You know the drill. As usual, this is not exactly a review in the conventional sense, as it mostly focuses on analyzing the series as a whole rather than acting as an advertisement or recommendation to entice somebody to try the series out.
**This “review” is SPOILER-HEAVY and is recommended for those who have already completed the series. A large number of events will be referred to and may be used as examples in various ways.**
**This “review” will never be “complete” and I may be continually updating it in the future as I better collect more of my thoughts.**
This analysis may be somewhat messily written or seem to lack any sort of overarching structure. It is merely my personal thoughts and things I've realized while watching the series. Everything is subject to change as my perspective towards the media I consume continues to evolve.
Aikatsu! is unquestionably among the most refreshing titles that I've encountered in a long time, shattering my expectations as for what I envisioned it would be as overall possibly the most enjoyable anime I've ever completed. After stagnating in regards to anime consumption for quite some time, I felt that I had nearly entirely lost the ability to follow something continuously, though upon cleaning up my plan to watch list, I was struck with an epiphany in how only takes the correct title to get going again.
Right off the bat, something of note is that while the series boasts neither the greatest visuals, nor the most complex narrative, the original Aikatsu!, standing at a colossal 178-episodes with the added bonus of movies and whatnot, is a rather ambitious title to say the least, originating on a much smaller scale as a simple rise-to-the-top story at first glance, following Ichigo and her best friend, Aoi, their embarkment on the road to become top idols, yet as the series progresses, the cast dramatically expands to include dozens of faces, the focus distributed between both the many main and side characters alike, nevertheless without ever compromising the journey of its primary protagonists. It's a children’s show that largely succeeds in impressing me, even in spite of my appreciation of other strong titles geared towards the same demographic, and hence being less impressionable.
The series’s greatest strengths lie with its characters, their interactions and development over a long span of time. This isn't to say that Aikatsu! has the most complex characters, as many do not particularly stray from common tropes and archetypes, but over time, many have their individual struggles both highlighted and explored while remaining ever-present throughout its run. I found myself growing to enjoy the occasions when characters that I initially didn't even like were centered then upon to unveil a new side and hence create a new sense of appreciation. As follows, at this point, I don’t think there's any singular cast member which I can point to and say I dislike. Of course, not every character is explored to an equivalent extent, but most of even the secondary protagonists are given some spotlight and maintain their own following, if not already affecting the series’ universe in some notable way. Even characters as minor as Yuu, being Akari's initial roommate, have been utilized in multiple ways, an example being her exchange student experience playing a role in shaping her to become a travel idol, allowing both Miyabi and Kotone to come to Starlight as a secondary implication, with Yuu’s newfound motivation to further herself derived from the aforementioned experience of having Akari as her roommate. I essentially mean that even characters that appear uncommonly are hardly wasted, or at least feel like they could assume some believable position in the Aikatsu world. Once again, the cast is massive and the series does a fairly good job of using members to exemplify different potential paths for idols within the same industry, not even specifically limited to the type of idol they represent in terms of “cool” or “cute,” but in regards to the different branching routes sprouting from the same root, displaying a divergence between skillsets such as acting, modelling and comedy, and even specialties in regards to Sumire’s singing and Rin’s dancing being their emphasis or even having Yurika epitomize the idea of idols taking on a persona and sticking to it with utmost diligence. “Everyone moves at different paces” is a common motif present throughout, and additionally, everyone also comes to move in their own direction. The way that characters continue to evolve and how their screen presence slowly gains weight over the years are part of what makes the show work so well.
