Love Live! Superstar!!

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Love Live! Superstar!!
Love Live! Superstar!! promotional image.jpg
Promotional image currently featuring the main characters, from left to right: Sumire Heanna, Ren Hazuki, Kanon Shibuya, Keke Tang, and Chisato Arashi.
ラブライブ！スーパースター!!
(Rabu Raibu! Sūpāsutā!!)
GenreMusic
Anime television series
Directed byTakahiko Kyogoku
Written byJukki Hanada
Music byYoshiaki Fujisawa
StudioSunrise
Licensed by
Funimation
UK/IE
Anime Limited
Original networkNHK Educational TV
Original run July 11, 2021 – present
Episodes8 (List of episodes)
Wikipe-tan face.svg Anime and manga portal

Love Live! Superstar!! (ラブライブ！スーパースター!!, Rabu Raibu! Sūpāsutā!!) is a Japanese multimedia project co-developed by Kadokawa Corporation, music label Lantis, and animation studio Sunrise. The project is the fourth installment in the Love Live! franchise after Love Live! School Idol Project, Love Live! Sunshine!!, and Love Live! Nijigasaki High School Idol Club. An anime television series premiered on NHK Educational TV on July 11, 2021.[1][2]

Plot[]

The story is set in the Yuigaoka Private Girls High School (私立結ヶ丘女子高等学校, Shiritsu Yuigaoka Joshi Kōtō Gakkō) that lies between the Omotesando, Harajuku, and Aoyama neighborhoods of Tokyo. The school was originally going to be demolished, only to have instead recently reopened to accept students. Within a school that hasn't made a name for itself, along with no history or accomplishments to speak of, Kanon Shibuya and four other first year students discover the existence of "school idols" and set out to let their voices be heard. They form a school idol group named Liella!, and aim to become superstars in their own right one day.

Characters[]

Where appropriate, plot descriptions mentioned below refer to the anime television series. Other parts of the franchise, such as the manga and novel series, feature some variations in the storyline.

Liella![]

Group logo
Kanon Shibuya (澁谷 かのん, Shibuya Kanon)
Voiced by: Sayuri Date[3]
Image color:   Marigold
Kanon is a high school first-year student who claims to be "someone with no stand out characteristics." Kanon also helps her mother run her cafe, and one of her specialties is latte art. She keeps a chubby Eurasian scops owl as a pet named "Manmaru," which is also the cafe's popular mascot. She has a fond appreciation for both singing and playing guitar. However, she tends to tense up when she is set to perform in front of other people, which has caused her to pass out on several occasions on stage. Due to this, she failed the entrance exam for Yuigaoka Girls' music program, and ended up settling for the school's general academic program instead. She wears glasses and ties her hair up when at home.
Keke Tang (唐 可可, Tan Kūkū)
Voiced by: Liyuu[3]
Image color:   Pastel Blue
Keke hails from Shanghai, China, having just recently moved to Japan—her mother's homeland—to become a school idol, and is the one responsible for recruiting members for the unit's club. Despite wanting to become one, Keke lacks in physical stamina, but at least has a good grasp in rhythm—according to Chisato. She holds the JLPT N1 certificate. She likes cute costumes, as well as making new ones and remaking old ones. She speaks in Mandarin when overly excited.
Chisato Arashi (嵐 千砂都, Arashi Chisato)
Voiced by: Nako Misaki[3]
Image color:   Peach Pink
Chisato is Kanon's childhood friend who is good at breakdancing. She belongs to Yuigaoka's music program, much to the dismay of Kanon. She is an energetic girl who can easily befriend anyone she meets. Chisato has taken an interest in Kanon's pet Manmaru, who seems to be wary around Chisato when she comes to visit. She is also known to keep up to date on gossip and rumors that are spread around the school. Despite having an interest in school idols, Chisato initially does not want to become one as she thinks she is better off supporting Kanon instead. She has a part time job at a takoyaki shop, which is also her favorite food. She is distinguishable with her twin tail hairstyle and hair buns. In order to focus on being a school idol, she later transfers to the general program.
Sumire Heanna (平安名 すみれ, Heanna Sumire)
Voiced by: Naomi Payton[3]
Image color:   Melon Green
Sumire is a posh shrine maiden who lives at a well-known and respected community shrine located near the school. She was a former child actress who struggled to receive headlining roles in any project she worked on. Because of her experience in the world of show business, she expected to take the position of center within Liella!, eventually being voted in last place with Kanon taking the lead. Her catchphrase is "Galaxy!"
Ren Hazuki (葉月 恋, Hazuki Ren)
Voiced by: Nagisa Aoyama[3]
Image color:   Sapphire Blue
Ren is the daughter of the school founder, as well as the student council president. She also belongs to the music program alongside Chisato. Initially, she is unfriendly and strict towards the school idol club, doing everything in her power to shut down opportunities that come by. She lives nearby the school, and takes pride in the rich history of Yuigaoka. She is polite, disciplined, and known for her strict personality. However, she is not well versed in technology, being advised when she was younger to not spend too much time online. Her favorite foods are consommé, strawberries, and Darjeeling tea.
In episode 7 it is shown that Ren's mother passed away. Because of that, she does everything she can to prevent Yuigaoka from closing down.

