Based on Takara Tomys successful arcade game Tatsunoko Productions fiftyone episode anime adaptation follows the lives of Aira Harune Rhythm Amamiya and Mion Takamine and their journey to become Prism Queens and perform the legendary Aurora Rising. . 300https://media.giphy.com/media/mnu2BZTygAYcHykN0b/giphy.gif . Synopsis The form of entertainment to end all entertainment Prism Shows are famous around the world with countless girls wishing to become Prism Queens. Aira Harune and Rhythm Amamiya are one of those girls and are scouted to be Prism Stars. Later joined by famous model and veteran Prism Star Mion Takamine the girls bond and become friends while training themselves and working towards their dream. . 300https://media.giphy.com/media/1qWLlXh3QdyIsHZJPq/giphy.gif . Background The series is directed by Masakazu Hishida whose only directorial work previously had been on Onmyou Tai Senki as a series director and on Love Hina as the episode director for episode 8 shows his strength for longrunning series. With this being Deko Akaos second job as series composer she provides a compelling story based on the barebones nature of the game. The series could have been a pure commercial however Hishida and Akao make the series into one that stand on its own without the arcade game. . 300https://media.giphy.com/media/kPHRVuYKKc1PLMbxKM/giphy.gif . Review Girls are born to shine. They were meant to have fame and fortune Girls are born to dance. They were meant to flaunt their beauty on stage Girls are born to sing. They were meant to have a boundless future before them The opening lines of the series do a better job than I can at describing the central themes and message of the series which essentially is What can you do to improve yourself and become the person you want to be?. When I discovered the show I was entering the eighth grade and as eighth grade is here in US it was time of questioning for me as I decided what to do with my life. While I still battle that neverending question watching this series was an essential step for me on my journey for improving myself similar to how the main trio battle their own demons and trials on their journey to becoming Prism Queens. The idea of selfimprovement is one taken on in a variety of shows and is often one that becomes a central theme in idol series but Aurora Dreams version of selfimprovement is one that feels more real and hit me the hardest. Each girls troubles are ones that incredibly close to me such as Airas selfconfidence issues due to always comparing herself Rhythms broken family and her wanting to know her mother or Mions trouble of making friends due to having to grow up quicker than she should have. Most idol series tackle surface level improvements such as their looks or job related ones such as their dancing or singing skills. While Aurora Dream does tackle those topics the characters lack of these dont make up their personality or serve as quirks but as simply a one mean to an end that is if there is one for a topic like this. However the show doesnt forget that these characters are still young. Theyll make mistakes theyll fall in love theyll get mad and say things that they dont mean theyll make unlikely friends and more that define being young. Its impossible to expect for them to always to make the right choices however when they do theyre congratulated by their peers and when they dont theyre supported and told that itll all turn out all right. You cant be expected to be perfect but its fine to strive towards that perfection to strive towards what you born to do and to strive towards what you meant to do. The art and animation are serviceable as they arent the main focus and the CGI looks dated but its not an eyesore to watch which is important since theres a performance mostly every episode. The music in this series doesnt quite land in any of my top ten favorites for the franchise but they are good to listen to with some of my personal favorites being Dream Goes On and Switch On My Heart. The series delivers its desired story and its a great way to start the Pretty Rhythm and PriPara franchise as it provides the basis for the world and helps understand the small and notsosmall references provided in future installments. Obviously you dont have to enter the entertainment industry to better yourself but if youre looking for a show that shows the fruits of selfimprovement Pretty Rhythm Aurora Dream is one that I would recommend checking out.