The hugely popular smartphone game "BanG Dream!" features a wide variety of unique characters. Users not only adore their favorite characters, but also enthusiastically support the bands they belong to. In this article, we'll introduce the members of each band appearing in "BanG Dream! 3rd Season," which is scheduled to begin airing in January 2020, along with their personalities and charms. If you're planning on getting into "BanG Dream!" for the first time, be sure to check out what kind of characters are available.
Poppin'Party, the all-girls band from Hanasakigawa Girls' Academy
"Poppin'Party," the main band in "BanG Dream!", is affectionately known by fans as "Popipa." Formed by five students from Hanasakigawa Girls' Academy, the story focuses on the growth of each member as they pursue "sparkle and excitement." Let's take a look at the members of Poppin'Party, their instruments, and their individual charms.
Kasumi Toyama: Guitar & Vocals
Kasumi Toyama, the protagonist of "BanG Dream!", is the guitarist and vocalist of Poppin'Party. While searching for something "sparkling and exciting," she saw a live performance by an all-girl band and decided to sing on stage herself. Although she had no prior experience playing an instrument, her proactive and positive approach to everything she undertakes led her to excel as the band's frontman. She also tends to act on impulse, such as coming up with projects involving other bands, but she perseveres and leads them to success.
Hanazono Tae: Lead Guitar
Hanazono Tae plays lead guitar and has been playing since she was a child. While she has a unique worldview, her playing skills are undeniably outstanding among the members of Poppin'Party. Not only does she teach Kasumi guitar, but she also has a stoic desire to improve herself, and her temporary departure from the band is depicted in the second season of the anime. She loves music from the bottom of her heart, and when the live music venue "SPACE" where she worked was closed, she was shown to be deeply depressed.
Rimi Ushigome: Bass
Though timid and reserved, Rimi Ushigome plays the bass, supporting the band's music. Her older sister, Yuri Ushigome, is the guitarist and vocalist for Glitter*Green, and she used to attend her beloved sister's live shows just to see her perform. She secretly wanted to be in a band, but because she has a personality that makes it difficult for her to express herself, it took her a while to take the first step. Her favorite food is chocolate cornets from Saya Yamabuki's family bakery, Yamabuki Bakery.
Saya Yamabuki: Drums
Saya Yamabuki, the drummer, is the only member of Popipa with band experience. She helps out at her family's Yamabuki Bakery in the shopping district and takes care of her younger brothers, making her a kind-hearted character a defining feature. Even in Popipa's activities, she plays the role of a big sister, bringing the members together and leading them to consensus. She was the last member to join the group, and had previously considered leaving the band, but Kasumi persuaded her to pick up the drummers again.
Ichigaya Arisa: Keyboard
Keyboardist Ichigaya Arisa was almost forced by Kasumi to start a band. The band practice space is in the storehouse at her family's house, and she truly looks forward to practicing together after school. While she usually puts on a strong-willed appearance, she is also seen actively interacting with Kasumi, and even seems lonely when everyone can't show up for band practice. She's a girl who perfectly fits the "tsundere" character description, and she is portrayed as someone who cares for Kasumi, who has become her friend, more than anything else.
Roselia, a band recognized by the industry as a true force in music.
Roselia is an all-girl band striving to reach the pinnacle of music, possessing such exceptional performance skills that they've garnered attention from the music industry. The blue rose inspired the band's name, and its flower meaning is "achieving the impossible." Listen to their music and you'll feel the strength of their determination to achieve their goals and beliefs. Let's take a look at the unique personalities within Roselia's members.
Minato Yukina: Vocals
Roselia's vocalist is Minato Yukina, a student at Ugaoka Girls' Academy. She writes lyrics and composes music, and her passion for music is the greatest in the series. Her father was also a musician, but she is working to avenge his death, demonstrating her inner strength and never doubting what she believes in. She usually maintains a cool demeanor, but because she loves cats, she softens her demeanor when the topic is brought up.
