What is love live

In 2014, Love Live! School Idol Festival became many anime fans’ gateway into mobile gacha games and idol culture. Now a new spinoff, Love Live! All Stars, is out, and there’s a lot to know about the rhythm game franchise before you dive in.

Love Live! is an idol music project centered around anime girls. Originally a story project published in Dengeki G’s Magazine, it eventually spun-off into rhythm games, several seasons of anime, and even entire albums of Love Live! music.

Personally, the series was my gateway to other idol game franchises, like Idolm@ster and Bang Dream!, but lots of anime fans found their calling helping out the idols in Love Live!. Despite the fact that most of the content for any of these series is in Japanese, the international reach is noticeable across social media, with the School Idol Festival reaching over 23 million overseas players in November 2019. If you’ve ever seen somebody with a Twitter bio that says something like “MikaP” or “UmiP,” that means that they’re the producer for that idol, and she’s their favorite. Though the series has a mostly adult male fanbase in Japan, it’s enjoyed by all types of people, with women making up a large chunk of the series’ Western fanbase.

Love Live! School Idol Festival originally focused on nine girls from Otonokizaka Academy in their school idol club. The girls band together to create a group called μ’s (pronounced “muse”) and you help them find success as their manager. Eventually, the series expanded, adding two more groups of nine girls: Aqours (pronounced “aqua”) and the Nijigasaki High School Idol Club.

Beyond the smartphone game, Love Live! is a cultural phenomenon. It’s more than just an anime series or game — it’s a talented group of real-life performers who put on sold-out concerts in Tokyo and rank among other talented musicians on music charts.

How do you play the game?

You scout girls of various rarities, make a team of nine with them, and play a song. The better stats on your girls, the better you’ll score. You simply hit the upcoming circle notes to the music.

There’s also bits of story between levels for you to interact with the girls and read what they’re up to.

To build teams, you’ll have to earn cards through either completing events or by using the gacha system. Teams can have duplicates of the same girl and each girl will have a plethora of different cards, showcasing them in different outfits or situations. Is it summertime? You bet a bunch of cards of the girls in bathing suits. Is it Halloween? Time for witch or demon outfits! Since the cast is limited, each girl gets way more focus than say, Fire Emblem: Heroes, where only the most popular of characters get multiple versions.

You can see video of School Idol Festival, which will continue to be updated by developers Bushiroad and KLab, in action below.

Who are the girls?

Each group is made up of three first-year girls, three second-year girls, and three third-year girls, with the second-year girls typically being seen as the “main” characters by the franchise. Each girl receives about the same amount of new content, so this mainly stays true when regarding the anime series. True anime idol culture demands you pick one or two as your favorites and focus on producing them, collecting all their cards, and becoming a diehard fan — but you don’t have to, of course.

μ’s

From left to right: Honoka, Umi, Kotori, Maki, Nico, Eli, Nozomi, Hanayo, Rin

Image: Sunrise

As the original set of girls μ’s is arguably the most popular group. It features idols like the plain, but hardworking Honoka Kōsaka, and the lover of rice Hanayo Koizumi.

• First-years: Hanayo Koizumi, Rin Hoshizora, Maki Nishikino
• Second-years: Honoka Kōsaka, Kotori Minami, Umi Sonoda
• Third-years: Nico Yazawa, Nozomi Tojo, Eli Ayase

Aqours

From left to right: Ruby, Dia, Hanamaru, Riko, Chika, Kanan, You, Mari, Yoshiko

Image: Sunrise

Aqours is the second group and they all go to a school by the ocean, Uranohoshi Girls’ High School. The group features sisters Dia and Ruby Kurosawa, and edgy “fallen angel” Yoshiko Tsushima.

• First-years: Yoshiko Tsushima, Ruby Kurosawa, Hanamaru Kunikida
• Second-years: Chika Takami, Riko Sakurauchi, You Watanabe
• Third-years: Kanan Matsuura, Dia Kurosawa, Mari Ohara

Nijigasaki High School Idol Club

From left to right: Karin, Emma, Ayumu, Shizuku, Kasumi, Ai, Rina, Setsuna, Kanata

Unlike the other two groups, these girls are not in a group together. They all work individually as part of their school’s club. The club has members like Rina Tennoji, who always covers her face, and Ai Miyashita, a fashionable girl who likes to make puns. This group doesn’t have its own anime series yet, but one has been announced to air in the future.

