"Kizuna no Aryll" is an anime themed around virtual YouTubers, depicting the exploits of students aspiring to become virtual artists. The second season is scheduled to air this fall, and it's already garnering a lot of buzz. Some of you may not have seen the first season, so today we'd like to introduce some of its interesting features! Reading this article before watching is sure to enhance your enjoyment!
Synopsis
Kizuna AI, who appeared like a comet in the virtual world, suddenly disappeared after winning the Virtual Grid Awards for five consecutive years. Shortly afterward, Miraku, a young girl with dreams of becoming a virtual artist like Kizuna AI, enrolls in ADEN Academy. Miraku is one of many students with a variety of dreams who have gathered at the academy. What will Miraku's school life be like?
Point 1: VTuber Theme
This is the core of this work, but its key point is that it is a unique work that focuses on VTubers. In this work, they are called "virtual artists." Miraku and her friends attend school in the real world, but as needed, they transform into virtual artist avatars and enter the virtual world to take classes and complete assignments. The story's fascinating worldview makes you wonder if such a world might actually exist someday. Additionally, at the end of each episode, characters from the series (in avatar form) converse with each other, much like a YouTube video project. These conversations can also be enjoyed on the official YouTube channel, "Ariru's Project," so be sure to check it out.
Point 2: Singing and Dance Scenes
Like the "Love Live!" series, this work features singing and dancing scenes at key points. Every time a new song is introduced, it's exciting to see how the characters will perform. New songs often appear at key moments in the story, making them enjoyable as part of the story. Also, a single song may be sung by multiple characters, such as a song sung by Miraku being sung by another character in a subsequent episode. By doing so, they are able to create different worldviews even for the same song, preventing viewers from getting bored.
Point 3: Vtubers Competing for the Top
At the school featured in the series, each student strives to become a virtual artist. There is a virtual artist popularity ranking system, which ranks students based on the popularity of their streamed videos, allowing them to see at a glance where they stand. The protagonist, Miraku, also faces various challenges, such as struggling to rise in the ranks and, just when they think they've solved a problem, another one arises. From the middle of the series onwards, the group begins activities with a mascot-like avatar called "Marumaru" as a member. However, they sometimes face challenges unique to VTubers, such as criticism in the comments section over Marumaru's position in their videos. The way the show openly portrays the difficulties of competing for the top spots makes it feel quite realistic, even though it's an anime.
Summary of the Series' Interesting Points
While the theme is innovative, it also has the appeal of a school setting, making it a series with a variety of elements to enjoy. There's still a little time until the second season airs, so if you're interested, why not check out the first season? Even if you've already seen it, it's a good idea to rewatch it in retrospect! That's all for today. Thank you for reading.