The “journey’ of Aikatsu! is, in itself, much of the point, and by this, much of what appears as tangential manages to merge together in memory to formulate said journey, which in turn assists in fleshing out the characters’ own experiences. One could say that some loose ends arrive nowhere in regards to the long-term, bigger picture, yet it's precisely because Aikatsu! dedicates such a massive sum of episodes to focus on such a variety of activities concerning myriad characters and encompassing an array of messages and experiences that the journey is formed as a cohesive whole to begin with. There is an episode leading up to graduation which emphasizes the memorable experiences of the previous years as Ichigo and company are entrusted with the organization of pictures. This is only enabled by the abundance of seemingly one-off episodes and the multitude of experiences accumulated by this point to allow for recollection to hold weight, and this is even further supplemented by references to events which occur “off-screen,” allowing the viewer to fill in the blanks themselves as for how additional shenanigans would play out, adding to the believability of the immense stack of photos and mountain of experiences the cast has undertaken. Something as simple as Aoi composing a collection of the numerous pictures of Otome falling into the fountain for example, serves to illustrate the long span of time that has passed, given the lengths it would take to assemble such. Similarly, the way that characters are able to actively reminisce on past experiences underlines the gravity of this time to them. They themselves demonstrate a degree of self-awareness of both memories and the trails they have undergone, and experience isn't simply forgotten. It instead accumulates, much like the series' good episodes do to form something larger than the sum of its parts. In this regard, Aikatsu! certainly isn't the only show which does this, as other works which manage to feel like an actual journey are composed mostly similarly, but I find Aikatsu!'s entire attitude towards its progression to be particularly special. There are no tricks or traps here, no catches, simply large-scale, wholeheartedly straightforward, earnest progression and development.
Characters are humbled, frequently acknowledging just how long of a way ahead they have yet to go, in turn, often being shown in situations in which they attempt to improve upon themselves, frequently taking drastic measures for even marginal advancements as with the case of Akari attending Aikatsu Bootcamp. The show never skimps on its training montages; characters are always given ample quantities of scenes detailing relevant preparatory work and exercises ranging from dancing and choreography to vocal practice to concert planning as well as physical exertion. There are also many episodes in which characters attempt to acquire premium dresses, sometimes going to great lengths for such given how Ichigo scales an entire cliffside without safety ropes to meet with Amane, revealing both dedication and desperation. Many struggle with even basic training from the get-go, but over time, one can note how much change has occurred, as formerly difficult tasks are longer a struggle and are instead natural integrated into a standard day's routine without breaking a sweat. At one point, Soleil notes that they instinctively all break into training upon meeting up with each another due to the sheer frequency of their practice. As a result, these numerous segments of characters improving their physical abilities really lend weight to their progress; after a while, the viewer can undoubtedly realize the impact of this progression, with character development simultaneously feeling earned and realized.
There is a certain self-awareness of one’s own progress, a shared spirit if you will, of characters always seeking to further themselves, even in cases of where one has already seemingly risen to the pinnacle of what's conceivable in their profession as with Mizuki. Her role in the second season highlights the aforementioned desire to transcend, and after carrying the status of top idol for years on end, keeping up with her activities and continuously defending her position, she is motivated to move beyond prior accomplishments to not only be the current number one idol, but upstage past figures, namely Masquerade, for the spot of number one idol of all time, through executing an event on an even larger scale than her predecessors. This persistent desire to improve is once again shared by essentially every other cast member as well, characters almost never passing up any opportunities to get their name out and perform, taking every chance they can get in order to elevate themselves to the next level. Akari tries and succeeds at being a weather girl, and in this fashion, allowing her to shed the status of nameless rookie to become somewhat of a public figure, to the point where even elderly and non-idol enthusiasts are able to recognize her. Even in cases of skepticism regarding one's own ability to win a position or take on the role of an idol, as with Kii in her transition from holding a producer role to actually performing on-stage alongside her friends, characters are able to find their footing, Kii gaining confidence and passion through victory as the poster girl for Pon Pon Crepe, and take on tasks they previously wouldn't be motivated to attempt. This is a major factor from which enjoyment can be derived, the series more akin to a pseudo-sports show, characters competing against one another in what resembles a rivalry while also holding on to a sense of communal friendship, boosting each other up and wishing for others’ success even when it means they, themselves would need to try harder in response. In fact, this dynamic of having to work harder to catch up to the very individuals that one is pulling up is extremely significant as it creates massive chain reaction feedback loops in which characters are motivated and inspired by each other, resulting in a nearly boundless rise up the ranks for many.
