have Nico. The split personality loveable girl type. When being an Idol Nico is probably one of the most adorable beings in the world always smiling, innocent type, but behind that she is most cockiest member of the group believing to be the best. She is a fan girl of idols and also the president of the school’s idol club.
Like I said the show is more about the girls and their development with each other rather than the goal itself. It’s obvious Honoka is main focus majority of the time, but each of the girls have at least have 1 episode to shine, in fact here it is.
Umi – Season 1 Episode 7
Kotori – Season 1 Episode 9
Hanayo – Season 1 Episode 4
Rin – Season 2 Episode 5
Maki – Season 1 Episode 10
Eli – Season 1 Episode 8
Nozomi – Season 2 Episode 8
Nico – Season 2 Episode 4
It’s feels very episodic, as the most of the time girl’s do something completely difference each episode. But I do recommended watching both seasons to get the full experience, as it really is about the girls. And they’re the strongest aspect to this show.
Animation - 7/10
The animation is pretty well done for what it’s trying to achieve. It’s obvious from the start the animators are trying to make these girl’s look very cute and moe. As they all seem to be blushing regardless. And the colours are very bright as well which fits the very light hearted feel of the anime.
The problem I found with this anime is part of the moe art style, I didn’t mind the over blushing to much, but it’s applied on the other parts of their bodies. Especially the kneecaps and the elbows, it’s really red.
Now you’re all wondering how the singing and dancing animation is done. The girl’s a 3D and the background is 2D, which is super obvious when they change the animation. I get why they did 3D, as it’s easier to animate the choreography of the girls, but then it makes the girl’s look extremely pale, which I kind of put me off. However it’s done very smoothly, so give them prompts for that.
The animation is nothing to write home about, its pretty unique style that’ll appeal to some people, but some might find it off putting switching from 2D to 3D etc.
Enjoyment - 10/10
For me since I am a fan of idols and j-pop, and μ's has become my second favourite idol group, I really enjoyed this anime. It’s really light hearted slice of life musical sports anime, with drama here and there, but most of the time it gives a really happy vibe. You’re not probably not going to like this anime, if you don’t enjoy j-pop music or idol music, and the very cutest style of the animation and characters itself. In fact I don’t think there’s any significant male character in the series, it’s literally all girls. The music is really inspirational, I really enjoyed the music they chose to perform. And they are really catchy.
I kind of wished, Honoka didn’t steal most of the spotlight and like to see more of the other girls, but that just how it works with some idol the groups, the center gets the most attention.
I guess that’s why I love Ebichu so much.
Verdict - 8.5/10
So to summarise quickly, the story is not really much to write home about, but however the characters are a really interesting and developed well and it’s all about the characters, although I would’ve love to see more of the others, other than Honoka. The animation is hit or miss, depending on your taste, if you really like cute, moe animation you’re going to love this, if you don’t you’re probably not going to. And the 3D sequences is well done and smooth, but could’ve been done better with the colours. Music is very catchy and enjoyable and easy to learn if you like j-pop.
With that out of the way, you’re probably wanting a score from me, so here it is.
I give Love Live! School Idol Project an 8.5/10
