Revue Starlight [Sh�jo Kageki Revue Starlight] (Moral of the story: If you are not on the stage neither backstage then you are a giraffe #wakarimasu)

[A random user]

"Starlight" is the revue that amazed Karen and Hikari when they were childs, thus, they made a promise to each other that one day they will be up on that stage together. Time passed and both girls reunite, they are not same as when they were childs but their desire to be members of "Starlight" remained untouched.

Now them, with other stage girls will compete into a mysterious audition process to be accepted into the revue.

Part of a franchise which started last year by Bushiroad and Nelke Planning. Is made of, so far, a live stage, manga, this anime and a videogame.

OP - Stellar Dialogue

HIDEVI is housing the 12 episode of this show for international audience with english subtitles.

But, the official youtube channel of the franchise uploaded the first episode without subs, so take a look.

Finally, some basic info to better understand the series' world (I'm not an expert btw, just happens to find this important piece of info)

Click here to view the Tweet

thanks @Mitrospeed [Reddit]

or this too

Source: Anime News Network, My Anime List, Reddit, Twitter, Wikipedia and Youtube.

[timpa]

Is the anime inspired by the historic Takarazuka Revue? An all-female theatre troupe that has been around over 100 years?

 

I only know about the Takarazuka because sometimes I would look up information on an actress in a J drama and find out they had been in the revue

[A random user]

Is the anime inspired by the historic Takarazuka Revue? An all-female theatre troupe that has been around over 100 years?

 

I only know about the Takarazuka because sometimes I would look up information on an actress in a J drama and find out they had been in the revue

Base on the twitter thread I posted, apparently yes.

[A random user]

Is obvious the highlight so far of this show are the auditions' stage battle, the giraffe and the soundtrack and banana-chan.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=zfzSwJ86Ui8

So far the first two episodes are divided in two sections, school/slice of life part and the audition/battle part.

The slice of life part it will mostly depend if you like light-hearted (so far) school-life stories.

The show is doing a decent job for the characters and the plot. However, so far, none of them are extraordinary.

However, once the auditions are introduced is where stuff start to get interesting and the plot heats up.

The secuences are music-video like and the animation quality does not backdown. Moreover, it manages to create a fantasy atmosphere with stage props and the, like I said before, the music-video like editing.

Another thing is the soundtrack which do a great job in setting the atmosphere on both part of the episodes - Slice of life and auditions -

Finally, the art style, design and animation have been good so far, the 3D on the audition part as well.

Is interesting enough so far to keep my eye on.

[A random user]

Can Banana-chan stop being best girl! OMG she is so deam adorable ðŸ˜

This episode pretty much still follows the route of the previous two, first half slice of life and second half audition battle being the latter the heart of the episode.

Still nothing outstanding from the slice of life part, is just a matter if you are into those kind of show to enjoy that part, so far, it just served as a way to provide background of why the girls are battling on the auditions and that Tzuyusaki will be the yuri theme quota provider of the show.

The audition is still the highlight of each episode, and thank godness this episode left clear that Karen is not an OP character as it may had looked like on the first 2 episodes, and, base on her rank, she must work her *ss off to fulfill her promise with Hikari. Spoiler: She ranked last

I could say base on this episode is predictable what is going to happen next so is just a matter how the plot is unfolded and treated.

Hope the show surprise me, because those fight secuences, so far, have been awesome along with the animation, soundtrack and art design quality.

And did they just give the official ED?

https://youtube.com/watch?v=qURyBcglDoI

[A random user]

Bananice : bɒ'nɒnʌɪs - Adjective

Term coined by Karen Aijo, a compliment word for Nana Daiba. It fuse the words "nice" and "banana", which the later is the code name to wich Nada Daiba is known for

She looked so cute fangirling over that word
 

 

Now the episode, is a bucket
of cold water, because it does not follow the narrative style of the previous episodes but instead went full slice of life. Which either is a hit or miss, regarding preference.
 

 

For me, the slice of life part still avarage, not bad but neither outstanding, and it even felt it tried too hard at some points. But at the end, it was enjoyable despite all.
 