Others[]

Aria Shibuya (澁谷 ありあ, Shibuya Aria)
Voiced by: Akane MatsunagaEp. 1 credits
Aria is Kanon's younger sister, who is close yet somewhat paranoid about her sister's passion for becoming a school idol. Like Kanon, she's also helping with her mother's running a cafe.
Yuuna Hijirisawa (聖澤 悠奈, Hijirisawa Yūna) & Mao Hiiragi (柊 摩央, Hiiragi Mao)
Voiced by: Chihaya Yoshitake & Yuna YūkiEp. 3 credits
Yuuna and Mao are the members of Sunny Passion, a duo school idol unit originated from Kōzu-shima who inspired Keke to move to Japan and become a school idol. Yuuna is the cheerful of the duo: she is ponytailed and has shark-like teeth while Mao is the more reserved, distinguishable from her long, purple hair.

Development[]

The franchise announced a separate anime adaptation other than Love Live! Nijigasaki High School Idol Club in January 2020, which features a new set of characters, who are all first-year students in a newly reopened school originally on the verge of demolition. The school lies between the Omotesando, Harajuku, and Aoyama neighborhoods of Tokyo. In addition, an audition for one of the main cast was held on March 12, 2020, but was postponed due to COVID-19.[4] Atsushi Saitō serves as the character design adapting style of the series' original character designer Yūhei Murota.[5] The school name was decided through fans' votes and concluded in May 2020 with Yuigaoka Girls High School (結ヶ丘女子高等学校, Yuigaoka Joshi Kōtō Gakkō). The main characters names were also announced: Kanon Shibuya, Tang Keke, Chisato Arashi, Sumire Heanna, and Ren Hazuki.[6]

The project's name, Love Live! Superstar!! was announced in July through the series' exclusive magazine Love Live! Days.[7][8] In September, the school idol group's name, "Liella!" was also chosen through fans' votes.[9] The name was chosen among 16 options that fans could vote for.[5] The name "Liella!" comes from a combination from a French word "lier" which means "to connect", which is the same as Yui (結) in the school's name in Japanese, and "brilliante", which means an "inner glow". Behind the group's name lies the feelings of the hope that the small stars of today who have their own brilliance will become superstars someday.[10]

The cast of the five main characters was later revealed in December 2020: Sayuri Date, Liyuu, Nako Misaki, Naomi Payton, and Nagisa Aoyama. Date and Aoyama are members who passed the open audition that was held earlier in the year.[11][a] The group's debut single, "Hajimari wa Kimi no Sora" (始まりは君の空) released on April 7, 2021. The single includes an animation PV and released in two versions—each with different B-sides: "Minna de Kanaeru Monogatari" (みんなで叶える物語) and "Watashi o Kanaeru Monogatari" (私を叶える物語).[12]

Broadcast and distribution[]