In line with the physical regiments that the characters undergo to improve themselves, I feel that Aikatsu! is at its best with its more reflective segments. Within most episodes, there is usually a point in time, be it a thoughtful conversation at the end after a performance, or a revelation that acts as a catalyst to bring upon newfound strength, which complements achieved physical development with psychological growth as well. The small epiphanies, lessons and conversations over the years pile up to gradually affect how characters' behavior and outlooks, and in the same vein, these realizations are always diverse, tackling subjects that would be relevant and sensible for the characters to consider. Often, Aikatsu! may not necessarily give a clear-cut solidified answer to a specific problem, but its resolutions feel sincere and greatly assist in providing catharsis. There is usually a moment, frequently towards the end following a performance before cutting to the ending theme, in which everything just seems to click together smoothly and said catharsis is emerges. The feeling is in a similar vein to the small hints of beauty present in something like Aria, to which on that note, there are plenty of anime which may manage to provide similar catharsis at certain points over their run, yet something that separates Aikatsu! is how it manages this consistently on a seemingly regular basis. This ties back to what I mentioned before, of the “good” accumulating to form something greater, and the series is the prime example of a series that epitomizes this idea; its journey is composed of the combined experiences and everything gained along the way.
Something else that Aikatsu! excels at is capturing the passage of time. The show has a special talent for having time pass in a matter of seconds with that time still holding a real sense of weight behind it. Even short montages of the cast training or playing around over a matter of seconds are able to communicate far more in terms of how much time would have elapsed. The series has habitual performances nearly every single episode, and if not at the end of the episode like most often, they could take place in the very beginning. With this in mind, Aikatsu! can consistently illustrate endeavors spanning matters of days within the same singular episode, the act of establishing the conflict to begin with, exhibiting all the preparation work that comes with what has been established and display then the conflict or event itself in how it turns out. There were many cases where I would expect events to take on more of an arc structure to be spaced out over the course of multiple episodes, they do occasionally such as with the Starlight Queen Cups or other important concerts, but generally, Aikatsu! wastes no time in cutting straight to the chase, largely having everything wrap-up within the episode that it's established in, even Star Anis's tour passes in a flash without at all sacrificing its relevance. The fact that Aikatsu! can cover entire days in a single episode is something that I feel is crucial for conveying the aforementioned gravity of their activities, to where the audience can really feel that time is moving by. The calendar itself also plays into the passage of time, very fitting for a show with an ending called "Calendar Days." Considering that it seems to have been airing in real-time, the series has four distinct Christmas episodes and a nearly equal number of episodes dedicated to New Years’ yet none of them ever feel wasteful nor redundant. By establishing these sort of landmarks as well as how seasons and semesters pass on a regular basis of every 2-cours or so, it causes the viewer to feel as if they actually been watching the show for four years even if they happened to binge it over a few weeks in actuality, and this also contributes to making the show feel absolutely massive in terms of scope and scale. This too, serves to make the journey feel even more like an actual journey.
This far into the review already and I haven't even discussed specifics regarding the protagonists themselves. Ichigo and Akari are both excellent protagonists who undergo significant development throughout the show, albeit Ichigo’s may be less immediately noticeable as she juxtaposes Akari in certain respects. The most significant of disparity is her seemingly natural affinity for being an idol, as sniffed out by Aoi in the first episode where she recommends Ichigo to join her in applying to Starlight. With the blood of a former Masquerade member running through her, Ichigo feels almost superhuman in comparison to Akari, and while she does still struggle, she does so in different ways and a lot of it may be a bit less blatant, often touching more on the mental side of the implications of becoming an idol and progressing on that front rather than being limited by baseline physical abilities. This is not to say that Ichigo does not demonstrate any physical struggle whatsoever, as episode eleven highlights her difficulty of staying in shape and restraining herself, but much more plays into as previously mentioned consequences of both her aspirations and those surrounding her. The core of her character remains one in the same as her spirit and energy shines through in her every action, but by the end of the saga, it is evident that Ichigo has matured and grown. Comparing Ichigo from episode one and episodes following the first movie, there are noticeable changes in demeanor and confidence. She has risen to achieve many feats, becoming memorialized as a legendary figure in the industry, eventually dethroning Mizuki and claiming the prestigious position of top idol for herself. She has also continued to influence the myriad people around her, reaching the point where characters essentially worship her, the most obvious example being Akari of course, and the effect of this legacy is felt all the more because the viewer has accompanied her throughout her rise to the top.
