ข้อมูลอนิเมะLove Live! School Idol Project

Otonokizaka Academy is announced to be closing down after everyone graduates due to lack of applicants, much to the shock of second year student Honoka Kousaka, who loves the school. As she and her classmates Umi Sonoda and Kotori Minami try to think of a way to make the school more attractive to prospective students, Honoka is surprised that her younger sister Yukiho wants to go to a different school, UTX, instead of Otonokizaka. As Honoka decides to investigate UTX, she finds it attracts a lot of students due a school idol group known as A-Rise. Honoka decides that the best way to save her school is to start an idol group themselves, though Umi isn't keen on the idea. As Honoka becomes downhearted, she spots a talented singer and pianist and redoubles her efforts, whilst Umi inevitably gives in and joins Kotori in partaking in Honoka's idea. Despite their request to start an idol club being rejected by the student council president, Eli Ayase, Honoka remains determined to make it work.

Honoka manages to get permission to use the auditorium for a concert in a month's time, although Umi has doubts that they'll be ready in time. Unable to think of a name for their group, Honoka holds a contest for the name instead before realizing they do not actually have a song to practice. As Umi reluctantly agrees to write lyrics, she puts Honoka and Kotori on an exercise regime to build up their stamina. As Honoka unsuccessfully attempts to get the girl from before, Maki Nishikino, to compose songs for them, Eli warns her that her idol plan could backfire and damage the school's reputation further. Honoka perks up when she hears the class is supporting her, as well as receiving a name for their group, μ's. Honoka once again approaches Maki, showing her how serious an idol's work is and giving her the lyrics Umi wrote. After a little advice from the student vice-president, Nozomi Toujou, she sends Honoka a CD of the song she composed from Umi's lyrics whilst also anonymously voting for μ's on an idol ranking site.

On the day before the concert, Umi starts to get cold feet about performing in front of others. To get her used to other people, Honoka and Kotori get Umi to hand out fliers to help build her confidence. Umi has some reservations about the costume, but Honoka manages to convince her to make sure all their efforts don't go to waste. However, on the day of the concert, no one shows up as all the freshmen are busy checking out the other clubs. Just as Honoka is about to break down over her wasted efforts, a nervous girl named Hanayo Koizumi shows up to see the concert, prompting Honoka to go ahead with the performance, which soon attracts a small, but very much appreciated crowd. When asked by Eli about what they'll do next, Honoka insists they'll keep on performing so they can eventually fill up the auditorium.

As Hanayo debates whether she should join the idol club, which needs five members to become official, she asks her friend, Rin Hoshizora, if she would be willing to join with her, although she declines as she doesn't have enough confidence in her femininity. Later that day, Hanayo visits Maki's house to return her dropped Student ID, where she explains how she'll probably have to quit music in order to study medicine and inherit her family's hospital, but says she'll support Hanayo should she decide to become an idol. Afterwards, Hanayo comes across Honoka's shop, where Umi and Kotori are also visiting as they notice a recording of their performance has gained a fair amount of views on the internet. Mentioning that even they have their flaws, the girls formally invite Hanayo to join the club, asking her to think it over. Noticing her shyness in class, Maki decides to help Hanayo learn to speak loudly. After receiving a push from both Maki and Rin, Hanayo finally agrees to join the idol club, whilst Maki and Rin also decide to join.

Honoka and Kotori are confronted by a curious girl named Niko Yazawa, who tells them they should break up. Meanwhile, as the rainy season causes the club to think about where they can practice, Honoka realizes that they could try and form an official club now they have enough members. Just then, they catch Niko trying to steal their food and insult their lack of professionalism. The girls learn from Eli that they can't form their idol club as there is already an Idol Research Club, whose sole member turns out to be Niko. After Niko rejects their offer of merging the groups, assumedly based on their lack of personas, student vice-president Nozomi Toujou explains how Niko had previously attempted to become a school idol but set the bar too high, leading it to fall apart. After thinking about it, Honoka comes up with the idea that they should all join the Idol Research Club to learn how to improve μ's, inviting Niko to join the group as their coach.

Whilst shooting interviews for each of the clubs, Nozomi suggests to the group that they shoot a new music video now that they have more members. During the interviews, Nozomi becomes curious as to why Honoka is the leader of μ's when she doesn't seem to do anything. Thus, the discussion soon turns to who should be the leader and center in the group, but they can't decide on who is the most worthy. Thus, Niko suggests that the decision be settled by a sing and dance contest at a karaoke place, though her plan to outshine everyone doesn't go very well as everyone ends up with similar scores. Honoka then suggests that they don't really need a leader and should just have everyone taking turns to sing, although the others secretly agree that Honoka is the most leader-worthy person. As the girls complete their new music video, Nozomi prompts to Eli that she should be the one to help them.

Hanayo informs the gang of a school idol tournament called Love Live in which the top 20 school idol groups from across the nation compete against each other. Needing the school's permission to enter, the group go to ask the chairwoman for permission, and despite Eli's objection, she approves of their entry on the condition that none of them fail a subject in the upcoming exams. This puts a lot of pressure on Honoka, Rin and Niko, who have generally bad grades. Umi and Kotori decide to help Honoka study whilst Hanayo and Maki help Rin and Nozomi helps Niko. Later that day, Umi comes across Eli's little sister, Arisa, a fan of μ's who reveals Eli shot a video of their live performance and uploaded it to the internet. When confronted about why she refuses to acknowledge μ's, she simply responds that she considers all school idols amateurs. As Umi asks Nozomi about why Eli would think that way, she reveals that Eli used to be a talented ballerina. Rather than being deterred by this, Umi becomes determined to ask Eli to teach the group how to dance like her. After the exams finish and everyone manages to pass, Honoka overhears the chairwoman tell Eli that the school will stop accepting new students next year and be shut down.

The chairwoman clarifies the school will be closed down if their upcoming open day is received negatively. As Eli tries to think of ways to attract potential students besides μ's, Umi suggests to the group that they should get Eli to teach them how to dance. Eli eventually agrees to help them out and starts putting them through some intense training, surprised to find them willing to put through with it despite the roughness of it all. As Eli becomes conflicted by what she should do, Nozomi tells her that should do what she wants to do instead of what people expect her to do. Eli breaks down and says she wants to join μ's but doesn't feel she is able to do so. Nozomi informs the others, who formally invite her to join μ's as one of their members. Eli finally becomes honest with herself and joins the group alongside Nozomi, who reveals she was the one who came up with the group's name. The complete group performs at the open day to a pleased crowd.

The success of the open day helps bring the faculty to reconsider the closing of the school, as well as earning the group an expansion to their club-room. After the group manages to reach 50th in the rankings, they visit Akihabara where they find they are already being featured on merchandise. Upon discovering a photograph of Kotori in a maid's outfit among the goods, they learn that Kotori has been secretly working part-time at a maid café after school to build her confidence. Eri decides Akihabara would be the perfect place to hold a live performance, assigning Kotori to write a song about Akiba culture. However, Kotori struggles with coming up with lyrics, which soon has an impact on her studies. In order to help her out, Honoka and Umi join her at the maid café. Recalling the feelings she gets whenever she works in Akiba, Kotori is able to come up with some lyrics which help make the performance a success. As Honoka assures Kotori that they'll be together forever, an air mail letter arrives in Kotori's postbox the next morning.