The anime television series is animated by Sunrise and directed by Takahiko Kyogoku, with Jukki Hanada handling series composition and Atsushi Saito designing the characters. Yoshiaki Fujisawa returns from his work on Love Live! School Idol Project to compose the music. The series premiered on NHK Educational TV on July 11, 2021.[13] Funimation has licensed the series for international releases.[14] Liella! perform both the opening and ending themes, titled "Start!! True dreams" and "Mirai wa Kaze no Yō ni" (未来は風のように) respectively, from episode 2 onwards. Special animated music videos made specifically for the NHK Educational TV broadcast featuring original songs by Liella! air after each episode titled "Songs of Liella!".[15]

Episode list[]

OverallEpisodeTitle [16][b]Insert song(s)Songs of Liella!Original air date
661"This Yet Unknown Feeling"
Transcription: "Mada Na mo nai Kimochi" (Japanese: まだ名もないキモチ)		"Mirai Yohō Hallelujah!" (未来予報ハレルヤ!) by Liella!"Primary" by Liella!July 11, 2021 (2021-07-11)
Kanon Shibuya is on her way to her first day at Yuigaoka Private Girls High School. Keke Tang, a new classmate who just transferred from China, is delighted with Kanon's singing voice and attempts to recruit her to form a School Idol Club, but Kanon refuses. Kanon later confesses to Keke that she always wanted to sing, but always passes out in panic when she performs in public, ultimately giving up singing at all after she fails the exam to join Yuigaoka's music course. After failing to recruit other girls to join Keke's club, Kanon hears from Keke that her true wish is to become a School Idol with her. Kanon runs away at first, but inspired by Keke, Kanon begins to sing in front of the others, apparently overcoming her fears.
672"No School Idols Allowed?!"
Transcription: "Sukūru Aidoru Kinshi!?" (Japanese: スクールアイドル禁止!?)		—"Memories" by Kanon Shibuya (Sayuri Date)July 18, 2021 (2021-07-18)
Kanon is reinvigorated by her newfound confidence only to find Keke distraught over her proposal to form a school idol club having been rejected by Ren Hazuki. Kanon enlists her friend Chisato Arashi to find out any weakness Ren may have that she may exploit, but nothing comes to light. Kanon and Keke draw up a petition to gain support for the club's formation, and after talking with the headmistress, she agrees to let them form the club if they can get first place in an upcoming local school idol festival. Chisato agrees to teach Kanon and Keke how to dance and also build up Keke's complete lack of stamina. Meanwhile, Kanon starts to write a song based on lyrics provided by Keke. After several days, Kanon completes the song and goes out to jog alongside Keke in the morning, telling her that this is only the beginning.
683"Kuukaa"
Transcription: "Kūkā" (Japanese: クーカー)		"Tiny Stars" by Kanon Shibuya (Sayuri Date) and Keke Tang (Liyuu)"Memories" by Chisato Arashi (Nako Misaki)August 8, 2021 (2021-08-08)[c]
Kanon once again finds that she cannot sing in front of others. Keke and Chisato try to help her overcome her fear, but after nothing works, Keke suggests that only she will sing as long as Kanon is with her on stage. As a last minute entry, the highly popular school idol duo Sunny Passion joins the same school idol festival as them, only for Keke to realize their chances of winning have now become all but impossible. However, Kanon and Keke still resolve to give their best performance. Keke again asks Chisato to join them as a school idol, but she declines. Kanon and Keke continue to practice, but once on stage during the festival, their performance is interrupted when the lights go out, prompting the crowd to light up the arena with glow sticks with shouts of encouragement. When the lights come back on, Kanon and Keke deliver a flawless performance. Although they do not win the competition, they are awarded the best newcomer award.
694"Street Corner Galaxy☆彡"
Transcription: "Machikado Gyarakushī☆彡" (Japanese: 街角ギャラクシー☆彡)		—"Anniversary" by Keke Tang (Liyuu)August 15, 2021 (2021-08-15)
Kanon and Keke are allowed to form a school idol club despite Ren's misgivings. After Sumire Heanna overhears them talking about the club, she expresses her interest in joining, spurred on by her hopes of gaining more followers on social media. Sumire quickly shows promise in her dancing skills, and she confides to the others how she used to be in show business. Sumire desperately wants to be center stage during their performances, but after polling their classmates, Kanon is the overwhelming favorite for the center position. Sumire quits the club as a result, but Kanon follows her after school, wanting to learn more about her motives for being the center. Sumire never managed to break out of being a forgettable extra, and she thought of overcoming this by being the center. She apologizes for the trouble she caused them, but Kanon scouts Sumire into joining their club, challenging her to take the center position from herself.