It's an interesting sensation to reach the third season since many works more or less come to a standstill when characters achieve their primary goals, yet to go beyond that and see how their achievements have influenced things from thereon out is fascinating, and with this, Akari, the second main protagonist, is one swept up in the whirlwind that Ichigo initiated, definitely falling into the camp of worshipping of her, specifically being motivated to become an idol after watching her on television, and going as far as to introduce herself as Ichigo while applying to Starlight for the second time. Unlike Ichigo however, Akari lacks the natural idol affinity of her predecessor, something that Johnny Bepp outright explains to Ichigo in the second season, resulting in her significantly lower baseline abilities which calls for drastic improvements. Akari demonstrates far more in terms of physical struggle, forced to completely work herself into shape from nothing, practicing running single everyday, her singing and dancing abilities leaving much to be desired while also taking an eternity to be able to perform a special appeal. Akari showcases a fair amount of doubt regarding her self-confidence, quickly skeptical as to whether she was actually making any meaningful progress. She certainly eventually does, but over a believable amount of time with many tribulations. Akari slowly eases her way into being an idol and in the process learns to “shine with her own light” and not simply copy her mentor. Being influenced by Ichigo, Akari is without a doubt similar in terms of attitude, though without apparent the initial extraordinary ability to jump into and succeed at seemingly anything, she is forced to face things with pure resolve and determination, a characteristic noted by her parents at a young age. While never coming to officially dethrone Ichigo (even if she does surpass her in some way in the final episode), Akari’s ascension also comes with a uniqueness of knowing that she began at rock-bottom and has climbed such a long way. There is incredible emotional weight behind having both protagonists reach their landmark aspirations and by these points, the payoff always feels deserved.
The other characters also add flavor to interactions and, disregarding exaggerated elements, feel real enough to empathize with; for example, Johnny Bepp will likely stick in viewer’s minds with his trademark broken English and over the top attitude, but he even manages to have some episodes dedicated to him, and he, along with other characters, provide the show with a very specific flavor of energy. Given his goofiness, it may be easy to forget that Bepp is actually a master of his craft; he is fleshed out his own past as a choreographer and teacher for Masquerade, Mizuki and the many students at Starlight, as well as formerly being part of a dance group with Sonny. Orihime is fleshed out with her past being rooted in being part of Masquerade and moving on to raise idols to populate the idol scene as the headmistress of Starlight, her approach and philosophies contrasting Tiara’s with the formation of Dream Academy in raising only the selected few on a strict path towards being an idol as opposed to the openness of having even options to become a producer or designer open to anybody, even those who normally wouldn't meet the minimum skill bar. The majority of the main cast is largely populated by numerous idols who of which provide unique directions for the show to focus on while adding some semblance of spice in their own way, with much in the way of character chemistry. Most of the time, even while embodying common tropes, characters stick to grounded struggles and have secondary attributes and circumstances, for example Mikuru pursuing gardening on the side, which causes them to feel more believable as characters to sympathize with. On the other hand, various family members and supporting cast members provide much needed, well, support, for their respective idols to further help them feel closer to believable people with actual lives rather than machines that exist in a vacuum. The many top designers also assist in making the universe feel more like a living, breathing entity, featuring the diverse tastes and sensibilities that various brands would tackle, even showcasing the struggles of an upward climb towards being a top designer in the case of Sena, and labors to continue to churn out great work in the case of Amahane. The show dedicates a number of episodes to these designers, who many of which reappear in locations designers would logically go to seek inspiration, and in this way, they too feel like actual people to an extent even despite the spotlight being put on the idols themselves.
