English Dub Review: Ensemble Stars “Resolve”

Overview (Spoilers)

The pieces are finally coming together for Trickstar now that Anzu has agreed to be their producer. Even better, Sakuma is able to snag a room for the team that’ll finally allow them to practice together. Still, the team battles with self-doubt as the S1 competition draws closer. Later, UNDEAD challenges AKATSUKI to a singing duel at the competition.

Our Take

The pacing of the episode isn’t bad. And as a result, viewers are allowed to familiarize themselves with the individual members of Trickstar, as well as characters such as Sakuma and Kuro, who are (thankfully) three-dimensional characters. The writing and the voice acting are also quite nice, if not just slightly eccentric. Conversations between characters flow naturally and seem realistic. As for the performance scenes, there is an animatronic quality about them, but it isn’t something out of the ordinary for an idol anime. (Plus, UNDEAD’s performance made my inner tween squee in delight.) As previously mentioned, the Japanese dubbed songs, while good, can dash some viewers expectations. Well, only if you’re a stickler for English dubbed anime. Personally? I’d love to see the English VAs break out their vocal chops, but the Japanese dubbed singing is just fine.