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μ's
μ's (Muse) is the name of a fictional nine-member female school idol group appearing in the Love Live! media mix franchise, as well as a real-life nine-member female voice acting unit composed of the voice actresses who portray its characters. The voice acting unit is signed to Lantis (Bandai Namco Arts).
This article discusses μ's as a voice acting unit. It also covers the group's mini-units.
Releases in the Catalogue
- μ's - 3rd Anniversary LoveLive! -
LABX-8044(2013)
Members
Current
- Aina Kusuda - Vocal [Nozomi Tojo]
- Pile - Vocal [Maki Nishikino]
- Riho Iida - Vocal [Rin Hoshizora]
- Suzuko Mimori - Vocal [Umi Sonoda]
- Yoshino Nanjo - Vocal [Eli Ayase]
- BiBi
- Eli Ayase
- Honoka Kosaka
- Kotori Minami
- Lily White
- Printemps
History
Translated from the ja.wikipedia article Μ's (CC BY-SA 4.0), revision 110754532.
Overview
μ's is a voice acting unit consisting of the nine voice actresses who portray the members of μ's, the protagonist group of Love Live!, the first work in the multimedia project Love Live! series. The unit's name derives from “Muse”, the English and French reading of the Muses, the nine goddesses of the arts in Greek mythology, matching the number of members.
All released songs are regarded as having been released by μ's as characters, and are used in the work itself, its spin-off works, and collaborative works. Conversely, they have not been tied in with entirely unrelated works.
Reasons cited for the group's popularity include performances in which the voice actresses faithfully recreate the choreography of live scenes from the various animated productions, as well as a succession of initiatives designed to make the characters seem like real idols whom fans are supporting. Following the television anime adaptation, the number of female fans, in addition to male fans, also increased. Yohei Kisaragi (木皿陽平), the music producer in charge at Lantis, analyzed that “compared with other works, demand for live events is high”.
Because the group's name is pronounced the same as the medicated soap Muse, there is a scene in the anime in which Honoka (穂乃果) responds, “Soap?” upon hearing “Muse”. The official Twitter account for Muse also became a topic of discussion for frequently posting tweets related to μ's due to the familiarity created by the shared pronunciation.
The expression “μ'sic”, combining “μ's” and “music”, is sometimes used.
2010–2012
The characters were announced first in the August 2010 issue of Dengeki G's Magazine. The limited edition of the first single, “Bokura no LIVE Kimi to no LIFE”, was released on August 13, 2010, followed by the regular edition on August 25. As the group name μ's had not yet been decided, it was released under the name “Love Live! School Idol Project”. The CD contained no names or photographs of the voice cast.
The voice cast was subsequently announced in the November 2010 issue of Dengeki G's Magazine. The following month, the magazine began accepting submissions for the idol group's name. In the January 2011 issue, “μ's (Muse)”, devised by Yuma Miko, was selected as the group name through a user vote, and activities as a voice actor unit began in earnest. In February 2012, the group held its first live concert.
The first single reached number 167 on the Oricon rankings, but the group gradually gained recognition through the active event appearances of its voice cast and participation in Animelo Summer Live from 2012 onward.
2013–2015
Following the television anime adaptation of Love Live! in January 2013, the CDs released by μ's began to rank highly on the Oricon charts. Beginning with “No brand girls/START:DASH!!”, released in April 2013 and peaking at fifth place, ten consecutive singles released under the μ's name ranked within the top five.
The live Blu-ray Love Live! μ's →NEXT LoveLive! 2014: ENDLESS PARADE, released on July 23, 2014, became μ's first live Blu-ray to reach number one on Oricon's weekly music Blu-ray chart.
The scale of its live performances also gradually expanded, with the fifth solo live concert, held over two days in early winter 2015, attracting a total audience of more than 70,000.
At the 9th Seiyu Awards, announced on March 7, 2015, μ's received the Singing Award. The group also made frequent appearances on NHK programs.
From April 2015 onward, Yoshino Nanjo, the voice of Eli Ayase, declined all guest appearances, including the Kōhaku Uta Gassen described below, except for standalone Love Live! events, due to congenital patellar subluxation and meniscus damage.
The second best album, μ's Best Album Best Live! Collection II, released on May 27, 2015, debuted at number one on Oricon's weekly album chart and also ranked first on the monthly chart for May 2015. It was reportedly the second album by an artist credited under an anime character name to reach number one, following Houkago Tea Time II.
The live Blu-ray Love Live! μ's Go→Go! LoveLive! 2015: Dream Sensation! Blu-ray Memorial BOX, released on September 30, 2015, became μ's first live Blu-ray to reach number one overall on Oricon's weekly Blu-ray chart, despite its high suggested retail price of ¥19,440.
On December 31, 2015, the eight μ's voice actresses other than Yoshino Nanjo appeared at the 66th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen. Following an introduction to the group through the newly produced short animation Love Live! Kohaku Special Anime, created for the program, they performed “Sore wa Bokutachi no Kiseki” with animation footage from Love Live! in the background. According to a report by Sankei Sports, they were the second group of voice actors to appear on the Kōhaku Uta Gassen, following Nana Mizuki. According to NHK chief producer Tetsuya Shibasaki, the selection was based on the strong impression made by the group's momentum, sales, and public prominence that year.
2020s
Following "Love Live! Fest", μ's continued to appear at joint Love Live! series events and programs. Through interactions with younger Love Live! series cast members, including New Year special programs and discussion projects in the magazine LoveLive!Days, they established themselves as senior figures to look up to, despite having stepped back from front-line activities.