I feel that eventually allocating the original cast to supporting roles in favor of raising new protagonists is one of the most interesting writing decisions the franchise has taken upon itself. The dynamic between the original and new cast comes with the former acting as mentors for the younger generation in a baton pass-esque manner. For the old Starlight students, this forces both those who they mentor, as well as themselves to continue growing to even further heights, with Ichigo substituting the role of Mizuki to Akari just as Mizuki had been a model to herself. Akari is hardly only new character who benefits as, sharing the same brand, even Mikuru acts as a sort of mentor for Hinaki to some extent towards the end of the series leading up to the finale. There is a sort of "giving back" on part of the original cast who have by this point succeeded, in helping the new blood rise up, just as they themselves had been supported by others. Another implication of designating the old cast to side characters though is that it increases the “weight” lent to their screen time going forward. It's easy to get used to the original protagonists being onscreen after following them for over a hundred episodes, experiences all they have gone through alongside them, to which, by that point, viewers should reveal some level of attachment to them. Having less frequent appearances causes the times when they actually do emerge onscreen again to feel like special occasions. I could distinctly feel the weight of characters’ appearances as this was an extremely rare case in media where I genuinely missed the old cast. The distance makes all the difference and having them continue to exist in the background though simply provides the show with an extra weapon in its arsenal that it can utilize to enhance episodes and reward viewers later down the line. It's just such an interesting choice to have the series move in this direction as most shows would essentially stop and conclude upon having their protagonist finish their main story, yet Aikatsu! runs with it and decides to keep going.
Another facet of Aikatsu! that I greatly appreciate lies in its continuity and general tendency to remember itself. The show manages to capitalize on the most minor details, leaving them to be referenced on later occasions or in some cases further expanding upon them in meaningful ways. One standout example is the first Aikatsu8 selection, a real poll which also takes votes from actual fans of the show, in which Ichigo cements herself a position, but both Aoi and Ran are excluded in favor of other Dream Academy participants. I found it particularly interesting that the show remembers this detail as it resurfaces in an episode of season three, used to reinforce the aforementioned idea of how everyone moves at their own pace in having Luminas’ situation somewhat mirror what happened to Soleil, and in turn simultaneously provides unexpectedly greater catharsis when the other members of Soleil are finally able to take part in the Aikatsu8 later on, all within the same episode. On another occasion, a scene where Sumire is shocked at the sight of dead fish, something easily blown off as a mere comedic reaction, suddenly becomes a relevant detail when the show loops back around to reference it in yet another later episode as something that Akari and Hinaki take advantage of in an attempt to surprise Sumire on their hidden camera show. Milestones such as the Pon Pon Crepe audition, an achievement that Mizuki had previously won and one of the first trails that Aoi undertakes and succeeds in are brought back with Kii, and later with Akari, who manage to participate in them as well; with this, a sense of continuity over a long period of time is achieved. Another example is the Angely Bear, which Ichigo stars in an advertisement for. Vieweing the first season standalone, one would think the episode to work as a simple little one-off; Ichigo stars in a commercial and furthers herself by doing so, to which it does. However, the bear in the commercial is later linked to an episode of season four, where Akari and company work with Dandai (real-life Bandai) to produce a new line of toys, Akari herself influenced by the Angely Bear commercial that Ichigo starred in, inspiring her to create idol dolls as well as have Dandai include the bear in the commercial. Akari’s experience derived from engaging in a talk show with Maguro is referenced again as she attempts comedy upon encountering Nina, and Maguro himself appears more than once accompanied by Ichigo. There are countless examples of show the remembering small bits of itself, and these moments demonstrate the chain of influence between characters as well as the show’s self-awareness of itself, and the fact that characters and their actions continually come back, serve to better establish the Aikatsu universe. Mikuru’s promise to Mizuki isn't forgotten and neither is Ichigo’s statement of “waiting” for Akari in the first film. I love the ever-present self-consciousness in the show being able to remember itself, to where even things that seemingly go nowhere on the surface have opportunities to be tied back to, in contrast to how other titles may have events play out and then simply move onto the next thing.
On a similar train of thought, there are myriad small instances and recurring gags that the show seems to continue, further demonstrating its capacity to remember itself and all in all just act as a nice touch. The axe becomes a running gag after being used in episode twelve to fell a Christmas tree, and from there it is brought up four more times in reference, with Akari assuming Ichigo's mantle and even in the final episode marathon. In fact, the idea of cutting and bringing back a tree for Christmas is transformed into somewhat of a tradition in how in the third Christmas episode directly builds upon the first. In a similar manner, there is a specific smirk that Ichigo keeps making in her performances, initially established somewhere in the second season, which pervades throughout the show to also appear in the final episode while performing Calendar Girl.
