“Trying to shine as bright as we can within the limited time we have…We love that about school idols."

INTRODUCTION

Love Live! School Idol Project is a show I should have watched sooner. Under some bizarre strike of inspiration, presumably the result of my adventure into the mecha genre and interactions with idol-like shows, I decided to give it a chance. And, it was definitely worth it.

It’s definitely interesting that within the intersection between mecha and magical girls lies the idol genre. As well as how they seem to complement each other. Symphogear, my favorite anime of all time, serves as the perfect example of an amalgamation of all three. As such, it wasn’t impossible for me to end up wanting a taste of the idol genre.

The instant my torrent displayed the 100% to signal download completion, my Twitter thread opened and I began my watch of Winter 2013’s Love Live! School Idol Project.

The formation, journey, and tribulations of μ's were epic. From the meager wish to protect their school to the burning desire to win the Love Live, I was enthralled with their ambitions and supported them every step of the way. There was just a certain energy the nine μ's members held. One that I fear is going to be irreplaceable in later entries.

Every “Horosho!”, “Nico Nico Nii!”, “Big Trouble!”, and “Like the soap brand.” will stick with me. I love these characters. I love Honoka, Umi, Kotori, Hanayo, Rin, Maki, Eri, Nozomi and Nico. They all bounced off each other so well and made something special. I genuinely laughed at their banter and humor and I resonated with their individual arcs.

Honoka persisted in her selfishness. Umi broke free of her shyness. Kotori followed her heart. Rin embraced her femininity. Hanayo became an idol. Maki acted on her love of music. Eri danced alongside others. Nozomi was part of a miracle. Nico escaped loneliness.

Yet, it all has to come to an end. The life of a school idol is a fleeting one. μ's, that miraculous group of nine, after reaching the top, decided to disband.

Love Live! The School Idol Movie shows us how to end a dream.

PLOT

PART 1: HELLO, HOSHI WO KAZOETE

μ's, gaining incredible amounts of popularity, fly off to New York for a show in order to garner attention for the future Love Live! competition. The city is lively and true to its source. As a New Yorker myself, it was fun to see the girls explore the Upper East Side or take a stroll through Central Park. It was a new stage for μ's. And, they flourished in the city of lights.

This act, as with most first acts, is primarily set-up. We’re delivered a major plot point in the upcoming Love Live! and the need for its exposure, allowing the group to gather once more and sing their swan song– their final song as μ's.

What seemingly appears as fluff is an opportunity for the cast to be together and interact before the viewers have to bid them farewell. It’s a reprieve. This first act is designed to bring back the same feelings as the show. It’s an unfair decision to remind fans of their chemistry. To make it much harder to see them all go.

"Hello, Hoshi Wo Kazoete" is a song about embracing freedom and unfamiliarity. The first years conquered their self-image issues and inhibitions and ventured into the unknown. New York is an external metaphor for such. μ's is in an entirely new place, but it accepts them and they make the most of it. It’s emblematic of their future after disbanding.

Honoka, lost in the big city, lost in how to tackle the future, encounters a nameless singer. She sings a song about eternal love that persists through the ages. It’s a short and sweet piece, but holds a key part of the major theme.

This interaction is the first of two, and ends with the leading question: “What happens next?”

It’s a powerful act and an examination of the world μ's entered and created for themselves, concluding the first year’s journey as they embrace sides of themselves that they struggled to set free. The sights are gorgeous and the city is lively. It’s all beautiful and exciting.

PART 2: ？←HEARTBEAT

In the second act, after reaching Japan the girls have to face reality. It’s a dreamlike one. They’re famous: people recognize them as they walk around, their faces are plastered around Akiba, and Angelic Angel is streamed everywhere. The girls went from an empty stage to being celebrities.

"？←HEARTBEAT" is a fun, ridiculously catchy pop song (and my personal favorite from the movie) about the merits of fame. Nico achieved her dream of fame and Eri was recognized for her talents. μ's has fans everywhere watching them and waiting for their next big move.

Following their return, μ's is requested to continue in order to further promote the Love Live! This is the driving conflict for the rest of the movie. They had already decided to disband after Angelic Angel was performed, but there is real investment into the group. To disband would be betraying their fans and the hopes of others; to stay together would betray themselves.

μ's is the miracle made from the nine girls together as school idols. But, opportunities keep arising– even A-Rise offered the alternative solution of continuing professionally. Maybe it’s best to continue μ's. To keep the dream going. It was fun so far, right?

Honoka, questioning herself, again meets the nameless singer. The nameless singer continues her ballad: one that holds the answer. She’s telling us to operate on love and passion.

Surprisingly this act avoided the plague that befalls most second acts. It’s fast, yet deep and contemplative. It kicks off excitingly, and slows to give us all the opportunity to think along with Honoka. Running off the first act’s high is an introduction to the story’s emotional core.

PART 3: THE THEME OF JUMPING

The movie began with a young, spirited, and determined Honoka jumping, only to fall short into the puddle. But, she faced the challenge head on again. At that moment, she flew.

The jump, a leap over a seemingly insurmountable obstacle to the other side, is an omnipresent metaphor throughout the film. If anything, the film– no, their entire journey–was one big jump.

