Franchise/Love Live! School Idol Project

Episode 9: The only good thing about the drama was that it finally ended.

Chika: "You're being suggestive here and suggestive there and suggestive everywhere!" Why yes, yes they are. Chika was awesome in that scene by the way. Cut the crap indeed.

Didn't think that Dia would turn out to be my favorite of the third year trio, if only because she's proving that she's Ruby's sister. They still have nothing on the first year trio, though. Ruby moe, Hanamaru gobbling up snacks and Headlock Yohane are just too good.

And not gonna lie, I will consider Yohane relaxing on the bench a fanservice shot 'cause dem thighs.

So I've stumbled upon this anime because my friend was pretty pushy about it. Just to get him to shut up about how awesome this one is, I decided to give it a shot, but admittedly I had some reservations before watching this, since I feel it's just another girly anime. It turns out that it's more than it seems

The characters and art style are pretty with lots of bright colors. The animation is quite good, except maybe for some parts of the CGI dances, which sometimes look off. The characters themselves, while kinda generic individually, have interesting interactions with each other, making the group itself quite well matched. My favorite would be Nozomi, since she's indirectly responsible for the development of Muse and her nurturing personality is heartwarming. However, my favorite characters are A-RISE. There's just something about them that exudes a mature kind of beauty, but unlike the usual "smug bitch rival group," they're pretty friendly and honestly considered Muse to be rivals, even before they personally knew each other.

Of course, the music is this anime's main selling point, and while decent and likable for some, Muse's music doesn't really appeal to me. Maybe it's just too girly for my tastes. What did appeal to me is A-RISE's music. I found it very catchy and appealing. Maybe it's the voices of A-RISE that make the songs sound sexy. Either way, I like them

Now I'm tsundere when it comes to this anime. I'd recommend it to others, but I'd probably say "I'm recommending this not because I like it or anything, this anime is just interesting enough to warrant a look."

Although there is one thing that bothers me. Eri is supposed to be a pro-level ballerina, or should be if she continued her dancing. The character sheets say she stopped dancing because she always failed at auditions despite being a talented dancer. So here's my problem with all of these things, how long has it been since Eri last danced before she got into Muse? Also, I find it hard to believe that such a talented dancer would not be accepted into at least one audition. She's obviously doing something wrong if she's unable to be successful in something she's stated to be very good at.

edited 30th Aug '16 7:15:51 AM by Hoki

This man knows what he's talking about.

When the rivals sound better than the heroes in a musical anime, It's a wonder how the heroes even win.

Also, I agree that there should be an A-RISE spin-off or something. I'd watch that.

Because they're the protagonists.

A-Rise was really just an even worse bunch of walking rival stereotypes. And really I didnt like their stuff, way too much flash.

They did get better in S2 but so did Muse.

edited 31st Aug '16 6:56:10 AM by Memers

I much prefer the "flash" to the typical J-Pop idol sound.

Then you are in the wrong genre lol.

I'm here for the story and characters, not the music.

edited 31st Aug '16 11:22:15 AM by PhysicalStamina

Episode 10:

Hmm, a piano competition, eh? Seems like this will be to Riko what an offer to study fashion abroad was to Kotori.

Wow, Dia's all fired up all of a sudden... (*Sees her dismiss the other girls' plans for summer vacation*) ...and she's back to normal. And now she's acting all cutesy towards her little sis—HNNNNNGGGGG!!! (*recovers*) There's only one girl in μ's who could think up of such a schedule... So I take it that Dia got her inspiration for that schedule from Umi? Also, that evil grin/"rapeface"...

Waking up before 4 a.m. is a lot harder than it sounds. Unless you're really excited for what you're about to do that day (say, attending an anime convention with lots of potentially good merchandise on sale) or woke up from a weird or bad dream (which does happen to me from time to time).

