The moving experience of BanG Dream! FILM LIVE: A thorough evaluation of the fusion of music and storytelling

The appeal and reviews of BanG Dream! FILM LIVE

"BanG Dream! FILM LIVE" was released on September 13, 2019, and is the first live animation film in the BanG Dream! series. It was created by Bushiroad and produced by Sanzigen. In the short but dense 72 minutes, the five bands bring out their best in each performance, overwhelming the audience. Although this film is a media mix work derived from the game, it has created its own unique world view and story, and is sure to appeal to fans and new viewers alike.

Story and setting

"BanG Dream! FILM LIVE" is a story about five bands aiming for the next stage: "Poppin'Party", a girls' band formed at Hanasakigawa Girls' Academy; "Afterglow", a classic girls' rock band made up of five childhood friends; "Pastel＊Palettes", an idol band formed at the request of an agency; "Roselia", a serious band with a profound worldview; and "Hello, Happy World!", a band that delivers melodies full of happiness to make the world smile. The story depicts the growth and bonds of the five bands as they stand out with their individuality and musicality.

While the film focuses on live performances, it also portrays the relationships between the band members and the growth of each character, giving it a deeper feel than just footage of a live performance. In particular, the way each band struggles to achieve their own goals evokes strong empathy in the viewer. In addition, the live scenes are dynamically produced using 3DCG, giving the viewer a sense of realism that makes them feel as if they are at the concert venue.

Characters and cast

In "BanG Dream! FILM LIVE," each band member is depicted as a unique character. Below are the main characters and cast.

• Toyama Kasumi (Aimi) - A lively, positive girl who is always looking for exciting, sparkly things.
• Hanazono Tae (Otsuka Sae) - Contrary to her slender and glamorous appearance, she is a very natural girl who is good at playing the guitar.
• Ushigome Rimi (Nishimoto Rimi) - A girl who loves cute things and chocolate cornets, and whose older sister is in a band.
• Saya Yamabuki (Ayaka Ohashi) - A good friend of Kasumi's. She was in a different band in middle school. Her family owns a bakery, and she acts as a stabiliser for Popipa.
• Arisa Ichigaya (Ayasa Ito) - An indoor girl who is easily swayed by Kasumi and Tae's laid-back attitude. She has a hard time being honest with herself.
• Mitake Ran (Sakura Ayane) - A girl who hates to lose and loves everyone in Afterglow. Everyone in Afterglow also loves Ran.
• Aoba Moka (Misawa Sachika) - A carefree girl with a go-my-own-way personality who tends to drag those around her into her own pace.
• Himari Uehara (Emiri Kato) - The leader of Afterglow, she is a bright and caring modern girl who tends to get carried away.
• Udagawa Tomoe (Hikasa Yoko) - She has a straightforward personality and is trusted by her peers. She is very cool and is Ako's older sister.
• Tsugumi Hazawa (Kanemoto Hisako) - A hardworking, ordinary girl whose family runs a coffee shop. She is good at finding the first star.
• Aya Maruyama (Ami Maejima) - An idol who admires idols and tends to do ego searches. A crybaby and a hardworking girl.
• Hina Hikawa (Ari Ozawa) - A genius girl who is curious about things she can't understand, and Aya is one of her favorite characters.
• Shirasagi Chise (Uesaka Sumire) - A young actress who has been active since she was a child actor. She is strict with herself and others, but is kind to Kanon.
• Maya Yamato (Ikumi Nakagami) - A former studio musician and equipment geek. A girl who speaks fast when it comes to the things she likes.
• Wakamiya Eve (Sawako Hata) - A girl from Finland who loves Japanese culture. Her favorite word is "Bushido"!
• Yukina Minato (Aiba Aina) - A strong-willed girl who does not tolerate compromise. She is very pure and does not take jokes.
• Saya Hikawa (Haruka Kudo) - A serious and clumsy girl who is a member of the student council and also serves as the discipline committee member. Hina's twin sister.
• Lisa Imai (Yuki Nakajima) - Contrary to her flashy appearance, she is a kind and caring older sister to everyone. She is a childhood friend of Yukina.
• Ako Ueda (Megu Sakuragawa) - A middle school student who likes to use difficult words, but is often helped by Rinko.
• Shirokane Rinko (Shizaki Kanon) - A quiet and shy girl who is good at piano and online games.
• Kokoro Tsurumaki (Miku Ito) - A curious young lady who is always having fun. She is one of the Three Idiots who loves to make people smile.
• Kaoru Seta (Azusa Tadokoro) - Everyone's prince, he is tall and handsome and popular with girls, but he is one of the Three Idiots. His weakness is heights.
• Hagumi Kitazawa (Yuri Yoshida) - She has excellent athletic ability and is very sensitive. She is one of the three idiots who loves croquettes, a specialty of her family's "Kitazawa Butcher Shop."
• Kanon Matsubara (Moe Toyoda) - She loves sweets and cute things, especially jellyfish. A girl with poor sense of direction.
• Michelle (Kurosawa Tomoyo) - A DJ for Hello, Happy World!, a girl who, for some reason, works in a costume.

