The franchise's premise is based around all-female bands whose members are also voice actresses in the anime and mobile game; as of 2024[update], the project has nine groups, six of which are capable of playing their respective characters' instruments, and eight that are featured in the mobile game. The first band, Poppin'Party, was formed in February 2015, and further groups were introduced in 2017 with the launch of the mobile game: Afterglow, Pastel Palettes, Roselia, and Hello, Happy World!. In 2018, a backup band called The Third was renamed Raise A Suilen and joined the series, followed by a seventh unit named Morfonica in 2020. Further expansion in 2022 introduced MyGO!!!!! and Ave Mujica. For live performances, Poppin'Party, Roselia, Raise A Suilen, Morfonica, MyGO!!!!!, and Ave Mujica's voice actresses play their own music, while the others are limited to vocals.
The anime, which follows fictional representations of the bands, has three seasons of 13 episodes each. The first season, produced by Issen (OLM with Bushiroad) and Xebec, aired from January to April 2017. Sanzigen took over production duties for the second and third seasons, which were respectively broadcast in winter 2019 and 2020. A concert-centric movie BanG Dream! Film Live was released in 2019, followed by a sequel Film Live 2nd Stage in 2021. Three band-focused films have also been produced: the two-part Episode of Roselia series premiered in 2021, followed by BanG Dream! Poppin'Dream! premiered in 2022. Spin-off anime series include BanG Dream! Girls Band Party! Pico and its sequels Pico: Ohmori and Pico Fever! by Sanzigen with DMM.futureworks and Pastel Life by Studio A-Cat. An anime following MyGO!!!!! titled It's MyGO!!!!! aired from June to September 2023. The sequel to It's MyGO!!!!! titled Ave Mujica is set to premiere in January 2025.
The series has enjoyed international popularity for its live performances and mobile game, while the anime has seen mixed but improving reviews with later seasons. In 2018, the franchise expanded to include a male-based counterpart Argonavis from BanG Dream!, which was spun off into an independent brand From Argonavis in 2021.
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