Aikatsu on Parade! Episode 8 Review: What is the appeal of the 5th TV series?

The appeal and evaluation of "Aikatsu on Parade!"

"Aikatsu on Parade!" is a TV anime series that aired on TV Tokyo from October 5, 2019 to March 28, 2020. The work was created and animated by BN Pictures, and directed by Igarashi Tatsuya. During the broadcast period, a total of 25 episodes were aired every Saturday from 10:30 for 30 minutes. Copyright belongs to BNP/BANDAI, DENTSU, TV TOKYO.

story

The story of "Aikatsu on Parade!" begins with the journey of Himeishi Raki, a new idol who transfers to Star Harmony Academy, as she pursues her dreams. Raki's dream is to one day wear a premium rare dress that she designed herself. When she uses the "Aikatsu Pass" given to her by her older sister to stand on stage for the first time, a mysterious phenomenon occurs in which the "Aikatsu Pass" suddenly begins to glow. The light leads Raki to a new door, where new encounters with many idols and a new Aikatsu! that no one has seen before await.

This work depicts the efforts and miraculous growth of girls who are dedicated to their idol activities, "Aikatsu!". Everyone sings and dances together, and "Aikatsu on Parade!" begins, where idols and dresses come together in large numbers.

Commentary

"Aikatsu on Parade!" is a work that brings together all the idols from the past. Throughout the series, characters that have appeared in past Aikatsu! series will come together again to develop a new story. This will provide a special experience that combines nostalgia and freshness for fans who have loved the Aikatsu! series for many years.

cast

The main cast includes Rin Arai as Raki Himeishi, Akane Matsunaga as Aine Yuki, Ibuki Kido as Mio Minato, Sumire Morohoshi as Ichigo Hoshimiya, Murasaki Shimoji as Akari Ozora, and Miyu Tomita as Yume Nijino. These voice actors bring out the best in the characters.

Main Staff

BN Pictures was in charge of planning and the original story for "Aikatsu on Parade!", and Bandai provided the original idea. The director is Igarashi Tatsuya, the series composition is Kakihara Yuko, the character design is Watanabe Satomi, the supervisor is Kimura Ryuichi, the sound director is Kikuta Hiromi, and the music is by MONACA, onetrap, and DIGZ MOTION SOUNDS. All of these staff members work together to improve the quality of the work.

Main Characters

The main character, Himeishi Raki, is a new idol who has just transferred to Star Harmony Academy. She is a lively, cheerful girl who is positive and always puts effort into everything she does. She is also lucky, and always gets a great fortune when she draws her fortune slip, and often wins first prize in the lottery. Raki loves designing dresses, and becomes obsessed with them, so she hopes to one day create her own brand of premium rare dresses.

subtitle

The subtitles for each episode are as follows:

• Episode 1: Open the Door to Aikatsu! (2019/10/05)
• Episode 2: Exciting Inspiration (2019/10/12)
• Episode 3: The Mermaid Suddenly (2019/10/19)
• Episode 4: Feel the hot wind! (2019/10/26)
• Episode 5: Lucky☆Halloween (2019/11/02)
• Episode 6: Sparkling Four Stars (2019/11/09)
• Episode 7: Three Shining Suns (2019/11/16)
• Episode 8: Let's make a lucky dress! (2019/11/23)
• Episode 9: Let's ride the big wave! (2019/11/30)
• Episode 10: Aikatsu! Top Gun! (2019/12/07)
• Episode 11: Ciao☆New World! (2019/12/14)
• Episode 12: Happy Lucky☆Christmas (2019/12/21)
• Episode 13: Lucky and Tsubasa's Dress (2019/12/28)
• Episode 14: Smile♪Nyanbarwan (2019/01/11)
• Episode 15: Powa☆Fuwa♪Dreamin' (2019/01/18)
• Episode 16: Shining Luck (2019/01/25)
• Episode 17: Gothic Wars (2019/02/01)
• Episode 18: Your Entrance (2019/02/08)
• Episode 19: Dancing♪ Valentine's Day Sweets (2019/02/15)
• Episode 20: Shine☆Local Idols (2019/02/22)
• Episode 21: Run! Aikatsu! Big Sports Festival! (2019/02/29)
• Episode 22: Everyone gather! Parade! (2019/03/07)
• Episode 23: Stars! Parade! (2019/03/14)
• Episode 24: Friends! On Parade! (2019/03/21)
• Episode 25: Towards a Bright Future (2019/03/28)

Related Titles

"Aikatsu on Parade!" is the fifth installment in the Aikatsu! series. Related works include the following series:

• TV Anime Aikatsu! (seasons 1-4)
• TV anime Aikatsu Stars (seasons 1-2)
• TV anime Aikatsu Friends (seasons 1-2)

Theme songs and music

The theme songs and ending songs for "Aikatsu on Parade!" are as follows:

Opening Theme

• Song Name: Your Entrance
• Period: Episodes 1-25
• Lyricist: Sarari Matsubara
• Composition and Arrangement: SHOW
• Sung by: Raki, Aine, Mio from BEST FRIENDS!

