Reviews for Aikatsu!

When I was first taught about "idols" as a child, we knew them as false gods. Then I started watching anime and I realized it's practically the same thing for Japan. *Original review of the first 50 episodes follows. For an overview of the rest, scroll down* Aikatsu! follows the idol trend of the past few years. These are shows about cute young girls singing and dancing that look like they're for young girls but are actually for grown men, only this time around it actually is for young girls (it has some periphery demographic, though). It follows a group of middle school friends led by HoshimiyaIchigo learning to become idols at Starlight Academy through various "idol activities."

But what are "idol activities?"

Singing and dancing are definitely involved and, as one would expect, are the primary concern. But that's not all, oh no. Aikatsu! delves much further into the idol world than that which we see on the stage at concerts (and probably further than reality). These girls take long runs, chop down giant trees, scale mountains with their bare hands, and navigate trap-ridden haunted houses. I'm not even exaggerating here, all of those things literally happen in the show. It's no thriller, but there are a few surprising times where you wonder where these girls get the strength and courage to face these obstacles.

But being an idol isn't all about training your body, either. Being an idol is also an image and representation. When you become popular, you get fans, and you need to be sure you don't let those fans down; this fact is not ignored. There is a certain episode in which Ichigo becomes overly worried about making a good signature and being able to do it fast when it comes time for her to meet fans and sign things for them. The problem is that she forgets the "meet fans" part, and only focuses on the signing, a fact that is soon brought to her attention by a friend, making her realize that she had been letting fans down who not only wanted to get a signature, but also to simply see her face and talk to her a bit.

Further, there's an image to maintain. This is a fine line that could have easily fallen into the territory of shaming non-perfect body types, and even arguably toes the line at best. When Christmas break comes and it's time for Ichigo to go home for a couple weeks, she can't resist her mother's cooking; she eats and eats and gets...big. The people around her are disappointed with her, but not because of her new shape; it is because of how she let herself go, how she allowed herself to be lazy and leave her idol activities at the door step when she came in.

At 50 episodes, there's a lot of time to develop story and characters. As one might guess from the above, most of the story is episodic, but there is still a certain continuation to everything. New idols are introduced and have bigger roles in subsequent episodes, a lesson learned in one episode will continue to be put into practice throughout the show, and as our girls get ever more popular both in the academy and in the outside world, things get busier. There are times where we might see a string of slice-of-life episodes followed by a slightly more dramatic story arc, but these never come too suddenly to feel out of place. They start reasonably and end well, with the possible exception of one near the end where it seems as though idol units begin to grow on trees and the viewers are left wondering who belongs where and what this sub-group, should they actually exist, is even doing.

Lead protagonist is Hoshimiya Ichigo, with main support Kiriya Aoi and Shibuki Ran. Ichigo is a cheerful girl, always happy, but not always very smart. She decides she wants to do something and she goes and does it, no hesitation. Sometimes things work out great. Other times they don't. She doesn't take these moments for granted, but she doesn't let them get her down; she bounces back, taking what she's learned and applying it for the future. She's the kind of character who just attracts other people to her.

But she wouldn't be able to do that without such great friends. First up is Aoi, her childhood friend who showed Ichigo her first idol concert that made both want to be idols and convinced them to apply for Starlight Academy. Aoi is the "idol professor." She knows everything about idols. No, really. Everything. She's also an idol herself and Ichigo's #1 fan and as such, knows how to keep the peppy blonde in check...while occasionally succumbing to the craziness herself.

And then there's Ran, the most mature member of the trio. She is first introduced as being popular around the academy for her cold, no-smile demeanor, having a confidence built up due to having years of entertainment experience under her belt before having even entered Starlight Academy. Getting her to warm up to Ichigo and Aoi was not easy, but when she finally allowed them to break the ice with her, we see what is really a very calm and caring personality and an irreplaceable source of confidence, even if she is sometimes the one who needs it the most.

But there are a lot of characters here. Kanzaki Mizuki, the aloof and mysterious upperclassman and most popular idol at the academy who only very rarely shows a more emotional side (but don't worry, she does) is the most prominent support. She is the endgame, the goal everyone else is trying to reach, but a rival that always moving ever forward. A lot about her is left in mystery, but we're also given a lot of tidbits that show her to not be the 100% perfect being she's made out to be, and she never lets up, considering that, while she provides motivation for others, those behind her are also what motivates her to keep going.

But again, there are a lot of characters, many of whom don't really get a chance to be fully realized. The extra idols with recurring parts, which include Otome, Yurika, Shion, Sakura, and Kaede, largely fall into this group. All of them at least an episode or two dedicated to their development, but afterwards they occasionally may make things feel too crowded and will largely stick to their base personality for the rest of the show without ever really being focused on again. It's a bit of a shame, but it was a trade-off for the extra focus on the show's main group.

However, the show doesn't ignore any characters. There are multiple side characters who could easily have been left by the wayside but get their time in the spotlight, such as dance instructor Johnny Bepp (who, yes, does play a pirate in one episode) and Ichigo's mother, father, and little brother. These sessions are largely abrupt, but short and sweet. They really help to develop the relationships all around, giving all the characters more depth, all while not sacrificing the main focus of the show.

And what is the main focus of the show? What do you think is the main focus of a show about idols? Music!

Oh, we're definitely treated to music in this show. Every single episode climaxes in a concert scene. It's not a different song every episode, but it is changed up enough that by the time you begin to grow tired of a song, they start using a new one. Also, the first ED, Calendar Girl, is amazing and actually well portrays the show's eventual theme. Overall, though, while even Aikatsu!, like others of its kind, may seem to occasionally throw in more songs to advertise new singles, it never really feels out of place within the context of the show because most of what the characters are doing are related to their job as idols and leads up to the eventual musical piece.

