Category Archives: BanG Dream

Togenashi Togeari’s Winning Formula

In the 21st century, there are few bigger “modern visual culture” developments on the Japanese side of the thing than 2.5D. What more can we ask for to employ the entire cache of cultural and industrial (it’s not just “geinokai,” it’s pipelines?) expertise of the show business by blowing up cartoon characters with the breath of (human) life, giving them likeness unto ourselves? In short, it’s about plays (the old fashion kind, done on a stage) based on novels, games, anime, and manga. In this particular case, we are talking about a media-mix franchise that is original, which yielded a manga and anime series, which boils down into a 5-piece band that are played by the humans behind the respective character voices themselves.

This is the ultimate dream-come-true. It is great that Minako Kotobuki can go at the keyboard from her Kyoto Animation gigs in the late ’00s, but it took a few more years before Aki Toyosaki can strum the guitar in any respectable way in front of a paying crowd. The K-ON generation pointed out to everyone that, well, there was even a K-ON generation to begin with. This girls band dream took shape later when the then-IM@S-Producer-lore-turn-yet-into-another-BanG-Dream-cover-song AIMI played guitar for the character Julia, launching the idea that we should just make a whole media mix video game thing. Nearly 10 years later, BanG Dream continues to own this segment and capture the dreams and discretionary spending of kids and adults all over the place.

I say kids, because at Togenashi Togeari’s one-man live on Feb. 7, 2025 at Pacifico Yokohama, I saw a teen with her mother a few rows in front of me at the show. This was Togetoge’s (henceforth) first solo show in a theater. It’s a stretch because they previously played at bigger venues (even moonlighting at Anisama 2024). As a band that started in 2023, they already have a show at the Nippon Budokan in September 2025.

My seatmate and I talked during the 20-minute intermission at the Togetoge show, and we talked about how TrySail has a show coming up in a few weeks at also Nippon Budokan, which is their first time at that venue, celebrating their 10th year as a unit. It served unintentionally as a nice contrast because both of us thought, after the announcement of Togetoge’s Budokan show at the end of the concert, that it was really soon. Maybe even too soon. I don’t think it is inappropriate at any event, too soon or not, because this is a great example of marketing striking the iron while it is hot.

What is hot? Togetoge is currently the best all-around incarnation of the girl band dreams media mix projects. This time we have something that is rock and roll at the core, a high school dropout meets a high school delinquent? It is hilariously traditional but it is packaged with that Bang Dream trapping that it goes down just as smooth. Except this time it’s got some fiber to go along with that rock-n-roll caloric intake. The much less substantive ball of fun that is the usual BanG Dream bands pre-MyGO!!!!! definitely still is the rule of the land, but within the rules, Togetoge is brand new and growing fast. China loves this stuff. MyGO hit a home run over there, but I think so did Togetoge, it’s just there isn’t a vast network of cover-song-rhythm-gamers already covering it. There’s something about starting mostly from scratch, as it were.

And this is why you can get to Budokan too soon. It took BanG Dream a few years too (and also probably too soon by some standards). It’s hot, strike it while the iron is hot. It’s BanG Dream v2. It is definitely the “more taste less calories” version in the 2.5D.

Of course, more discerning people (or anyone FWIW) can have differing opinions on this. In person, I already saw a big improvement in the playing and showsmanship of Togetoge from their Anisama 2024 appearance. Granted two members are still on hiatus, so we have pros playing the drums and on keys–the vibe I get is that now the three cast members are actually showboating, playing their roles, having fun while knowing they’ve got “training wheels” on drums and keys. It’s the best 2.5D. Compared to MyGO or Ave Mujica, those people are in a play and we are just along for the ride. Maybe you prefer that. I prefer my girls bands be bands first and stage actors second, if you can tell the difference. This is what makes RAS great and Popipa forever best in a live house or on the streets and probably not nowhere else. Or, you can be like the eternally popular Roselia–just not be a girls band at all. (I guess this applies to some other groups I omitted also.)

Girls Band Cry is rock. I think MyGO too. My bones with BanG Dream is that they created a good thing–MyGO anime–and then promptly carved this square peg into a round peg to put the media mix machine’s round holes. Maybe the kids love all the drama, but to me that is second (and naturally flows from) to the core idea of having relevant conflicts in stories. And if the driver of that is because someone’s mom died, we be in B-rated Korean drama territory. At least give me B-rated Japanese cinema tropes (that is GBC).


Bang Dream: MyGO!!!!! Anime

I just finished watching the mid-2023 TV anime (web anime?) Bang Dream: MyGO!!!!! and it is definitely a remarkable work. The weird part about my watching experience was that having tried and failed 2 episodes in, back when it was airing, then I watched the live-action band play in person, then I watched the first 7 episodes again, then I watched the same band play in person yet again, then I finally finished the series.