705"Passion Island"
Transcription: "Passhon Airando" (Japanese: パッションアイランド)		—"Anniversary" by Ren Hazuki (Nagisa Aoyama)August 22, 2021 (2021-08-22)
Unable to practice outside due to a heat wave, Kanon and the other girls are left to try to find somewhere else to prepare for the Love Live competition. While at Kanon's cafe, they are visited by the Sunny Passion duo of Yuuna Hijirisawa and Mao Hiiragi with an invitation to perform at a local concert in their hometown on Kōzu-shima, to which the girls accept. Chisato later consults Yuuna and Mao, only for them to point out that her friends are lacking in the strength that comes from dancing as themselves. Chisato tells the girls she will be focusing on an upcoming dance competition and will not being going with them to their concert. Once on the island, the girls enjoy a day of fun with Sunny Passion, but Kanon is having trouble coming up with lyrics for the song they will be performing soon. Keke again brings up to Kanon about asking Chisato to join them as a school idol, but Kanon would rather have Chisato pursue dancing as her true passion.
716"I Was Dreaming"
Transcription: "Yume Mite Ita" (Japanese: 夢見ていた)		"Tokonatsu☆Sunshine" (常夏☆サンシャイン) by Kanon Shibuya (Sayuri Date), Keke Tang (Liyuu), Chisato Arashi (Nako Misaki) and Sumire Heanna (Naomi Payton)"Message" by Sumire Heanna (Naomi Payton)September 5, 2021 (2021-09-05)[d]
Kanon, Keke and Sumire continue to prepare for the upcoming concert with Yuuna and Mao. Kanon completes the lyrics for their upcoming performance and gets positive feedback from Chisato, who Kanon in turn encourages for her upcoming dance competition. Meanwhile, Ren discovers that Chisato plans to withdraw from Yuigaoka if she does not win the competition so she can gain confidence by doing something on her own as opposed to having been supported up to now by Kanon. The day of the dance competition, Kanon comes back to Tokyo to encourage Chisato, and also to tell her that she helped inspire her to become the best singer possible. After Chisato wins the competition, she goes with Kanon to join Keke and Sumire as a school idol at the concert.
727"Battle! The Student Council President Elections"
Transcription: "Kessen! Seito Kaichō-sen" (Japanese: 決戦！生徒会長選)		—"Message" by Kanon Shibuya (Sayuri Date)September 12, 2021 (2021-09-12)
As summer vacation comes to an end, Chisato transfers to the general program and joins Kanon's class. When the girls discover that the student council election is about to happen, Keke wants Kanon to apply for the student council presidents' position, much to the latter's dismay. Chisato also decides to root for Kanon, as both girls believe that if Ren becomes the president, school idols would be prohibited. To Kanon's excitement, Sumire decides to nominate herself, and despite her widely ranging campaign, she loses to Ren. When Ren goes back on her campaign promise and announces the school festival's main act will feature only the music program students, the school idols decide to investigate and discover Ren's motivation. They go to Ren's house and discover that she is the only Hazuki family member left in the house and that she has run out of money, meaning the school is at risk of closure.
738"Connecting Feelings"
Transcription: "Musubareru Omoi" (Japanese: 結ばれる想い)		"Wish Song" by Liella!"Ringing!" by Chisato Arashi (Nako Misaki)September 19, 2021 (2021-09-19)
Tension continues to rise at school between the music program students and the general education students, prompting Kanon to try to find a middle ground, but to no avail. The headmistress tells Ren to explain her position at an upcoming assembly so as to reach an agreement among the students. Ren tells the school idols how her mother had once tried to save her school from closing down by being a school idol, but was unsuccessful in saving the school. Ren could not find any records of her mother as a school idol and concluded her mother regretted the attempt. After hearing from Ren about her mother's hopes of bringing people together, Kanon looks in the club room and finds a locked box containing the photos and other records of when Ren's mother was a school idol, showing Ren that she had actually cherished those memories. As a result, Ren accepts Kanon's offer to join them as a school idol. The whole school continues to prepare for the school festival, and all five school idols perform for the first time together.
749"What's Your Name?"
Transcription: "Kimitachi no Na wa?" (Japanese: 君たちの名は？)		TBATBASeptember 26, 2021 (2021-09-26)

