The latest season's breakout hit, BanG Dream! Ave Mujica—a new anime series from Bushiroad's multimedia franchise BanG Dream! and a direct sequel to BanG Dream! It's MyGO!!!!!—has been lighting up social media every week. Thanks to its unconventional take on band dynamics and its thoughtfully crafted character backstories, the show has become a hot topic among fans in both Taiwan and Japan.
But the fourth episode, which aired on January 23, dropped an absolute bombshell that sent the series to the top of X's trending topics. After the five members finally seemed to be gelling, with Mutsumi Wakaba / Mortis emerging as the band's shining star, a shocking twist had fans declaring, "This is basically a horror anime!"
(The following contains major spoilers for Episode 4 of BanG Dream! Ave Mujica. Reader discretion is advised.)
▼ After the episode aired, "アニメムジカ" (Anime Mujica) shot to the #1 trend, with "ホラーアニメ" (Horror Anime) also trending on X in Japan.
Picking up from Episode 3, the band Ave Mujica was riding a wave of hype, largely thanks to Mutsumi's efforts both on and off stage. The previous friction among the five members had seemingly vanished, replaced by a harmonious and supportive atmosphere.
But then, during a rehearsal, just as everyone was ready to go, Mutsumi Wakaba suddenly declared, "I can't play the guitar at all." The other four members were stunned. At first, they thought she was joking, but they quickly realized Mutsumi was dead serious, delivering the line with a chillingly detached air. The vibe instantly turned ice-cold.
Sensing something was deeply wrong, Sakiko Toyokawa, the one who brought them all together, pulled Mutsumi aside to figure out why she would say something so destructive right before a performance.
Bathed in eerie red light straight out of a horror film, Sakiko realized the person speaking didn't sound like the Mutsumi she knew. She demanded to know who she was really talking to.
That's when the truth came out: Mutsumi has a "split personality." The person Sakiko was confronting was "Mortis." She explained that the real Mutsumi was "asleep"—having retreated after Sakiko said something incredibly cruel to her. Mortis had always been there, talking to Mutsumi, playing with her dolls, and living alongside her.
The "Mortis" personality then revealed her intense dislike for Sakiko, blaming her for hurting Mutsumi and warning that if Sakiko didn't change, the real Mutsumi might never come back.
When Sakiko returned to the room, the other members asked what she said to Mutsumi. A terrified Sakiko couldn't answer. Just then, Mutsumi (as Mortis) reappeared, peeking her head through the doorway in a classic horror movie shot and asking, "Did you call me?"
Fans immediately singled out this moment as pure horror.
As she walked past Sakiko, she gave her a pointed, chilling stare.
Later, as the members tried to figure out what to do next, Nyamu Yutenji spoke up. Frustrated that Mutsumi was throwing away such a huge opportunity and disrespecting the band and their fans, she challenged Sakiko to fix the problem.
But Sakiko could only focus on wanting the old Mutsumi back. Fed up, Nyamu threatened to quit—a critical move, since the band had agreed in the previous episode that if even one person left, Ave Mujica would dissolve.
Faced with the band's imminent collapse, Mutsumi (as Mortis) panicked. She initially thought they were joking, but seeing the grim expressions on everyone's faces, she couldn't accept that the band was about to end. The episode closes on her, on the verge of a complete breakdown.
The episode's broadcast triggered a massive wave of discussion on X in Japan, with comments pouring in:
"Mutsumi is genuinely terrifying!"
"This episode was unsettlingly scary..."
"This feels like the final, brilliant flash of a firework before it burns out..."
"Is Mutsumi... already dead?"
"There are way too many horror elements. What is even happening in this girl band anime anymore?"
"No doubt about it, this is the anime of the season. Mujica!"
We're only four episodes in, but BanG Dream! Ave Mujica has already proven it has a unique charm and a knack for generating buzz. If you're looking for a series that hits different, you might want to check out the show fans are calling the ultimate "heavy girl band anime." XD