For starters, it’s definitely a series better binged. The non-linear narrative does the series a disservice until you make it to episode 3. MyGO’s strength, and to an extent all character-driven series like this, is character-based emotional investment. Without that, the dramatic “ball hiding” or “mystery” is just too surface level as a pull for me. Until I care, I’m not going to want to know, and this is why the back story retelling finally makes it possible. Yes, do the 3-episode test, but at least this many episodes.

Spoilers ahead.

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Re: IDOLM@STER at Songs of Tokyo Festival 2020

Songs of Tokyo Festival is an annual1 special program from NHK World, as part of its Songs of Tokyo TV segment. Songs of Tokyo showcases Japanese music acts with translation and feedback from global fans. Now that its 2020 fest had the ON AIR moment last weekend, it is free on demand viewing online here. The VOD expires January 31, 2021.

While Songs of Tokyo and the associated festivals have been going on for some time, it’s always pretty wild to catch the artists on domestic TV that I had to fly to Japan to see. NHK World is commonly broadcasted as a community program in metro areas in the west, or as a freebie in world packages in bundled television services like cable. It’s weird to be able to see all that at 1080 broadcast resolution, where as the real-time web stream looks like, well, a piece of crap. I mean, it probably looks fine normally for NHK programs but these live shows have a lot of visuals going on, and there were just not enough bits. In fact the VOD has the same mushiness look, just much better than the stream.

For this 2020 edition of Songs of Tokyo Festival, instead of in-person audience, there are a bunch of people put on 2 big TV in the venue (NHK Hall), Zoom-style. They act more or less like your typical studio audience.

Enough leading up, I think it’s time to reflect on this 25-minute TV segment that I’ve watched 4 times already in about 48 hours. First of all, the visuals in the back is full blown Mai-Note production value. Fans of IM@S lives will know it well, but I think this is more cranked up than usual given the set is just a giant half-circle LCD wall.

The 15th Anniversary song survived the Coronavirus and we got a presentation of it at Songs of Tokyo Fest. It’s the first time everyone’s seen it performed. It’s not even performed by the original cast–but this is the kind of song that everyone will get to perform. Nandodemo Waraou is also the first IM@S group song with SideM, which means dudes and gals get to sing together, a first for the franchise.

It’s an hour-long TV program including Nana Mizuki, BanG Dream (Popipa, Roselia, RAS), and IM@S. So that they gave ~22 out of 48 minutes of the time to them is already pretty great. In usual JUNGO fashion, team IDOLM@STER’s performance is crammed with little things. Let’s try to unpack some.

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Early Thoughts on the Bang Dream Social Game

Bang Dream is a media mix sort of a thing where characters and performers come together to produce a rock-band-oriented experience. Up to this point, the most unique thing about Bandori (henceforth) is how it employs the voice actresses to play out these fantasy girl band scenarios by actually having them play also the music that accompanies their vocals. In short, the selling point for Bandori is the “cool” thing about youthful girl rock bands but brought closer into real life. (Just to clarify, this is only in the live part; the recording uses professional musician playing.)

Now I say “closer” because ultimately voice actresses are not pro guitarists/DJs/drummers/etc. (handful of exceptions aside), and there is a large chasm between a real girls’ band trying to make it versus actresses playing instruments and acting out their characters who are in girl bands. But at the same time, it’s not a stage show in the traditional sense, when something like Roselia happens, as you can see in this video.

Or rather, it is a form of stage show. There are an assortment of bands in Bandori, with Poppin’ Party taking the lead in both the musical production (they have over a dozen original songs already), and the narrative attention in terms of the ongoing anime and manga. Roselia seems to be second. None of the other Bandori bands have performed live AFAIK. The lives for Bandori so far are the standard seiyuu event kind of thing, with the exception that the girls actually play the music you listen to (for … the most part). Continue reading


Winter 2017 Anime

So instead of going about things normally, I have been watching Legends of Galactic Heroes on a binge. That said this is sort of a weak-ass style of binge where I am only 40 episodes in after starting 3 weeks ago. With that said, LOGH episode 40 is a good place to take a breather. Just to say the obvious: This show is great and I’m glad I am doing it. In years past I’ve casually tried to start, and last Cyber Monday I picked up the translated novels on Kindle so I started reading the first book–only to stop because it feels kind of lame. Kind of like how Guin Saga initially felt. But there’s this epic anime I could watch instead, hmm.

Interspersed between all this are my usual eventing and at least one work-related trip, disrupting my usual viewing schedule. Such is life.

Kemono Friends – This is setting my meme world on fire. It’s a bit like MLP set in Humanity Has Declined. Or rather, the last humanity inside a dead mobile game? It’s tanoshi and sugoi and all that, and this friend who likes to blog recommend approaching this janky anime on its face. It’s nothing really special, until you unwrap this layered zoo to get the meta. It’s actually not a bad show, but it’s definitely not meant for everyone. The amazing thing about Kemono Friends is that I don’t think there is anything to “get.” If you just think about it, there’s enough content and bread crumbs to get you going.

