Love Live! Sunshine!!

Did You Know?

• An anime spin-off television series titled Yohane the Parhelion: Sunshine in the Mirror premiered in June 2023.
• Bandai Visual released limited-time 'memorial items' inspired by items in each episode while the first season aired.

Characters

Plot descriptions refer to the anime television series; other parts of the franchise have variations. Chika Takami is a second-year student at Uranohoshi Girls' Academy who, inspired by μ's, forms the school idol group Aqours after learning her school faces consolidation with another. She is the youngest of three daughters, her family runs an inn with ocean-view hot springs, and she often makes puns. Chika serves as Aqours' leader and primary lyricist. Riko Sakurauchi, also a second-year, previously attended μ's former school Otonokizaka Academy but was unaware of the group. A talented pianist and violist, she moved to Numazu for inspiration and initially feared dogs, later overcoming this and adopting a puppy. She has an interest in shōjo and yuri manga and becomes Aqours' composer.

Media

A manga version of Love Live! Sunshine!!, with Sakurako Kimino writing and Masaru Oda handling the art, started its run in the May 2016 issue of Dengeki G's Magazine. Its first collected volume came out on September 27, 2016, and by March 27, 2018, three volumes were available. Kadokawa Gempak Starz publishes the English edition in Malaysia. A 160-page fanbook called Love Live! Sunshine!! First Fan Book hit shelves on June 30, 2016, courtesy of ASCII Media Works. It includes profiles of the Aqours members, an original manga by Kimino, and a fresh cover drawn by Yuhei Murota. A 13-episode anime from Sunrise, helmed by director Kazuo Sakai and writer Jukki Hanada, aired from July 2 to September 24, 2016, with Crunchyroll streaming it simultaneously. Funimation handles the North American license, Anime Limited covers the UK, and Madman Entertainment takes Australia. Funimation’s English dub started streaming on July 30, 2016. The opening theme is "Aozora Jumping Heart" and the ending is "Yume Kataru Yori Yume Utaou," both performed by Aqours. A second season ran from October 7 to December 30, 2017, with opening "Mirai no Bokura wa Shitteru yo" and ending "Yūki wa Doko ni? Kimi no Mune ni!", also by Aqours. This season became 2018’s top-selling animated series on DVD and Blu-ray in Japan, moving 330,102 units. The film Love Live! Sunshine!! The School Idol Movie: Over the Rainbow debuted in Japan on January 4, 2019, with its English dub arriving on February 25, 2020.

Reception

Nick Creamer of Anime News Network reviewed the first season in 2018, criticizing its reuse of plot elements from the original series but noting these were utilized well to make the main cast relatable and the adventure emotionally resonant. He praised director Kazuo Sakai for maintaining visual comedy and improving CG dance models, concluding that the show is a rewarding followup for the franchise.