But speaking of those concerts and advertising...there are some weird things going on.

One can't write a review of Aikatsu! without mentioning the forbidden fruit of commercial anime: cards. Aikatsu! too wants to sell you some cards. In the show, these cards are their outfits and are...generated?...in the Aikatsu machine for the concerts. Yeah, it's weird, but it doesn't tiptoe around it. Much effort is spent on matching up each member's outfit with everyone else and getting new cards for new outfits to fit a different occasion, including the special "premium" cards that are only given to the most worthy of idols. At the end of the day, it's hard to say if this was purely an advertisement gimmick, a legitimate-if-strange part of the story, or something in between.

There's also this thing they do during concerts called "special appeal." It's hard to even describe what these are since it really isn't grounded in reality at all, but it's this mid-concert thing that typically only takes a few seconds to do and ranges from spinning around wildly to shooting a heart with an arrow. They're supposed to be these things that make a concert and performer more impressive in some way, but it's never made clear what the actual purpose of them is or why they exist at all. There's even an episode focused on them, but all we really learn is that most idols can only do 1 per concert while Mizuki can pull off 3. Around the halfway point of the show they're never really brought up again, but they still appear in the concerts.

Things are very pretty (and pink) in Aikatsu! land, but a little rough around the edges. Character designs are distinct and animation is typically fluid, but at the forefront of every episode's concert is a sequence of re-used animation where the girls are inserting their Aikatsu cards into the Aikatsu machine. The concert scenes are all in CGI, which can be a bit daunting next to the 2d animation of the rest of the show (which sometimes even appears for the audience during concerts). A quick eye can see commonly re-used background characters, not really a problem in most cases since I also see the same people every day at school, but the worst offender is a particular scene where the headmistress is addressing an assembly of girls and the two halves, hair color aside, are mirrored, like each girl has a twin sitting in the same position but on the other side of the room.

At the end of the day, Aikatsu! is just a happy show. Its run time is used very well, as it doesn't have to crank out material before its inevitable end and viewers are given plenty of time to get attached to the characters without having to leave them so soon. Certain episodes later on in the show really wouldn't have even worked without the kind of run time this show had; the impact they made just wouldn't be the same in a short series.

Aikatsu! is also not for everyone. It is a kid's show and even fans who usually like idol shows such as Love Live and Idolm@ster may not be able to get the same enjoyment from this one. Feel free to judge this one by its cover; if a group of young girls in frilly dresses over a pink background doesn't seem like your kind of show, don't watch it. But if you do like this kind of stuff, or just feel like giving it a shot, you ought to like what you come in for.

***The rest of it***

And then there was more. And more. And then a little bit more. But I'll make this quick.

Season 2 of Aikatsu, episodes 51-101, aka the dark ages of Aikatsu. Dream Academy, a rival school, is introduced, and with it the most frustrating time for Aikatsu fans. The new characters are poorly developed and seem to be way too talented right out the gate. Where the first season was fine with having characters lose, suddenly we see a bunch of ties happening. There are, however, good episodes in all this. Oozora Akari is introduced midway through and is immediately lovable, overturning everything bad in the rest of the season. Basically, any episode that doesn't have a great focus on Dream Academy characters is at least decent.

Season 3 of Aikatsu, episodes 102-153 (somewhere around there, anyway), the Akari generation. There is a new protagonist, and while the old cast is still around, they are now side characters. The producers seem to have realized that everyone hated Dream Academy and more or less dropped them from the show entirely (they appear maybe 3 or 4 more times for the remaining duration of the show). The show goes back to its roots and, despite having a few more rough patches than before, is once again the Aikatsu we know and love (if you've gotten this far, you must love it).

Season 4 of Aikatsu, episodes 154-end, the...actually, it's just more of the Akari generation. Which is good! They didn't fall into the season 2 pitfall for the climax. And the actual climax itself was pretty great, being a story arc that lasted longer than any other since the one that capped off the first season and was a great way to end the series.

Season 1, the first 50 episodes (and the movie, which was amazing), remains my favorite era of Aikatsu, but the last year and a half were certainly a worthy addition. At its best, Aikatsu was lovable, heartwarming, and maybe even a little tear-jerking. At its worst, I was shouting "NO! NO! NO!" at the screen in frustration. It had its ups and downs, but in the end it's become a series very close to my heart. I will miss the girls of Starlight Academy.

Aikatsu! - Sigil of Second Wind (Updated 8/3/2022) 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.** Thisanalysis 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.

“My name is Hoshiyama Ichigo. I’m your ordinary first year middle school student. Back then, I would have never imagined that I, me, someone like me could become an idol!” Story (7/10) Aikatsu short for Aidoru Katsudou! (Idol Activities) is a collectible card game created by Bandai which revolves around using cards featuring various designer clothes to help aspiring idols make their dreams come true. The story tells of Hoshiyama, Ichigo as she slowly rises to the top with her best friend Kiriya, Aoi and new member of the group *drum rolls* Shibuki, Ran. I know what you’re thinking… “Not another anime about idols.” Which I cantotally understand, since we already have the second season of Pretty Rhythm out. (Pretty Rhythm: Dear My Future) So I could totally understand if you decide to skip the whole entire series. However, to tell you the truth the anime isn’t half bad. To be honest, I truthfully enjoyed it since it contained a brand of pure innocence I haven’t seen in a shojo anime. When I watched the anime it felt as if I’ve been taken eight years into the past to when I fondly enjoyed cartoons like Power Puff Girls and Totally Spies. What a very nostalgic feeling it was. Anyway, if you’re looking for an anime that will make you feel like a seventy year old woman mesmerizing and remembering the glory years of her childhood than I highly recommend this anime to you. Overall if you plan on watching this anime I guarantee that bits and pieces of your childhood will start to sing.