Gabriel Dropout – I sort of enjoyed this show, but it’s not as funny as the play time warrants. And I don’t even mean this kind of sand-counting sense of humor. I enjoy the jokes but they are too little for too high of an investment. I’ll probably trudge on.

Chaos;Child – This is kind of why I trudge on Gabdro because the alternatives is to watch more dreary things like this. That said I’m a few eps behind so I’ll try to catch up, because I like the concept. I think this is the kind of stuff these semicolon IPs do best, except somehow only Steins;Gate had a decent anime…? O;9 was such a wasted opportunity…

Yojo Senki – This is hilarious, but also kind of dreary. I think the main weakness is the occasional focus on some existential BS, and not a little girl doing ruthless war stuff. [His Yang comparison I find a bit in poor taste, in fact.] Thankfully the balance of it leans heavily on the latter so it’s good so far. As far as these kind of fantasies go this is very satisfying. It would be even better if it wasn’t Y.Aoi behind the helm though.

Demi-chan – I don’t really know where this show is going so I’m along for the ride. It has harem aspects but also plainly focused on these half-human, daily life issues, and I think it does an admirable job on that. The characters come together in a way that isn’t terribly annoying and I really enjoy the cast, so it’s on the short list.

LWA TV – LOL licensing. Why Netflix…

Minamikamakura – The setting really wins here but I’m a little slow on this. Maybe I’ll catch up. The first couple episodes reminded me some stories I heard when Lawson took some anibloggers there to find obscure temples, up and down the mountains…

Kuzu – Is it me or this show is a lot of boring? I guess naughty sex is all there is for it? I’m curious so I might stick with a few more.

BanG Dream – It’s basically Love Live but better. Forget Aqours. So far I like it except that Arisa character is like a less charming Nico and as the characters say sometimes, Kasumi can be really annoying. I guess she’s just a Friend who likes weird guitars. I actually enjoy it except for literally Arisa, and the need to get myself to ignore the Hard Push. If gorioshi had a name, it’d be called BanG Dream, in that this is the least natural and most artificial story of a band coming together since forever. And it airs in the same season as Fuuka. That said I think there isn’t enough to make a call on this show yet, outside of the production issues.

Chain Chronicles – The characters were a little familiar but that’s where the show ends, considering my history with the game. The story is familiar, however, so I had fun following it along. I’m not invested in the characters so I think it’ll get dropped (currently at 5).

Rakugo S2 – Same o’ but more seiyuu rakugo is good?

ACCA – It’s like LOGH but without the charm, which is probably not a normal comparison but at this writing, attention span burnt on ACCA probably fills the same need as a couple episodes of LOGH. It’s curious enough to keep following.

Konosuba 2 – Still good.

Hand Shakers – I would watch it if I had more time, but not so much lately. After 3 episodes at least the girls are cute? After K I don’t know why people complain about Go Hands, other than some of the business practices. Yeah it’s a bit of eye torture, but so was K.

Maid Dragon – I like this enough for the animation, but the story doesn’t require the deft hand of comedy to play on beat every time, which is a bonus in this case because I’m not sure if humor is one of Maid Dragon’s strengths. A hint of plain nerd works like a dash of vanilla essence in a simple custard and it makes everything come together.

School Girl Strikers – It’s alright. Not sure if I’ll watch beyond 3.

Seiren – It’s not as much a brain-press as PhotoKano but it’s not that good. The gamer girl so far is at least beyond garden variety attractive and so far Seiren has done a good job with the side characters. I’m not sure I can stay with it without at least a back-of-the-knee moment. The deer mating is cute but not enough… (BTW Shikaco is in this anime as bus-ko which is, what, this joke almost tells itself.)

Idol Incident – Partly what inspired me to watch LOGH, gonna be honest. It’s not terrible but unless you’re into that political narrative it’s not particularly fun, since that’s where the jokes are. I might keep going but it needs to have some good jabs! Too soft so far.

Akiba’s Trip – It’s technically partly what inspired me to watch LOGH too, because it’s not that different than Idol Incident. The collabs and cameos are great in the show though. Is it any good? Saa…

Tekketsu – Ooops she did it again! Joke aside I really enjoyed the catch-up from last season, and kind of am glad, in retrospect, that I did it now and not at the end of the second season, for spoiler dodging reasons. It definitely is the “least” Gundam of recent memory, just something about it is different, and it’s hard to put a finger on it.

Fuuka – As a stereotypical example of a fan of Seo’s works, I can only deeply apologize that it exists, and it’s going to egg on some cool seiyuu collabs (as it has already done so). The main story is just a side dish. FWIW I stopped following his crap after I”s so Fuuka is mostly new (but yet so familiar) to me.

I tried Masamune-kun, and it was OK but I’m not in a mood for something this substantial. The two Granblue Fantasy episodes were spot on, except one might wonder if the right characters are going to appear. One Room was LOL.

A fairly fun season of shows that I look forward to every week, I’d say. Kemono Friends, Yojo Senki, ACCA, BanG Dream and Demi-chan probably are the ones I mind the most.