Aikatsu Friends! – 072

Seeing the same view as you

What Karen and Mirai do this episode touches me on a deep level as the ideal of a relationship between two people. Even if the A plot of the episode was literally identical to a previous one beat for beat, the B plot of these two more than makes up for it. Karen’s ethos and dreams are what I strive for. Plus, she wears the cutest earrings later in the episode.

Episode 072: Torrent | Magnet

Aikatsu Friends! – 071

They’re watching the greatest love story of all time

I want to post the image of the love story, but I also want you to see it for yourself! And also these hexagonal glasses are nice too. But really, it looks like Dream Academy is finally back after all this time, and someone is pulling an Ichigo to attend it. There’s just so much good and emotional about this, and I leave it to you to enjoy. I also skipped subbing the announcement sign right in the middle of the episode—all it says is that Aikatsu on Parade will be airing Saturdays instead of Thursdays, so you should probably expect the release date of subs to move back a little bit as well.

Episode 071: Torrent | Magnet

Aikatsu Friends! – 070

I can’t post 95% of my screenshots because I want you to enjoy it for yourself

What could I possibly say? Everything was for this moment. There were some very strong vibes from a certain line Mizuki once said (more on that in my usual weekly thoughts), and I felt that this episode reached levels just as high. This performance shook my core, and I hope I was able to do it justice.

Episode 070: Torrent | Magnet

By the way, you may have seen the Important Announcement video released yesterday (if not, you can watch it at this link). I may sub it real quick for posterity, but not today. I’ve been recovering from a cold all week and I’m still not quite there yet. And before anyone asks (and I know people still will), the answer is yes, we are.

Aikatsu Friends! – 069

Oh gosh Karen is the prettiest and they all have amazing hair

100% perfect vacation episode making use of every last second for it, and wasting no time on anything else. No worrying about setup or dealing with the overarching plotline for later, this was devoted entirely to beachkatsu and nothing else. There’s also a bit of an unexpected surprise at the end, so don’t skip through anything. We’ll have more info on that next week.

Episode 069: Torrent | Magnet

Aikatsu Friends! – 068

How much will racing wear actually sell?

Karen Island! And that can mean only one thing! We got some old Friends back, we got some crazy Aikatsu, and we got a glimpse of the true power of chaos control. This just makes me want to see an Aikatsu and Two Car crossover. I don’t want to give anything away, but from start to finish there’s something worth seeing. Not to mention next episode as well, perfect for this heat.

Episode 068: Torrent | Magnet

Aikatsu Friends! – 067

I want this merch

The buildup to the finale was so naturally included that I didn’t even realize what was happening, and it made it that much more touching and impactful. And for long-time viewers of Aikatsu, you may also recognize the kind of idol that Mirai seems to want to make, one who can, as they say, produce herself, if you catch my drift. So awesome.

This week is unexpectedly last minute because I had to spend the entire weekend and more in DC for a conference, but I did sneak away for long enough to see some cosplay at Otakon. I hope some people were there representing Aikatsu in my absence.

Episode 067: Torrent | Magnet

Aikatsu Friends! – 066

Green Mirai is not Mirai in disguise

Yes, this hits so many Aikatsu themes that I love, and it’s a totally novel take on the “imitation” archetype that’s so often used for antagonists. Everyone has their part to play, and we’re steadily moving forward, although there are still some mysterious left to resolve.

Episode 066: Torrent | Magnet