Love Live! fans will not have to wait much longer for the next animated entry in the franchise. Announced during the 2nd Nijigasaki High School Idol Club (Nijigaku for short) live show, the anime for the Nijigaku idols now officially has a trailer and premiere date. The anime will feature the nine idols initially introduced in the Love Live! School Idol ALL-STARS mobile game, as well as the player character and protagonist Yu Takasaki, as they once again reach for the heights of stardom.
The trailer shows idol fanatic Setsuna Yuuki doing a public performance and capturing the eyes of Yu Takasaki and Nijigaku poster girl Ayumu Uehara. Inspired by Setsuna’s performance, the two learn about their high school’s School Idol club only to find out the club is closing. To save the club, they gather other like-minded girls who band together with their talents to become idols and save their club. This plot is similar to the first act from ALL-STARS, although differences can be expected as predecessor groups μ’s and Aqours will not be a part of the story. Whether the anime will continue the continuity with the other generations remains to be seen.
Also announced is the voice actress for the former unvoiced player character in ALL-STARS, Yu Takasaki. Takasaki will be voiced by Hinaki Yano, who gave a message after the trailer reveal showing her excitement and gratitude for being chosen to portray the character. In ALL-STARS, Yu Takasaki acts as the player’s avatar and a silent protagonist who afterwards bonds with the idols of each generation of Love Live! and ends up being their main supporter and producer. Despite her character not being an idol herself, Yano is actually a former member of idol groups Shiritsu Ebisu Chugaku and momonaki, so her giving a future performance might actually be possible. This is the second major character to be announced joining the cast after student council president and tenth idol Shioriko Mifune, voiced by Koizumi Moeka.
The Love Live! Nijigasaki High School Idol Club anime premieres on October 3rd.
