Aikatsu stars ep 1

Aikatsu Stars! episode 1

The time has come. After all the hype, hope, dreams, denial and speculation, at long last an brand new beginning is truly and finally within sight, within reach. What, you might ask, is within reach? Well, folks, it is none other than the series premiere of AIKATSU STARS!, the official sequel to the popular Aikatsu anime series that began on October 2012 and ended in March 2016.  That’s right, with the broadcast of Episode 1: Start of a Dream, an all new adventure begins now for all of us Aikatsu fans, and without any doubt it’s going to be an awesome journey. Speaking of which, this is the review for the first episode, so sit tight and read carefully! Enjoy! 

The episode begins with our cute protagonist, aka 

Oh. In time for this. The S4 Twinkle Live!, that’s what. A quick reminder: The S4 are what Mizuki was to the idol industry, only that this time they are a quartet. To be more exact, the S4 are an elite, top of the range and defintely way better than your average idol in this universe. Come to think of it, this is the beginning of one of the many throwbacks to the previous Aikatsu series. After all, Ichigo and Aoi went to see Mizuki perform live way back in the first episode just like how Yume and Koharu are now seeing S4 , remember?

The CG that is used in this performance and without any doubt other performances of this season is…alright. Knowing that the CG would alter slightly from the previous series was an given, but the textures and colours leave much to be desired. I know this is just the first episode, but it seems to me that the contrast levels are lighter than usual. Still, it’s pretty decent for an opening perfomance ( unlike THAT HORRIBLE CG used way back in 2012). The new special appeal as well as Hime’s aura was pretty decent, and they serve as an precursor for more awesome stage effects to be reveal in upcoming episodes.          

Firstly, up until this point, the first episode of Aikatsu Stars! has been an deja vu experience for many fans, especially for those who have watched the previous Aikatsu anime series. Viewers like you and me will notice that many plot points that are used in the first episode are actually derived from the very first episode of Aikatsu itself. In short,

The reason why the fast pacing of the first episode is simple: 

1.There are real male idols in Aikatsu Stars!.

So, reaching the end of this episode, we finally get an glimpse at the new Aikatsu system used in the new series. The exterior is mostly the same, however its the changing process that catches my attention. Instead of one long straight line where a idol had to run through cards in order to change into a suitable coord, this time there are several plaforms where one must jump upwards in order to change. It’s an refreshing aspect, and the BGM used during the changing sequence is nice as well. 

Yume’s stage debut is actually quite good, and her rendition of Aikatsu Step! aka the main theme song of Aikatsu Stars! is quite pleasant to the ears. In contrast to Hime’s earlier performance, Yume does quite an good job of singing while entrancing us all. The speciall appeal was nice as well. Major throwback to Ichigo’s Idol Activity, anyone?

Hey, guys I just wanted to say thanks for all the support and love that you guys have been giving toward Aikatsu Stars! itself. I hope that with this blog Aikatsu fans can understand each episode more thoroughly than just by normally watching them. The thing is, I know that this review might seemed bloated and inconsistent, but given the fact that this is my first full review and it is just the beginning, I hope you guys can give some pointers in the comments box down below about how I can improve my writing skills and also do my best to write medium-sized reviews that are packed with information and yet still manage to be funny and entertaining. Thank you once again, and please tell me what do you think about this review soon ! Cheerios!