μ, Music Start!

I would be lying though my teeth if I said that I had never hoped to get the chance to write this head-line.

Because after news of the series airing on Disney Channel Japan back during late spring, I was not so secretly hoping we might see these nine girls dance across American airwaves one day. So now at this new I am massively fangirling.

Here we tend to talk a lot about anime, as we should. It is a great world that truly embraced of stories made purely of dreams and has a way to make even the crazies of stories work out and reach people’s hearts.

And Love Live: School Idol Project is one that has gone above and beyond what some might have first believed it could achieve back when fans meet μ (pronounced as “muse”). If you know even a passing amount of anything centric to anime you know this series. In Japan it is challenging to travel far without seeing the likes of these nine girls adore nearly everything.

Yes, Love Live has taken over a better majority of the world. Truth be told I am the very meaning of thrilled by that- because I love μ. Between my ever-growing collection of all things Love Live and countless viewings of the series I am a massive fan. A world filled with Love Live is just fine to me.

Love Live: School Idol Project is just what the title implies, a story about school idols. If you are not familiar with just what a school idol is it is basically students acting as idols in a high school club light- putting on performances, singing, dancing and if they are lucky enough they might make it to Love Live- a nationwide contest for school idols.

“To protect the school we love so much, we have to do all we can… We have to become school idols! By becoming idols and advertising how great our school is to the world, more students will want to apply!”

Our story starts with desperation- Otonokizaka Academy is facing closure in three years, with declining birth dates and admissions numbers down the school’s fate looks bleak. But Honoka loves her school, so much so she longs to find a way to save it. During her and her friends’, Umi and Kortori, to find a way to save their beloved school from closing the concept of school idols lands in their lap. With a new dream formed Honoka sets her sights on becoming a school idol, and over-night sensation- to help gain more applicants for the upcoming school year.

But the path before Honoka and the eight others who join her is not one without challenges, but together they strive to save their school from its fate- and set their sights on Love Live.

The series has a lot of heart and really makes you get attached to the point you love and cheer for μ. At times there are things that could have been done better from a technical aspect, story-lines that could have run deeper and things that should have been shown. But it is amazing series that leaves you with something after you are done watching it.

Typically with series centering around being a performer there is a massive driving force the characters have to become famous, the specific reasons vary, yet they tend to remain more self centric. For the girls of Love Live the popularity they seek is for sake of their school, and a dream that they long to reach.

When I first started watching the series last year I had no idea just how massive the show was in terms of popularity. What I did know is that I never wanted to stop watching, I wanted to see what came next for the girls that I had suddenly come so attached to. I wanted to see them reach the next stage. They hits road-blocks and struggle, but never are they really willing to give up their dream. And never from another- even when time is not on their side.

With a popular rhythm-game app, two seasons, a feature film and more goods and figures that even I cannot keep tabs on, it has a level of magic to it.

A magic that is now going to be gracing American airwaves. North American agent for the series, NIS America announced today that the Asian entertained network known as Mnet America will start airing the English dub of series with new episodes on Friday.

In addition, the standard version of the first season (featuring the new English dub) and premium second season release is slated to be released on Valentine’ Day. So fans can choice their choice of viewing.

As of right now there is no full trailer to give fans a listen to the English cast, but with the likes of Christina Vee, Caitlin Glass, Xanthe Huynh, Eric Mendez, Laura Post, Faye Mata, Kira Buckland, Marieve Herington, and Erica Lindbeck as μ is exciting.

If you have not seen Love Live I highly encourage you to. The series has great heart, memorial songs and characters that connect with you. Sure there is fairly minor fan-service moments in the series, it is very sweet and light-hearted. Even though the series has reached it’s end and the last live of the Japaness voice cast is nearing  μ will live on and touch even more fans.

So- Nico-Nico-Niii!!! Be sure to check your cable information, stream off Crunchyroll or Hulu and cheer for μ.

Join the conversation: Anime fans, are you excited for this new page of μ’s stage?