"BanG Dream!" features a variety of bands, each with its own unique characteristics. Among them is "Afterglow," a group of five childhood friends. Afterglow is portrayed as a rock band, playing music that reflects the youthful spirit of these girls, making them beloved by many band members. Let's take a closer look at Afterglow's members and their appeal!
What kind of band is Afterglow? What's their appeal?
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What kind of band is Afterglow, who appears in "BanG Dream!"? The five members, Mitake Ran, Aoba Moka, Uehara Himari, Udagawa Tomoe, and Hazawa Tsugumi, are childhood friends who continue to attend the same high school and spend their days together. Being childhood friends for so long, they understand each other well, but it's also because of this that they sometimes clash. Let's unravel their charms through each of their profiles!
Vo & Guitar: Mitake Ran
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Mitake Ran, a first-year student at Ugaoka Girls' Academy High School, may look like a punk, but her strict upbringing has led her to treat those above her with courtesy. Her father has also urged her to take up the family business of flower arranging, but she seems to rebel against this. He wants to continue as a band with all five members of Afterglow, and it's clear that he really values the space and time that all five of them can spend together.
Yukina Minato views her as a rival, but also respects her.
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Although she and Yukina Minato of Roselia are senior-junior at school, their differing views on music often lead to conflicts within "BanG Dream!". However, she does not seem to dislike her, and is impressed by Minato Yukina's actions and attitude, feeling that there are things she could emulate and respects her for. The same goes for Minato Yukina, who recognizes that Mitake Ran is serious about music, and it appears that they are both popular and friendly rivals.
I've known Aoba Mocha longer than anyone else.
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Afterglow is a band formed by five childhood friends. Among them, I've known guitarist Aoba Mocha for a particularly long time, and we seem to be close, often supporting each other. They also frequently talk on the phone, and Aoba Moka understands Mitake Ran well, so she is often seen teasing her. The friendship and bond between the two is exceptional even within Afterglow, so you'll understand this even more if you read the band story.
Gt: Aoba Mocha
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Aoba Mocha, a first-year student at Haneoka Girls' Academy High School, plays guitar and sings in Afterglow. She has known Mitake Ran the longest out of all the members, and is often seen teasing her. On the other hand, she often acts as Mitake Ran's supporter, and it seems she understands her well. She is also depicted eating a lot, and it has been revealed that she is a regular at Yamabuki Bakery, the family bakery of Poppin'Party's Yamabuki Saya, and has accumulated a lot of point cards.
Lisa Imai is a senior at her part-time job
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Aoba Mocha does not appear to be a member of any clubs. Instead, she is known to work part-time at a convenience store. Also working at the same convenience store is Roselia's Lisa Imai, making them senior-junior at school and at work. They often work the same shift, and they often get excited talking about their childhood friendships, finding common ground and being good confidants.
She's airheaded, but observant of her surroundings
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Aoba Mocha has a unique aura, characterized by her airheaded and absent-minded demeanor, but she's surprisingly observant of her surroundings. In particular, because she has known Mitake Ran for a long time, she understands the meaning of each of her actions and how she feels at the time, and she also speaks and acts in a way that takes into account the other members' feelings and emotions. It may be thanks to Aoba Mocha's presence that the five members of Afterglow have been able to get along for so long without disrupting the harmony and bonds between the members.
Ba: Himari Uehara
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Himawari Uehara, a first-year student at Ugaoka Girls' High School, not only plays bass in Afterglow, but also serves as the band's leader, stimulating their activities. She likes to shout out cheers before live shows, but this is often met with disapproval from the other members, leading to a sulky expression. On the other hand, she's a member of the tennis club at school, hangs out with friends like any other high school girl, and is clearly enjoying a fulfilling youth.
Uehara Himari, a girlish girl of her age
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Uehara Himari is portrayed as a character with a slightly gyaru streak, but she's also portrayed as a member of the tennis club and enjoying a fulfilling youth. She also has a very girly side, and because she has a tendency to gain weight easily, she is always concerned about calories and the like. Because of this, she seems jealous of Aoba Moka, who doesn't gain weight no matter how much she eats, and in response, Aoba Moka comments to Uehara Himari, "The food you eat goes into your breasts."
She's acting cheerful, but it seems like her efforts are going nowhere
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As the leader of Afterglow, Uehara Himari acts cheerful, but her efforts are all a bit off, most notably in her cheers before going onstage. In addition, most of the actions she takes, which she thinks are for the good of the band, end in failure, but she continues to work hard without giving up, which is both admirable and charming. She's also a skilled baker, baking homemade cookies and serving them to the band members during practice, revealing her domestic side.
Dr: Udagawa Tomoe
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Udagawa Tomoe is a first-year student at Ugaoka Girls' Academy High School and plays drums in Afterglow. She's a reliable, older sister figure in the band, and is the first person that the always-out-of-control leader Uehara Himari turns to when she has something to discuss. Her younger sister is Udagawa Ako of Roselia, and she's also from the shopping district and is acquainted with drummer Yamabuki Saya, making her a well-known character in "BanG Dream!".