• First-years: Kasumi Nakasu, Shizuku Osaka, Rina Tennoji
• Second-years: Ayumu Uehara, Ai Miyashita, Setsuna Yuki
• Third-years: Karin Asaka, Kanata Konoe, Emma Verde

Wait, why have I seen some of these girls before?

Because Love Live! is popular! Also, Nico Yazawa is the start of many anime-centric memes and smug anime girl pictures, and Mari is known for her “it’s joke!” line from the anime, since she’s a silly prankster. You can likely see her being used as a reaction GIF from folks on Twitter and elsewhere on social media when a joke fails to land or if somebody reads something sarcastic as serious.

The voice actresses are heavily associated with their characters and they dress up and perform the series’ songs at concerts. It isn’t an anime hologram, like Vocaloid Miku Hatsune. It’s real girls on stage, singing and dancing. Folks who are pretty deep into idol culture will also be huge fans of their favorite voice actresses from the series.

Even Fathom Events, the screening company that often shows limited runs of anime movies in theaters, has shown these live concerts, like the ninth anniversary Love Live! Fest, for dedicated fans to watch on the big screen.

Are the games entirely in Japanese?

All the audio is in Japanese, but the “worldwide” version of the School Idol Festival is playable in English, Korean, and traditional Chinese. All Stars is playable in the same languages, with the addition of Thai.

Which game should I play between the two?

That depends on your taste. School Idol Festival is more of a straightforward rhythm game. While it isn’t as pretty, it provides fun songs to play with exciting charts that’ll leave even the best rhythm game player a little bit sweaty. All Stars has more RPG elements, focusing on upgrading girls and playing a pretty story with a rhythm aspect. The Nijigasaki girls are only featured in School Idol Festival as limited-time rewards, and the game focuses more on μ’s and Aqours.

The most noticeable change between the two games is that All Stars supports 3D models dancing and singing in the background. School Idol Festival uses a static image of a stage in the background, but All Stars has the girls performing as you play.

That all being said, keep in mind this is a gacha game, which means that you’ll have to grind out premium currency to get high-stat units — or you can pay money, but beware the dangers of gacha gambling.

For the rhythm game fans, you can download School Idol Festival on the Google Play store and the App Store. For those who want story and 3D models, download All Stars, also on the Google Play store and App Store.

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This article is about the franchise. For other uses, see Love Live! (disambiguation).

Love Live! (ラブライブ！, Rabu Raibu!) is a Japanese multimedia project co-developed by ASCII Media Works' Dengeki G's Magazine, the music label Lantis, and the anime studio Sunrise. Love Live! has released music CD's, anime music videos, live concert videos, a manga adaption, video games, card games, and an anime series. The project officially began on June 30, 2010 with the release of a prologue story and character introductions.

Anime

Nine high school girls, Honoka Kosaka, Eli Ayase, Kotori Minami, Umi Sonoda, Rin Hoshizora, Maki Nishikino, Nozomi Tojo, Hanayo Koizumi, and Nico Yazawa, form an idol group called μ's (pronounced as 'Muse') in order to save their school, Otonokizaka High School, from closing.

• The first season of the anime aired from January 6 to March 31, 2013 with a total of 13 episodes.
• An original video animation episode (OVA) was released on November 27, 2013, coupled with the sixth unit single Music S.T.A.R.T!!.
• The second season aired from April 6 to June 29, 2014 with a total of 13 episodes.
• A movie premiered in Japan on June 13, 2015.

Manga

There are three different series of manga adaptations of Love Live!. All of their scenarios are written by Sakurako Kimino, with character designs by Yuuhei Murota.

• The first is entitled "Love Live! School idol project". It is illustrated by Arumi Tokita. It began serialization in the January 2012 issue of Dengeki G's Magazine. The manga ended serialization in the magazine's May 2014 issue and was transferred to Dengeki G's Comic starting with the June 2014 issue.
• The second is entitled "Love Live! Anthology". It is drawn by a variety of illustrators, different for each chapter.
• The third is entitled "Love Live! School idol diary", and is a manga adaptation of the light novel series by the same title. It is illustrated by Masaru Oda.

The first few chapters of "Love Live! School idol project" may be read in English legally at Comic Walker .

Books

Love Live! School idol diary is a set of novels in the Love Live! franchise, written by Sakurako Kimino and illustrated by Natsu Otono and Akame Kiyose with character designs from Yuuhei Murota. It is split into two series:

• Each of the first nine volumes retells parts of the Love Live! anime series story from a different idol's point of view along with their backstories.
• Each subsequent volume of the second series talks about an event within the school year, and is each told from two different idols' point of view.