Ending Theme

• ED1: Idol Activities! Parade! ver.
• Period: Episodes 1, 3, 6, 10, 13, 16, 18, 21, 22, 25
• Lyricist: uRy
• Composer: Hidekazu Tanaka
• Arrangement: sugarbeans, Izawa Asami
• Sung by: Lucky, Aine, Mio from BEST FRIENDS!, Waka, Ruka, Sena
• ED2: So Beautiful Story
• Duration: 2 episodes
• Lyricist: Saori Kodama
• Composition and Arrangement: Keiichi Hirokawa
• Sung by: Ruka, Sena
• ED3: Good morning my dream
• Duration: 4 episodes
• Lyricist: Saori Kodama
• Composition and Arrangement: Hidekazu Tanaka
• Sung by: Ruka, Mona, Miki
• ED4: Tutu Ballerina
• Duration: 5 episodes
• Lyricist: Tadanayasanatsumi
• Composer: Ishihara Ritori
• Arrangement: Yusuke Naruse
• Sung by: Ruka, Mona, Miki
• ED5: Calendar Girl
• Duration: 7 episodes
• Lyricist: Saori Kodama
• Composition and Arrangement: Hidekazu Tanaka
• Sung by: Waka, Fuuri, Sunao
• ED6: Original Star☆彡
• Duration: 8 episodes
• Lyricist: Saori Kodama
• Composition and Arrangement: Hidekazu Tanaka
• Singers: Waka, Fūri, Sunao, Remi, Moe, Eri, Yuna, Risuko
• ED7: Precious
• Duration: 9 episodes
• Lyricist: Junsara Tsuji
• Composition and Arrangement: Keigo Hoashi
• Sung by: Risuko, Waka, Fūri, Mona
• ED8: Alice Blue Kiss ~Another Color~
• Duration: 11 episodes
• Lyricist: Kenta Harada
• Composer: Takayuki Sakamoto
• Arrangement: Nobuyuki Nishikawa
• Sung by: More Than True [Vo. Nao / Suzukawa Naoto (Toyonaga Toshiyuki)]
• ED9: lucky train!
• Duration: 12 episodes
• Lyricist: Tadanayasanatsumi
• Composer: Ryota Nakano
• Arrangement: Integral Clover
• Sung by: Ruka, Mona, Miki
• ED10: Pride
• Duration: 14 episodes
• Lyricist: Sarari Matsubara
• Composed by: Shota Katayama, Itsuki Fujisue
• Arrangement: Shota Katayama
• Sung by Karen, Mirai from BEST FRIENDS!
• ED11: Hilarious/Hitori/Kirari
• Duration: 15 episodes
• Lyricist: Tadanayasanatsumi
• Composition and Arrangement: Keigo Hoashi
• Sung by: Waka, Fūri, Sunao, Remi, Moe, Eri, Yuna, Risuko
• ED12: Pirouette of Forest Light
• Duration: 17 episodes
• Lyricist: Junsara Tsuji
• Composition and Arrangement: Kuniyuki Takahashi
• Sung by: Sena Ruka
• ED13: Be Star
• Duration: 19 episodes
• Lyricist: Sarari Matsubara
• Composition and Arrangement: Maozon, YUKI FUNAKOSHI
• Sung by: Hibiki from BEST FRIENDS!
• ED14: Bon Bon Voyage!
• Duration: 20 episodes
• Lyricist: Junsara Tsuji
• Composition and Arrangement: Sho Ishihama
• Vocals: Risa, Miho
• ED15: episode Solo
• Duration: 23 episodes
• Lyricist: Tadanayasanatsumi
• Composition and Arrangement: Sho Ishihama
• Sung by: Ruka, Nanase, Kana, Miho
• ED16: Believe it
• Duration: 24 episodes
• Lyricist: Sarari Matsubara
• Composer: Coffee Creamers
• Arrangement: SHOW
• Sung by Karen, Mirai from BEST FRIENDS!

Ratings and Recommendations

"Aikatsu on Parade!" is a work that can be said to be the culmination of the Aikatsu! series. With all the idols from the past coming together to develop a new story, this work is an emotional reunion for fans and an opportunity for new fans to experience the charms of the series all at once.

In particular, the story of the protagonist Himeishi Raki's growth will impress and evoke empathy in viewers. Raki's dream of designing a premium rare dress and the efforts she makes to make it a reality will teach viewers the importance of chasing their dreams. In addition, the importance of friendship and hard work is depicted through her interactions and competition with past idols.

The animation quality is also high, with beautiful character and dress designs. Music is also an important element in enhancing the appeal of the series, and the opening and ending songs leave a strong impression on viewers. In particular, the fact that a different ending song is prepared for each episode provides a fresh surprise to viewers.

This work can be enjoyed by a wide range of people, from children to adults. It is a must-see for fans of the Aikatsu! series, and has the power to attract new fans as well. We highly recommend that you watch "Aikatsu on Parade!", which is filled with beautiful animation, charming music, and a moving story.

Furthermore, "Aikatsu on Parade!" is based on a card game, and one of its attractions is the development of merchandise linked to the anime. By enjoying the card game while watching the anime, viewers can immerse themselves more deeply in the world of the work. This will further enrich the viewing experience.

Overall, "Aikatsu on Parade!" is an emotional culmination for fans of the Aikatsu! series, and a great way for new fans to experience the charms of the series all at once. The animation, music, story, and merchandising are all of a high standard, and are sure to leave a strong impression on viewers. We hope you will watch this work and enjoy the world of Aikatsu!.