So Dia's Not So Above It All when Mari actually gets serious. Nice... But once the Super OCD kicks in... (*inhales*) Better be ready, blin! Meanwhile, You manages to cook up a decent dish. Too bad Yoshiko and Mari are apparently lethal chefs... I almost expected the ゴゴゴゴゴ/"MENACING" Unsound Effect to be floating by while Mari cooked her "Stewshine" and Yoshiko cooked her "Tears of a Fallen Angel".

OK...Mari being a Lethal Chef was subverted, but her ingredients are expensive as heck! (Did I just see Wagyu beef among those ingredients? What is this, Shokugeki no Soma?) Yoshiko, however, plays it straight. (Poor Ruby...)

Yoshiko's shark hammock...

Out with the Yuri subtext, and in with the outright text... (SS Chiko has officially set sail.) And now to look forward to why You is popular.

A return to the fun Dia instead of the boring wise older sister Dia

Chika and Riko being cu— Wait, was that a confession!?

To be fair, Yohane was a lethal chef on purpose. And it doesn't sound too bad if you like spicy foods.

Shark hammock was awesome, almost as awesome as cook!You.

All hail fun Dia.

And yes we've gone full yuri what with Mari using Kanan's puppy pillows, and of course that last scene. That last line. Why do I feel like You is going to get jealous, Whyyyyy

I'd certainly noticed a higher than usual concentration of Yuri in this series, and especially in that last episode.

Although my favorite part of the episode was how Ruby and Dia were acting.

Rubesty indeed.

Conan is a jerk.◊

@droy: Image is broken

Oh well.

In which You is depressed about being the loser in a love triangle

Strong episode overall, though I don't think this is something that'd really get settled that easily

Episode 11:

- Man, for a second or two there, I swear I heard part of "Bokura wa Ima no Naka de"^Note (specifically, the portion corresponding to the lyrics, "It won't be all fun and games, we'll have to face challenges") being used in the background music as Riko leaves for Tokyo for that piano recital competition...

- New fanart request: You-chan wearing Jo2uke/Gappy's costume.

- Hope Aqours (minus Riko) won't get disqualified over an "All members need to be present" technicality. Also, I'm starting to like You-chan a little more, but it's not enough to dislodge my current Aqours Top 5.

edited 11th Sep '16 6:32:22 AM by IncognitoNinja

In this episode:

Mari: "No closets to hide in here!" Oh boy I laughed hard at that one.

This episode has been so good to me, giving me loads of You-chan goodness.

edited 12th Sep '16 8:30:33 AM by fillerdude

Unknown from M.A.K.I

Episode 12:

Good news: Aqours makes it to the Love Live qualifiers despite Riko being absent (and Riko wins the piano competition, too). Bad news: Even with their newest PV proving extremely popular, they still couldn't draw in enough student enrollees to Uranohoshi Girls' School.

This Passing the Torch episode was a long time coming... And while I would have marked out right then and there (and so would have Dia and Ruby) if Nozomi, Kotori, Maki, Umi, Eli or any other original member of μ's showed up, it's good that they didn't. Sunshine is Aqours' story after all...

"Maybe it's the leader." Has Chika not seen a single interview with Honoka?

Episode was ultimately about no longer obsessing over µ's, but I still find the way the show idolizes^note forgive the pun, I couldn't find a better word them to be kind of weird

Riko and You seem to be getting along pretty well now. Threesome ending?

Ninesome ending. Though honestly I'd be fine without the third years.

I knew that a member of µ's wouldn't appear when Chika went on an on about meeting with someone in the know. And I think it's really neat that in trying to chase after µ's, they realized they don't have to. There's that "from zero to one" thing again, I really like that, and I hope they put that in a song 'cause it would fit them perfectly. Or hell I just want a new song.

Riko's kabedon stash was hilarious.

That zero to one thing is a reference to a song called Step! ZERO to ONE that hasn't shown up in the anime yet. Maybe it'll show up next episode.

Awesome. Maybe it'll be better than Saint Snow's. I can dream.