BAND-MAID did the mocap for the performances and performed the OP song! I couldn’t think of a better band to enlist!

The atrium/birdcage opening shot was nice, and then halfway through they just really decided to hammer that metaphor to death >.> (the rose didn’t bother me though. Maybe because the narration didn’t keep pointing it out.)

I love how playful the animation is overall. The performance segments felt stiff in comparison, but I appreciate that they at least took the time to mocap actual playing. Maybe this is common? I still appreciate it!

I like classical music too, but I gotta admit, Pavane puts me to sleep… I feel her. Is Pavane culturally notable in Japan for some reason (like Anne of Green Gables)?

I’ve just never really heard it referenced so much outside of anime–is it just me?

oh also: was it implied the school uniform skirts have pockets??? where do I sign up??

Came for Band-Maid, stayed for the Otoha gap-moe at the end.

Really fun first episode. I’ll be definitely watching this. The song they played at the end is Ghost Dance by Lite

Alright, I had a lot of fun with this premiere. I think they have done a decent job with the adaptation given that there are going to be some technical limitations. One of the things that I really enjoy about the manga is how wildly different the art style can be between their “lady” forms and their “rocker” forms. In the anime, they have definitely played with that to some degree, but not to the same degree. I think a portion of that is probably due to the use of CG during the performance segments. You just can’t be as loose with the style when you are animating motion capture like that.

I loved the moment they met and how they animated at least a whole day passing by in the blink of an eye for Lilisa @rikka@ani.social

Finally, the bits at the very end of the performance, after Lilisa finished her guitar part and then when Otoha is gloating, those are when the art style got closer to the manga:

Overall though, I really liked this premiere. It was great to see that Band-Maid made an original song for this episode the song by Lite that they were playing was a good one. For a music-themed series like this, if the music doesn’t hold up, then everything else is going to fall apart, so this is a good start.