Saya Hikawa: Guitar
Saya Hikawa, a student at Hanasakigawa Girls' Academy, plays guitar in Roselia. She's a member of the school's discipline committee and demonstrates her diligence by creating and adhering to strict routines with her band. While she had a strong inferiority complex toward her twin sister, Hina, their relationship eventually improved, and the two sisters began spending more time together. Contrary to her serious appearance, she also has a love for junk food.
Lisa Imai: Bass
Roselia's bassist is Lisa Imai, Yukina Minato's childhood friend. She had been away from music for a while, but when she heard Yukina was forming a band, she joined, wanting to see her smile again. She's caring and considerate of her teammates, making her the conscience of Roselia. Despite her gyaru-like appearance, she's also quite the opposite: she's homely, enjoys Japanese food, loves romance novels, and dislikes horror.
Ako Udagawa: Drums
Ako Udagawa joined Roselia as the drummer while still a junior high school student. She auditioned for the band because she admired Yukina Minato's singing voice, and she strives to become a cool drummer like her idol, her older sister, Tomoe Udagawa. She still has noticeable immaturity in her speech and behavior, and is often selfish, unable to read music. She also enjoys online games with Rinko Shirogane, and sometimes has her help translating her chuunibyou-like remarks.
Shirogane Rinko: Keyboard
Shirogane Rinko, who plays the keyboard, attends Hanasakigawa Girls' Academy and was appointed student council president in the second season of the anime. Having played the piano since she was little, her playing skills are recognized by Yukina and Saya. However, she is extremely shy and withdrawn, and her lack of self-confidence is noticeable. However, she is observant of her surroundings, giving her the strength to speak out accurately, making her a reliable presence among the other members.
Afterglow: Formed by Five Childhood Friends
"Afterglow" is a band formed by five childhood friends who attend Ugaoka Girls' Academy. They're familiar faces in the local shopping district, and because they're always hanging out together, they understand each other well. While each member has their own unique personality, their joyful band activities clearly show how close they are. Let's take a look at the personalities and charms of the Afterglow members.
Mitake Ran: Guitar & Vocals
Mitake Ran, who plays guitar and sings, usually appears cool and unapproachable, but she also has a shy side. However, she is also kind and caring towards her friends, which can be sensed in the songs she writes. Since she has known guitarist Aoba Moka for the longest time, she often seems to know what she's thinking.
Aoba Mocha: Guitar
Aoba Mocha, the guitarist for Afterglow, has a laid-back personality, as evidenced by her carefree demeanor. However, contrary to her laid-back demeanor, she often makes comments that reflect the mood and atmosphere of the other members. Perhaps because of this, she is actually an excellent student, particularly skilled in Japanese. She also works part-time at a convenience store, where she co-works with Roselia's Imai Lisa.
Uehara Himari: Bass
Uehara Himari plays bass in Afterglow. As the group's leader, she takes the initiative in supporting the group's plans, but she also plays a more mood-setting role. Her cheerful and easy-going personality makes her an indispensable member of Afterglow. Like many girls her age, she also seems to be concerned about her weight and has a strong obsession with selfies and social media. She's also a huge fan of her senior, Seta Kaoru.
Udagawa Tomoe: Drums
Udagawa Tomoe, who is in charge of the drama, has a younger sister, Ako Udagawa of Roselia. As a fellow drummer, she is also acquainted with Saya Yamabuki of Popipa, and is well-known among the local shopping district. As can be seen from her appearance and behavior, she has a distinctively tomboyish personality. However, perhaps because of this, she often has disagreements and conflicts with Ran. Even so, she cares more about others than herself, and they are able to make up quickly.
Tsugumi Hazawa; Keyboard
Tsugumi Hazawa is the keyboardist for Afterglow. While she's an ordinary girl with no outstanding features among the other members, her distinctive trait is her hard work. She's a member of the student council at school and helps out at her family's Hazawa Coffee Shop, constantly on the go. She was actually the one who first suggested forming Afterglow, and continues to create memorable moments for the other members.
