My First Impression, Love Live! Sunshine!! Anime

Takami Chika Looking at μ's on the big screen

The much awaited anime of this season, Love Live! Sunshine!! has just arrived and I finally watched the first episode.  It is exciting for me to watch this even though I still feel bad about μ's retirement last april. But lately, I realize that there is no reason for me to get mad about this show. Well, 6 years of μ's is long enough for them to shine and it is just right to give a chance to another generation of seiyuu’s out there. So I rather call this a chance to start another chapter of Love Live experience for everyone. Here are my first impression of the first episode of Love Live! Sunshine!!

But first, I got to warn you guys that this article may contain major spoilers for those who haven’t seen the first episode yet. I don’t wanna ruin the show for you so I advise to watch it first. 

As expected, it feels the same as the previous one. The comedy, the characters the entire production feels the same. I’m bursting with excitement watching this and thought to myself that this is the feeling that I have missed by ignoring the Last Love Live Anime.

The first episode doesn’t focus too much character introductions which is a good thing. Getting on to the story in fast phased while showing all the characters is the best way to start a show nowadays.

The main character, Takami Chika has the same personality as Honoka Kousaka and the seiyuu really did a great job of portraying her. She’s so funny and a lovable character. I really like this scene when she saw μ's at the big screen. Which is a terrific way to show us how badly she want to have School Idol Club on their School. 

Now I understand why You Watanabe is so popular with the fans. She’s one of Chika’s closest friend and the second member of Aqours in the story. And also the Seiyuu which is Shuka Saito is quite pretty and funny too.I like how they make a focus on the two characters like You and Chika on the first episode. That really prevents confusion while presenting all of the characters to the viewers.

A show with a large number of characters like this one can’t introduce them all in just one episode. So it is effective to make the viewer’s focus on one to two characters first and mind the rest on another episode. I experienced watching an anime that keeps throwing characters in my face ineffectively. Which is so annoying and makes me later on dropped the show.

The only thing I really don’t like is the voice acting of Tsushima Yoshiko. She is my favorite character but her voice didn’t matched the characters’ lips on this scene. I wish later on the voice performance will get better on the next few episodes. I mean I don’t blame Aika Kobayashi for this because I know that this is her debut in voice acting.

The animation is above average. Sunrise really know how to make a good animation for a title this big. Another good thing I’ve noticed is that the 3D dancing scene is much better this time. It’s not so blindingly bright anymore and it is pretty close to the 2D drawing now. Maybe the animation team of Sunrise wanted to do it much better this time. We all know that Sunrise has been doing shoujo anime like this lately like Aikatsu and the previous Live Live.

I just want to invite everyone to watch Love Live Sunshine. It’s a great anime in my opinion. So if you don’t want to get left behind I suggest to go see it right now.

Thanks for reading this article. Please leave a comment bellow on what you think of this first episode. You may also suggest on an anime you want me to review on this blog and on my youtube channel.

Get ready for Love Live! Sunshine!!

Love Live Sunshine!! promotion poster

  OK, it seems like I still couldn’t move on with μ's final concert last April and I admit that it is a big shock to me. But when I see this picture of Love Live Sunshine spread all over the internet, I suddenly had a mixed emotions with it. Love Live! School Idol Project is a good anime to watch for me and seeing this makes me doubt if it will be a good show. I know Love Live Sunshine will be having the same formula as the previous one. So I decided to make an article about my thoughts on this anime and also to get ourselves ready on its worldwide launch on July. I wish they could simultaneously air an English dubbed for this, same as Japan. So that when the time comes that Love Live Sunshine became a big hit worldwide, their group, Aqours will be all set to go concert around the world. They might even surpass μ's popularity if that happen.

Love Live! Sunshine!! Voice Actresses

Love Live! School Idol Project μ’s→NEXT ENDLESS PARADE Concert 2014

  

But I guess it won’t be having an English dubbed yet. I hope the dubbed version of Love Live Sunshine will not be licensed too late like the previous one. Love Live! School Idol Project English dubbed version was released last year and it is kind of three years too late for the party right? Well, you might say. Who cares? English Subtitled anime is fine to me and English dubbed are terrible. Yes it is true that original is Japanese is still the best. But it is necessary for this series to reach the international television so that non-anime fan will be able to see it.

Love Live! The School Idol Movie English Dubbed

But the big question now is, will Aqours be as successful as μ's? Well, that is something we have to find out. But we’re already feeling the hype of positive comments on the internet about the show, so I doubt if it fails. I don’t know if I’ll be spoiling everyone with this but I think this is the best way to spice the things up while waiting for the official launch on July. I’ll be giving you a little preview on what to expect at the Anime Love Live! Sunshine!