There are also shorter stories released with alternate volumes of the anime's Blu-Ray Discs, similarly written by Sakurako Kimino and illustrated by Natsu Otono and Akame Kiyose with character designs from Yuuhei Murota.

There are a variety of other publications available including game guides, illustration books and sheet music.

Games

A free rhythm game was developed by KLab and released by Bushiroad for iOS devices on April 15, 2013, called Love Live! School idol festival. A version for Android devices was released on June 6, 2013. An arcade version titled Love Live! School idol festival ~after school ACTIVITY~ was made available for play on December 6, 2016. A new game titled Love Live! School Idol Festival ALL STARS was announced to be in production on September 21, 2017, and was released in September 26, 2019.

A game for PlayStation Vita entitled "Love Live! School idol paradise" was released on August 28, 2014 as a series of three rhythm-action video games, developed by Dingo. The three games were released as "Vol. 1 Printemps Unit," "Vol. 2 BiBi Unit," and "Vol. 3 lily white Unit."

There are four trading card games manufactured by Bushiroad that feature Love Live!, titled: 

There is also a board game titled Love Live! Board Game: Fan Acquisition ・ School Idol Great Operation! (『ラブライブ！』ボードゲーム ファン獲得・スクールアイドル大作戦！, “Rabu Raibu!” Boodogeemu Fan kakutoku Sukuuru Aidoru dai sakusen!).

Information Programs

Several information programs have aired and are still airing to promote the whole franchise, with the voice actresses hosting each program.

The programs that aired on internet TV are:

• "Love Live Nico Production Extracurricular Activities ~KotoHonoMaki~" (ラブライ部 ニコ生課外活動 ~ことほのまき~, Rabu Raibu Niko Nama Kagai Katsudou ~KotoHonoMaki~)
• "Nico Production Love Live! Hour Emitsun Fight Club" (ニコ生ラブライブ!アワー えみつんファイトクラブ, Niko Nama Rabu Raibu! Awaa Emitsun Faito Kurabu).
• "Nico Production Love Live! Hour NozoHono☆Variety Box" (ニコ生ラブライブ！アワー　のぞほの☆バラエティボックス, Niko Nama Rabu Raibu! Awaa NozoHono☆Baraeti Bokkusu)

While the programs that aired on internet radio are:

• "Love Live! µ's Public Relations Department ~NicoRinPana~" (ラブライブ！μ's広報部~にこりんぱな~, Rabu Raibu! µ's Kouhou-bu ~NikoRinPana~)
• "RADIO Animelo Mix Love Live! ~NozoEri Radio Garden~" (RADIOアニメロミックス ラブライブ！~のぞえりRadio Garden~, Rajio Animero Mikkusu Rabu Raibu! ~NozoEri Radio Garden~).

Full Unit Singles

Bokura no LIVE Kimi to no LIFE

1. Bokura no LIVE Kimi to no LIFE
2. Yuujou No Change

Tracklist:

1. Snow halation
2. baby maybe Koi no Button

Natsuiro Egao de 1,2,Jump!

Mogyutto "love" de Sekkin Chuu!

Tracklist:

1. Wonderful Rush
2. Oh,Love&Peace!

Tracklist:

1. Bokura wa Ima no Naka de
2. WILD STARS

Susume→Tomorrow / START:DASH!!

Tracklist:

1. Susume→Tomorrow
2. START:DASH!!

Korekara no Someday / Wonder zone

Tracklist:

1. Korekara no Someday
2. Wonder zone

No brand girls / START:DASH!!

Tracklist:

1. No brand girls
2. START:DASH!!

Tracklist:

1. Music S.T.A.R.T!!
2. LOVELESS WORLD

Tracklist:

1. Takaramonozu
2. Paradise Live

Sore wa Bokutachi no Kiseki

Tracklist:

1. Donna Toki mo Zutto
2. COLORFUL VOICE

Tracklist:

1. Yume no Tobira
2. SENTIMENTAL StepS

Love wing bell / Dancing stars on me!

Tracklist:

1. Love wing bell
2. Dancing stars on me!

KiRa-KiRa Sensation! / Happy maker!

