Franchises in the anime world can take unpredictable paths, sometimes exploding in popularity seemingly out of nowhere. “BanG Dream!”, a series that began as a complement to a video game in Winter 2017, is a fascinating example of this. After an initial run, the animated franchise entered a period of quiet before returning in Winter 2019 with a second season that acted as a tonal and character-driven reboot. Before diving into the later seasons, it’s insightful to revisit the first season of “BanG Dream!”. This initial offering stands alone, almost like a separate entity within the larger franchise, and it’s here that we first encounter the iconic Anime Star-shaped Guitar that sparks the entire story.
The narrative centers on Toyama Kasumi, a new high school student searching for that exhilarating feeling she experienced gazing at the night sky as a child. Her quest begins when she follows a trail of star-shaped stickers, leading her to the warehouse of her classmate, Ichigaya Arisa. It’s here that Kasumi’s eyes are caught by a dazzling star-shaped guitar, an instrument that immediately captivates her. This encounter, combined with witnessing a performance by the girl band Glitter-Green at the SPACE club, ignites the passion Kasumi has been seeking. Inspired, she teams up with Arisa, Saya (daughter of a baking family), Rimi (younger sister of a Glitter-Green member), and Tae (a SPACE club staff member) to form their own all-girl band, Poppin’Party.
From the outset, “BanG Dream!” displays a self-awareness of its genre conventions and actively tries to play with them. Typically, a show focused on forming a group, whether for sports or music, would introduce members gradually, often drawn in by the protagonist’s charisma. While “BanG Dream!” doesn’t completely abandon this formula, it accelerates the process. All five members of Poppin’Party are introduced and begin interacting early on. This allows a sense of familiarity and band dynamics to develop much quicker than in similar shows. Even though they don’t all join the band simultaneously, this early interaction forges a stronger sense of camaraderie within the group right from the start. This quick assembly allows the narrative to focus more on their musical journey and band development, driven by Kasumi’s initial fascination with the anime star-shaped guitar.
However, when it comes to individual character personalities, there’s a noticeable range in how engaging they are. Arisa stands out as a particularly enjoyable presence. As the group’s somewhat grumpy character, she quickly becomes a highlight. Her over-the-top reactions and tsundere tendencies are genuinely funny without becoming irritating. The fact that the other band members seem to know exactly how to tease her makes her the perfect comedic foil. Importantly, the story also provides moments showing her genuine care for her friends and her willingness to go the extra mile for the band, proving there’s more to her than just a prickly exterior. Perhaps her initial resistance to Kasumi’s enthusiasm provides a grounding counterpoint to the sometimes overwhelming energy surrounding the star-shaped guitar and the band’s formation.
On the other end of the spectrum, at least initially, is Kasumi. As an overly enthusiastic character bordering on being a nuisance, she sometimes lacks a sense of personal space and is quick to want to be on a first-name basis with everyone. Her energetic presence creates a somewhat conflicting feeling – you root for her dream of Poppin’Party to succeed, yet simultaneously wish she would dial down her intensity, even if just a little. While she never becomes unbearable to watch, the writing sometimes directs her energy in so many directions that it takes a while for her character to find focus. This does improve in the season’s second half as she faces challenges and demonstrates moments of restraint and vulnerability. This character development is crucial as it moves her beyond just the initial driving force behind the anime star-shaped guitar and band creation, making her a more rounded individual.
This shift in Kasumi’s character is partly influenced by a change in the narrative tone. Initially, “BanG Dream!” seems unsure whether to be light-hearted or serious. Kasumi’s recruitment of band members feels whimsical, but the show’s central point wavers, almost becoming frustrating. Midway through the season, the first real conflict emerges, but its seriousness feels somewhat jarring compared to the preceding episodes. It’s a case where the intended contrast is theoretically interesting, but the actual impact feels somewhat forced and unnatural due to the stark difference in tone. This tonal unevenness can be distracting, especially when the initial draw was the lightheartedness of forming a band around a cool anime star-shaped guitar.
However, the season’s conclusion finds a more balanced rhythm. If the earlier conflict leaned too heavily into drama, the final episodes strike a better middle ground. The challenge the band faces is significant but feels more like a realistic obstacle for a band trying to gain recognition. Facing a dose of reality allows Poppin’Party to demonstrate their resilience and tackle the problem head-on. This makes the season’s climax feel earned and satisfying, showing the growth of the band beyond just the initial excitement surrounding the anime star-shaped guitar.
Visually, the show is adequate but not outstanding. Despite being released in 2017, “BanG Dream!” season one’s character designs have a late-2000s aesthetic. The compositing is a weaker point, with an abundance of sunshine that often gives scenes a washed-out, glare-filled appearance. Location reuse is frequent, which is acceptable, although some settings, like the warehouse rehearsal space where the star-shaped guitar first appeared, are quite generic.
Fortunately, while the visuals might be somewhat lacking, the music significantly compensates for these shortcomings. However, considering the Poppin’Party songs available at the time of the anime’s release, the choice of “Tokimeki Experience” as the opening theme is a bit puzzling. While not a bad song in itself, it lacks the vibrant energy that the story seemed to aim for, especially considering the visual of the energetic Kasumi and her star-shaped guitar. Nonetheless, the insert songs used throughout the thirteen episodes are well-chosen, and the original compositions contribute a genuine and pleasant earnestness.
And “earnestness” is a key descriptor for the first season. Despite its occasional missteps in tone and humor, the show conveys the sense of five girls genuinely passionate about their music and each other. There’s an underlying kindness that makes you want to root for this band. While this season might not be a personal favorite, it is undeniably intriguing, which is more than can be said for many anime series. The initial draw of the anime star-shaped guitar and the formation of Poppin’Party creates enough interest to see where the story goes.
“BanG Dream!” season one is indeed an unusual anime. It seems restrained when it should be unrestrained, and occasionally goes overboard when it does let loose. It achieves a better sense of equilibrium in the second half by introducing relatable conflicts and allowing the band to solidify in a convincing way. Though uneven at times, it offers moments of enjoyment, even when not fully convinced or amused. It carves out its own unique, slightly quirky niche within the anime music genre, driven by the visual and symbolic power of that anime star-shaped guitar that started it all.