Following the same formula as the previous one might be its weakness. But I guess it is fine the way it is. You see, we know Love Live is about forming a School Idol Club and it is too risky to change that formula because the fans may not like it. So it is safer to have a Love Live series stay on that track of what we are familiar of.

Takami Chika CV: Inami Anju

I also noticed that the characters is not so bad at all. Let’s start with Takami Chika. It seems like she is the Honoka Kousaka of this show. At this preview, instead of seeing A-rise on the big screen, Takami see μ's instead. Will Aqours be facing muse at the finals of Love Live? It seems that question gives us something to look forward to. Or maybe not because we know that μ's retired after their senior members graduated.

Also, I can see that she is recruiting members like Honoka as well. Nothing so special about her but the energetic and a little clumsy character like her is a proven main character material for Love Live. Takami Chika is voiced by Inami Anju who is also the voice behind Hinata, the main character of the animated movie Hinata no Aoshigure.

Matsuura Kanan CV:Suwa Nanaka

Next is Matsuura Kanan, the childhood friend of Chika. She’s a sporty type and mature. More like she’s the Umi Sonoda of this show, I think. And she also has the blue hair. Matsuura Kanan is voiced by Suwa Nanaka who is also a voice actress of several game like Seven Knights.

Sakurauchi Riko CV: Aida Rikako

Next is Sakurauchi Riko the mysterious transfer student. No, not really. What is interesting about her is that she is transferred from Otonokizaka High School where μ's is founded. She is probably the main connection of the previous Love Live series that will give us more spice with the story. Sakurauchi Riko is voice by Aida Rikako who also the supporting voice actress in Koutetsujou no Kabaneri.

Kurosawa Dia CV: Komiya Arisa

Next is Kurosawa Dia, the student council president. Like Eli Ayase of the previous series, she is also against at the idea of building a School Idol Club at Uranohoshi Girls' High School. But Takami Chika drags her to join Aqours anyway. Kurosawa Dia is voiced by Komiya Arisa who is also the Yellow Buster in Takumei Sentai Go Busters.

Watanabe You CV: Shuka Saito

Next is Watanabe You I don’t know much about her yet. But she seems to be everyone’s favorite. On the second Single of Love Live Sunshine! She is chosen to be at the Center Position due to the result of the web poll. You Watanabe is voiced by Shuka Saito and she’s kind of new to the industry.

Tsushima Yoshik CV: Aika Kobayashi

Next is Tsushima Yoshiko the Kuroneko of this show. Kuroneko or Ruri Gokou is a character from the Anime Ore no Imouto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai. They are similar in many ways. Tsushima Yoshiko has this delusion calling herself “Fallen Angel Yohane” On the preview, she said something hilarious when recruiting members for Aqours that make a contract and be one of her little demons. It seems like she will be my favorite character. Tsushima Yoshiko is voiced by Aika Kobayashi who is also the vocal of the Ending theme of Freezing and Queen's Blade: Rebellion.

Kunikida Hanamaru CV: Takatsuki Kanako 

Next is Kunikida Hanamaru the innocent girl. She always say “zura” at every end of her sentence as a cutesy feature. Just like Rin Hoshizora who always says “Nya" But they don’t share the same personality. Kunikida Hanamaru is voiced by Takatsuki Kanako who is also a vocalist in a band.

Kurosawa Ruby CV: Furihata Ai

Next is Kurosawa Ruby, Hanamaru’s best friend. She must be the Kotori Minami of the group for her skill in needle works and clothing. Kurosawa Ruby is voiced by Furihata Ai who is also a voice actress in some games and movies.

Ohara Mari CV: Suzuki Aina

And lastly, Ohara Mari the Maki Nishikino of this show. Ok, I know that she is not a tsundere like Maki. But she is the composer of the group. She is the foreigner character so we can expect that she’ll be inserting English words in some of her dialogue. Ohara Mari is voiced by Suzuki Aina who also behind the voice of Shizuka Gozen, the main character in Onigiri.

Now that we have an idea on the characters of Love Live Sunshine, it will be easy for us to hop along. I’m looking forward that this anime will make a big success like the previous Love Live. I’m also exited on what it will be like on Aqours live concerts after the anime airing.

That’s why I mentioned all of them on this article because their characters personality really extends to them. And fans find that amazing to see the Love Live characters alive on their voice actresses’ counterparts.

