 Nick Creamer from Anime News Network reviewed the first season in 2018.He was critical of the overall plot reusing story elements from the original series but said it was utilized very well in making its "genuinely imperfect" main cast relatable and having a more "emotionally resonant" adventure than its predecessor.Creamer wrote that director Kazuo Sakai did an admirable job maintaining the series' visual comedy previously helmed by Takahiko Kyōgoku, giving each character a distinct and expressive trait from one another and improved the CG dance models and scenes to be more eye-pleasing and presentable than before, concluding that, "Simultaneously too similar and extremely different, suffering many of the same failings but rising to its own dramatic heights, "Sunshine" is ultimately a rewarding show and a fine followup for the "Love Live!"