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March 23, 2019 16:50:45 +0000 (UTC)

Kaiton

WARNING! SPOILERS for BanG Dream! Season 1. At least some may consider them spoilers so I'm putting this out here. No chances taken, you know? If you haven't seen it, go watch it, it's the story of Poppin'Party's formation. It's THE origin point for PoPiPa. Just make sure that you finish it and don't drop it. Otherwise, if you have seen it or don't care (which you should care, words cannot describe everything), here we go.

Bandori! 30 Day Challenge

Day 15/30: Favourite Origin Story

Credit: okusawamiikun

"We will perform again someday!"

They did. They came back strong for Season 2.

The story of the Star-Seeker Kasumi searching for the Star Beat as she rounds up the Shut-in Tsundere Arisa, the Choco-Lover Rimi, the Judgemental Tae and the Truthspeaker Saya. I feel like half of these titles don't sound right...

I had a hard time deciding if PoPiPa or PasuPare deserved this spot but the main factor that led me to choose PoPiPa is the character development. From my memory, PasuPare's band story 1 mainly focuses on the conflicting ideologies of Aya and Chisato. If there were moments from Eve, Maya or Hina, they must have not merited a spot in my long-term memory (which means not impactful because my long-term memory is top notch). Yes, PoPiPa has a tiny bit of an advantage being from an anime and not Live2D in a mobile game but that doesn't change what happens to the characters. Rimi gains the courage to stand on the same stage as her sister, Tae realises her dream of performing isn't a dream but reality, Saya regains her love for performing, overcomes the weight of caring for her family and reconciles with CHiSPA's members, Arisa... um... gets friends? In all seriousness, Arisa wanted nothing to do with Kasumi and her antics. She gave her the Random Star to get her to leave her alone but she ends up roped into Kasumi's antics. Little by little, she starts to care for the band and its members, to the point where after the final SPACE audition, she breaks down immediately for messing up, frightened that she ruined their chances to perform at SPACE's final live. Speaking of SPACE auditions, Kasumi learns that she isn't alone; that she doesn't need to shoulder responsibility by herself. Her carelessness led to her losing her voice and we see a SUBDUED KASUMI THAT BROKE MY HEART! Once she does regain her voice, she finds she doesn't have the courage to sing and runs away, leading to the best moment of the season in the park (in my opinion). Her friends show that they'll stand with her, no matter what and they split the vocals for Mae e Susume!/Keep On Moving! Now whenever I listen to Mae e Susume!, it reminds me of the journey each character had and the time when they all stood on the same stage to perform at SPACE. For some reason, it didn't have the same effect with Yumemiru Sunflower. I think it's because I was a little bit annoyed at the time that they didn't perform Mae e Susume! at the end. Yes, I know now why they didn't because repeat songs but from a narrative view, still peeved.

I never really understood why some people view Season 1 in an unfavourable light and I still don't. I know it's not that hard to please me but it is hard to make me cheer from the bottom of my heart to fictional characters displayed on a monitor.

Imagine if all bands' origins got an anime. That would take a lot to produce but it would absolutely be amazing. Especially if they're filled with moments like those found in Season 1 and 2. The other bands deserve the spotlight, just as much as the first band created for the BanG Dream! Project.

Season 1 changed a lot of my opinions. I started to love Tae and Arisa. Saya became best girl. Mae e Susume became a song I like. If In August became a song I love. Most importantly, Poppin'Party became my favourite band.