 

The slice of life part main objective is for character and plot development and this episode kept that premise. My issue is that this time felt, not uninteresting but, weak compared to other episodes (see episode 2), with a slight exception of Maya and Claudine, I mean, with the few minutes they were on this episodes their prescence managed to be more dominant than the rest of the girls.
 

 

Except for Mahuri, girl gonna provide some fine "frustrated lesbian" comedy moments.
 

 

The show better pit Mahuri against Hikari at some point in the auditions, is needed

However, the scenary, despite being, most of the time generic urban spots, was eye-candy.

 

At the end, is just a matter if you are into light slice of life stories, with nothing "amazing" to break the routine, to fully enjoy this part of the anime. Nevertheless, is still an enjoyable show so far.
 

[A random user]

This episode went back to it's normal structure, and went full Mahiru...and it was glorious!

 

 

Althought this time, both the slice of life and Revue parts shined on their own despite the obvious drop on quality, and is thanks to the arc of this episode and how it was executed, without slacking off and adding some freshness to the main arc through Mahiru character development.

 

 

 

 

On the slice of life part, it did right on setting the current situation of Mahiru, and even more with other characters and the world building.

 

The revue/audition/battle this time felt fresh and funny without feeling out of place nor forced. And it's development along with Mahiru's character was wonderfull.

 

 

 

 

 

However, considering that Mahiru, so far, has been the yuri-tragic-lesbian-quota-comic-relief provider it makes wonder if the scriptwriters will keep Mahiru growt from this episode onwards or will forget it and by next episode she will still be the yuri-comic-relief pawn. Which I do not mind either way, Mahiru with this episode shown to be a great character in any of those aspects.

 

 

Finally, the highlights of this episode was Mahiru going semi-yandere with Karen

 

 

 

 

And...did the giraffe just received orders?

 

 

 

On side note, I really love that the ED would be sung on solo by the other cast members; Karen, then Hikari with Karen (?) and now Mahiru ðŸ˜.

 

Can't wait for Nana, Claudine and Maya versions.

 

P.D: Nana (aka banana-chan) still best girl.

[A random user]

A solid episode but it's enjoyment rely on how much the viewer is fond with the characters and Kauruko with Futaba weren't the ones that got my total interest at first but this episode managed to change a bit of that.

Kauruko was such a helpless delusional manipulative piece of shit I loved her 😠and that stage she put on her revue to confuse her bestie, Futaba, was glorious. In any other scenario she would had been the sociopath rival.

On the slice of life part, Kauruko and Futuba were the protagonists this time but the rest of the cast, with a little exception of Karen, managed to show their stories. Mahiru kept it development from previous episode, Claudine and Maya still impose their superior status with the few minutes they had; Banana...on what are you up to Nana? and Anemiya looks promising as a side character.

 

The closest to suicide attempt
The revue/battle/audition part still manage to deliver a music-video-like experiencie and to be fresh as well, since this time the protagonists of the conflict were Kauruko and Futaba instead of Karen against any other student.

Another thing is that now, both slice of life and battle parts shine each other with the same intensity and truly work together as a complement compared to the first episodes.

The show is getting better from the goodness it was already.

P.D: I just noticed Kauruko at the end of the revue did not claimed her victory like others did but instead stayed with Futaba when the curtains came down.

Delusional, lazy, manipulative, bitchy but loyal to her hoe, #bestgirl material right here, Matsuri must be proud.

[A random user]

So, what this last episode implied is

 

 

This charming, fluffy, full of potasium cutie may be the main antagonist, there is an actual main antagonist and the show's setting is more than just a fantasy musical play but some sci-fi elements as well?

 

Gosh, I love this anime ðŸ˜

 

 

Because this episode not only did not followed the usual formula of the rest of episodes - just like how episode 4 did by going full slice of life - but took all what it was known about the show universe and throw it away in such a smooth way to introduce the bigger picture and thus, the plot twist.

 

 

 

This episode reveleaded the true setting on where the plots unfolds, not only that, set new questions that I would not even had tough they would be asked in this kind of series, but more important, set the show on a whole new direction without the feeling it was forced.