Amid this, events commemorating the 10th anniversary of the television anime's broadcast were held at Tokyo Garden Theater on February 23 and 24, 2024, and at Pacifico Yokohama on March 30 and 31 of the same year. For the first time in eight years since their final live concert, the cast members who appeared on stage also performed some songs at a solo event. From June to August of the same year, solo overseas events were also held for the first time since 2016, organized by SPACEY MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT, Pile's talent agency.
In January 2025, the well-received "TV Anime Broadcast 10th Anniversary LoveLive! Orchestra Concert" was reprised.
At "LoveLive! Series Asia Tour 2024: The Story We Make Together", held from 2024 to 2025, Nitta, Uchida, and Pile appeared as μ's at the Shanghai and Yokohama performances. For the first time, they performed their own songs and the event's theme song together with other school idol cast members.
Members
μ's consists of the following nine members. Its leader is Honoka Kosaka (高坂穂乃果), voiced by Emi Nitta.
The group has formed three mini-units, described below. In addition, the units Nikorinpana, Kotohonoumi, Kotohonomaki, and Nozomakieri exist exclusively for “extracurricular activities”.
Its call is “μ's (Muse), music start!” At live performances, after Yoshino Nanjo, in her role as Eli Ayase, calls out “9” during the members’ roll call, the audience calls out “10”, signifying that they themselves are μ's’ tenth member. This is followed by Nitta’s call of “μ's (Muse)”, after which the members and audience call out “Music start!”
The basic information for each member is as follows.
Basic Data for μ's Members
The standard order is based on the order in which the members are introduced on the official website (credit order).
The order of joining, school year (age), birthday, blood type, height, and three measurements are those of the characters within the Love Live! storyline.
Their weights have not been disclosed. Weight has also not been disclosed in subsequent series.
In the “Affiliated Mini Unit” and “Extracurricular Activity Unit” entries, a star (★) following a name indicates the leader.
Mini Units
These were units within the group, formed by dividing the nine members into groups of three. The member line-ups were decided through a reader poll, and the unit names, like that of μ's, were chosen through an open call for submissions. They also engaged in musical activities, releasing CDs and giving live performances at μ's events. However, unlike the mini units in later Love Live! series, they did not hold standalone live events.
Printemps (プランタン)
Members: Emi Nitta (leader), Aya Uchida, and Yurika Kubo
Described as the “classic maiden type” and a “healing unit of pure girls.” The unit's image color is pink.
BiBi (ビビ)
Members: Yoshino Nanjo (leader), Pile, and Sora Tokui
Described as the “fashionable model type” and a “visual unit that loves fashion!” The unit's image color is black.
lily white (リリー・ホワイト)
Members: Suzuko Mimori (leader), Riho Iida, and Aina Kusuda
Described as the “natural and energetic type” and a “natural-type unit of three natural girls.”
Center Position
The most prominent position, singing at the center of the front row of the stage for each song.
Many songs have a designated center, but in episode 6 of the first television anime season, “Korekara no Someday” was created with all members as the center. In addition, “Bokutachi wa Hitotsu no Hikari”, performed in Love Live! The School Idol Movie, is arranged in a circle with no apparent center, as it was μ's final song.
The table lists only songs for which the center position has been identified. Songs with a promotional video released are marked with a circle (○), while songs whose music videos were released only in games, such as the arcade game Love Live! School Idol Festival ~after school ACTIVITY~ and the smartphone application game Love Live! School Idol Festival ALL STARS, are marked with a triangle (△).
In the remarks column, a star (★) indicates a member's first center position, while a filled circle (●) indicates songs reflecting the results of center votes such as the “Center Position General Election”.
Love Live Club Niconico Live Extracurricular Activities: ~Kotohonoumi~ → ~Kotohonomaki~
A live program broadcast once a month on the video streaming website Niconico Live from May 23, 2011 to December 20, 2013. It consisted of 27 regular episodes and three special programs. Episodes 1 to 8 were titled Love Live Club Niconico Live Extracurricular Activities: ~Kotohonoumi~, and featured Emi Nitta as Honoka Kosaka, Aya Uchida as Kotori Minami, and Suzuko Mimori as Umi Sonoda. From episode 9, Pile, who voiced Maki Nishikino, replaced Mimori as a main host, and the program was retitled Love Live Club Niconico Live Extracurricular Activities: ~Kotohonomaki~. Special programs featuring all members were also broadcast. In 2014, a revival broadcast was held as a Pizza Hut collaboration edition.
Guests
Pile (Episode 2 – June 27, 2011) Aina Kusuda (Episode 3 – July 25, 2011) Sora Tokui (Episode 4 – August 29, 2011) Yurika Kubo (Episode 6 – November 30, 2011) Yoshino Nanjo (Episode 10 – June 22, 2012) Riho Iida (Episode 14 – November 24, 2012) Aina Kusuda (Episode 14 – November 24, 2012) Aina Kusuda (Episode 16 – January 20, 2013) Riho Iida (Episode 17 – February 24, 2013) Yurika Kubo (Episode 17 – February 24, 2013) Sora Tokui (Episode 17 – February 24, 2013) Suzuko Mimori (Episode 18 – March 17, 2013) Yurika Kubo (Episode 20 – May 18, 2013) Riho Iida (Episode 26 – November 30, 2013)
Special programmes
“Love Live! Public After-Party” (September 3, 2011) “Niconico Live Extracurricular Activities Special! ~Kotonicomakipanaumihononozorin'eri~ A Special with a Major Announcement Featuring All of μ's” (September 15, 2012) “Love Live! μ's All-Member Niconico Live Special (Tentative)” (titled “It’s μ's! All Members Assemble” during the broadcast) (March 10, 2013) “Love Live! μ's Niconico Live Extracurricular Activities: ~Kotohonoumimaki~ One-Night-Only Revival! Thank You Special” (January 16, 2016)