Chance Pop Session: Session One (2002)
Review by Dindrane
Film:
DVD:

Directed by Susumu Kudou

Features:

• Character sketch gallery
  
• Production gallery
  
• Japanese promo spots
  
• Clean opening/closing
  
• "How to Be a Popstar" booklet
  

Dindrane's Anime Warnings:

• Snotty girls
• Prima donnas
• Broken dreams
• Hope

Released by: ADV
Region: 1
Rating: 12+
Anamorphic: N/A; appears in its original 1.33:1 format.

My Advice: At least rent it.

Known in Japan as Chance Triangle Sessions, Chance Pop Session appears to be an anime title about three girls and their shared dream to become a pop idol. And it is that, but it’s also more. The girls in the music school are not all cuddly and sweet; one of them is downright mean, and several of them are snotty and overly competitive. The three main characters of the show are all very different, but united in their readiness for change and for a new life. They are all young adults, at the age where they need to start focusing on their real goals. Akari is a church choir singer, sweet and focused, with a good head on her shoulders. Yuki is a street musician, gifted and driven, who is ready to take any odd jobs she can find to support her nightlife as a singer. Nozomi comes from a very wealthy family, but she is more kind than spoiled.

The entire plot is overseen by the myth of the angel of music who smiles upon her chosen children, granting them stardom and success. The plot is rather overshadowed by the waning of an existing pop star, Reika, and the rather single-minded drive of the head of the music academy (and star manager), Akiba Kisaragi. We get to see three stages of a pop star's life: yearning newbie, top of the charts, and aged former star who holds onto fame through creating new stars. Kisaragi sees potential in our three heroines, and Reika tries to offer them some advice now and then, as she herself is floundering, newly on her own after Kisaragi tells her that she must now manage her own life and career.

The extras are nice enough: character design sketches, the original Japanese promos, and clean opening and closings. Given how important music is for this show, it’s good to have those clean options. We also get the production background gallery that allows viewers to not only appreciate the work and artistry that goes into a show like this, but to see how things are done.

The audio and video quality are great; the show sounds as good as it needs to sound to show off the different voices of each girl and the music that unites them. Both the Japanese and the English cast are talented, but it’s still good that the producers opted to leave the songs in Japanese only to keep them intact and consistent with the feel of the animation.

In short, this looks like just another girly, kiddy anime title, but take a cue from the 12+ rating--it's not. There’s more going on here. Kids will like the pop tunes and the cheerful look of the show, but will quickly become bored as the adults in the room grow more interested.