Pastel*Palettes, an idol band formed at the request of their agency
Affectionately known as "Pasupare," Pastel*Palettes is an idol band whose members are all affiliated with a talent agency. As such, they are the only professional members in the series, and have been depicted performing in variety shows. So, what kind of members are in Pasupare? Let's take a closer look at the personalities and charms of each character.
Aya Maruyama: Vocals
Pastel*Palettes' vocalist is Aya Maruyama, a student at Hanasakigawa Girls' Academy. Originally an idol trainee, she seized her last chance to become the vocalist for Pastel*Palettes. As a result, she's somewhat immature, and is often portrayed as stumbling over her lines during MC sessions. However, she also has a hardworking side, and is seen training hard for her singing and dancing. Not only is she not good at improvisation, but she also has many endearing traits, such as her unfashionable T-shirts and poses.
Hina Hikawa: Guitar
Hina Hikawa, a student at Ugaoka Girls' Academy, was appointed guitarist for Pastel*Palettes after an audition. With her unique sensibility and natural talent, she quickly mastered the guitar despite having no prior experience. However, she also acts on instinct, sometimes using her unique "run♪" expression, even when it's unclear what she's trying to convey. Her older sister is Roselia's twin sister, Sayo Hikawa, and she is depicted as doting on her.
Shirasagi Chisato: Bass
Shirasagi Chisato is already an active actress and plays bass in Pastel*Palettes. She attends Hanasakigawa Girls' Academy and is a classmate and good friend of Hello Happy's Matsubara Kanon. While she possesses the graceful demeanor of an actress, she also has a double side, revealing her true self when alone with Kanon. Although she's a popular actress in high demand, she appears to be a very hard worker, unlike Hina and her childhood friend Seta Kaoru.
Yamato Maya: Drums
Originally a support member, Yamato Maya was promoted to drummer for Pastel*Palettes after her appearance without glasses was praised. Her hobby is tinkering with machines, and her nerdy "fuhehe" habit often earns her a scolding from Chisato. While not the type to be in the spotlight, she delivers top-notch performances when performing with Pastel*Palettes. At Ugaoka Girls' Academy, she is a member of the drama club, where she is responsible for stage art production.
Wakamiya Eve: Keyboard
Wakamiya Eve, the keyboardist, is half Japanese and half Finnish and has a deep interest in Japanese culture. She admires "Bushido" (the Japanese for "bushido"), but she uses incorrect Japanese proverbs. However, she sometimes uses proverbs that perfectly fit the context of the conversation, making it hard to tell how serious she is. Originally a magazine model, she has a unique personality that changes depending on whether she's working as a model or an idol, which has sometimes surprised other members who have seen her do so.
"Hello, Happy World!" - Bringing Smiles to the World
"Hello, Happy World!", affectionately known as "Hello Happy," is a band whose goal is to bring smiles to the world. It's a rare band in "BanG Dream!" to feature a DJ, played by Michelle, who also serves as the band's mascot. Hello Happy boasts more quirky members than any other band, but what kind of characters are in the band? Let's take a look at each member's unique personality and charm.
Kokoro Tsurumaki: Vocals
Kokoro Tsurumaki is the founder of Hello, Happy World! and the daughter of a wealthy businessman. Her high-energy and peculiar behavior has earned her the nickname "Hanasakigawa's Otherworldly World." Perhaps because of this, she's friendly with Kasumi and Hagumi, who share her common sympathies. Kokoro never makes negative remarks and has a positive and optimistic personality. She also has excellent observational skills and the ability to discern whether someone is hiding something.
Kaoru Seta: Guitar
Kaoru Seta attends Ugaoka Girls' Academy and has many fans outside of school as part of her drama club. She frequently uses famous quotes from Shakespeare and Goethe, but dismisses them with a simple "that's how it is," revealing that she uses them without understanding their meaning. "Ephemeral" is also a synonym for Kaoru, which is the archaic equivalent of "strange." While she maintains a cool demeanor in everything, she suffers from a fear of heights and a dislike for horror, and has even been depicted fainting.
