If your school is closing down, I'm sure for most of you out there, your reaction would probably be: "Heck yeah!" But I'm very certain that all of you would have had made some good memories and would wish that memory would stay along with your school. Or maybe you need to finish your course and get good grade so you can't afford it to close down. In this case, the nine girls of Otonokizaka High School love their school very much and do not wish it to close down. But what can mere nine school girls do to stop their school from closing down? They decided to become school idols due to the trend that was already out there at that moment. Hopefully, that would attract more students to enroll at their school. This anime is a story of hopes and dreams where these nine girls started from absolutely nothing to being one of the most legendary group of idols in the world. Along the way, we witness their growth and become more mature while still keeping their charms that attracted us in the first place. If you think this is just some regular Slice-of-life anime, get ready for some positive mental power and catch a lot of feels. (By the way, the voice actors of μ's do have live shows as μ's. They were awesome! Now I'd wish that I have been to one of them.)

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Spoilers Ahead!

Turn back now before it's too late! You have been warned.

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The story starts when it was announced that Otonokizaka High School will soon close down. Honoka Kousaka, a second year who loved her school so much, did not wish for the school to close down. With some inspiration from another school idol group, A-RISE, Honoka decided to start a school idol group herself. Dragging her friends Kotori Minami and Umi Sonoda, they started a new school idol group, μ's (pronounced as 'Muse'). Despite their efforts, their first live show was not as successful as they expected. In fact, only six people showed up (excluding their friends who worked backstage) and some were even hiding from their view, making the school auditorium looking even more empty. It was a sad and bitter start for the girls. But regardless, Honoka said that they will continue until they fill up every seat in the auditorium. And that was how the legend of μ's started. For those six people who showed up to μ's first live show they were the ones who soon joined μ's. Hanayo Koizumi, Rin Hoshizora, and Maki Nishikino all joined μ's at the same time. Followed by Nico Yazawa who was a bit of a hurdle, then the Student Council President, Eli Ayase who was at first completely against being a school idol to save the school. After Eli joined because of Honoka's invitation, Nozomi Tojo joined as well since she was the one who named the group in secret at the start. μ's (Muse), the nine singing goddesses in Greek mythology. With the nine members together, we finally see the true meaning behind that name.

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The story then goes on with the characters developing their bonds with each other and discovering their identity. They also decide to participate in Love Live!, a national competition for school idol performances.  Each episode was heartwarming and fun to watch. Until they reach a rough point where Kotori decides to study abroad but did not tell anyone yet. And on the day of their greatest school performance, Honoka over worked herself and fell sick and collapsed after their performance. After she got well, Kotori announced her decision but was crying because she couldn't enjoy their last live together. After hearing the news, and seeing what level they were on, Honoka though they could never be as great as A-RISE and decided to quit μ's because the school has already been saved. And that day, μ's fell apart. Because it's not μ's without the nine members together. On the next episode, μ's was still broken. However, Honoka retraced the memories while being an idol, whether it was the fun times or the harsh training. Honoka started to remember why she enjoyed being an idol. Knowing A-RISE won Love Live!, and after a few words from Eli, Honoka decided to tell Kotori her feelings. Chasing her to the airport, Honoka apologizes and confesses to Kotori that she wants to continue being a school idol with her and doesn't want her to go. Kotori was persuaded and told her that she should be the one apologizing. Returning with Kotori, μ's was reborn and all nine members performed a live show in the school auditorium  with  "START:DASH!!", the song which started it all. This time, the auditorium full of people, every seat jam packed. (Gosh, tears are forming in my eyes right now.)

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In the second season, they decided to take part in Love Live! again because this was their last shot of taking part in it because the third years, Eli, Nozomi, and Nico would soon graduate and no longer be school idols. Of course they aim to win but because the preliminaries are regional, they will have to win against A-RISE who has won the previous Love Live!. Before the final preliminaries, their bonds continued to strengthen to a point that us, the viewers are so attached to them and can't bear to see them separate. And on episode 9, Honoka, Umi, and Kotori were almost separated from the other because of a snowstorm and that was on the day of the preliminaries. Not wanting all their efforts go in vain, they pushed their way through the storm. Thanks to the help of their friends from school, who cheered them all the way, they managed to get to the venue, reunited with the other members of μ's. Performing their new song, "Snow Halation", they got to the finals. The animation when Honoka did her solo verse was beautiful, turning the stage orange as if it was her voice that did it. It was like a miracle. (I need some tissues to wipe my tears.)

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On the New Year's episode, A-RISE congratulated μ's on their win, continuing their friendly rivalry. Later in the episode, A-RISE's leader, Tsubasa Kira, talks to Honoka thinking about how her group lost to μ's, leaving Honoka the same question. Looking at the ema (small wooden plaques to write prayers or wishes) hung in their local shrine, she saw the support everyone gave μ's and realizes the group's driving force and came up with the group's catchphrase, "The story we all realize". Meaning that they've come this far thanks to everyone's support. They soon need to decide on μ's future since the third years will still graduate regardless. After a day of hanging out, Honoka takes everyone to a beach where they were alone. And there, the first and second years announced their decision: After the Love Live! finals, μ's will disband. They were then showed crying after a group photo in a photo booth. And here I was crying again because I feel attached to them, knowing it is inevitable that time will still tick and the third years will have to graduate eventually. Time is cruel to all I guess. 

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They were placed to go last in the finals, meaning they could end it with a bang. And they did. Doing a perfect performance, the audience cheered. Hearing the cheers, μ's secretly cried behind the stage. Then we see Honoka crying as well. They pleased the audience so much they requested an encore. A voice-over of Honoka from when μ's started as a trio after performing their first live which barely anyone went was played to us, "No one's probably going to come watch us perform, and probably no one's going to come cheer for us either, but I still want to try my best. I just want us to try our best so it'll reach them, so that they know that we're here. I want these feelings to reach them!" Having this monologue from that episode compared to where they were now made me into a crying mess. Showing they had came from being nothing to becoming the most popular idol group. They have came a long way. It was like witnessing a miracle.

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As Love Live! winners, in the movie, μ's promoted Love Live! and did a performance overseas. They became insanely popular after their return from overseas and were then told by Tsubasa that they could have an opportunity to be professional idols even after graduation. μ's was stuck in the dilemma between continuing or ending it here. Though they wish to continue, μ's chose to end it there, cherishing what it means to be school idols. They decided to promote school idols as their final gift to the school idol industry. They connected with many other school idol groups and co-created a school idol festival. Honoka announces μ's disbandment but reminds everyone the purpose of the festival and school idols, which is to make people happy. On the next day, they performed "SUNNY DAY SONG" with all the idol groups, strengthening the school idol tradition for years to come. And of course, it means they passed on their legacy.

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At the end of the movie, we were shown the final live of μ's. Beautiful and symbolic, this last song "Bokutachi wa Hitotsu no Hikari" put a beautiful end note to μ's story. (Here's a magic trick. Watch me not cry. (Me: cries instantly))

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This anime was beautifully animated. The characters were well developed and characterized (except poor Umi who didn't get her own episode). The music was marvelous and the story was like a fairy tale coming to life. I don't have much of a word choice for this miraculous anime. Definitely give this a try and you'll fall in love. If you have a heart as well, you will cry... Lots. (This review keeps pulling on my heartstrings.)

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Score: 9/10