 

And that is one of the strongest and fantastic points of this episode, despite this huge #plottwist the show managed to keep it's "light-heart" spirit despite the new elements introduced are far from being the show's early swing.

 

 

 

Another points in it's favor is how the script manage to give spotlight to the cast and even make me gain interest on characters which were not on my priority before. Like how they did on the previous episode with Futaba and Kauruko (in special Kauruko ðŸ˜) now is the turn of Hikari, althought ever since episode one it was left clear that she is a key character with this episode it's importance reached new heights to the plot.

 

Revue Starlight managed to shine by her own now, is a matter if it can manage to smoothly swallow what is aiming to chew...otherwise the new scenario introduced would had been a waste.

 

 

 

[A random user]

Since I already posted Hikari's version of the ED, someone posted the rest.

 

 

Hikari & Karen

 

https://youtube.com/watch?v=yyxJdD9Aylc

 

Mahuri

 

https://youtube.com/watch?v=TnGzmamPenY

 

 

Futaba & Kauruko

 

https://youtube.com/watch?v=-xG8XNlnl3g

 

 

Nana (Banana)

 

https://youtube.com/watch?v=Q15hElGPXAE

 

credits @rusty (Youtube)

[A random user]

This was, hands down, the most beautiful, stunning, amazing revue of the whole series so far. #madprops to #kinemacitrus for going all out in this revue.

But not only that, the whole art direction and production of this episode was just an eyes-orgasm.

Regarding the whole episode itself, it went back to it's usual formula but, like on the episode before the previous episode, both parts shone equally and complemented each other. Plus it pushed the world building of this anime to higher heights.

Hikari was just the-non-lesbian(yet)-soul-mate of Karen before she got involved into the auditions/battles and the giraffe is multilingual.

 

The problem...it seems this put an end to Banana's arc. Was it handly poorly? Hell nah; Did it made justice to the arc? Bet your *ss it did. But I expected to be a bit longer after that wonderfull introduction of plot-twist. But I guess with four episodes left and some characters (Maya and Claudine aka the dark horse ship of this yuri-bait festa) still yet to have their own spotlight is understandable. But if this was truly the end of Banana's arc I'm glad it was handled the way it was, beautiful and coherent.

Revue Starlight is definetely among the underdogs of this season, at least on the icomunity, which is proving with each new episode's quality.

With 4 episodes left, I hope it does not loose it's peace.

[A random user]

How to lift the mood of your defeated semi-temporal-emo-deity by Junna-chan

 

 

 

 

Now, this episode was solid but it felt it was an attempt to stretch Banana's arc and that kind of turned me off because I felt her arc ended on the previous episode, but this time they deciced to give a different closure a #yuribait one.

 

However, this episode gave the most intense, psychology brutal and short revue to date from the series. But most important, finally show what Starlight is about and that made this whole episode worth it.

 

In no mean this episode was bad produced, but it felt the producers decided to drag Nana's side story just for the sake of pleasing fans after that wonderfull episode 7. But even with this, the episode delivered top quality content and that says a lot.

 

 

https://youtube.com/watch?v=ZDm7mGjQBxM

 

...and Flysubs>HIDIVE official subs.

[A random user]

 

Ok, I knew Claudine and Maya were the dark-horse ship of this series but deam! I dit not expect they would go this hard on the teasing or confirmation (?)...idek anymore but this ship has definitely sailed harder and before than #junana (JunnaxNana) and #kaurukoxfutaba while Mahiru...#forevera...#foreverfriendzoned .

Kidding btw, This is not canon

Now, back to the episode, I felt the mood went back to the early episodes where the revues were the stellar over the slice of life. And that kind off suck since on the last episodes neither Slice of life nor Revue overshadowed each other. Still the Slice of life part was enjoyable and delivered some cute moments. The revue was intense and it's development made up the bland stage set-up compared to the previous ones and of course...that ending

Yup, no regrets in giving this anime a chance.

https://youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=MQVQQyU-QSU

And of course, Top Maya and Bottom Claudine gave an outstanding performance of "Fly me to the start" ( ͡° ͜V ͡°).

