Episode 1 of BanG Dream!’s Ave Mujica – The Die is Cast – anime has finally premiered worldwide, and it’s already off to an insane start. As a long-time BanG Dream! fan since 2018, I’ve always viewed the franchise as somewhat akin to Love Live! or Idolm@ster wherein it focuses on girl bands with a signature mix of charm and music. It’s usually all about cute girls doing cute things but with instruments, bursting with energy and whimsy, with just a sprinkle of drama to keep the narrative engaging. For the longest time, that’s been the heart of the franchise.
When MyGo was released, it was a refreshing change of pace. It broke away from the usual “cute girls doing cute things” formula. It offered depth to its characters and meaningful drama that shaped them into something greater. And the drama clearly wasn’t just for show as it served as a catalyst for character growth and a compelling story. With that said, MyGo was a bold and impressive addition to the BanG Dream! universe, but it wasn’t the only one to elevate the series.
Enter Ave Mujica, a show that not only builds on the foundation laid by MyGo but pushes it even further. Episode 1 had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. Granted it was all about Sakiko, my favorite girl now from the entire franchise, but her decisions from the first season now make so much more sense, adding layers to her story. Her circumstances turned out to be even more tragic than I could have imagined.
Losing her mother in middle school, dealing with a father drowning in debt and alcoholism, and juggling multiple part-time jobs would take a toll on anyone, let alone a high school girl. What makes Sakiko so admirable is her decision to stay with her father, even when she had the option to live a luxurious life with her wealthy grandparents. Despite her father’s shortcomings, she chose loyalty and love over comfort. But Sakiko is only human, and everyone has their breaking point. By the end of the episode, she finally snaps. It’s heartbreaking yet entirely understandable.
Sakiko reminds me a little of Furina from Genshin Impact (minus the snapping). She’s determined, resilient, and willing to sacrifice for the people she loves, which is truly inspiring. Her struggle to keep going, to survive, and to pursue her passion despite all the pain she endures is what makes her so compelling. That’s why they can never make me hate her. Sure, she might have handled quitting Crychic poorly, but after everything she’s been through, it’s hard to fault her for it. She’s flawed, but that’s exactly why she feels so real.
Still, Saki’s misery doesn’t stop there. After leaving her father, yet another disaster strikes. With Ave Mujica now the only thing she holds dear, you’d think their identity as a band would remain safe. Unfortunately, no.
Enter Nyamu, who shatters the band’s hidden persona and masquerade gimmick. To my surprise, I never expected her to be the one to stir up such chaos within the band. I always saw her as a “Raana 2.0″—mischievous, sure, but not to the extent of throwing the band into disarray. Yet she did the unthinkable by revealing everyone’s personas on one of the biggest stages imaginable.
At first, I disliked what Nyamu did. It felt selfish and reckless. But, looking at it closer, I kind of get her reasoning. This was Afterglow’s dream stage, after all, and she seized the opportunity to boost her influencer career to new heights. From her perspective, it’s a calculated move. No matter what happens, she wins because her other career gets boosted anyway.
Sakiko had mentioned they would eventually take off the masks, but Nyamu’s actions have accelerated the process in the most explosive way possible. Now that their personas are out in the open and their talents fully recognized, the real question is: what direction will Ave Mujica take from here?
Episode 1 sets the stage brilliantly for Ave Mujica, delivering a premiere that not only ties up loose ends from the previous season but also deepens the narrative and raises even more intriguing questions all in just one episode! For now, my mind is oozing with a lot of questions: What has Sakiko been planning all along with Ave Mujica? When were they originally supposed to take off the masks? How will the band members respond to Nyamu’s actions? And how will MyGo react to such a dramatic and public reveal? And so much more.
It’s rare to see a sequel hit the ground running with this level of storytelling finesse. What’s even crazier is that all of this is happening in the same universe as bands like Hello, Happy World!—a group that exists purely for smiles and brainrot. The contrast is surreal.
And let’s not forget Morfonica, whose influence on the story is immense. I’m really hoping future episodes dive deeper into their impact. Honestly, I can’t wait to see the looks on Morfonica’s faces when they realize the ripple effects of the bands they’ve inspired.
It’s incredible to think about how massive the BanG Dream! universe has become. Watching this franchise grow over the years brought tears to my eyes during the episode. The series’ writers have done an amazing job evolving the narrative, and Ave Mujica is proof of that. They’re not just raising the stakes—they’re taking Bandori’s storytelling to new heights, and I’m here for every moment of it.
From an adaptation standpoint, it’s simply top-tier. While the movements aren’t as fluid as Girls Band Cry, the animation quality is on par with MyGo, which is already excellent. What truly stands out, though, are the small details that highlight Sakiko’s caring nature. What made this episode particularly special was the way the flashback was retold as it wasn’t just a simple copy-paste from the previous season.
One scene that I kept replaying from the episode was Sakiko and Tomori’s first encounter. In the MyGo season, the perspective was from Tomori’s point of view, where she saw Sakiko as a savior figure. But in Ave Mujica, the same moment is portrayed through Sakiko’s eyes. It’s not shown through Sakiko’s first-person view, but rather with a sense of detachment that makes it clear how ordinary the encounter felt to her at the time compared to how special it was for Tomori.
This doesn’t mean Tomori isn’t special to Sakiko; instead, it highlights the contrast in how they perceive each other and underscores the unique value they hold in each other’s lives. It’s a nuanced take that adds incredible depth to their relationship and showcases the strong adaptation of this series.
The wildest part of all this? This is just the beginning. There are still 12 episodes to go, and I honestly don’t know how I’m going to survive 12 more weeks of this rollercoaster. It’ll be a miracle if I survive until April. For now, all I can say is that Ave Mujica Episode 1 was completely insane.
Ave Mujica is available to stream on Crunchyroll and Muse Asia. The anime also released a creditless opening song video.
© BanG Dream! Project
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