Characters (8/10)

Ichigo Hoshiyama is your normal first year middle school student who has the aura of an idol. At first she didn’t have any big dreams like becoming an idol, no not at all, she only wanted to inherit her mother’s bento shop, but that all changed when she went to Kanzaki Mizuki’s concert. The bright and blinding lights, the shouts and screams of fans everywhere, the garish attire of idols, and the beautiful melody coming from the speakers; a whole different world compared to Ichigo’s life. “Why is everyone cheering? Why are there so many lights? I’ve never seen anything like this before in my entire life!” Those were the thoughts of young Ichigo as she looked around the entire complex of the concert mesmerized by each and every angle. Everywhere she turned seemed to look like some strange machine she had never encountered before. She was dumbfounded.

Kiriya Aoi, Ichigo’s best friend, is an idol expert in every way; she knows everything there is to know about idols including their history and their music. Aoi is the definition of a true friend and will do whatever it takes to achieve her and Ichigo’s dreams of becoming well known idols.

Shibuki, Ran is a professional idol who has been in the industry at a young age. At first, she hides her true feelings and emotions in front of all her classmates through a mask that is haunted by the past memories of a former roommate and friend. With the help of Ichigo and Aoi, however, she is able to slowly open up her feelings and become very close friends with them in due time.

There is a substantial and appropriate amount of character development throughout the series so far, which slowly help develop strong relationships between characters through particular meetings and events. With only a matter of less than ten episodes you could easily tell that through each episode there is proof of a growing friendship.

Art (8/10)

A bit of sugar, spice, and everything nice (PPG reference) will brightly describe the cuteness of this anime’s art style. This art style grabs the watcher with its absolutely adorable appealing scenery, character design, and attire. The art style may be a bit irritating, however, since it switches from 2D to 3D very similar to the way Pretty Rhythm: Aurora Dream did. Hey, at least the anime does not pointlessly switch from 2D to 3D like The Best!! Extremely Cool Student Council President did with its awful art design and its pointless switches from 2D to 3D every few minutes. The way Aikatsu used 2D and 3D is a great way of adding a bit of POP to the singing and dancing of the characters. The anime also uses a variety of bright colors such as shades of pink and purple adding to the anime's overall light hearted feeling. Rarely or will it ever use any dark and shady colors in this anime since it's far from the anime's original intention of creating an innocent daily life of an idol.

Music (9/10)

“Hi Signalize! The answer lies on the other side of the sky…” The opening of this anime uses a bit of fresh elements of calming and yet POPPING rhythms. It uses its own unique characteristics which make the anime different from other shojo openings. “Sunday, Monday, Chu-Chu Tuesday. Everyday I’m flipping pages like a calendar girl” The ending is absolutely amazing with an overall classic feel of a very old setting adding elements of the 1900s and cuteness using a gramophone record and chibi creations. Even the ending song uses an old pop feeling when I hear and see it making it one of my favorite anime endings. The voices of the characters are in no way dark and serious, these seiyuus do an excellent job of adding an innocent and cute atmosphere to the anime. One thing that best surprises me is that Morohoshi, Sumire a 12 year old seiyuu is voicing the main character. Overall she’s an excellent choice since she has the perfect voice for her.

Enjoyment (7/10)

The anime is so innocent in every way. It felt wonderful to feel like a youngster again just by watching this anime. It is so childish and so far it doesn’t capture the several harsh realities of the world which can be both a pro and con in its own way. I greatly recommend this anime to people who enjoy watching shows like Pretty Rhythm: Aurora Dream and who just want to escape the adult world and feel like a kid, rejuvenated by this anime’s childish and cute atmosphere. But of course this anime is also a good way to just unwind yourself from all the stresses and cruel gifts of this world. Grab a cup of hot chocolate milk with some of those adorable tiny marshmallows and watch this anime... who knows you might feel like your in Candy Land.

Although this anime has a bit of a slow start, the story is one of the better ones that I've seen. Although it is a fairly typical coming-to-fame story, it is well done and unlike most anime that feel unfinished it keeps going until the story reaches a proper end. One very interesting thing is the cast collecting in the anime to the point that the main cast actually switches about halfway through. There are around 100 different characters and they each have interesting personalities, although some of them have unfortunately short screen times. The art of the main series is well done with the girlsbeing very cute and are all modeled differently, which is important for such a big cast. In the beginning the dance scenes are a bit of a problem since they're bad enough to feel like carcinogens, but that is fixed later in the show. The dance scenes are actually held in virtual reality in the show and when past recordings of dances are shown on screen they have the same animation as when they were first shown so it may be that their own technology is improving making the bad dance scenes slightly more forgivable. The dances at the end have better CGI than pretty much any other anime I've seen.

The music in this show is amazing. There is a total of over 70 songs and although there are both hits and misses the hits are amazing and many are top ten worthy, although partly due to the lack of insert songs in most anime. The voices were all outstanding. Oddly enough, the age gap between the seiyuu for the two protagonists is about the same as for their characters but in the opposite direction. All of the seiyuu do a good job and the ones who speak other languages add a bit of spice to the atmosphere. One character develops an even more cringe worthy version of Engrish, which is interesting to watch.

