For a long time, when someone thought of Japanese pop idol multi-media franchises, the only major name to stick out would be Idolm@ster. Then, Love Live! came along and secured a solid spot in the market as a massively successful video game, anime, and music franchise. There’s a third titan contending for the throne now, though, and it goes by the name BanG Dream! There are fans all over the world clamoring for new songs, new in-game events, and new anime from this stylish music series. When it comes to that third request, fans are in for a massive treat, as the final episode of the recently concluded third season of the television anime confirmed that not one, not two, but three brand new BanG Dream! anime movies are on their way.
The final episode of the most recent season of the BanG Dream! anime series aired recently, and it capped off with a special announcement at the end that promised two more years of musical activities in the form of a theatrical film trilogy for the series. The first movie, BanG Dream! Episode of Roselia I: Yakusoku (Promise), is set to hit theaters in Japan in 2021, with BanG Dream! Episode of Roselia II: Song I am following it up later in 2021. Finally, 2022 will see the release of the third film, titled BanG Dream! Poppin’ Dream!.
The entire voice cast from the series will be reprising their roles for the new set of films, with every cast member from in-universe bands Roselia and Poppin’ Party once again portraying their musically gifted characters in each film. Much of the staff from the television series will also be returning to work on these films. Koudai Kakimoto, the chief director of the third season, will be serving as chief director of all three films. CG supervisor on season three, Atsushi Mimura, will be serving as the main director of the BanG Dream! Episode of Roselia films at Sanzigen. Masanori Uetaka, who provided storyboards and served as the episode director for the second television season, is directing BanG Dream! Poppin’ Dream!.
Kakimoto and Midori Gotou from BanG Dream! 2nd Season, meanwhile, are set to write the scripts for the first two films. Yuniko Ayana will also be returning to handle series composition. Ayana will also be providing the script for the BanG Dream! Poppin’ Dream! film. Elements Garden will be composing music for all three films.
The first season of the BanG Deam! anime series debuted back in January of 2017, running for a total of 13 episodes. It was streamed overseas by both Crunchyroll and Anime Network Online as it aired in Japan. The second season later debuted in January of 2019, with Crunchyroll once again streaming the series alongside HIDIVE. Sentai Filmworks licensed the series for overseas distribution. The recently finished third season debuted on January 23rd, streaming exclusively on HIDIVE and VRV.
This isn’t the first film in the franchise, as BanG Dream! FILM LIVE hit Japanese theaters on September 13th last year across 56 screens.
More BanG Dream! content is also on the way in the form of new anime and game projects for spinoff series Argonavis, which focuses on an all-male band. The band of boys will be getting a game titled Argonavis from BanG Dream! AASide later in 2020, while their anime debuted earlier this month.