Tracklist:

1. KiRa-KiRa Sensation!
2. Happy maker!

Tracklist:

1. Shangri-La Shower
2. Ruteshi Kisuki Shiteru

Tracklist:

1. Mi wa Mu'sic no Mi
2. Super LOVE=Super LIVE!

Angelic Angel / Hello, Hoshi o Kazoete

Tracklist:

1. Angelic Angel
2. Hello, Hoshi o Kazoete

SUNNY DAY SONG / ？←HEARTBEAT

Tracklist:

1. SUNNY DAY SONG
2. ？←HEARTBEAT

Bokutachi wa Hitotsu no Hikari / Future style

Tracklist:

1. HEART to HEART!
2. Arashi no Naka no Koi dakara

Tracklist:

1. MOMENT RING
2. Sayounara e Sayonara!

A song for You! You? You!!

Tracklist:

1. A song for You! You? You!!
2. Natte Shimatta!

Sub-units

Printemps

Tracklist:

1. Love marginal
2. sweet&sweet holiday

Tracklist:

1. Pure girls project
2. UNBALANCED LOVE

Tracklist:

Tracklist:

1. Eien Friends
2. Nightingale Love Song

Tracklist:

Tracklist:

Tracklist:

1. WAO-WAO Powerful day!
2. NO EXIT ORION

BiBi

Diamond Princess no Yuuutsu

Tracklist:

1. Diamond Princess no Yuuutsu
2. Love Novels

Tracklist:

1. Cutie Panther
2. Natsu, Owaranai de.

Tracklist:

1. Fuyu ga Kureta Yokan
2. Trouble Busters

Tracklist:

Saitei de Saikou no Paradiso

Tracklist:

1. Saitei de Saikou no Paradiso

Tracklist:

1. Sakkaku CROSSROADS
2. PSYCHIC FIRE

lily white

Shiranai Love*Oshiete Love

Tracklist:

1. Binetsu Kara Mystery
2. Kimi no Kuse ni!

Aki no Anata no Sora Tooku

Tracklist:

1. Aki no Anata no Sora Tooku
2. Futari Happiness

Tracklist:

Otohime Heart de Love Kyuuden

Tracklist:

1. Otohime Heart de Love Kyuuden

Omoide Ijou ni Naritakute

Tracklist:

1. Omoide Ijou ni Naritakute
2. Shunjou Romantic

Duo & Trio Singles

Mermaid festa vol.2 ~Passionate~

Solo Albums

Umiiro Shoujo ni Miserarete (海色少女に魅せられて)

Tracklist:

1. Watashitachi wa Mirai no Hana
2. Bokura no LIVE Kimi to no LIFE (UMI Mix)
3. Yuujou No Change (UMI Mix)
4. Snow halation (UMI Mix)
5. baby maybe Koi no Button (UMI Mix)
6. Shiranai Love*Oshiete Love (UMI Mix)
7. A-NO-NE-GA-N-BA-RE! (UMI Mix)
8. Natsuiro Egao de 1,2,Jump! (UMI Mix)
9. Mermaid festa vol.1 (UMI Mix)

Kotori Lovin' you (ことりLovin' you)

Tracklist:

1. Spicaterrible
2. Bokura no LIVE Kimi to no LIFE (KOTORI Mix)
3. Yuujou No Change (KOTORI Mix)
4. Snow halation (KOTORI Mix)
5. baby maybe Koi no Button (KOTORI Mix)
6. Love marginal (KOTORI Mix)
7. sweet&sweet holiday (KOTORI Mix)
8. Natsuiro Egao de 1,2,Jump! (KOTORI Mix)
9. Mermaid festa vol.1 (KOTORI Mix)

Honnori Honoka-iro! (ほんのり穂乃果色!)

Tracklist:

1. Ai wa Taiyou Ja Nai?
2. Mou Hitori Ja Nai yo
3. Bokura no LIVE Kimi to no LIFE (HONOKA Mix)
4. Yuujou No Change (HONOKA Mix)
5. Snow halation (HONOKA Mix)
6. baby maybe Koi no Button (HONOKA Mix)
7. Love marginal (HONOKA Mix)
8. sweet&sweet holiday (HONOKA Mix)
9. Natsuiro Egao de 1,2,Jump! (HONOKA Mix)
10. Mermaid festa vol.1 (HONOKA Mix)

Solo Live! collection

Love Live! Memorial BOX I Solo Live! collection

Tracklist:

Full list can be found here.

Love Live! Solo Live! collection Memorial BOX II

Tracklist:

Full list can be found here.

Love Live! Solo Live! collection Memorial BOX III

Tracklist:

Full list can be found here.