Other media[]

Various Liella! songs were playable through Love Live! School Idol Festival and its spin-off game School Idol Festival All Stars for limited amounts of time.[18] SR cards of Liella! members were also made available through a special login bonus in School Idol Festival as commemoration of the anime series' broadcast.[19]

Controversy[]

In June 2021, the series staff issued an apology for causing trouble for Café Casa and locals around the building. The staff stated they used the exterior as a reference for Kanon Shibuya's family café "without prior consideration." The staff confirmed that individuals related to Café Casa received infringements of their privacy via social media and review. Because of this, the design of the café in the anime was changed so it less resembled Café Casa.[20]

Music[]

Main article: Love Live! Superstar!! discography

Notes[]

  1. ^ The open audition originally only chose one person; it was changed and two people were chosen as the result.
  2. ^ All English titles are taken from Funimation.
  3. ^ Due to the 2020 Summer Olympics, the third episode, originally scheduled to air on July 25, 2021, was postponed to August 8.[17]
  4. ^ Due to the 2020 Summer Paralympics, the sixth episode, originally scheduled to air on August 29, 2021, was postponed to September 5.

References[]

  1. ^ "Love Live! Superstar!! Anime Premieres in July". Anime News Network. February 22, 2021. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  2. ^ "Love Live! Superstar!! Anime Premieres on July 11". Anime News Network. May 28, 2021. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e キャスト＆スタッフ [Cast & Staff]. Love Live! Superstar!! official website (in Japanese). Project Love Live! Superstar!!. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  4. ^ "Love Live! School Idol Franchise Gets New TV Anime With New Cast Member". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2020-09-17.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b "Love Live! Superstar!! Anime Reveals Idol Group's Name: 'Liella'". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2020-09-17.
  6. ^ "New Love Live! Anime's Video Reveals School, Highlights Characters". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2020-09-17.
  7. ^ "New Love Live! Anime Confirms Love Live! Superstar!! Title". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2020-09-17.
  8. ^ "New Love Live! Anime Confirms Love Live! Superstar!! Title". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2020-09-17.
  9. ^ "Liella! group name announcement". Twitter. Retrieved 2020-09-17.
  10. ^ "ラブライブ！の新スクールアイドル5人発表 初のメインキャスト一般公募". エキサイトニュース (in Japanese). Retrieved 2020-12-17.
  11. ^ "Liella!キャスト5名発表！ 2021年春にデビューシングルリリース決定!!". Love Live! Superstar!! official website (in Japanese). Project Love Live! Superstar!!. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  12. ^ プロジェクトラブライブ！スーパースター!!. "音楽商品｜「ラブライブ！スーパースター!!」公式サイト". 「ラブライブ！スーパースター!!」公式サイト (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-01-18.
  13. ^ "Love Live! Superstar!! Anime's Full Promo Video Previews Liella! Members". Anime News Network. June 27, 2021. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
  14. ^ "Love Live! Superstar!! Comes to Funimation This Summer". Funimation. July 3, 2021. Retrieved July 3, 2021.
  15. ^ "リエラのうた". Love Live! series official Twitter account. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
  16. ^ "Story" (in Japanese). Sunrise. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
  17. ^ "NHK Warns of Possible Delays for Love Live! Superstar!!, Major 2nd, 'Welcome to Demon School, Iruma-kun', More Anime Due to Olympics". Anime News Network. July 14, 2021. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  18. ^ "Announcement about Liella!'s songs". Love Live! Official Twitter account. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  19. ^ "TVアニメ「ラブライブ！スーパースター!!」応援ログインボーナス Part1". 【公式】ラブライブ！スクフェス事務局. Retrieved 2021-07-15.
  20. ^ "Love Live! Superstar!! Staff Apologizes for Referencing Real-Life Café Without 'Prior Consideration'". Anime News Network. Retrieved 3 June 2021.

External links[]

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