Now, time to backtrack those MayaxClaudine fanarts and search for fanfics

[A random user]

Well they went from not-Homura to not-Madoka in just one episode with Hikari.

Now, working as an aftermath, this episode went slow on the first half. Carefully building up to the second half where #boom another #plottwist occur and from there the show did not went more aggressively but more on a new flow. However, can't say the slice of life part was on par with past episodes' one but with that #twist near to the second half make it remarkable, in special in how it was introduced. There was no revue but instead an "interlude" with a beautiful edition to match the song. Can't say I'm s big fan of the song but that secuence was warming.

On it's final stage, someone can predict the end but the question would be, how?

On a side note, I like Karen's ED's design more than her actual design, it made her more badass.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=xwmKqeLXIeA&feature=youtu.be

[A random user]

Yup, Hikari went from full not-Homura to full not-Madoka last episode and this shown her whereabouts.

 

 

Can't say overall the final episode was on top of what I expected for the finale's deliverance. Actually, the second half was above and beyond of what I expected but just the second half, the first half was wasted. And I blame on the obviously pushed slice of life part.

 

Pushed because it was obvious and expected the series need somehow to feature all the cast on it's final. And even thought I enjoyed it seeing them doing cute things (Mahiru accepting her role as Karen's and Hikari's mom in law; Kauruko finally tiying Futaba for her own, Claudine and Maya with Junna and Nana being the favorites ships of the show) but whenever it switched to Karen's and Hikari's arc development, the feeling of watching two completely different shows was strong. And that's because the scenario of the Hikari and Karen arc felt surreal within the show theme.

 

By the second half, when the revue starts is when it truly went all out: breaking the 4th wall, fantastic (as always) sountrack, great production, but with a feeling the CGI was not as polished as before, and a huge boost in symbolism. Like the hard-core fans found some symbolism through the show but now the symbolism of the anime's universe is taken to a whole new level and definetely provide some discussions regarding the relation and function between the stars, the stage and the audience.

 

The second half of the revue and it's conclusion is the peak of the series and probably among the most satisfying fight's outcomes I've seen in a while.

 

 

The series overall was a shocking surprise, trying to balance the whole "moe" theme with a complex fantasy history and even thought there were moments where one outweight another it delivered well added with a captivating script, neat and top-tier production, fitting ost, solid arcs with characters and their development through the story. Still has it's flaws (coughextendingBananaarc&episode4cough) but it's virtues overweight them an made them unnoticeable at some points.

 

 

 

And finally, because the nature of the series ask for that, the best girl ranking round-up:

Top star: Mahiru - From  being a frustrated lesbian to a caring single mom of her crush along with the non-lesbian bestie of hers was a whole joyfull ride.

 

2nd spot: Amemiya - Despite being just an extra, her solid attitude and strong personality seasoned with her not-Homura looks made her stand out.

 

3rd spot: Kauruko - A delusional, manipulative and lazy gurl which tried to redeem herself but realized is too much work for her. Loyal to her hoe Futaba, Kauruko was a pleasant surprise of a character.

 

4th spot: Maya - On top of Claudine...in the ranking.

 

5th spot: Claudine - Bellow Maya...in the ranking.

 

6th spot: Nana (Banana) - A cutie pie who demonstrated behind every cute smile there is a broken girl controlling time and space.

 

7th spot: Hikari - Any resemblance with Homura or Madoka is mere coincedence.

 

8th spot: Karen - English language prodigy who likes to fall in any situation she was not invited.

 

9th spot: TIE!

 

Junna - The hardworking nerdy cute girl, which it's strength is to calm down deities through literature quotes.

 

Futaba - Kauruko's mistress...or that is what she wants to belive.

 

 

and now the popularity ship ranking round-up:

Top star: #KuroMaya - It was bound to happend that two "rivals" would appreciate each other more than just "rivals" the oldest trick in the book.

 

Runner-up: #JunnaNana - The  ship that was loved every since episode 2 but lost steam when the one from above sailed.

 

follow-up: #HikarixKaren The main ship.

 

lastly: FutabaxKauruko the first trace of the yuribait agenda.

 

Mahiru is now #HikarixKaren's guardian