The cast members who play these characters are also highly regarded as voice actors, and their singing and acting skills further enhance the appeal of the film. In particular, the performances in the live performance scenes fully demonstrate the cast's skills and have the power to draw the audience in.

Music and songs

At "BanG Dream! FILM LIVE," a variety of songs that reflect the individuality of each band will be performed. Below are the insert songs and ending themes.

• Insert song 1 - Double Rainbow (short version) / Poppin'Party
• Insert song 2 - Happy Happy Party! (short ver.) / Poppin'Party
• Insert song 3 - YOLO!!! (short ver.) / Afterglow
• Insert song 4 - Scarlet Sky (short ver.) / Afterglow
• Insert song 5 - ON YOUR MARK (short ver.) / Afterglow
• Insert song 6 - Shuwarin☆Dreamin (short ver.) / Pastel＊Palettes
• Insert song 7 - Yura Yura Ring-Dong-Dance (short ver.) / Pastel＊Palettes
• Insert song 8 - Kyu-mai * flower (short ver.) / Pastel * Palettes
• Insert song 9 - Smile Orchestra! (short ver.) / Hello, Happy World!
• Insert song 10 - Sekai Nobbinobi Treasure! (short ver.) / Hello, Happy World!
• Insert song 11 - Smile Sing A Song (short ver.) / Hello, Happy World!
• Insert song 12 - LOUDER (short ver.) / Roselia
• Insert song 13 - BLACK SHOUT (short ver.) / Roselia
• Insert song 14 - FIRE BIRD (short ver.) / Roselia
• Insert song 15 - Returns (short ver.) / Poppin'Party
• Insert song 16 - Dreamers Go! (short ver.) / Poppin'Party
• Insert song 17 - BRAVE JEWEL (short ver.) / Roselia
• Insert song 18 - Kizuna Music♪ (short ver.) / Poppin'Party
• Ending theme - Jumpin' (short ver.) / Poppin'Party

These songs were produced by members of Elements Garden, and they succeeded in bringing out the best in each band's musicality. In particular, Poppin'Party's "Double Rainbow" and Roselia's "LOUDER" play an important role in livening up the climax of the movie. In addition, in the scenes where the songs of each band intertwine, viewers can reaffirm the appeal of each band.

Production and staff

Many staff members are involved in the production of "BanG Dream! FILM LIVE". Below are the main staff members:

• Original work : Bushiroad
• Executive Producer : Takaaki Kitani
• Planning Producer : Hiroaki Matsuura
• Story concept : Wataru Nakamura
• Director : Tomomi Umezu (Edits)
• Character design : Hitowa Craft Egg
• Animation character design : Kazuyuki Ueda
• CG Supervisor - Atsushi Mimura
• Modeling Director : Yasuhisa Takeuchi
• Rigging Director - Natsuko Yashiro
• Color design : Junko Kitagawa
• Director of photography- Mari Inoue
• Art Director : Ayano Okamoto (Kusanagi)
• Sound Director - Satoki Iida
• Music Producer : Noriyasu Agematsu, Junpei Fujita
• Animation production : Sanzigen
• Production- BanG Dream! FILM LIVE Project

"BanG Dream! FILM LIVE", produced by this team of staff, boasts extremely high quality both visually and aurally. In particular, the live performance scenes, which make full use of 3DCG, have a unique appeal not found in other anime films. In addition, under the guidance of music producers Noriyasu Agematsu and Junpei Fujita, the music of each band is beautifully integrated into the story of the film.

Ratings and Recommendations

"BanG Dream! FILM LIVE" is a work that can be highly recommended not only to fans of the BanG Dream! series, but also to people who like music and anime. Here are the reasons why:

• Live performance quality - The live performance scenes, which make full use of 3DCG, will make you feel as if you are at the live venue. The performances of each band boast extremely high quality both visually and aurally.
• Appealing Characters - Each band member is portrayed as a unique character, and their growth and bond resonates strongly with the audience. In particular, the singing and acting abilities of the cast further enhance the appeal of the film.
• Musical Diversity - Each band presents a wide variety of songs that reflect their individuality, allowing the audience to rediscover the appeal of each band. In particular, the songs produced by the members of Elements Garden successfully bring out the best in each band's musicality.
• Depth of story - While the story focuses on the live performance, the relationship between the band members and the growth of each character gives the story more depth than a simple live performance. In particular, the struggle of each band towards their own goals resonates strongly with the viewer.

As mentioned above, "BanG Dream! FILM LIVE" is an innovative work that pursues the fusion of music and animation, and is a film that can give strong emotions and empathy to the audience. Please come and experience its charm at the theater.