Well, yes, but actually no.
While each character certainly had more screen time and lines compared to some idol anime, the additional attention was squandered. The anime eventually became formulaic again. Most character development and progression was made in service to the overbearing and repetitive Love Live formula.
The best episodes were the first 4. Each one focused on the three starting cast of characters, Kanon, Keke, and Chisato. The in-universe Love Live competition was but the lofty dream of Keke; the fuel that drove her actions and compelled her to push Kanon — who, in turn, pushed Chisato.
This worked excellently in the anime’s favour because the characters, the most interesting part of the anime, were developed. The Love Live premise was used to drive character growth.
As an example (minor spoiler), I want to focus on the first character we’re introduced to, Kanon.
The anime began on a personal level. Kanon was a bright, passionate, and talented singer with a dream of getting into an art program of a prestigious school. Her dream was dashed, however, when crippling stage fright took hold.
Cut back to the present, she lay in bed with a vexed expression. She derided herself for choking when it counted. Her failure coloured her every interaction as she entered the new school year at the aforementioned prestigious school — but as part of the general curriculum.
As the episode went on, we learnt more about her. After a few encounters with the pushy Keke, perhaps answering her enthusiasm with sincerity, Kanon opened up, explaining that she had always been unable to sing at important moments. She had experienced a series of major setbacks.
So she gave up.
I distinctly remember that the first Love Live anime dealt with this exact topic before but I don’t care — I think this type of story is what Love Live is good at. A personal story of encountering repeated failures and still pressing on.
It then came to a heartwarming conclusion; with support from others — like-minded people who will stick with you no matter how long it takes — you can keep trying.
Too bad “The Love Live plot” had to come in eventually.
Student council doesn’t approve? Yes.
School shutting down? You bet.
Student council member joins the group? Of course.
Prolific rival helps them out? Hell yeah.
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
This level of predictability would not be so bad if “The Love Live plot” stayed in the background and fuelled character development but no.
Past the halfway point, the tried and tired “Love Live plot” got its Love Live coloured appendages all over the script and every single character arc now had a predictable and rushed end.
Every character struggle must wrap up in 1 episode — 2 episodes tops. Every arc must end with a dramatic resolution, whether or not human behaviour or the laws of physics have to be flagrantly broken.
By the time I got to the grand finale, I realised that I could not care less about their triumph or defeat because my immersion had long since evaporated. The hand of the author(s) was too obvious and I could no longer suspend my disbelief.
Suspension of Disbelief: Gone
The most glaringly obvious influence of “The Love Live plot” are the 2 rival characters, a school idol unit called Sunny Passion. They are a pair of convenient counsellors with an uncanny awareness of the protagonists’ plight. Where there is a void that the main characters cannot fill, they warp into existence, twisting and stretching their personality and abilities into the shape of the void. These vapid husks, masquerading as humans, are lauded as the greatest school idols of the region and just that fact tears down my suspension of disbelief.
I exaggerate. Kanon’s clairvoyance and Keke’s creation magic also ruined my immersion.
I tried to turn off my brain and enjoy the emotional moments, but the eldritch hand of the author(s) is too much to bear. My eyes were opened and I could not look away.
“The Love Live plot” controls the world.
In conclusion, although the first third of Love Live Superstar showed promise, it quickly fell back into a predictable plot that tainted all character development with the same predictability.
If you are a fan of idol anime and can ignore the franchise’s tendency to bend reality, you will probably enjoy this too.
For the rest of us, skip.