With such a huge cast it's amazing that they gave every character an interesting and unique personality. There are even some characters who end up in the main cast who you wouldn't expect to because of their eccentric personality traits. The anime is about the characters and they all do a great job at making the anime fun to watch. There are sure to be some characters you won't like, but you can only hope that those characters won't get as much screen time. It's great to see the different characters from different places as they will often use this as a method for world development.

With everything this anime does well it is incredibly enjoyable. As a kids show they try to decrease the character-viewer disconnect so anything the characters view as being good actually is good. There are some foods in the anime that just make you want to try them and some did have a limited availability in real life but none are available outside of Japan. Just like with anything it's more important who you're with than what you're doing so although this is just a really good rendition of a generic story the great characters and great music make it far better.

With every considered this is a great anime that does not disappoint. There are still some questions unanswered, but they did a better job addressing the most probable questions than most anime do. Anime with futuristic settings are bound to have holes in their logic but this one does fit quite neatly. Whether if you like cute girls doing cute things, music anime, or even sports anime depending on your reason for doing so this should be a good anime to watch. As an original anime you don't have to worry about which episodes are filler even though the anime is on the longer side.

Well when I saw the picture of the cover for the anime it was really cute and looked girly so I thought I would give it a try when I watched the first episode it was so much like Pretty Rhythm Aurora Dream which is also an anime about making idols but in Pretty Rhythm Aurora Dream they skate and dance while skating which is really cool and in Aikatsu they just dance normally and sing which is a bit more like a bit more real !!! :D But because they were so much alike I was quite shocked but still the way they setup the story is sort of the same and because I like Pretty Rhythm Aurora Dream I really liked this one aswell I highly recommend this to those people who love to watch animes with music dancing , friendship and a bit of romance, its all girly and lovely so cute :D!!!! Also in the next episodes I am hoping that there will be some hints of romance in there because if they are thinking of something simillar to Pretty Rhythm Aurora Dream they will eventually put some romance in there but when I read the description for Aikatsu it said that it was originally a game where you produced idol and because I did not play that game I do not know if there will be romance but because I am such a big romance anime fan I hope there will be ^.^ I hope this was helpful >.

This is an anime that I had for a long time as a "I would try it out, but it's so long..." until the day I finally gave it the chance it deserved, and boy I sure didn't expect it to become one of my favorite works. Aikatsu is a series set in a school that has as objective training idols to make them reach stardom. This includes seeing the characters practice for concerts, facing problems and how they improve thanks to them, and seeing them participate in idol-related activities like TV programs, firming autographs (and all the awesome moments that come from seeing fans interactingwith them) or being actresses in movies/TV dramas among others things. This gives a very solid variety to the series and together with the nice comedy coming from the cast makes each episode so enjoyable to watch.

It's worth saying that this anime has zero fanservice and has quite a lighthearted tone compared to others from the idol genre. Outside of some unique (and greatly executed) moments, the drama is never particularly big, being “rivals” is another way to say great friends to improve with, and damn if it's wholesome, it's hard to not smile all the time watching this! That doesn't mean that Aikatsu doesn't have emotional moments though, instead it actually delivers the hardest when it comes to payoff when seeing the characters succeeding and taking a step towards their dreams.

A big theme of the series is finding the inspiration for a dream thanks to another person, with the own protagonist at the start of the series, Ichigo, being clueless about what she wanted to be until she was invited to the concert of the most popular idol of the moment and was so impressed with her performance that she wanted to become one as well.

This is something that will happen many times in the future as we see the characters grow and how they end up inspiring the next students that join the school as the years pass with their actions (yes, years pass as the series progresses, leading to more focus on new characters progressively). That is such a satisfying feeling because we don't see the characters just in the “getting good” phase, but further than that.

As it's to be expected of a long length series that has a dance scene (or more) in the majority of the episodes, Aikatsu uses CGI animation for them and, being honest, they don't look too good at first, but that changes fast with the pass of the episodes to the point they look fantastic. That together with the great songs the series has (help, my playlist is full of Aikatsu songs) makes those scenes so, so enjoyable.

I will briefly talk about the three main characters at the start of the story:

- Ichigo Hoshimiya, a cheerful girl with a heart of gold, absurdly likeable and a big eater, and damn if she can be badass too, nothing stops her!

- Aoi Kiriya, a total expert when it comes to idols, she's more of the cool type and combinates so well with Ichigo, who is her childhood friend.

- Ran Shibuki closes the main trio with a more mature personality, she has been working as a model since she was younger and is praised for her style.

This is really just an introduction to the main trio, between the other idols who get the spotlight (who are a lot), the designers of the brands each idol uses, Ichigo's family, and all the other characters who have chances to shine, the cast becomes really big, but it's done in a well paced way and each character has a nice personality and actions that makes them stay memorable. And I haven't even talked of best teacher Johnny Bepp yet, yeah!

In conclusion, do you like following lovable characters and seeing them grow over time in their journey to fulfill their dreams, inspiring future generations to do the same? Do you like great dance scenes with music that you will most likely add to your playlist to listen to again? Do you want to feel awful when you realize that you're halfway through the series and you don't want to see it end of how much fun you're having watching it? Well, Aikatsu is just what you're looking for!

I hope this review gives you the push needed to watch this anime in the future, as Aoi would say, it's really something special!

This is a pretty fun anime. I loved it. It is a typical Shoujo idol anime but it's entertaining. The characters here never fail to make me smile. Hoshimiya Ichigo being the main protagonist is extremely fun-loving and naive. Kiriya Aoi is the Idol Professor who supports her best friend Ichigo. Shibuki Ran is cold and hard to approach at first but later Ichigo and Aoi befriends her. All the characters here have special and lovable traits of their own. The music is enjoyable. There isn't even a single song I hate in this series. The animation is pretty nice and I loved the Shoujou-flavours in characters' designs. Thestory is typical idol anime, dreaming of becoming top idol. But the road to success is handled well and it's enjoyable.

