This time, last year, R・I・O・T was added to the EN version. For many people, this would be their first true exposure to RAISE A SUILEN. It's the starting point of my Favourite BanG Dream! 2019 Memory: RAISE A SUILEN.
Fair warning, this is going to be an extremely long post. I don't even know how long but this might become my longest post. My only aim is to write about RAS which... really isn't an aim, I'm gonna end up sidetracked or something. If you want a summary: I absolutely love their music, the (actual) band and I look forward to see what they do with the characters in the future. RAS was a completely new experience for me with Bandori.
Before 2019, we have to go back to 2018, when RAISE A SUILEN was THE THIRD. I knew of their existence. That's all I have to say about that. I knew about their actual name when it changed and saw the characters, who I didn't think much of (...except for CHU² but we'll get to that). I can sum up RAS 2018 in a sentence: I didn't care. They exist, but then what? Nothing stood out to me. I do remember being excited about them appearing in 2nd Season, with me thinking that the season would be about the formation of RAS. It must have been a preview which had LOCK in it to make me think that.
Then R・I・O・T released. Then I played R・I・O・T. Then I instantly fell in love. It was intense. It was nothing like I'd ever listened to from Bandori. It also gained extra points from me because I love any techno aesthetic. I wanted more. More info, more music, more RAS. Yet it was 2 months later when I finally listened to UNSTOPPABLE and the kinda-new A DECLARATION OF ××× and EXPOSE 'Burn out!!!'. I wasn't too excited with UNSTO at first, but it grew on me a lot, to RIOT levels. DECLARA confirmed that I do indeed crave RAS' music. EXPOSE has Tsumu/CHU² rapping, that's all I need to say about that. It's the first song with her vocals. RAS' 3rd single released with Invincible Fighter and Takin' my Heart, which continued the process of falling in love with their music. Every RAS song has been in my Top 10 since RIOT, I love them that much. With their 4th single close to release, DRIVE US CRAZY and HELL? OR HELL!, I'm crazy excited to start listening to them, a lot of it thanks to the allowed recordings of DRIVE US CRAZY at THE CREATION. I may have lied to myself at the beginning, telling myself that "I don't like those kinds of music" and that was kinda stupid of me but all's well that ends well.
Talking of the band, the people behind the characters... or I should say the people who the characters represent. My first exposure to them was through RADIO RIOT and even though I could only understand snippets (or in other cases had translation guidance), it's a joy just listening to them. They feel like one giant family (and I'm not saying that because of Mama Raychell). I love all of them, but I do have to say that Tsumugi is my favourite, not just from RAS but the entire franchise. I think the best way to describe Risa is to point to Bandori TV's 'news report' segments with her and Rikopin. She does everything to make Riko go out of the 'serious reporter' mode. My current favourite is from #68 (Time - 08:54), Riko messes up and Risa goes all in. Either those segments or this lovely image by Riko for her birthday. What a crazy lovable person.
Now, about the fictional characters of RAS. When I first saw them, I couldn't form an opinion, as I don't like to make one without info. Which is funny because when I saw CHU², my exact first thoughts were "Who is this girl and why is she going to be best girl?". My intuition can be terrifyingly accurate... It was this lack of information that made me even more curious about them, which only heightened as 2nd Season went on. They're a band like no other in this franchise, shrouded in mystery. They aren't even fully formed yet in canon! The band's a mystery and so are the characters.
Gonna be using their real names from now on.
I'll be honest, 2nd Season hasn't given me much reason to like/love Rei and Masuki. Don't get me wrong, Rei/Tae's relationship and the following event with RAS was a genius way to tie the real and fictional band together, which also led to some amazing moments, their duet (which I don't like naming because I don't know how to refer to it by) being one of my favourite moments. But Masuki... didn't have many moments to shine (for me, at least). It might have been the expectations I brought from Garupa, but even after rewatching 2nd Season, they didn't give much to take from their characters. I'm so glad RAiSe fixed that for me, for both of them.
At first, I didn't like Rokka. I'll admit that. Why, I don't remember. But rewatching 2nd Season gave me a new appreciation for her and now she's a character I love a lot. You could argue that she's the focus of the anime, despite not being the focus. Many of the PoPiPa parts include her in some way, Galaxy staff to her solo performance. Her love for PoPiPa fits perfectly with her past and the work she put in to meet her dreams is very admirable. Please, read the RAiSe manga if you can.
Reona is another that I didn't exactly like as well, but in this case my opinion changed completely during 2nd Season. How could you look at her and not smile (disregarding her past)? She does her job as Chiyu's right-hand-woman perfectly and speaking of, most of my favourite Chiyu moments have Reona with her. Well, to be fair, Reona is always with Chiyu but that's not the point. She's half the reason why I love Chiyu so much.
So... Chiyu. Oh, where do I start? She is a character unlike any other in Bandori. If it wasn't obvious, I love out-of-the-norm stuff, when done correctly. Despite being one of the smallest characters and one of the youngest, she exudes pressure and authority, which is shown magnificently with the RAiSe! manga's art style. Yet she does not catch a break in 2nd Season. Rejected by Yukina, finds an ideal guitarist in Tae and then Tae leaves. She might give the impression that she's someone who gets what she wants, but in reality that's never happened to her. Let's not forget to mention the moments where her composure and 'coolness' breaks. Entering Arisa's basement, dancing to PoPiPa, her excitement after RAS' first live, Reona commenting on her English, Reona teasing her about her English, when she tries to kick a cone in anger and Reona stops her, Reona, EVERY single moment with Reona- wait, this has just turned into my favourite Chiyu moments... Even Chiyu just saying 'PAREO', I love it. I've always said that Hina/Sayo has my favourite pair moments, but I think Chiyu/Reona surpasses them. Back with my intro post, I said I liked cool and cute. That sums up the main reason why I love Chiyu. She has moments where she is menacing but she also has absolutely adorable moments. Those would pretty much be the moments I just listed.
I've spent this entire day just looking through RAS stuff, from the seiyuu to the characters and everything in-between. I hadn't realised until now that I've had this massive goofy grin the entire time. I saw, remembered and reminisced. I really, really, really, really, really, really, REALLY love RAISE A SUILEN and everything about them, if that wasn't obvious enough. They will always be Number #1 in my heart.
except for the fictional band because they don't fully exist yet come on 3rd season please
If you used your time to read through all of this... you deserve some major praise.
