The appeal and reviews of LOVE STAGE!!: A must-see anime for BL fans

All-round information and reviews for LOVE STAGE!!

■ Public Media

TV anime series

■ Original Media

comics

■ Broadcast period

July 11, 2014 - September 12, 2014

■TV Broadcast

• TOKYO MX / July 9, 2014 - September 10, 2014 / Wednesdays 25:05 - 25:35
• Sun Television / July 9, 2014 - September 10, 2014 / Wednesdays 25:30 - 26:00
• BS11 / July 10, 2014 - September 11, 2014 / Thursday 27:00 - 27:30
• Mie Television / July 11, 2014 - September 12, 2014 / Friday 25:50 - 26:20
• Teletama / July 13, 2014 - September 14, 2014 / Sunday 24:30 - 25:00
• Chiba TV / July 13, 2014 - September 14, 2014 / Sunday 24:30 - 25:00
• tvk / July 13, 2014 - September 14, 2014 / Sunday 24:30 - 25:00
• Gifu Broadcasting / July 15, 2014 - September 16, 2014 / Tuesday 25:00 - 25:30
• TVQ Kyushu Broadcasting / July 15, 2014 - September 16, 2014 / Tuesday 27:05 - 27:35

■ Online distribution

• d Anime Store / Thursday, July 17, 2014 12:00
• Gyao / Thursday, July 17, 2014 12:00

■Broadcasting station

TOKYO MX

■Frequencies

half an hour

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 10

■Original Story

Eiki Kageki, Taishi Zao

■ Director

Kenichi Kasai

■ Production

• Animation production: JCSTAFF
• Produced by Tsuyoshi Kikuchi, Shigeru Saito, Naohiro Otani, Tsuneo Takechi, Yoshikazu Kumagai, Michihisa Abe, Masahiro Kiba, Nobuyuki Okada, Ryoki Takagishi, Yoshio Matsumoto, Takehiko Sasaki, "LOVESTAGE!!" Production Committee

■Works

©2014 Eiki Kageki, Taishi Zaou/KADOKAWA Kadokawa Shoten/"LOVE STAGE!!" Production Committee

■ Story

Her father is a singer, her mother is an actress, and her brother is the lead vocalist for the super popular band "Crushers." The only ordinary person born into such a super famous entertainment family is Sena Izumi, a super otaku college student. Izumi loves "Magical Girl Lalalulu" and strives to become a manga artist. One day, Izumi can't refuse and ends up appearing in a TV commercial. Moreover, she has to hide her true identity by cross-dressing! At the commercial's shooting site, Izumi meets Ichijo Ryoma, a now super popular young actor, for the first time in 10 years, but...!?

■Explanation

The original story is by Eiki Kageki, a manga artist who is also exposed to the media as the sister of celebrity DAIGO and the granddaughter of former Prime Minister Takeshita. The illustrations are by popular shojo manga artist Zao Taishi, who is also famous for "Princess Princess." The two, who are both hot topics in the TV and manga industries, have teamed up to create the much-talked-about boys' love manga "LOVE STAGE!!," which began serialization in the magazine "CIEL" (published by KADOKAWA Shoten), and is finally being made into a TV anime in 2014!!

■Cast

• Izumi Sena/Tsubasa Yonaga
• Ryoma Ichijo/Takuya Eguchi
• Lake Senaho / DAIGO
• Rei Sagara/Daisuke Hirakawa
• Seiya Sena / Ryotaro Okiayu
• Nagisa Sena/Sayaka Ohara
• Takahiro Kuroi/Ryohei Kimura
• Kosuke Tonomura/Kazuomi Yamamoto
• Jun Shinoka/Kyoko Sakai
• Torajiro Ryuzaki/Shotaro Morikubo
• Flying hawk Tenma/Junji Mashima
• Masami Saotome/Yu Hayashi
• La La La / Kayoko Tsumita