Overall this is a kid's show and very funny. It's not for everyone though. People who are looking for a lighthearted series will definitely enjoy this.

This is my first ever review but,I really like Aikatsu and it'smy most favorite anime ever! So, this is all about girls trying to become the top idol and beating the current top idol. The first episode wasn't that good but when you keep watching it until the last episode you wil enjoy it. For me this is my rating: Story: 10 I understand the story even when i just watched episode 1 and 2.The story is like other idol thing when you have to beat someone but this one is really great! Art: 9 I really love the art but when they like sing and dance it's 3d.The animation of the 3d is great but i dont really like it but overall,I think the art is great.

Sound: 10

I love the music and I keep singing it everywhere even the bathroom xD

Character: 9

The characters are great but some of them doesn't fit in the story.

Enjoyment: 9

I enjoy it but sometimes i skip boring parts since some parts are boring (kinda)

Overall: 9

Overall,9. I think this anime is awesome watch every episode on it and i think you will like it too (i dont think boys though xD)

~Reviewed by Rachel-san~

There aren't many idol anime with over a hundred episodes, and there are even fewer idol anime that have the ability to hook and surprise you for such a long period of time. Coming in at just under two hundred episodes, Aikatsu is a series that manages to do both, and there are so many ways to describe it; energetic, revitalising, and optimistic, to name a few. But the best thing about Aikatsu is that it's able to toss its target audience aside and create something able to entertain people of all ages. Unlike Hollywood family movies or shows like Friendship is Magic, there isn'tmuch dumbing down or simplifying of the content within—it's effective, straightforward, and surprisingly realistic in its presentation.

So what makes it different?

The premise is straightforward: A school for female idols named Starlight Academy exists to seek out and train its kin, be it through acting, dancing, singing, or some other form of entertainment. Aside from an exceptionally kind headmistress and a few spunky teachers, there is no supervision or management to keep the girls in check; much like college, the primary reason for their attendance is so that they can discover who they are as a person (or idol) whilst remaining in an open social setting. Thanks to its believability, the concept itself provides you with many dramatic writing opportunities. Who are the students? What are their reasons for attending? Why are they all so interested in living a monolithic public life? These questions are regularly asked and answered, and their answers further the countless possibilities of the universe time after time.

To bridge the gap between idol and school life, the staff always provides students with opportunities to get their name out and/or obtain new apparel, resulting in a rush of motivation for everyone involved. Depending on their popularity, idols can even influence the work of prominent and rising fashion designers or brands at large. Once the characters' training cycle begins, the lurking element of surprise prevents you from taking your eyes off the screen. That's not to say it's all training and no action; the fun graces you one episode at a time, so the competitions, extracurricular activity, and other unspoilable events don't seem out of place for when their time comes. In other words, the occasional slices of life flow as naturally and beautifully as the show at large.

One aspect I've found to be unique to Aikatsu is its painless and beautiful sincerity; the characters have natural unbreakable bonds between one another, be they incandescent rivals or shimmering partners. It shies away from the trends of melodrama and grittiness by keeping things light and sometimes funny, completely aware of the fact that the most powerful emotional stirs are naturally-occurring. The cake is topped with a sprinkling of internal conflict, often pertaining to the difficulty of meeting one's own expectations. For a cast made up of teenage girls, they're delightfully headstrong and angst-free. That maturity spares you the clichéd nature of most conflicts within Idolm@ster and Love Live, and often gives you the opportunity to ask yourself the same questions. I truthfully believe the series is ultimately sociological, as is any great drama.

That said, the show's composition resembles western TV dramas much more than it does your typical anime; the supporting characters are constantly evolving, changing roles, and moving into the picture, whilst the main characters themselves aren't as prominent as you may believe. Such traits are definitely not suited to everyone, but for anyone searching for more complex development, they are a dream come true. The continuity put on display here is fairly amazing—things you may haven't seen for dozens of episodes can slowly begin to reappear, and they always have a graceful fall into place. It doesn't sound so surprising on paper, but the practical appropriation of older content happens when you least expect it to. You'll want to trust me on this one.

For the sake of performances, a fun little wardrobe transition to 3DCG is made whenever an idol needs to be on stage. But don't hold your breath! While the CG starts out on rocky ground, it goes out of its way to make some vast adjustments every few episodes. By the time you're a third of the way through, all of your gripes with its appearance will disappear. Still, it never stops making improvements, and things become increasingly gorgeous as you approach the final episode. The beauty of the CG is best illustrated during group performances, yet it also has some interesting tricks up its sleeve like flying objects and wireframe views that liven up the stage experience. Some incredible on-stage camerawork does a great job illustrating the benefits of using 3D animation, and definitely proves why the show chose to use the medium in the first place. I'm not quite sure if the show could have retained the same energy without it.

Finally, let's talk about the music. Some insert songs are impeccably composed and arranged, others excel in one of those two departments, and the few songs leftover are straight-up bad. From a production standpoint, it's rather hit-or-miss, but the hits have the strength to absolve it of the misses. I even find the insert songs that are only okay to be a treat every once and a while, but due to the subjectivity of music, your personal results may vary. On the other hand, the background music is so subtle and relaxed that I doubt anyone could take issue with it. Heck, sometimes they're just little piano arrangements of prominent insert songs. It's definitely more consistent overall, and kind of sounds like something you'd hear from a modern Nintendo game or device. Kind of perfect to do work to.

