When I first saw the announcement for Mugendai MewType (will now refer to them as Yumemita from here) as the new band from BanG Dream!, they were a cheerful bunch, so I imagined that the anime would be bright and upbeat. Which also means that going into the series, I barely expected any drama at all, although, knowing music anime, I probably should have. As it turns out, there is drama, and it’s much heavier than I expected. Thankfully, what made the story easier to digest was the decision to premiere the first three episodes together.
So what’s Yumemita all about? At its core, it’s the story of a virtual girl band navigating the same kinds of emotional struggles and interpersonal drama that have become a staple of the BanG Dream! franchise. That might sound familiar, but don’t take it as a bad thing, as these first three episodes do an excellent job of introducing the main cast, establishing their dynamics, and laying a solid foundation for the plot.
It was honestly a great move because those three episodes didn’t just focus on the vocalist Arale, but they established the entire Mugendai MewType lineup pretty well, while also giving a sense of where the story is heading. At the same time, three episodes weren’t really enough. Rather than rushing to flesh out every character, the three episodes subtly focused on laying the groundwork for Arale and Ritsu’s relationship.
It feels like the series is deliberately teasing with a much deeper drama just waiting to unfold. Why is Arale avoiding Ritsu so desperately? What exactly happened between them? Why does the word “group” seem to trigger such a strong reaction from Arale in Episode 1? Is it connected to something that happened in the past? And what’s Viola’s role in all of this?
Despite getting a three-episode premiere, there are still so many questions left unanswered, and I think that’s exactly why it works. Instead of giving everything away, the anime leaves just enough mystery to keep you eagerly waiting for the next episode. Episode 4 might be the key to answering some of those questions. Looking back at these first three episodes might even reveal overlooked details and help connect the dots in a much more meaningful way.
That’s not to say Episode 1 lacked a strong hook. It absolutely did. Right from the start, it establishes the tension between Arale and Ritsu’s relationship and showcases the band’s unique setup of practicing and interacting inside a virtual world. There was already plenty to keep me invested. But having Episodes 2 and 3 available immediately made it much easier to see the bigger picture and more importantly, it gave the rest of the cast enough time to shine, making me grow attached to them much faster.
I’ll admit, though, that I was a little confused at first with the whole virtual world concept and how Yumemita was initially marketed with an alien-ish theme. Thankfully, there’s nothing supernatural about the series, at least so far. Otherwise, I think it would have been much harder for it to naturally fit into the BanG Dream! universe. Instead, what we get is a surprisingly grounded high school drama, and I honestly think that’s the stronger direction for the story.
Across the three episodes, every member gets a chance to shine. Naturally, Arale receives the most focus since she’s at the center of the story and many of the show’s conflicts stem from her. Even so, the rest of the cast never feels sidelined. Ritsu plays an integral role in Arale’s struggles, Yuno is like this dark horse that keeps the band running, Miyako (my personal favorite) reveals her own personal burdens while becoming another key player for the group, and Nonoka ties everyone together with her cheerful optimism and unwavering support.
By the end of the premiere, we already have a solid understanding of who these characters are and how each of them is likely to respond when the inevitable conflicts arise. More importantly, they complement one another surprisingly well. Watching a group of teenagers with completely different personalities and personal struggles slowly come together is exactly what makes the cast enjoyable.
The story also becomes much more interesting thanks to the rival group, or rather, Viola herself.
Viola is the definition of a master manipulator. She constantly gaslights Ritsu, stirs conflict wherever she goes, and somehow manages to make every scene she’s in more tense than the last. Though her motives remain unclear, right now, it almost feels like her life’s mission is simply to drive Arale and Ritsu apart.
I already have a feeling she’ll become one of those characters everyone loves to hate, but we need her because she creates exactly the kind of tension this story needs. Kaede Hondo deserves plenty of credit as well for her sarcastic, teasing performance, which gives Viola an unsettling charm that makes every interaction feel even more uncomfortable (in the best possible way).
Overall, the story and its cast have made an incredibly strong first impression, and setting everything within the world of virtual streaming is refreshing coming from the BanG Dream! franchise.
But if there’s one area where BanG Dream! YUME∞MITA anime truly shines at, it would be the animation.
CG anime has always been a controversial topic within the anime community. Many viewers are quick to dismiss a series the moment they realize it’s fully CG. If there were ever a show capable of changing that perception, though, I think the Yumemita anime would be one of my first recommendations because it’s simply beautiful.
The way the characters move just feels incredibly fluid and natural, along with their facial expressions and reactions during conversations. What impressed me even more was the occasional use of 2D cuts, which blended right in with the CG and gave key moments an extra layer of impact. Sanzigen’s Nichiline has done an impeccable job balancing both styles, and as a result, BanG Dream! YUME∞MITA is one of the best-looking CG animations I’ve seen in anime.
Ultimately, the series had such a strong start as it’s not just the story that carries it, but also the production elevates every moment even further. After MyGO!!!!! and Ave Mujica, I feared that the next anime from BanG Dream! had enormous shoes to fill. Thankfully, Yumemita fits them perfectly.
Anime Corner was given BanG Dream! YUME∞MITA episodes in advance for review.
Screenshots were taken from the trailers.
© BanG Dream! Project
Participate In Discussions