Hagu Kitazawa: Bass
Hagu Kitazawa, who attends Hanasakigawa Girls' Academy, plays bass in Hello Happy!. She's cheerful and has a simple way of thinking. When Kokoro asked her to play bass, she accepted, saying, "It seems more fun because there are fewer instruments than guitar." She has a lively, boyish appearance, which she herself feels insecure about, but the other members also consider her to be the most girly. She's childhood friends with Kasumi from Poppin'Party, and they spent time together as children.
Kanon Matsubara: Drums
Kanon Matsubara, the drummer, is the only sensible member of Hello Happy!, but she often gets caught up in Kokoro's eccentric behavior. She was about to quit drumming, but she got caught up in Kokoro's band formation and ended up joining. She's always timid and panicky, but at the same time, she's also said to be the most calm and collected. Because she's extremely directionally challenged, she's always reliant on Chisato, Kaoru, and Misaki for help.
Michelle / Misaki Okusawa: DJ
Misaki Okusawa was working part-time as a shopping district mascot when she was invited to join Kokoro Tsurumaki's band, and ended up joining as a DJ. She views Kokoro, Kaoru, and Hagumi as the "Three Idiots" who lack common sense, and in fact, as someone connected to Michelle, Misaki Okusawa is considered the sixth member. Although she is a completely ordinary girl, spending time with Kokoro and the others develops affection for her friends and the band, eventually seeing them as important figures.
"RAISE A SUILEN" Ends the Era of Big Girl Bands
"RAISE A SUILEN," also known as "RAS," is the sixth band in "BanG Dream!", formed to "end the era of big girl bands" that first appeared in the anime's second season. Founded by ChuChu, who also works as a producer, the band's members are all top-tier talents. Discover what the members are really like and discover their unique personalities and charms.
Layer / Wakana Rei: Bass and Vocals
Layer is the bassist and vocalist for RAS. She was recruited by Chuchu and later approached her childhood friend, Hanazono Tae, in the second season of the anime. She has a mature aura and maintains a certain distance from those around her, while also stepping aside for the sake of others. She's a more mature person than anyone else. Her bass and vocal skills are among the best in the industry, making her the perfect character to carry the RAS banner.
Rock / Asahi Rikka: Guitar
Originating in Gifu Prefecture, Asahi Rikka, also known as Rock, moved to Tokyo when she entered high school. A huge fan of Poppin'Party, she aspires to live the glorious band life just like them. She shows her hardworking side by working part-time as a live-in attendant at the public bathhouse where she lives, and also by working part-time at a live music venue. Despite her quiet appearance, she is portrayed as proactive, even offering Poppin'Party a performance at the venue.
Masking / Masuki Sato: Drums
Masking is the daughter of the owner of the live house "Galaxy" and the drummer for RAS. Her drumming skills are top-notch, and she has a habit of improvising when she gets absorbed in something. Her unsociable appearance has earned her the nickname "Mad Dog," but deep down she is a kind person who cares about her friends and is willing to shed tears for others. She's also skilled at baking cakes and has a penchant for cute things, revealing surprising personalities outside of music.
Pareo: Keyboard
Pareo, the keyboardist for RAS, calls Chuchu "master" and adores her. Originally an electric organ player, she switched to keyboard after being scouted. Her skills are not only impressive, but her performances are also top-notch. She supports the overbearing Chuchu, and is also caring and attentive to her teammates.
Chuchu: Producer and DJ
Chuchu founded "RAISE A SUILEN" with the goal of "ending the era of big girl bands." Not only is she involved in the management of RAS as a producer, but she also participates as a DJ at live shows. She's confident and professional, but she can also show a selfish side, as befits her age. However, she's not only beloved by Pareo, who she scouted, but also Layer and Masking, who hadn't joined the band until then, suggesting she's a popular and respected member.
Summary
We've summarized the band members appearing in "BanG Dream! 3rd Season." Not only will all 30 members appear at once, but their families will also make an appearance. With so many characters, you're sure to find a favorite and become engrossed in the series. Be sure to enjoy the world of "BanG Dream!" by not only watching the anime, but also playing the game. And enjoy the fascinating music to the fullest!