The much awaited Cardcaptor Sakura Clear Card is finally published

The news got the anime community crazy with this one. Yes, there will be a new Cardcaptor Sakura Manga

It’s been twenty years and Sakura Kinomoto’s appeal is still legendary even today. In fact, back in those days she is the whole meaning of Magical Girl Genre. I mean really, everyone watch it more than Magical Stage Fancy Lala at that time. So in celebration of Cardcaptor Sakura’s 20^th year celebration, CLAMP, the manga artists publish a new series for the franchise at the July issue of Nakayoshi Magazine. This is due to a great response of the all fans about the series. Well, who don’t want to see a continuation for the beloved anime where Sakura Kinomoto and Li Syaoran is now at Junior High? Yes, this will be another great romance plot which is something to look forward to. And a little spoilers which is so obvious is the introduction to sakura’s new card called Clear Card. What it, I guess it’s up to you to read the manga find out.

Also in the news, there will be a confirmed animated project for this. Of course it does, if they can produce bad anime then there’s no reason they couldn’t have money for this one, right?

For those who haven’t seen Cardcaptor Sakura, well I say you should see it because this is one of CLAMPS amazing creations. I remember back then when a friend of mine print a Time Card and play with it like Li. And another friend of mine who really has a crush on Sakura so much. He even celebrate her birthday every April 1. But for me, I don’t do any of that because I’m a fan of Tomoyo Daidouji because she’s into making costumes like I do.

What I’m trying to say is this series marked something great on the Otaku Community and its contribution to the culture is still alive even today.

More hilarious moments from the Amusement Club

Yume Reviews the Anime Yuru Yuri San Hai

I’ve waited so long for this after watching Yuru Yuri Nachuyachumi OVA and my wait have been paid off. I though the third season will never going to happen because we all know anime industry. Good anime sometimes don’t get the conclusion they deserve because of production problems. Even though this season of Yuru Yuri is not the conclusion for the story but at least the franchise could go this far. And I know this kind of Anime will never have a conclusion because it is designed to be that way. To have a next season after another.

Yuru Yuri San Hai is the third season of Yuru Yuri franchise and it gives us more of the hilarious everyday life of the Amusement Club members, Akari, Kyouko, Chinatsu and Yui. The first thing I've noticed on the first episode is everything improves a lot. I really like what they did on the club room scene. Now, every time they get into the scene inside the club room, there is this shading that simulates the indoor lighting. A very clever technique that makes a difference whenever the scene is insde or outside the club room. I was thinking if the show is aired during summer time. But Yuru Yuri San Hai is aired during autumn season of October of 2015.

This is not new to Yuru Yuri, actually, this technique is also been implemented on Nachuyachumi OVA Series. I just mentioning it because I thought everything will get back to normal at third season.

Another thing I've noticed is that this time the jokes are even funnier. Maybe this will not give you a hard laugh but this is a slice of life genre. Expect everything to be light and cute even with the jokes. And I think that is the best feature of Yuru Yuri. I find it more of a comedy than a homosexual romance comedy. Some of the jokes are incomprehensible with non-japanese audience, Ayano Sugiura jokes to be specific. Like on the last season, I couldn't catch the "nai nai Niagra" at first. I was like, why is Yui is laughing? What is so funny? What's so funny with "baki buckingham"? Many of those jokes are even mentioned on the lyrics of Sugiura Ayano's character song.

And the character development is so good. All of their comedic potential really improves exponentially on is season. The only thing that bothers me is the scene where Himawari kick Sakurako during the back hip circle exam. I don't know, even though Himawari is my favorite character, it's just not right to kick Sakurako so hard no matter how braggy she is. But it's a joke anyway so I let it pass and enjoy watching the rest of the episodes.

What really makes me so hooked with Yuru Yuri is the music. The seiyuu's or the voice actresses are amazing and they're really big in japan. In fact, I've seen two of their live concerts.

I really recommend this to everyone who haven't seen Yuru Yuri before. If you're an anime fan and you haven't even heared of Yuru Yuri, probably, you are missing something. Actually, this anime is not focusing on yuri or girl to girl relationship alone. I find this more of a comedy anime than a Yuri genre like everyone seen it as it is.

