UniteUp! Uni:Birth

I'm not surprised that the series composition for this season is credited under some faceless committee; I certainly would be embarrassed to attach my name to this uninspired follow-up. While the first season definitely fumbled how it handled its drama, there was clearly real heart and charm to its writing, especially in how it depicted the friendship between the main three in Protostar in such a natural and effortless manner. The second season however is bad in the same unremarkable way that many idol shows are bad: shallow episodic stories with dull stakes and a too large cast that only pre-existing fans care about. Theoretically the deep personal drama and emotional climaxes in each episode would be fine, decent even, but aside from Protostar, it's a struggle to care about them because the audience has no attachment to these characters. Their stories hinge upon a foundation that the writers never spent the time to build up in the first season, and it's not like the Protostar episodes this season were all that compelling either. To exacerbate the issue, the writers clearly weren't lacking for time in this season. Almost every episode is fluffed out with some extended montage as if the writers couldn't bother writing a full script, and it's egregious to the point that even the winner of their big season-spanning idol competition is revealed in a montage sequence. At least the soundtrack is competent and the unique EDs are cute, but they can't carry a show by themselves. Aniplex mismanagement at its finest, I suppose.

Despite being an anime about being an "Idol", there's not much about the industry nor the actual music itself. This series has led itself to focus more on character drama, and it's annoying and contrived at times. In particular, episodes 10 and 11 are the worst for it; they actually made me hate one of the main characters. This show is about groups of friends, but none of them act like they're in one, incredibly frustrating watch. I wouldn't recommend this show as there are better music anime and idol anime out there, Love Live or Idolmasters. The animation is fine, and the CGI elements are well choreographed for the musical styles they represent.