BanG Dream!

TV (13 eps)
3.481 out of 5 from 1,393 votes
Rank #6,496

When she was a child, Kasumi Toyama felt a heart-pounding thrill every time she gazed at the stars, and she's been looking without success for something that could inspire the same feeling ever since. One day, she comes across a star-shaped guitar in a rundown pawnshop and, for the first time, discovers the thrill she's been searching for. Kasumi becomes determined to form an all-girl band, and her search leads her to four like-minded souls: Saya, Arisa, Rimi, and Tae (all brought to life by the members of Poppin' Party). Does this band have what it takes to make their dreams of stardom come true?

Source: Sentai Filmworks

my anime:

User Stats

5,386 users are tracking this. to see stats.

If you like this anime, you might like...

Reviews

Oceanshimmer
4

If you like band animes, you might like this one. It's probably best not to watch this show if you came from the game. The show is a dragged out version of the game story. The game's story takes around 2 hours to read (if you wait for the voices), while the anime takes about 4 hours to watch. If the animation was more interesting then it would have been worth watching. However, the animation is not much of a step up from the animated stills in the game. Poppin' Party is the most boring band in Bandori, so if you didn't enjoy the anime, don't disregard the game. It's pretty fun. (and you could skip the stories-) - -Story: The main character befriends someone to get their guitar. The only problem? The main character doesn't know how to play. Watch as the main character makes deals and gradually forces everyone around her to join her band, all under the guise of naivity.  -Animation: Not bad or spectacular, it's alright. A bit bland. -Sound [Kind of a... hit or miss]: "Don't be Afraid" [Liked] "Dokimeki Experience" [Disliked] "Keep on moving" [Liked] "Choco Cornet Love" [Disliked] -Characters: All of the characters (excluding the main one) have a reason for not wanting to join the band. I think each of them have fleshed out personalities and backstories, however, they're too tied down by the main character. All the characters revolve around the main one. Character interactions feel a bit restricted to the main one. - Overall, it's eh, the kind of anime you ether half pay attention to or watch while doing something else. I would not have watched this show to its entirety had I not enjoyed the game so much (and been so bored). I may have enjoyed this anime had it been about any other band or had interesting animation attatched to it. Some people probably can find the characters and story to be interesting, it's just not my personal taste.

DGFischer
10

Welcome to the world of the Girl Band, soon to become Girl Band vs. Girl Band as the BanG Dream franchise expands.  Season One is actually the origin story of Poppin’ Party, a five-gal troupe formed by Kasumi who enters the picture as a carefree newbie high schooler and non-musician.  Growing up, Kasumi had a fascination for the night sky and is inspired to take up the guitar because she has found one in the shape of a star.  Not your typical rocker … but the story must start off somehow. Complications seem to drive the storyline of the 13-episode season.  The star-guitar Kasumi desires is owned by Kasumi’s classmate and friend, Arisa.  She plans to sell it on eBay and Kasumi only has to beat the present 200K yen bid (how many are even now asking, “Alexa, how much is 200,000 Yen?” following that up with “Wow!”).  Kasumi virtually enslaves herself to Arisa to gain the instrument.  Once Kasumi gets the guitar, she must learn to play it.  Enter Tae, the main guitarist who is the soul of patience in getting Kasumi to understand her basic chords.  Then the bass guitarist … Rimi seems too small to wield the bass, and the instrument she plays seems too small to be an actual bass guitar.  But she wails on it in her cute, shy manner.   Then we learn Arisa is not as proficient on the keyboard as she claims.  The prospective drummer, Saaya, has dropped from one group because of her concern for her anemic mother.  Kasumi’s hope to have her on the band seems remote.   After a successful gig at the school’s cultural festival, Kasumi’s band, Poppin’ Party (or Po-Pi-Pa for short) has its next goal; it's to play at the local performance venue, SPACE.  A first audition fails.  The Owner, a hard-bitten she-rocker from an era long ago, pushes the girls to their limits.  She announces that she will close SPACE within the year.  At the second audition, Kasumi’s nerve and voice fails.  They can have only one more chance to audition.  The final two episodes are a frantic chase to make the slate for SPACE’s final night. As one continues viewing the next seasons and spin-offs, be sure to pack a good memory for names, who is related to whom, musical styles … stuff like that.  New groups as Roselia (the drummer, Ako, tends to be freaky … if she can pass off a decent goth aura), Afterglow, Hello Happy World (the DJ, known only as ‘Michelle’ … how do we know? … oh, heck, keep watching).  New musical genres from pop, to metal, to goth, to whatever.  It promises to be a wild musical ride … girl style.

See all reviews

Related anime

Related manga

Characters

See all characters

Staff

See all staff

Discussions

Custom lists

See all custom lists