Dr. Michio Kaku become an Ultimate Otaku Teacher

Yume Reviews the Anime Denpa Kyoushi (Ultimate Otaku Teacher)

Denpa Kyoushi brought us something we already seen before like a very unusual teacher protagonist saving the day of students in trouble. This is maybe why this anime didn’t have the success it deserve in the anime community. Everyone might wonder why I watched this anime, just look at the animation, the character is drawn like it was rushed. Well, give me a break. In Japanese animation, they don’t get the budget they need for production. Sometimes good anime don’t even sell well and sometimes bad anime sells like pan cakes. The amount audience on an anime show is uncertain. Denpa Kyoushi I believe suffered these problems. But even with these short comings I found this anime enjoyable. I discovered this while I’m searching online for an English dubbed anime of 2015 and immediately the title Ultimate Otaku Teacher caught my attention. I was expecting some otaku related story like Lucky Star, one of my favorite, so I gave this one a shot.

Junichirou Kagami is a physics genius, he was even discovered by CERN, European Organization for Nuclear Research in Geneva Switzerland and give him the opportunity to be part of the research team. CERN is so interested on Junichirou’s theory that could make Anywhere Door possible and offer him of actually building it. But with all this luck in his hand he chose to continue his Otaku lifestyle. His sister Suzune is so upset of this and force him to get a job and there he became a teacher.

So what’s so interesting? Well, Junichirou Kagami character is obviously Dr. Michio kaku became an otaku. Dr. Michio Kaku is Japanese American theoretical physicist, professor of City Collage of New York, known for his work in String Field Theory. He claims that worm holes are theoretically possible which is in Anime, the Anywhere Door of Doraemon. This get me so hooked with this anime and I think this is something every anime fan should watch. And there are some anime references they make a joke about here like Neon Genesis Evangelion. And the anime cultures are so vibrantly tackled in every episode like Cosplay, Maid Cafes, Sentai Heroes, Card games, Manga and lot of games.

At first, I was kind of disturbed by the story for being a Great Teacher Onizuka rip off. Every single moment of the first episode is painful for me to watch. I just recently finished watching Kyoukai no Kanata and then having something like this is really frustrating. Just look at this picture, the crowd doesn’t blend well because it’s too dark and the background is too bright. I’ve seen many anime cheat this way and they’ve done it just fine but this one is so awful.

Look at this drawing of Yukino Kuribayashi, it really bothers me. Her body proportion is really not right.

And the animation is so jerky. I wonder how many inbetweeners they hire to make this bumping scene, it’s very unrealistic.

Well, on the ending credits I’ve seen a couple of non-Japanese staff which is 21 of them are listed. Maybe they were the inbetweener guys who draw this scene, I don’t know, I couldn’t read Japanese so well. Japanese Anime with the demand so high they send some of the animation work overseas for non-japanese people to work on and I think that is fine. When I was young I give-up doing Manga because I think Anime cannot be duplicated by a non-japanese person like me. I thought there is no Anime job for me, but I was wrong. Japanese are bringing their anime studios overseas. In fact, there is a TOEI Animation Studio here in my country and that I think is very nice to know. But if it will risk the quality of animation I would prefer seen anime in the hands of Japanese people than having extra help from other nationality. And there is something I wanna mention at my rant part of this review. In the episode 22 of English Dubbed, Funimation make Junichirou say “By the power of grey skull” when he was surprised. I’ve seen many get offended by this but I find it funny.

But even with this poor quality stuff I gave it a chance anyway and run through five episodes and then I couldn’t stop. I even stop by to a convenient store and buy a soda and potato chips to enjoy watching Denpa Kyoushi. I really like the character of Junichirou Kagami because I’m a big fan of Dr. Michio Kaku. I like how he manage the teaching like Dr. michio Kaku ones said on an interview that there is a problem with the learning system in school. It really adds up to his character and I think the best idea in anime history. They also add the Large hadron Colider, an atom smasher that Dr. Michio kaku always mentioning. I also like Koyomi Hiiragi, the chairman of Icho Academy because she was so mysterious. And also her seiyuu(Voice Actress) is Mimori Suzuko, my favorite.

In episode 14, there is this Madoka Kuramachi who is exactly look like Misaka Mikoto on the anime series To Aru Kagaku No Railgun.

If you are an Anime Fan, there is no way you cannot be hooked by Denpa Kyoushi. Just like the Anime lucky Star, this tackle the Otaku Culture which effectively captures my attention. This is one of the best anime I’ve seen on 2014. I recommend watching this series both Japanese and English dubbed. I haven’t seen the Japanese dubbed yet, but the English dubbed is just fine for me with a minor problems I guess. I love seeing English dubbed lately because it will make me be able work on something else without looking to subtitles.

Thanks for reading and I would appreciate if you could leave a comment below. And if you have an anime you want me to do a review please let me know. Thanks for supporting my blog.