*THIS REVIEW WILL CONTAIN MAJOR SPOILERS FOR BANG DREAM
A while ago I posted my BanG Dream! 3rd Season review claiming that the season had completely redefined gacha rhythm game stories, in a masterful series of writing. 1 year later, and my breath was once again stolen away from me with the beautiful conclusions drawn for this series. Without further ado, lets dive deep into the CGI anime that pierced me with its beauty.
Story 10/10
Poppin' Dream continues right after the grand finale of the third season and in a shocking turn of events, Roselia, RAS, and Popipa are suddenly invited to perform in Guam. Although, Roselia unfortunately declines (We were blessed with a 2 part film for their story anyways) RAS and Popipa as well as a surprising Morfonica, take on this exciting opportunity with open arms with their exhilaration from performing at the Budoukan still not having worn down. This miraculous tropical setting works as the perfect setting to tie in the loose strings in the series and make further conclusions to the characters brought throughout the series. There's a lot of goofiness but also depth in this what seems like a very simple concluding story. This setting where communication is extremely difficult (funny international calling fees) our group of girls are led into some hilarious and also dramatic issues, in which are all solved through the various developments they've made throughout the series. The story is moved through their subtle developments in these grand band stories. The 'Save The Dream' event signifies the right for all to dream. The passing of these dreams onto new suitors inspiring them has been a very deliberate theme in this series. Popipa's band dream was born with Glitter Green, and fittingly Rokka and Mashiro who were both inspired by Kasumi stood on this grand stage as well to spread this dream even further. All in all, the story through the movie was simplistic however incredibly well directed to subtly grow each character which I'll move on to now.
Characters 10/10
This movie truly shines when it comes to it's conclusiveness with its characters. A majority of characters have their arcs completed through this movie. The most notable one and emotional one for me was Layer. In the third season, Layer took the major leap into shaping into the mantle of becoming this Leader that RAS desperately needed. At RAS's, performance she immediately took Arisa's queue on stage that Masuki would be arriving shortly, she took the action to rev up the crowd while also buying time in this acapella start of DRIVE US CRAZY. She allowed for Masuki to make it onto this dream stage while perhaps even upping the event itself. Raise A Suilen has truly become the ideal group woven together by true bonds as Rokka had desired.
Morfonica in general had an incredible showing of their growth in this movie. The shy, unconfident Mashiro took the challenge of going first and her confident saying of "Good Luck" to RAS was her direct showing as the confident leader she had become, Morfonica has truly risen to stand with both RAS and POPIPA. Morfonica sadly held the tragic fate of not appearing significantly through the various anime entries, However, whatever they've appeared in they've truly shined. I will forever be an advocator of a 12 episode Morfin' anime.
We finally have our kirakira dokidoki group, this movie displayed their wholesome bond as friends perfectly, in a perfect, natural and comedic dynamic. However, this movie finally at last reached Kasumi's everlasting dream, to reach the feelings of sparkle she felt that day as a child. In a beautiful symbolism we see Kasumi in her dream watching the stars but this time with her friends, showing that his dream is not just her but popipa's dream as well.
And finally, we have the sparkling moment we fans have all waited for, the stunning scene of the band under the stars.
Music and Animation 10/10
We have easily witnessed the greatest of BanG Dream! CGI for this stunning finale, it was slick and smooth, I cannot wait to buy the blu-ray. The music of course was phenomenal along with the ost and voice acting. As nanami said...
Enjoyment 10/10
This series ultimately brings everything you would love in a music drama sol cgdct show. I've never been bored and I've always been on my seat watching trembling from excitement. I love the show and you might love it too.
Conclusion 11/10
If there was an 11/10 option and you could only give it to one entry it'd be this. Poppin' Dream is everything I've ever wanted from BanG Dream!, succeeding the masterpiece of a 3rd season was not an easy job but it's definitely fulfilled it's potential. Bang Dream will live on with me, and despite its turn offs I ask perhaps you give it a shot. IT truly can be the experience that you never forget and we truly can't get much higher.
"The Bang Dream Was The Friends We Made Along The Way"
- "Pirate King" Gol. D Roger