Jan 23, 2014
Pop music. AKA shallow and pedantic. It's easy to be dismissive or cynical about idol groups. Putting aside any predisposition about the topic, what we have here an exciting venture about the unpredictable path to stardom. Unfortunately, this intro to the anime series only takes the first steps and cannot be considered a standalone work.
This intro nails the mood of the development and tribulations of a newly formed idol group, Wake Up, Girls! Fear of the unknown, excitement and hope of potential fame... this anime oozes potential of a fantastic journey to the spotlight. Introducing the character arc of center, Shimada Mayu, retired idol, the
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"problem" with this intro is that there is no definite conclusion. Obviously this will be resolved within the TV series but taking it as a standalone viewing would only leave someone frustrated and begging for more (Which it's clearly designed to do.) Tone hits a sweet spot of slice of life and drama sprinkled with humor which paces this short story to the end before you know it.
Ordet has proven themselves as an upcoming studio with beautiful color palettes but their lineart and animation are a bit rough at times. No they aren't at KyoAni's level at this point, but their cinematography is top notch especially with the finale. The story of the hardships of a new venture surely resonates deeply with this young studio and it pays off in spades.
There is a ton of new VAs in this anime and they all do great work with their respective roles sounding refreshingly as they would for their age. BGM music is subtle but fits perfectly with the mood at hand. What really stands out is the song at the finale which is epic as far as pop music goes.
Yamakan gets a lot of flak around the community at times but after Kannagi, I'm a pretty big fan of his work while acknowledging his shortcomings. He excels with character driven work but stumbles with other aspects. Fortunately this anime is a perfect stage for him and can't wait to see how the story ends. The characterization are somewhat crammed in your face and issues are hastily resolved but it could also be described as efficient storytelling.
This is an anime that exceeds expectations given the subject matter and is confidently and efficiently directed as an intro to one of the more promising series this season with a few rough edges. Just don't expect a self-contained story within and you'll be humming "Stand Up!" all day long.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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