There are also the nicknames that Bepp uses, “Starmiya” being incorporated into the “Great Starmiya Ichigo Festival” and more specifics like a conversation between Rin and Madoka towards the end of the final season where the two end up playing shiritori, a Japanese word game in which the player has to say a word which matches the final kana of the previous player’s word, to which previously established catchphrases are assimilated and entire passages of dialogue between the two still manage to follow the rules of the game, even after it seemingly ending. These are just a few examples that come to mind of course, but the show is chock full of stuff like this upon closer inspection.
Moving on, Aikatsu! is far from the visually strongest work out there, but I wouldn't say it looks terrible either. On one hand, some of the backgrounds, especially indoors when there are particularly dull-looking stock-image-esque walls, can be rather unappealing, though there are cases when characters are outdoors where backgrounds can look more vibrant, colorful, and even storybook-esque, though of course it's largely dependent on the given location and surrounding scenery. On the other hand, characters themselves and foreground can look rather solid with lines dark enough and thick enough to stand out, though sporadically appear off-model such as with episode 51. CG performances can be a mixed bag, as earlier ones leading up to around episode nine can look cheap and downright atrocious. From thereafter however, Aikatsu! demonstrates a willingness to attempt to improve upon itself, the overall quality of models and expressiveness of even minute gestures cause said performances to drastically improve over time. To the show’s credit, characters go through an abundance of costumes, which are all showcased in their respective performances. In terms of animation, Aikatsu! isn't the strongest candidate, many scenes more on the static side as characters talking with fluid full-body animation being less common when the show is in 2D, unless we're talking about one of the movies, where some sakuga is present. However, Aikatsu! supplements limited animation with character expressiveness, applying facial expressions, smears and constant reactions shot to its interactions to never feel truly boring.
I feel Aikatsu! to be tonally perfect, straddling the line between lighthearted and austere, wholly unafraid of diving headfirst into jovial character interactions and routine chaos, but simultaneously holds itself to also having its cast sincerely consider their own circumstances and self-improvement in a serious manner just as often. The show feels like a nearly equal split between both, with numerous episodes dedicated to acting out plays or movies with everything going crazy serving to balance out the segments with heavier emotional weight, most notably in the Imaishi space mecha episode and magic card movie production which are both absolutely insane. It does things such as reference Ichigo/Akari's introduction lines at the beginning of each episode as a joke, and continues to do things in the similar vein throughout. Typically though, Aikatsu! maintains its positive upbeat attitude in some form throughout, regardless of what type of episode pops up next. Just as much enjoyment can be derived from observing the casual banter between individuals and how effectively they rhythmically ricochet off one another as it can from watching over the cast as they work towards and achieve their goals. With this, the series offers the best of both worlds without compromising in either respect once again.
Surely, for a show centered on idols and their performances, music should be a rather important element, and while I don't love every single song (looking to the song used at Johnny's sister's wedding), I would say that Aikatsu!’s music is generally very pleasant. The performances themselves have some degree of variance in terms the style of music chosen, slower songs to contrast faster ones, rock to juxtapose pop and whatnot. Some of Yurika’s and Sumire’s songs take on a more ominous feel while Madoka’s are bouncy and upbeat. Anyhow, the point stands that Aikatsu! doesn't fully embody or stick to any singular brand of music, though generally much of its score pushes for its underlying positive energy. I actually love the general soundtrack outside of the show’s actual performances even more, which generally do a great job in enhancing the emotional intensity of key scenes, aside from a few instances in the second season, playing the appropriate piece during important moments and providing much needed catharsis. The background music goes hand in hand with its character interactions to greatly influence the tone of its scenes, a component that can't be understated in regards to making the show function.
Overall, Aikatsu! may as well be the most worthwhile experience I've had with anime, a joy to watch as a character journey over such a massive span of episodes. The accumulation of not only good episodes, but of these small albeit thoughtful elements, are what makes Aikatsu! such a memorable show. It is admirable to observe not only the characters within the show attempting to improve themselves, but show itself doing the same, especially concerning its presentation. Even the characters who I didn't originally care for, I grew to appreciate, and even episodes that I had expected to be boring based on the episode preview came out of surprisingly enjoyable with what managed to be accomplished. Though not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, Aikatsu! is a series that offer a lot and impresses me with its ambition and genuineness.
