This is a comprehensive review of both seasons + the movie. I’m putting it here because this is the last chapter of µ’s’ story (TT__TT), as well as because I’m too lazy to write separate reviews for each entry and no one pays me to do it whatsoever. Sunshine!! will receive its own review after the second season (and possibly the movie?) has aired.
Starting with the plot of Love Live!, I didn’t expect an idol anime focusing primarily on music and choreography to have an outstanding story capable of keeping me on the edge of my seat. And it didn’t. The plot was predictable and I daresay, clichéd at some moments. However, with its simple plot, Love Live! managed to evoke in me the strong emotions I’m used to experiencing with my favorite shows.
Saving Otonokizaka Gakuin is the goal of µ’s. Doing so by performing at the Love Live! is the dream of each one of them. Following µ’s throughout their journey and wondering whether they will succeed is what kept me intrigued until the very end. Seeing µ’s at the end of the movie and reminiscing about the start of their story, about all the obstacles they had to overcome to become who they are now, is what brought the tears to my eyes. It’s the execution that made this simple plot effective.
As for the characters, I believe everyone who has seen the show would agree that although they are quirky and memorable, they aren’t quite well-developed. Kind of one-dimensional, really. Maki – the tsundere. Eli – the stoic. Hanayo – the dandere. Nozomi – the pervert. Honoka – the genki girl. You get the idea. But that’s expected of such a large cast (9 main characters!). However, they are all given their due screen time either in the first or in the second season. And although their arcs are predictable and don’t stray from the archetypes, I still found something to love about each one µ’s girl. Be it her strong individuality, her enthusiasm about school idols, her cute verbal tic, her wisdom, her smile, her maturity, her kindness, her calm demeanor, or her optimism and perseverance – each µ’s member contributes to the collective feel of the group. And each one of them pursues her dreams in her own unique way.
Moving onto the art and animation, I believe it to be one of the trickiest parts of the show to be judged and rated. Because while the art was vibrant and the overall animation was detailed and fluent, the dance sequences were ruined (to me at least) by the excessive use of CGI, especially during the long shots where the entire group could be seen. With that said, I would have appreciated more close-ups for the sake of a consistent animation. Even the movie, where one would expect a better animation, was guilty of using conspicuous CGI. Anyway, if I were to exclude the CGI sequences and rate the other aspects of the art and animation, my rating would have certainly been higher (probably a 9). But Love Live! does outstanding in everything else and µ’s are adorable anyway, so it doesn’t really matter. He-he.
Finally, we’ve come to the sound and I’m saying finally because this is where I’m planning to pour out all my fan feelings and praises for each of my favorite songs featured in the anime. After all, these songs were the reason why I downloaded Love Live! School Idol Festival on my phone, and why I keep replaying the same song multiple times even though I’ve already completed all of its achievements, and why I curse the world every time I run out of LP. The thing is, Love Live! wouldn’t have been a good anime if it weren’t for the effort put into the music.
Bokura wa Ima no Naka de – although it’s performed at the Love Love! concert at the end of the second season, I’m starting with this song because it is, well, the opening of the first season. It’s an energetic song that drew my attention from the first episode and was my favorite song until the end of the movie (where I found a new favorite).
START:DASH!! – the song that laid the beginnings of µ’s’ story, as well as the song that’s always going to have a special place in my heart. It’s sung during the first live performance by Honoka, Umi and Kotori, right after the three of them have formed µ’s. It’s a song about the beginning of a new journey (even the name says it) and doing so with the firm resolve to accomplish your goals. Being performed by all µ’s members in the final episode of the first season already shows how much the girls have achieved already. And it proclaims to their rivals, A-RISE, that µ’s aren’t planning to give up.
Susume→Tomorrow – the song the anime opens with in the first episode of S1, as well as Honoka, Umi, and Kotori’s first song together. It’s one of the fastest µ’s songs and I really love dancing to it.
Sore wa Bokutachi no Kiseki – the opening of the second season and also a favorite song of mine. Seriously, I can’t tell which one I love more – this one or “Bokura wa Ima no Naka de”.
Yume no Tobira – the song that sums up µ’s’ purpose, as well as a worthy opponent of A-RISE’s “Shocking Party”. And guess what – in Sunshine!!, Riko from Aqours does a piano cover of it.
Snow Halation – the song that skyrocketed µ’s’ popularity and brought them to the most awaited and cherished Love Live! It’s also their first love song (and the most beautiful one). Here’s a piece of advice: Find and listen to the Umi solo cover of this song. Pure magic.
Aishiteru Banzai! – Maki’s song! As much as I love the group version featured in S2’s episode 13, Maki’s solo is still the best.
Angelic Angel – the song µ’s perform when they visit America in the movie. I wasn’t a fan of it initially, but I came to love it once I started playing it on LLSIF. One thing I liked from the beginning was the costumes for this song.
Bokutachi wa Hitotsu no Hikari – this is it – my favorite µ’s song, as well as the one played during the ending credits of the movie. It’s the song I can never sing past “…toki o maki modoshite…” in the first refrain, because my voice cracks and I start wailing (and my parents think I’ve gone nuts). It’s the song that reminds me of the real µ’s, who disbanded in 2016, making the experience even more painful. It’s also the song I’m listening to right now as I’m writing this review.
Kore Kara – okay, this one wasn’t featured in the anime, but it was included with the movie Blu-Ray and it’s so beautiful a song that I needed to mention it. You can call it my favorite song along with the one above. “Kore Kara” is quite underrated in my opinion and not so popular, but it’s a wonderful ballad on a par with “Bokutachi wa Hitotsu no Hikari”, so if you haven’t listened to it yet, go do it right away. And one tip: For max feels, listen to “Kore Kara” right after “Bokutachi wa Hitotsu no Hikari” and if you don’t understand the Japanese lyrics, find the English translation and you’ll see why both songs are so sad, yet so beautiful.
A honorable mention goes to “Bokura no LIVE Kimi to no LIFE”, “Kitto Seishun ga Kikoeru”, “Donna Toki mo Zutto”, “Wonder Zone”, “Oh, Love & Peace!”, “Dancing Stars on Me!”, “Love Wing Bell”, and “KiRa-KiRa Sensation!”.
So, this is the end of my list of “favorite µ’s songs featured in the anime”, but not the end of my “favorite µ’s songs” list. It continues with “WILD STARS”, “Kaguya no Shiro de Odoritai”, “Natsuiro Egao de 1, 2, Jump!”, “Mermaid Festa Vol.1”, “Arashi no Naka no Koi Dakara”, “HEART to HEART!”, and µ’s’ final single, “MOMENT RING”. And of course, everything by BiBi. Maybe lily white and Printemps as well. But who am I trying to fool – I love them all equally.
As for my enjoyment, I couldn’t help it – any anime can win me with great music and Love Live! has some of the most beautiful songs. With that said, I think my favorite anime genre is music. Ha-ha. But it’s true. Anyway, watch this show, then go play the mobile game – it’s all worth it. I wasn’t into idol music before I saw Love Live!, yet now I’m practicing to become an idol myself. Doing physical exercises every day. Singing. Dancing. I just wish I wasn’t alone in this enterprise. But now I’m certain I can succeed even if I have to do it on my own. That’s why I’m trying nine times as hard as idol groups do. Because I need to be as good as a group of nine people is. And I’ll make it. I’ll be famous one day. Just like µ’s. I have that feeling. After all, even for µ’s, it all began with a subtle premonition.
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