Honoka ran towards every obstacle and overcame every single one of them. μ's leaped, taking on every challenge and conquered.

After closing her eyes, Honoka as if she was nothing but a wide-eyed, dreaming little kid jumped. No, she flew yet again. She flew past all her doubt as she heard the words of her friends.

A jump ends when you touch the ground, and a dream ends when you wake up. So, as she opens her eyes, Honoka makes her decision.

μ's loved being school idols. It was the conduit for their growth, passion, and dreams. They shone brightly. They went from being driven to save the school to their honest, and true love for being idols. That’s why their swan song is to be a love letter to the world that fostered their dreams.

PART 4: FUTURE STYLE

The final act, the climax, and the end.

Honoka presents a goal for μ's: the greatest concert ever held. One that incorporates school idols everywhere. From the most popular groups like A-Rise to the ones you could find anywhere, it will be an event that houses everyone.

"Future Style" marks the end of the second year’s journey. Honoka leads Umi and Kotori throughout the song, beckoning back to their childhood and general dynamic. She's the leader who takes them to sights they would never see alone. They did their best, jumped, and created a miracle. μ's is their Love Live! It’s the result of their dreams. But there’s one more thing needed before they wake up: “Your voice.”

PART 4.5: SUNNY DAY SONG

μ's conclusion. It’s a song that beckons for us to go towards the future.

To end a dream is to pass it on to someone else. To inspire others. To take everything you’ve learned and carry it with you.

Ending a dream is accepting the future in stride.

PART 5: BOKU WA HITOTSU NO HIKARI or THE END OF LOVE LIVE!

This is goodbye. Our conclusion.The plot is teaching us to let go of μ's. It was masterfully crafted the whole way here. The plot of the film is easily a 10/10. It’s the greatest sendoff these beloved characters could receive.

Everything works in tandem to deliver an unforgettable, ultimate experience that reminds us of how far these girls have gone and how far we as viewers have gone with them. Delivering the characters, themes, and plots at their best, the movie produces the rawest, most beautiful story μ's could participate in.

A good movie wraps the plot up nicely: a great movie inspires. This great movie inspires us to become active and reach toward a dream. And when that one ends, to move towards the future and inspire others.

CHARACTERS

Love Live! The School Idol Movie, as I’ve demonstrated through a discussion of the plot, concludes each set of characters in each act. It brought along the conclusions of each major character, as each set came together to sing their final songs and as a complete group ended it all. Yet, one character persisted as the true “center” throughout the film.

Love Live! The School Idol Movie is Honoka’s last hoorah. She has to see what she started to an end. She has to take a leap. She has to wake up.

Honoka is the group’s determined, selfish, and endlessly passionate leader. μ's would have been impossible without her. It was her patience, persistence, and ability to see the best in each person that brought them this far. Yet, she’s also the most average member of the group. She can’t design clothes, write lyrics, or choreograph dances. All she can do is follow her heart–something no other μ's member is able to immediately do. That’s why her magnetic personality lies at the heart of μ's.

It’s why it’s ultimately her decision when it comes to the groups disbanding. We see her struggle yet again. In New York, we see her lost. She was lost in the unfamiliar future. At home, she’s afraid to bring an end to the miracle she brought about. She could have taken an entirely different road and forced the group alive, despite the conflict it would have risen. But, her growth throughout the series in how she learned to stop and listen to others and cultivate that within her own selfishness empowered her into making her final decision.

Honoka has always felt human. She lives on her desires and thirst for excitement and adventure. Seeing her bring an adventure to an end is showing that she grows up. Remembering how to fly was only the first part of her journey, but teaching others how to do so in her wake was the brilliant climax only she could create by indulging in her selfishness and dragging others with her.

She’s an amazing character, the best written out of all of μ's and one of the best protagonists in all of anime.

PRODUCTION

Stellar. The pacing is incredible and enables the tonal shifts. The songs and visuals are stunning. Choreography was on point and the use of 3D felt well-placed and consistent. The delivery, as in the structure and musical segments, were fun, dynamic ways of having performances and creating a sort of play-like atmosphere to the movie.

The entire film felt like a straight upgrade from the show. Which is to be expected due to the higher budget. But, that’s the praise that comes quickest to me here. It’s all beautiful: the background design, directing, character animation, dances. Everything.

CONCLUSION

Love Live! The School Idol Movie is a pure, heartfelt cinematic masterpiece. I’m not exaggerating in the slightest. If I were told that I would come to love the Love Live! movie of all things a while back, I would have laughed at you. Yet, here I am. Singing its praises and treating it like a master class work of art. It is, though. And so much more.

It’s the finale to the series that kicked off a massive franchise. It’s a literal gamechanger. What I watched was not only the efforts of everyone involved, but the hope that it will continue into the future. Which sounds horribly ironic considering how corporate the idea of Love Live! sounds, but the execution has a ridiculous amount of SOUL. It's incredibly how impactful and emotional this movie still has me feeling. I'm not ready to let go of it all just yet, but in time I'll also wake up.

I love this movie and will continue to do so. It stole my heart and set it ablaze. All I could really say after this is

Thank you, Love Live!