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About the franchise
The stage is set. It’s circa 2017, you’re the CEO of a major trading card company attending a Chainsmokers concert and you’ve just realized… This DJ business is the next big thing.
Well actually it’s not. You hire a bunch of voice actresses from your other popular music series. You make a video game and 2 seasons of an anime. And you partner with Donuts Games who handles the game development side. Alas, while D4DJ does hold a decent Japanese fan base, it doesn’t perform as well as its spiritual predecessor Bang Dream and you’re not sure what to do with the franchise. In 2023 you and your company pull out of ownership of the series, leaving the rest to Donuts.
D4DJ is a Multimedia Franchise
- 26 anime episodes
- 1 mobile rhythm game
- 26 episodes of a spin off chibi anime (YouTube link)
- 13 episodes of a short form mini anime (YouTube link)
- 8 volumes of manga
- 15 voice dramas (YouTube link)
- 1 stage play (YouTube link)
- 55+ episodes of variety content hosted by the voice actresses (YouTube link)
- 18 episodes of a talk radio series (YouTube link)
- 30+ live concerts
- 55+ music videos (YouTube link)
- 250+ original songs
- 180+ covered songs
- And more
The Idol Rhythm Gacha Game Scene
- Has rhythm game + visual novel + gacha cards
- Each group specializes in different music
- Features both original music and covers of popular songs
- Group vocals
- Fictional bands that are represented by a center / frontman
- Ensemble cast of cute young girls who rarely age
- Vague shipping angle
- Event stories focus on small story arcs
- Idol-like voice actors
- Smaller fanbase
- Very unique rhythm game mechanics
- Focus on different electronic music genres
- Cover songs are remixes rather than straightforward covers
- Live voice actor concerts
- Low IQ characters and usually slice of life plot
- Focus on inter-group interactions
- Canon romance and hard polyamorous shipping angle
- Semi wide age range of characters
- Them's a lot of catholics
- Story is heavily distributed between anime, game and manga
Order of Events
- 1st Season Anime (First Mix)
- 3 New Units (Merm4id / Rondo / Lyrical Lily)
- Ch 1 Game
- D4Fes
- Optional Spin Off (Petit Mix)
- 2nd Season Anime (Double Mix)
- Ch 2 Game)
- 1 New Unit (Call of Artemis)
- 2nd D4Fes
- (All Mix)
- Optional Spin Off (D4DJ Mini Anime)
- (More game story)
First Mix (Recap)
Characters
Rinku, Maho, Muni, Rei, Kyoko, Shinobu, Yuka, Esora, Saki, Ibuki, Towa, Noa, Ryujin, Airi, Shano, Misa Misa
Plot
At an outdoor concert venue, two vocalists and a DJ perform on a legendary stage. 8 years later, 1st year transfer student Rinku returns to Japan after more than half a decade in Africa.
Chasing the sound of a song she heard 8 years ago, she meets aspiring DJ Maho, who introduces her to a whole new world of music. Rinku soon reunites with her estranged childhood friend - the artistically talented Muni- and receives music lessons from the classical piano prodigy Rei. Throwing themselves into the competitive DJ music scene of Yoba Academy, they form Happy Around.
The girls aim to enter the annual Sunset Stage DJ competition - where only the top 8 units of Yoba Academy may compete. Standing in their way is Photon Maiden - a newly debuted DJ group backed by the legendary Producer Himegami Shano. This encounter with Happy Around inspires Photon’s DJ and frontman Saki to explore the full range of Photon’s sound.
After defeating Photon Maiden, Happy Around advances onto the Sunset Stage. However, they are quickly cut down by Peaky P-key, the school’s strongest unit and Rinku’s inspiration. It’s an overwhelming victory led by Peaky’s DJ Shinobu and vocalist / trackmaker Kyoko. But in the end, Happy Around feels more joy than frustration reflecting on their experience as a DJ unit.
Chapter 1 (Summary)
Characters
Plot
After 8 years of radio silence, the legendary Japanese DJ festival D4FES is being revived by Mitsuhashi Sho. As a result of winning Sunset Stage, Peaky P-key are qualified to perform on the legendary stage of D4FES. However, the same doesn’t apply to Happy Around. Motivated to enter the event, Happy Around has decided to audition for a spot on the festival’s program. Will they make it on the road to D4FES? And what kinds of new DJ units will they meet once they’re there?
Happy Around: Becoming Professionals!
- We did it. We're popular!
- Maho tells the girls about D4FES
- What's D4FES?
- How do we get into D4FES?
- Recording of a live performance, Audition Pt 1, Music Video, New Song, Audition Pt 2
- Oh no! Too Hype!
- Failure!
- Remember when we all went to D4FES?
- Return of the Rookies!
Peaky P-key: We're way too Good for this!
- At the top as usual
- Yuka meets a stranger in the park!
- A request from Shinobu's grandpapa
- Mysterious Esora Activities
- Kyoko: bored and alone
- At the top as usual... but something is off!
- Go to the cafe!
- Singing lesson at the cafe!
- What is... teamwork
- At the newly constructed S. Hall
- Kyoko puts her foot down!
- One heart shared!
- D4FES invite
Photon Maiden: Finding New Colors, Again!
- Saki is still thinking about colors
- Photon wants to be a new Photon
- Meet the team
- The producer is officially useless as a producer
- Warrior Training at different Dojos
- We can rely on Saki
- Noa: latent criminal
- First Solo Live
Merm4id: Hot Partying College Girls
- Rika Marika
- Unfortunate Bystander
- Clubbing