■ Main staff

• Original story by Eiki Kageki and Taishi Zao
• Planning: Takeshi Yasuda
• Director: Kenichi Kasai
• Series Composition: Michiko Yokote
• Character design: Yoko Ito
• Prop design: Matsuura Mai
• Art Director: Hirotsugu Kasuga
• Color design: Miho Kimura
• Director of photography: Yutaka Kurosawa
• Edited by Kentaro Tsubone
• Sound Director: Chikako Yokota
• Sound effects: Yasumasa Koyama
• Sound Production: Glow Vision
• Music by Ryosuke Nakanishi
• Music Production: Lantis
• Executive Producer: Takeshi Yasuda
• Animation Director: Yuji Matsukura
• Animation Production Producer/Atsushi Fujishiro
• Animation production: JCSTAFF
• Produced by Tsuyoshi Kikuchi, Shigeru Saito, Naohiro Otani, Tsuneo Takechi, Yoshikazu Kumagai, Michihisa Abe, Masahiro Kiba, Nobuyuki Okada, Ryoki Takagishi, Yoshio Matsumoto, Takehiko Sasaki, "LOVESTAGE!!" Production Committee

■ Main Characters

• Sena Izumi
  "LaLaRu is my wife!!!!!"
  A super-otaku college student, she is the only ordinary person born into a super-famous entertainment family. She loves "Magical Angel Lalalulu" and is a member of the manga research club at university. People around her encourage her to go into showbiz, but she firmly refuses due to a certain trauma she experienced 10 years ago. She is working hard every day to become a manga artist. She is 18 years old.
• Ryoma Ichijo
  "Even though I'm a guy, I still love you...!"
  A super popular actor. He has been active in the entertainment industry since he was a child, and after his smash break as a child actor, he went through a period of hardship before achieving his current status as a popular actor. He is a hard worker. He is 20 years old. He has never been able to forget the shooting of a TV commercial 10 years ago...
• Lake Senashogo
  "We need to do something about that recluse!"
  Izumi's older brother. Vocalist of the super popular band "Crushers." She dotes on her younger brother Izumi and has a severe brocon.
• Rei Sagara
  "We need to do something about that recluse!"
  A skilled manager at Sena Pro. He also takes care of the Sena family. He worries about the future of Izumi, who grew up as an otaku.
• Seiya Sena
  "I'm sure Rei-kun will do something about it."
  Izumi's father. Singer. He has a generous personality and is also the president of his own agency, Senapro. He is half-Japanese.
• Nagisa Sena
  "It's okay. He's my child, you see."
  Izumi's mother. A great actress. Everything revolves around her, and she's a natural heroine.
• Takahiro Kuroi
  "Hey...what are you doing?"
  A friend from the manga research club at Izumi's university.
• Kosuke Sotomura
  "Hey, what about Seiko-san? She always disappears as soon as things get tense."
  SenaPro's manager. In charge of Lake Sei.
• Kasumi Shino
  "Are you okay, Ryoma? You were pushed away with all your might."
  He is the manager of the talent agency "B-DASH" to which Ichijo Ryoma belongs. He is in charge of Ryoma.
• Torajiro Ryuzaki
  "Shut up! Stop talking back!"
  He is the president of B-DASH, the talent agency to which Ichijo Ryoma belongs.
• Flying Falcon Pegasus
  "President, you're not allowed to climb on the desk."
  She is the secretary to the president of "B-DASH", the entertainment agency to which Ichijo Ryoma belongs.