Other Singles

Love Live! Web Radio

Love Live Radio Kagai Katsudou ~Nikorinpana~

Tracklist:

1. Listen to my heart!!
2. after school NAVIGATORS

Love Live! TV Anime Blu-ray

Tracklist:

1. Yume Naki Yume wa Yume ja nai

Tracklist:

Tracklist:

Tracklist:

Tracklist:

Tracklist:

Tracklist:

Love Live! TV Anime 2 Blu-ray

Tracklist:

Tracklist:

Tracklist:

Tracklist:

Tracklist:

Tracklist:

1. Suki desu ga Suki desu ka?

Tracklist:

1. Soshite Saigo no Page ni wa

Love Live! Movie Blu-ray

Tracklist:

μ's →NEXT LoveLive! 2014 ~ENDLESS PARADE~ Special CD

Tracklist:

μ's Go→Go! LoveLive! 2015 ~Dream Sensation!~ Special CD

Tracklist:

Albums

Best Album Best Live! Collection

Love Live! μ's Best Album Best Live! Collection

Tracklist:

Full list can be found here.

Love Live! μ's Best Album Best Live! Collection II

Tracklist:

Full list can be found here.

Love Live! TV Anime Original Soundtracks

Notes of School idol days

Tracklist:

Full list can be found here.

Notes of School idol days ~Glory~

Tracklist:

Full list can be found here.

Notes of School Idol Days ~Curtain Call~

Tracklist:

Full list can be found here.

Love Live! Compilation Albums

Love Live! 1st Season Compilation Album

Tracklist:

Full list can be found here.

Love Live! 2nd Season Compilation Album

Tracklist:

Full list can be found here.

Love Live! μ's Live Collection Blu-ray

Tracklist:

Full list can be found here.

The Guided Fate Paradox Character Song Album

Character Song Album feat. μ's Love Live

Live Concerts

Tracklist:

Full list can be found here.

μ's New Year LoveLive! 2013

Tracklist:

Full list can be found here.

August 28, 2013 (Part 3)

μ's 3rd Anniversary Love Live!

Tracklist:

Full list can be found here.

μ's →NEXT LoveLive! 2014 ~ENDLESS PARADE~

Tracklist:

Full list can be found here.

November 21, 2014 (Day 1, Part 3)

μ's Go→Go! LoveLive! 2015 ~Dream Sensation!~

Tracklist:

Full list can be found here.

μ's Final LoveLive! ~µ'sic Forever♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪~

Tracklist:

Full list can be found here.

Tracklist:

Full list can be found here.

Others

Love Live! National Otonokizaka High School Tour

Disc Image

Description

Love Live! National Otonokizaka High School Tour

Love Live! National Otonokizaka High School Tour (BCXA-704) is a 2-disc set with a Blu-ray disc and an audio disc. The Blu-Ray disc's main feature is a Love Live Nico Production Extracurricular Activities ~KotoHonoMaki~ video of a cast trip to locations featured in Season 1: Kanda Shrine, GAMERS, and Cure Maid Cafe, all of which are situated near or in Akihabara. The CD contains individually recorded messages from all members of the cast welcoming members to Otonokizaka High School, as well as a recording of NicoRinPana (Business Trip Version). Blu-ray Disc Tracklist: Anime Season 1 Digest Love Live Nico Production Extracurricular Activities ~KotoHonoMaki~ (Business Trip Version) School Tour: School Gate School Tour: Courtyard School Tour: Classroom School Tour: Student Council Room School Tour: Auditorium School Tour: Idol Research Clubroom School Tour: Rooftop CD Tracklist: ようこそ、音ノ木坂へ！ (Youkoso, Otonokizaka e!, lit. Welcome to Otonokizaka!) Love Live! µ's Public Relations Department ~NicoRinPana~ (Business Trip Version) Release Dates: December 25, 2013

Trivia

• Uncovered old documents revealed the candidates for the title of the Love Live! project back during its initial planning phase:[1]
  • 1st Place Candidate
    ラブライブ (, lit. Love Live!)
  • 2nd Place Candidates
    アイライブ (, lit. I Live!)
    アイ・ライブ・ユー！ (, lit. I Live You!)
  • 3rd Place Candidates
    ガールズ・ビー・アンビシャス (, lit. Girls Be Ambitious)
    ガールフレンズ (, lit. Girlfriends)
    チアー！Cheer Up! (, lit. Cheer! Cheer Up!)Give a CheerBe of Good CheerCheer Over The Victory

    ガールズ・ビー・ドリーム (, lit. Girls Be Dream)

    
    スクールストリーム (, lit. School Stream)

References