Point is, this review may make it sound like I think Aikatsu is exceptional and near-flawless. That's because I do. I find its weaknesses completely redeemed by the underlying strengths. I find it able to appeal to any demographic without a hitch. I find it to be of a standard that all other kids' anime should hope to achieve. If you're not sick of anime already, I would plead that you at least give it a shot. Otherwise, it's never anything remotely amazing, nor does it outright excel in any category; it was just enough to retain my interest in anime for much longer than I expected.

And so as it decides to let go, I find myself doing the same.

Honestly, this is the most beautiful anime ever made. At least for me. It's just a cute story about cute idols making everyone smile, and that's all I need to be happy. There are no stupid misunderstandings in Aikatsu, all the characters are always nice to each other and there are no serious conflicts going on. Aikatsu is a perfect world in which everyone lives happily and in harmony. If everyone watched Aikatsu, the world would be a better place to live in. So please, watch Aikatsu if you're the kind of person who would like to live in a perfect world with no hateand zero conflicts. Let's make our hopes and dreams come true.

Start off while grouped as 1 whole series it has 4 effective seasons with 2 different Main characters. First half focuses on Hoshimiya Ichigo and then second half with Oozora Akari. Characters as a whole are really well done with their character arcs and even the more supporting ones get episodes dedicated to them and show growth throughout the series. Of course some are more fleshed out than others but as a whole they all come into their own natural roles and feels natural. Some support characters do feel very 1 note even with their character arc they go through as they havea gimmick and that's all they ever really amount to.

Story is something I'm a bit mixed on. What I would call S1 which is 1-50 had the strongest story in general with a great climax. S2 felt a bit aimless until near the end as it introduced concepts that would be explored better in future Aikatsu series and largely were just to push updates in the Aikatsu arcade game it felt like. S3 which is ep 101 the MC switches and the whole of s3 is the MC's working towards building a name for themselves and moving out of their comfort zones and coming closer together. S4 is honestly the weakest of them all in my books as they just split the main 3 for a good chunk of the season to form other units just as the main 3 felt like they meshed well. It sorta comes back together near the end to form their iconic unit.

Art is solid as a whole when talking about the 2D aspect. Characters don't look bad and the color scheme of the series makes everything blend well. CGI on the other hand was ever changing and you could tell. First few ep looked like something out of a ps2 game but quickly did start to evolve.

Sound as good as a whole but once again in aspects during the concerts like with the CGI it fails early on and in parts doesn't really ever improve. Fashion show runway "concerts" would have the CGI character model dance but no real mouth movement would happen. Coming from watching Aikatsu Stars! where the fashion concert parts had it look like they were singing just shows the evolution they took from this.

Enjoyment while there were parts I really didn't care for as a whole I was hooked and couldn't stop watching. Gave me 2 characters I absolutely adore and I can watch many episodes over and over again because I just liked them so much.

This anime usually gears to kids. As the time goes on, it goes less and less. Here is my review for Aikatsu. (I almost typed Aikatsu Stars) Story: Aikatsu is one of the anime that can be reference who is in the entertainment industry. As one watched longer, there are some quotes that everyone can find. It's a lesson that can be used to viewers as well. It showed how hard the work to be a top idol. Even it is a game adaptation (card adaptation), one must not deny that the way their doing can be a real life demonstration too. Art: As the story goes, the auditiongets upgraded and updated. The graphic of the auditions are getting real every season. The first audition came from a 3d graphics of a video game. This was not a problem to viewers who started watching the first few weeks of Aikatsu. As time goes on, it had changed a little by little. Now, at the end of the Audition, the graphics of it is like Anime version but more. (can't explain this part properly) therefore, the art is good enough and doesn't need anymore revisions.

Sound:

OMG the music :) the jazz music of the endings. Keep up the good work. As for the OST's, for first and second season, i like the music of the preview. Even the OST's are good, it did not feel any premium melodies embedded to the ost. Therefore, no complaints here.

Character:

These section is the time I need to be strict. Even though every idol in Aikatsu already is 100% pass, the downside of idols, maybe most of them to be exact, is their seiyuu. This is the reason why my rating did not become a full 10 mark. It's because I felt betrayed 100 episodes after that some other person did the voice for something else. My advice for this is before one make one of this anime's Music became their fav, know the singer first. Better yet, know the Seiyuu of ones chara before concluding right away. This is where i got betrayed. I looked up to Ichigo because she sings very good, and then when i looked up the profile here in MAL, it turns out Sumire did not sing in the anime. I did not even know there are two seiyuus listed :/

Enjoyment:

Full of enjoyment. When it's Akari's arc, it's starting to get less and less. One does not change gears that quickly to adapt Akari as the main character and leave out the previous main charas. So, when one watched the movie of Ichigo, nostalgia kicks in. I still enjoy Akari's arc. So yeah.

Overall:

I would not say masterpiece, but the plot, the storyline, the lines are amazing. I am surprised that some episodes after audition, one can give a good quote that can be used in real life. This is one of the reasons that inspired me to keep watching

Aikatsu is very unique to begin with. Even it explains a little bit of how real life for idol industry works, cards are like the magic tools for each idol. I wish that Ichigo should've made another season in her story, but it still good in every way. Recommending is hard because it might get view as a kiddy girly anime.