He's the type of guy who can't say no when asked
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He's someone all the Afterglow members rely on, and he seems to be trusted by the adults in the shopping district, too. He's often asked to play the taiko drums at festivals. He can't refuse even small requests, so he often helps out with small tasks. Udagawa Tomoe has a personality that cannot leave people who appear to be in trouble, even over small things, which shows that she has a very kind heart.
A kind-hearted character who cares more about others than herself
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Udagawa Tomoe's kind-heartedness can be seen in other episodes, too. When she fell ill with a cold, she refused all hospital visits. This was out of a desire to avoid infecting her bandmates with the cold, and even while sick, she never forgot to be considerate of others. Additionally, when she notices that Roselia's Hikawa Saya is troubled, she takes the initiative to visit her and offer her advice, showing that she is a character who will go out of her way to help others.
Key: Tsugumi Hazawa
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Tsugumi Hazawa is a first-year student at Haneoka Girls' Academy High School and plays the keyboard in Afterglow. She is a member of the student council at school and also helps out at her family's Hazawa Coffee Shop in the shopping district, making her a busy character both at work and at home. Although he looks very quiet, he is depicted as being busy with all sorts of things, and because he always seems to work hard at everything, the other members have coined the term "Tsuguriteiru (Working Hard)."
She's the most normal member, but...
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Afterglow is filled with characters with distinctive looks and distinctive personalities, but Tsugumi Hazawa is portrayed as a completely normal girl. However, there's something about her that isn't apparent from her appearance. Not only in Afterglow, but throughout BanG Dream!, Tsugumi Hazawa is the most hardworking and positive character. She also has the strength to not give up even in the face of minor difficulties, and her positive side has helped the members of Afterglow on occasion, making her an indispensable member.
The person who sparked the formation of Afterglow
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Afterglow was formed thanks to a single comment from Tsugumi Hazawa. Until then, the five childhood friends had always been in the same class, but in their second year of junior high school, Ran Mitake was the only one to be placed in a different class. This meant that the five of them had less time to spend together, so in an effort to create time for the five of them, Tsugumi Hazawa suggested "let's start a band." This has now become a time for the childhood friends to get together and a source of comfort for the members.
Afterglow: A Five-Person Group of Childhood Friends
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Afterglow is a five-member band consisting of Mitake Ran, Aoba Moka, Uehara Himari, Udagawa Tomoe, and Hazawa Tsugumi. The band's unique feature is that all members are childhood friends. Each member is very passionate about the band and gets along well during practice sessions after school. The band's name, Afterglow, also means "sunset," with the hope that "even if they fight, the five of them will be able to remember the day they came up with the band name."
A band playing classic girl rock
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Formed by five childhood friends, Afterglow's music is classic girl rock, highlighted by Ran Mitake's powerful vocals. Perhaps influenced by Aoba Mocha, Afterglow usually lives a laid-back life, but when it comes to live performances they change completely and deliver emotional performances. Each member's performance skills have also been honed through after-school practice, and their well-coordinated performances have elevated the band to the next level.
Is their unity stronger than other bands?
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Afterglow is a band formed by five childhood friends. Having spent their entire lives together from childhood through their first year of high school, they possess a bond unlike any other band. Poppin'Party and Roselia, the core members of "BanG Dream!", also formed bands after meeting, but Afterglow was born from sharing the same time, so they have a high level of perfection as a band from the start. The members are also exceptionally close, and stories reveal the trust that comes from being childhood friends.
What kind of music does Afterglow play?
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"BanG Dream!" features five bands with different musical styles, but what kind of music does Afterglow create? Their music is characterized by lyrics with a strong message, in addition to the typical girl band sound. This section introduces some of the songs they've released to date to explore the musicality of Afterglow, who are known for their catchphrase "classic all-girl rock band."
That Is How I Roll!
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Afterglow's debut song, "That Is How I Roll!", is a solo song by vocalist and guitarist Ran Mitake. The other members do not participate in the chorus, instead focusing solely on the performance. The B-side track "True Color" also has a strong message, and both songs are sure to become addictive ♪ And in terms of the performance, Aoba Mocha's guitar phrases are catchy, and you'll probably picture her playing them every time you hear them.
Hey-day Rhapsody
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Their second CD release is titled "Hey-day Rhapsody," and it features members of Afterglow on the chorus. Another distinctive feature is the slight horror feel, and the spooky sounds produced by the guitar solos and keyboards will have you hooked. Above all, the chorus sung by the members other than Mitake Ran is adorable, giving the impression that a cute ghost is lurking within the song.
Watch out for Afterglow! Let's get lost in some cool music! ♪
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We've introduced you to Afterglow's members, their appeal, and their music, but what do you think? Afterglow was created as a place for five childhood friends to gather, and each member values their band activities. Seeing them remain so close even after so many years will surely warm the hearts of their fans. Their music is rock and emotional, so be sure to listen to it over and over again to fully experience its appeal!