■Subtitle

• Episode 1: The Door to Dreams
• Episode 2 / Kimi no Aetakara
• Episode 3: I Had a Dream
• Episode 4: Demoskinanda
• Episode 5: Just a little
• Episode 6: What is it?
• Episode 7: I'll do it again
• Episode 8/0-Stage: Men's Way
• Episode 9: Which Way is Better?
• Episode 10: I Can't Live Without You

■ Theme songs and music

• OP1
  ・LΦVEST
  ・Lyrics by Yu-YOU-
  ・Composition/Masatomo Ota・Arrangement/Masatomo Ota・Song/SCREEN mode
• ED1
  ・CLICK YOUR HEART!!
  Lyrics by Saori Kodama Composer by Masatomo Ota (SCREEN mode)
  ・Arrangement: EFFY (FirstCall)
  ・Song by Kazuomi Yamamoto

LOVE STAGE!! - Love Stage - Review and Recommendation

"LOVE STAGE!!" is a boys' love (BL) anime that aired in 2014, based on the manga of the same name by Eiki Kageki and Taishi Zaou. This work is a story about the love between Sena Izumi, an otaku college student born into a family of entertainers, and Ichijo Ryoma, a popular actor. Below, we will explain in detail the appeal and features of this anime, as well as recommended points.

The appeal of the story

The story of "LOVE STAGE!!" depicts Izumi, born into a family of entertainers, rejecting the entertainment industry due to a traumatic experience from 10 years ago, but aiming to become a manga artist. One day, he is unable to refuse and ends up dressing up as a woman to appear in a commercial, where he reunites with Ichijo Ryoma, whom he met 10 years ago. This reunion is the catalyst for the love that unfolds between Izumi and Ryoma, and the story revolves around this.

The appeal of this work lies in the relationship between Izumi and Ryoma. Izumi is an otaku, a pure character who especially loves "Magical Girl Lalalulu". On the other hand, Ryoma is a single-minded hard worker who has always harbored feelings for Izumi. The relationship between these two is depicted in sometimes comedic and sometimes touching scenes, drawing the viewer in. Izumi's family and friends are also unique, and their support and interference add depth to the story.

Character Appeal

The main character, Sena Izumi, is charming in his determination to pursue his own path despite being born into a family of entertainers. His passion as an otaku and his pursuit of his dream as a manga artist resonate with many viewers. Ichijo Ryoma's unwavering love for Izumi is also one of the elements that touches the hearts of viewers. Ryoma's efforts and dedication will help viewers understand his character more deeply.

Izumi's family is also fascinating. Her older brother, Sena Seiko, is a siscon who dotes on his younger brother, and his actions and words add humor to the story. Her father, Sena Seiya, and mother, Sena Nagisa, also have their own personalities and play important roles in supporting Izumi's growth. Furthermore, Izumi's friends and managers are also unique, and their presence enriches the story.

Animation and Music

The animation for "LOVE STAGE!!" was produced by JCSTAFF, and the character designs and background art are beautifully drawn. In particular, Izumi's cross-dressing scenes and her romantic scenes with Ryoma are visually enjoyable. The color design and cinematography are also highly skilled, and the entire work is full of visual appeal.

In terms of music, the opening theme "LΦVEST" and the ending theme "CLICK YOUR HEART!!" are memorable. The opening is an up-tempo song by SCREEN mode, which livens up the tempo of the story. Meanwhile, the ending has a pleasant voice by Kazuomi Yamamoto, and is a song that symbolizes the relationship between Izumi and Ryoma. These songs further enhance the atmosphere of the story.

Recommended points

"LOVE STAGE!!" can be enjoyed not only as a BL anime, but also as a work that depicts love and growth. It is especially recommended for the following viewers:

• For those who like BL anime: The love story between Izumi and Ryoma is something BL fans can't miss.
• People who like comedy elements: Izumi's nerdy side and her interactions with her family are full of humor.
• People who enjoy character development: Izumi's pursuit of her dreams and Ryoma's efforts are inspiring.
• For those who love music and animation: Beautiful animation and memorable music add excitement to the work.

"LOVE STAGE!!" is a heartwarming story about love and growth. As you enjoy the relationship between Izumi and Ryoma and the stories of the unique characters, viewers will be able to feel something for themselves. Please watch this work and feel its charm.