Do you have a dream? Do you know somebody with a dream? Now tell me this: Do you believe that a dream can be accomplished if effort becomes an ingredient in the story that is your life? Hoshimiya Ichigo certainly has a case for any doubters of this theory. Who is Ichigo you ask? Hoshimiya Ichigo is a normal girl like numerous young girls who watch this in Japan. Hoshimiya Ichigo is a normal though animated human like all of my readers. Hoshimiya Ichigo had a dream and with effort, turned her scoop into a mic. Hello readers, this is Aikatsu. Aikatsu is an anime thatbegan airing in Japan in October 2012 and swiftly became a marketing hit among young girls and even older male otaku. It ran until March 2016 and would soon be replaced by Aikatsu Stars!. Though, what exactly was the reason behind the success of such an anime? Honestly speaking, it was likely many different things that helped leap Aikatsu's popularity, though what really made it special was the market value it offered and characters that were all able to shine in amazing forms. If you have stuck around this long, allow me and my assis...

Yurika-Sama: May you get on with the review? Unless you want me to suck your blood?

Very well, Yurika-Sama. Aikatsu begins with Ichigo's best friend Aoi suggesting our heroine that they tryout to earn a place in the very prestigious Idol academy known as "Starlight Academy". Starlight Academy is a famous academy in the world of Aikatsu and Aoi herself who adores all things idols very much believes their time has come. Can an uncertain Ichigo believe in herself enough to pass an audition and join in the ranks of idolhood? Upon meeting Mizuki who is acclaimed as the most popular idol known currently, Hoshimiya decides to take the leap in the process changing her life forever. Now, my second assistant will help me critique the anime fairly and as accurate as possible.

Aoi Nee-San: Now that was something special! Though, was Aikatsu as special?

Well, Aoi. I honestly need to admit that Aikatsu is a very flawed anime that could of been great and an instant classic! While Aikatsu was certainly above average for sure and proved a long running idol anime could work, the anime seemed to really struggle at different points of its famous run. If it was starting bland with very ugly CGI or a horrible executed fifty one episode second season that introduced less interesting characters that caused just uprising characters to fade into a role of become sideline catchphrase characters. Sadly, a girl known by the name of Otome really never recovered from what I witnessed and even an attempt to keep her relevant felt lackluster compared to the character who had the throne before her. Avoiding spoilers, it was a pity. Aikatsu also had struggles later on and at times had art that was really nothing amazing. Actually, it was even trash at times. Though despite my criticism, Aikatsu really did shine in certain areas as wel-

Yurika-Sama: Did you even like our 170+ episode anime?

Aoi Nee-San: Personally, I thought it was very special!

Letting me finish girls, yes I did enjoy the vibrant world that was Aikatsu. It had a fantastic cast of characters and is entertaining despite the flaws. It also has fantastic music and is certainly a must watch for fans of idol anime. Though, if you fail to enjoy anime that are dragged on or that can be called cute, avoid Aikatsu. Also, did I mention that the voice cast will be returning for Aikatsu Stars? So, if you enjoyed the VA for Aikatsu then you'll likely be pleased at the news!

Yurika-Sama: By the way, what is your opinion on me?

Best girl.

Yurika-Sama: W-Wha?

Anywho. Thanks for reading. Let's all.....

Akari: You barely discussed me...

Listen, future watchers won't want to be spoiled! You are amazing, no fear. Anyway...

Me with Yurika, Aoi and Akari: Lets all Aikatsu!

Overall: 6.3

Despite what some may say just by looking at any images or promotional stuff for this series, I am not afraid to say that I have, without any regret, enjoyed Aikatsu! to its fullest! First off, the story is very simple: a group of girls aim to be the best idols by attending an academy that solely focuses on idol training. That's pretty much the gist of it. Of course, you have to understand this series is supposed to be for kids. However, there's something about watching each episode that feels satisfying. If ever I'm having a bad day, or I'm getting tired of seeing othershows that are serious and dark, Aikatsu! always brings a smile to my face.

The characters is one of the aspects that makes it its own. There are a myriad of characters that we see, and they all have their own unique personalities. What's great about them is all of them have plenty of screen time to be able to get a good judge on them. With the roster they have, I'm sure there's bound to be a fanbase for each one, which is great.

While the animation isn't all too special (and, likewise, there are times when we see a dip in quality), it's really more about the character designs. It's not just the personalities that make the character stand out, it's how they look. Just by looking at them, you will be able to tell who they are.

Finally, we cannot forget about the music, for without it, it wouldn't be Aikatsu! in the first place. With each episode, there are songs written specifically for the show. You will hear them as the opening and ending themes or as inserts; they are performed by the fictional characters, but, surprisingly, not by their voice actors. There are so many songs, it's unbearable, and I have all of them. Every single song is so catchy, it's hard not to love them!

As you can see, I'm giving this so much praise, despite it only being a kids show. But, does it have to not be a kids show in order to make it seem not weird? The show is harmless entertainment. I've stuck around with this series since episode one, and that was three and a half years ago. It shocks me that it's run for this long; I had originally thought it'd end by at least two cours. At first, I thought it was so-so, but as it went on, my love for it grew more. It even came to the point where I practically cry with each episode because of how much I love it (the last episode was no better).

If you're looking for some good old fun with great characters, awesome music to dance to, and you don't care what the general audience for the show is, I'd say give Aikatsu! a shot.

This anime is not finished yet, only 19 episodes out , but it is nevertheless one of my favorites! do you like super cute anime with a good story and lovely characters! then it is perfect! I think it is much better and intressang than Pretty Rhythm: Aurora Dream. it has a lot more action, and I like that they dance instead of skating. I also like the main character here better than in Pretty Rhythm: Aurora Dream. You meet many more characters, each with their own unique personality! it is an anime that makes you never want to give up what you really love! bit like yumeiropatissiere!

