When you wish upon a star…things may not always go as you would want them to go. I understand.
What They Say:
Childhood friends Karen and Hikari promised that they would one day become the next theatrical stars. Years later, the two finally have their chance during a mysterious audition, but they are not the only ones who have trained for this moment.
The Review:
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers)
Shoujo Kageki Revue Starlight (少女☆歌劇 レヴュー・スタァライト), in English referred to by just the last two, English, words of the title, is yet another one of those multimedia projects that seem to be getting more common of late (and understandably so, as it’s better to cast many nets than to rely on just one), from Bushiroad and Nelke Planning. Starting as a live musical (performed last year), it includes multiple manga adaptations, an announced smartphone game, and this, a 12 episode anime produced by Kinema Citrus (Yuyushiki, Black Bullet, Barakamon, Is the Order a Rabbit?? but perhaps better known now for producing one of the finest series of last year, Made in Abyss, and set next season to handle the high profile The Rising of the Shield Hero). This show was produced under the direction of Tomohiro Furukawa, an animator and episode director sitting in the big chair for the first time. Scripts are by Tatsuto Higuchi and character designs by Hiroyuki Saita.
At the beginning, we are in a school for aspiring entertainment talents, Seisho Music Academy. Our focus character, Karen Aijou, is the first student on the class roll, but hardly seems like the top star of her class, the 99th Graduating Class of the Academy. She is energetic, cheerful, and friendly, but she does not appear, at the start, to have the absolute ruthless drive or the natural talent that the most successful future stage performers have. A clear hierarchy emerges in the class, with the elegant and refined Maya Tendou sitting at the top of the pyramid of talent and ability, followed closely by her rival Claudine Saijou, who is half-French (and who speaks French occasionally in the show). The girls (there are many more yet to introduce) are all practicing and preparing for the annual production of the theatrical play “Starlight,” based upon a book (which is shown during the show later on).
Karen is a bit flaky and has trouble getting up, relying on her roommate Mahiru Tsuyuzaki (who seems to be a bit too clingy towards Karen) to help her make it through the day. Karen seems destined to be well-liked, but a bit player in the main production…and in life on the stage, perhaps. Into this seemingly settled world, however, arrives an unexpected transfer student: Hikari Kagura. She was studying at the Royal Academy of Theatrical Actors in London (alert viewers will be aware of the “SANY/SOMY” nature of this name) and her initial performances in the daily practice routines draw awe (and envy) from the other students.
She also just happens to be an old childhood acquaintance of Karen’s. We learn very early that the two of them have long shared a bond: as children, they had seen together a performance of “Starlight” and made a promise that one day they would perform it together on the same stage. So, a tale of aspiring talents following their dreams with stars in their eyes?
Not as simple as that. For the show immediately, from the last part of the very first episode, adds a Twilight Zone element to the works. Hikari is aloof from her former friend, leading Karen to chase after her (much to Mahiru’s displeasure). While chasing her trail (as Hikari escaped from Karen’s eyes), Karen winds up finding a secret elevator in the school that leads to a vast underground complex beneath the school where a very special set of auditions are being held—auditions for “Starlight,” but not exactly the “Starlight” Karen is familiar with. For in these auditions, the candidates fight each other with deadly weapons (though the aim is not to kill your opponent but merely to cut off a prominent button sewn onto her cape). Karen happens upon the “audition” taking place between Hikari and Junna Hoshimi, the class rep (who wears glasses, of course). The audition is being overseen by a talking giraffe…yes, you read that correctly…who wonders what Karen is doing here. After all…she’s not supposed to be part of or even know about these auditions. The aim of the Revue Auditions is to become the top Stage Girl, which will result in winning a tiara that will grant the winner a wish.
Karen being Karen, however, she gatecrashes the auditions and enters the fight on her own, though Hikari seems genuinely displeased about that.
Over the course of the rest of the show, we learn more about Karen and Hikari’s past, the reason why Hikari came back to Japan, and the nature of the Auditions up to this point. I don’t want to give away the various secrets and surprises that the show presents, leading up to a fairly predictable, but largely satisfying, conclusion at the end.
The tale is told in a solid manner, with unexpected twists entering at just the right moments (the “antagonist” of the show is rather unexpected before being supplanted by another one). Every audition is also accompanied by a musical number, fitting as this franchise also has a live action musical version that doubtlessly makes use of the same songs. The animation of the fight scenes is fairly fluid much of the time, though shortcuts are apparent (reused animation, especially of Karen’s entry into combat, helps to ease the budget but might also hint at a minor homage to Revolutionary Girl Utena, which most certainly was an influence on this show). The music includes a bouncy opening number “Hoshi no Dialogue” (Star Dialogue) sung by the entire cast and varying versions (sung by different cast members or pairs of them) of the ending theme “Fly Me to The Star,” which has a slightly dreamy feel and reminds one strongly of the old standard “Fly Me to the Moon” (which is prominently associated with a rather different anime known by many).
Revue Starlight will find fans among those who like shows focused on the artistic world, character dramas that involve some actions and also among that segment of fandom that enjoys yuri-themed works, as the girls at this all-girls school tend to form “very close” friendships, though the show never goes beyond the level of hand-holding and gooey-eyed looks. But it has some appeal beyond that, so it’s worth checking out.
In Summary:
Karen Aijou and Hikari Kagura once promised each other as children that they would together perform the theatrical play “Starlight” when they grew up. Both followed their dreams of becoming performers, but one of them took a slight wrong turn. Reunited at Seisho Academy, the two continue to pursue that dream, but now at greater risk as underneath the Academy, a strange set of high stakes (but high reward) auditions overseen by a talking giraffe are taking place. Who will become the Top Stage Girl and walk upon the Stage of Fate? Theatrical dreams apparently come with a price.
Grade: A-
Streamed By: HIDIVE
Review Equipment:
Apple iMac with 12GB RAM, Mac OS 10.13 High Sierra
