Anime Reviews (2020s): BanG Dream! 3rd Season - Complete Collection (2020)

If you have followed the previous two seasons, you’ll definitely enjoy the third season as the bands via for an opportunity to perform at the legendary stage of Nippon Budokan. Who makes it to the finals? And who are the members behind this new rock band, RAISE A SUILEN?

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TITLE: BanG Dream! 3rd Season – Complete Collection (2020)

ORIGINAL SERIES DATE: 2020

DURATION: Episodes 1-13 (325 Minutes)

BLU-RAY INFORMATION: 1080p High Definition, DTS-HD Master Audio: Japanese 5.1, Subtitles: English

COMPANY: Sentai Filmworks

RATED: TV 14

Release Date: March 23, 2021

Original Work: BUSHIROAD Inc.

Directed by Kakimoto Koudai

Series Composition by Ayana Yuniko

Character Design: Ueda Kazuyuki, Chanohara Takuya, Yamori Yuka

Art Director: Miwa Natsuki

Original Costume Design: Kimiko Onai, Craft Egg Inc.

Music: Elements Garden

Anime Production: SANZIGEN Animation Studio

Featuring the following voice talent:

Ito Ayasa as Ichigaya Arisa

Nishimoto Rimi as Nishigome Rimi

Ootsuka Sae as Hanazono Tae

Aiba Aina as Minato Yukina

Maruyama Aya as Maeshima Ami

Hikawa Hina as Ozawa Ari

Tsukishima Marina as Suzaki Aya

Mitake Ran as Sakura Ayane

Tadokoro Azusa as Seta Kaoru

Kato Emiri as Uehara Himari

Kudou Haruka as Hikawa Sayo

Tohno Hikaru as Nono Yoshiko

Kanemoto Hisako as Hazawa Tsugumi

Nakagami Ikumi as Yamato Maya

Shizaki Kanon as Shirokane Rinko

Sakuragawa Megu as Udagawa Ako

Ito Miku as Tsurumaki Kokoro

Toyota Moe as Matsubara Kanon

The girls of Poppin’Party have come a long way, but the competition coming up is the biggest yet – the BanG Dream! Girls Band challenge at the legendary Budokan! Slots to compete are limited and the usual competitors will be vying for the chance, but the band to beat is the new RAISE A SUILEN, whose founder, Chiyu, has sworn to destroy both Roselia and Poppin’Party!

Indeed, Chiyu’s main goal is to make Roselia’s lead Yukina pay for denying Chiyu a spot as a producer, and the musical prodigy has the connections and resources to push the competition up to the next level! Can Poppin’Party keep up with the increased tempo and meet challenges like producing their own music video? They’ll have to if they want to make it to the big show in season three of BanG Dream!

It was way back in 2015 when Bushiroad unveiled “BanG Dream!” (Bandori) with a manga by Nakamura Ko. And would be serialized in “Monthly Bushiroad” and then into a light novel.

It wasn’t until 2017 where the franchise would become popular with the mobile rhythm game “BanG Dream! Girls Band Party!” developed by Craft Egg and an anime series which ran from January 2017 through April 2020 with 39 episodes and an OVA.

The main story revolved around protagonist Toyama Kasumi, she is a student at Hanasakigawa Girls’ High School and tries out for numerous clubs to rediscover the “Star Beat”, a sparkling feel she experience one day while looking up at the stars at night as a child.

While watching the performance of the group Glitter*Green, she then recruits her classmates Yamabuki Saya, Hanazono Tae and Ushigome Rimi. Through various challenges, the girls would form a band known as “Poppin’Party” and would eventually befriend four all girl-bands at the high school: Roselia (who wants to become the perfect band), Afterglow (five childhood friends who remain friends thanks to music), Pastel*Palettes (an idol group who plays their own instruments) and Hello, Happy World! (a band that wants to spread happiness).

In season 2, while the anime followed the same groups, the series focused on guitarist Hanazono Tae wanting to become a support guitarist for her childhood friend’s Layer’s new band, RAISE A SUILEN (RAS). And the band’s producer CHU 2 meeting with Poppin’ Party wanting Tae to join her band and leave Poppin’Party. Which Tae affirmed her decision to stay with her original band.

This sets up season 3 which focuses on RAISE A SUILEN and is set four months since Poppin’Party’s live-show which other bands joined to perform live except RAS.

RAS has since grown in popularity, but CHU 2 is still looking for a guitarist.

The local live house owners and CiRCLE’s Tsukishima Marina organize a BanG Dream! Girls Band Challenge and whoever makes it to the finals will perform at Nippon Budokan.

CHU2 then invites Poppin’Party, Roselia and Rokka to RAS’ concert and after their live performance, she has a light shined on Poppin’Party, Roselia and Rokka and offers Rokka to join RAS.

But for Rokka, for a shy person and a big Poppin’Party fan, she doesn’t want to be involved.

But RAS drummer Masking sees Rokka perform by herself and is floored by her guitar playing and quickly brings her to CHU 2’s studio. But after watching her perform, CHU2 decides that she can’t accept anyone who’s witholding their skills

But will Rokka want to join RAS and can RAS establish themselves as one of the best girl bands and are deserving to be perform at Nippon Budokan?

With the release of “BanG Dream! 3rd Season”, I have to say that I really enjoyed this third season.

First, Chu 2 established herself as a brat, egotistical producer and no one understands why they wanted to be part of her band RAISE A SUILEN but as you continue to watch why Chu 2 is so competitive and also the stories surrounding each band member and to see this band go through ups and downs as it tries to establish themselves to fans who are no doubt Roselia and Poppin’Party fans but this third season no doubt has drama, friendship and captures the essence of an emerging girls band, but also the competitiveness and camaraderie with other bands and also its members.

I was actually pleasantly surprised of how much I enjoyed the third season, to the point that I pulled out my smartphone, fired up the game and wanted to play as RAISE A SUILEN.

But overall, this was a very solid season, each band that previously appeared in season 1 and 2 appear in the third season and while not a Poppin’Party focused storyline, Tae and members of the band due play an important part in season three.

Overall, if you have followed the previous two seasons, you’ll definitely enjoy the third season as the bands via for an opportunity to perform at the legendary stage of Nippon Budokan. Who makes it to the finals? And who are the members behind this new rock band, RAISE A SUILEN?

Find out in the awesome BanG Dream! 3rd Season – Complete Collection!

Purchase this Blu-ray from Amazon