Beautiful Blend of Animation and Live Action

I'll warn you in advance that Aikatsu Planet is definitely a show for people who already like idol media. As someone who's spent six years of their life deeply embedded in idol culture, this show was a breath of fresh air. Both live action and animated segments blend beautifully. It always makes narrative sense when the girls are in the Aikatsu world, so the transition isn't jarring. I'm always a sucker for the cheesy idol friendship moments and this show has those in spades, but they never come off as cringey. 25 episodes is the perfect length of time to connect with the characters. No main character is left unexplored. The show also addresses a lot of modern issues with the vtuber community. There are benefits and drawbacks to anonymity. I appreciate the show's willingness to be honest about how a double life can impact someone, especially a child, even if it does simplify the issue for it's child audience. The music is the most important part of a show like this, though, and they NAILED IT. This is the first time I've downloaded an idol soundtrack while the show was still airing. If you're an idol fan, please consider watching. The animated segments may confuse you at first, but this show is completely worth your time.

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