Overall ... 9.4 from me to Aikatsu Story: 10 Because the story is good, enjoyable and interesting this anime teach me to keep fighting. Art: 9 For Season 1 (until episode 25) the CGI is bad, but CGI had improvement on Season 2 Sound: 9 Stereo sound and Good music make me very enjoyable to this animeCharacter: 9

Aikatsu doesn't have Antagonist Character except Mister S (Season 2 episode 56 / 63)

Enjoyment: 10

Stroy, CGI, and other Techincal Spesification are Enjoyable

Overall: 9.4

(Currently at ep 66) Ever since I watched Love Live! and K-On! I needed something cute, relaxing, fun and music filled to watch that I could watch at the end of the day to unplug from work, university and everyday life. To be honest I wanted to see more Idol stuff, as I'm now stuck in Idol Hell forever and I don't plan on getting out. I then AKB0048 thinking it was going to be another cute anime albeit in a futuristic setting, and boy I was wrong and I got them feels out of it, but still I needed something to let off some steam. Ithen crossed Aikatsu. "Watashi no atsui aidoru katsudou, Aikatsu! hajimarimasu!". Boy, I can't begin to tell you how stupidly kawaii it felt after watching the main character telling me every chapter "you need to relax? here, aikatsu's gonna start". When I started watching it I thought "it's gonna be great to watch it for fun". Then, I think about 4 days after I started I was already into part 2 of the first season and I couldn't let go.

The story of Aikatsu follows Hoshimiya Ichigo on her journey to become an Idol and be the best at it with her lifelong friend Kiriya Aoi. They both enter Starlight Academy with hopes of being the best in everything they try. Each episode has its own story and adventure that you can't wait to see. That is the whole premise of the show, until you realize there's something more hidden behind the story, which is a message of hard work, have fun doing what you like, never give up, and if you fail just smile and keep moving forward. On top of that, after each episode you get an "Aikatsu! Aphorism" which might seem dull and gimmicky, but when you think about it, you can really put some of them to use (one of my favorites is from one of the latest I saw which said "Start your new year running!")

As for the artistic side, the use of a HUGE bright colors palette really puts you in the mood of feeling happy, relaxed, fun and wanting to dance and sing along. Each character has its own colors and can easily be recognized. The only flaw this anime has is its 3D side. The first 15 or so episodes have one of THE WORST 3D animations possible, but if you bear with it, you actually get to see it evolve and become one of THE BEST 3D animations. It really shows its evolution through the episodes and right now, what I see in the 3Ds is almost on par with AKB0048 in all honesty.

The musical side of the show is its best part and its greatest strength. Although I am a huge fan of Love Live music, most of it tends to be cutesy, mostly jpop oriented and not easily listenable by people outside of Japan. What Aikatsu does is something beyond what I could imagine. The blend of genres Aikatsu has on its show is something incredible. You got the j-poppy Idol Activity, but the more western pop oriented sound of the Signalize opening. Then you get the old shcool poppy sound of the ending Calendar Girl. There's an episode that even dares to try with Gothic Rock/metal with the song Glass Doll, which, as a huge metal fan myself, found reallly well composed.

As for the characters, they're all unique, with its own ambitions, strengths and weaknesses. Its as well one of the animes greatest strengths, as it follows each story carefully and what being an Idol means to every character (Ichigo best girl, but Otome (oh my god those Love you!s) comes in a close second with Seira (from the second season)). Each one of them has its own art and personality that blend together so good.

All in all, Aikatsu!, although aimed mostly at a much younger audience than myself (I think its aimed towards <13 girls) it has given me a lot of joy and happiness watching it, everything about it so good and cheerful that I can't get enough of it.

First of all, the anime is bringing down logic. For an example, Shibuki Ran is a professional idol and yet Ichigo and Aoi are higher than Ran. Aikatsu8 was full of BS, instead of the higher-ups, they put rookies! The fact that rookies have surpassed higher-ups is just stupid. Second of all, characters such as Yurika, Kaede, Shion, Ran etc have REALLY less showtime. Season 3 is about rookies trying to become top idols and they are supposed to give more showtime to them more, BUT when they want to show that the top idols being their seniors, it's mostly Ichigo, Aoi, Otome or Sakura. TheyNEED to give more showtime to the other characters as how Ichigo, Aoi, Otome & Sakura are given. 1 or 2 episodes are not enough for them!

Third of all, the transferring program is TOO much. They've given more showtime to the transfer student idols than the non-transfers already in Season 2. Season 3 is like just 'delaying' the awesomeness by doing a transfer student program. They can just have the Unit Cup but bringing in Season 2 stuff again is just 'outdated' already. Just have the seniors advice them and show them stuff to their juniors.

Lastly, Akari has too much showtime. May the other characters have a fair amount of showtime, please.

Ichigo is my love, my life, my heart, my liver, my kidneys. Aikatsu is the best idol anime ever. Aikatsu is one of my first and toptoptop anime since childhood. I usually hate long ep anime’s but I can always re-watch aikatsu over and over and over again despite the 200eps + 4 series. I love seeing them try so hard to reach their dreams, I love how they would fail but stand back up and try again, it really motivates me and makes me a happier person. All songs were so damn good, to the point I listen it everyday lol. The dresses are even better,they’re so gorgeous and unique. The characters personality and style are on point as well. Loveeeeee

*warning - my grammar and punctuation is super bad* my memory of this anime is very very slim since i watched this when i was 6 but it still was my childhood favorite show this anime is a idols show were cute girls sing and dance on stage ig i was a big fan since i still have a bowl with the characters on it lol tbh i cant remember any of the story plot but all i know they have cards of outfits and thats how they wear their clothes?? the art of the girls looks very nice I was told that idols were someone you look up to butin other countries they use idol as a replacement for singers which is better since it sounds more professional and very eye catching. lol

im just trying to make this review longer so it will let me post