The iDOLM@STER

When one gets to point where they begin disregarding anime because they have too many girls on their front poster, it's probably time to take moment and re-evaluate. Granted, I've forced myself to sit through so many generic harems, rom-coms and ecchis these past few years that it has almost become reflexive of me to steer clear of any anime which possibly looks like it may contain any one of the aforementioned three. It was only natural then when I saw the poster of The Idolm@ster, an ensemble of 13 cute girls gawking up at me, that alarm bells tripped off in my head like ... fire sirens at a pyromaniac's convention. Only due to vigorous recommendations did I reluctantly pick up the series later on.

Proverbial justice looks down on the pretentiously knowledgeable, or so it would seem. My transition from skepticism to fanboyism was swift. Within episodes I was converted, all preconceived doubts I harboured for the series unfounded or long forgotten. I almost felt ashamed, my predictions of meaningless plot and mindless ecchi not only completely wrong, but also reflected the conceited critic that I had become. The Idolm@ster humbled me, never again shall I judge an anime at face value.

The Idolm@ster follows story of 765 productions, a small time idol agency and their road to stardom and success. The narrative of each episode are alike but flexible, each one generally focuses on the backstory of one character, but also contains plenty of interwoven exposition of various other characters so that no episode can really be considered standalone. The general theme of each episode often revolves around a character issue or weakness, some form drama arises from this issue, which is then eventually resolved with the character experiencing some kind of revelation or growth. In many episodes the show cleverly relates the story to a broader context; for example the episode "Everything Starts with One Courageous Step" refers both to Yukiho's small step in facing her phobia, and the day's events as 765 production's first step towards their future.

There are times where the structure of each episode feels a little formulaic, however this is largely offset by the large variety of different stories the show offers. The tone of the stories are what I like to call very PG-13 esque, many of the problems and struggles are grounded in realism, but airbrushed with a heavy hint of optimism. Whilst the drama does get quite heavy towards the later stages of the anime, you can always rest assured that there will be a happy conclusion. In fact, the entire overarching theme of the anime seem to revolve the simple ideas of happiness and optimism which it conveys well, sometimes to a fault.

The characters of course are, quite literally, the stars of the show. It quickly becomes apparent how unexpectedly deep the characterization for these girls go. Each character is unique and Idolm@ster goes out of it's way to make sure these girls all interesting and memorable, which it does a surprisingly good job of. Idolm@ster features an amazing ensemble of voice actors that do a fantastic job of bringing these characters to life, both on stage singing as idols or off stage exchanging playful banter with each other.

Ironically, the true unsung hero is actually the main protagonist. Given a largely clean slate, the nameless "producer" remains very undeveloped and uncharacterized, acting as a role of sorts for the viewer to jump into, (if one was interested in that sort of stuff). What it also meant was that the spotlight always on the girls, never stolen away to implicate or relate the girls with a largely support figure character, romantically or otherwise. Funny how irrelevant the titular character ended up being.

There are many standout qualities The Idolm@ster offers, but the gem of the glitter has to go to the cinematography. In many ways the cinematic progression of the show reflects the characters themselves. While 'offstage' the production value is reasonable at best, easy to look at but not spectacular. The anime goes about it's daily business, not hinting at the show that's about to come.

Then, as stage is set and the music cues, here's when you finally realize that all bets are off. Explosions of lights and sound ensue, magnificently choreographed sequences aided by thrilling transitions, zooms, pans and cinematic techniques I didn't even think Japan knew existed, all cumulating in an electrify experience that's really putting my vocabulary limit to the test. The contrast of onstage and off really allows you to appreciate the level of workmanship devoted into these few minutes of animation. And then there's the ED sequences, which being unique to each episode itself is already unprecedented, also offers some great imagineative style backed with wonderfully fitting music. I have nothing more to say about The Idolm@ster's production value, other than two giant thumbs up of approval.

The Idolm@ster is in many ways a neat little snippet into a prominent Japanese idol subculture. Though perhaps not entirely accurate and/or realistic, The Idolm@ster takes a risk with it's presentation, using what could easy come off as a simplistic and childish tone, and instead delivering on a show that has both enthusiasm, energy and character.

Watch Idolm@ster with an open heart, and you'll quickly discover the sparkle that is perhaps one of the most underrated anime this season.

I'm sort of a strange fan of the iDOLM@STER series. In terms of experience with the series, i've only seen Xenoglossia myself, which I also enjoyed very much, even though the other people I talked to about it didn't really seem to like it. Aside from that, i've never played any of the games associated with it, so I can't say I have any experience with them.

That being said, The iDOLM@STER so far has been quite an enjoyable experience for me.
(Please note that all things said below are my opinion only! Also, most of the things I talk about are already subjective in nature, so ... not everyone will agree with the verdicts that I lay out for it. I respect everyone's opinion and it's ultimately up to you as the reader/viewer to decide if you agree or disagree with the points I discuss. With that being said, enjoy the review!)

Story;
In terms of the story, I can attest that, so far, they have done a great job at keeping it consistent. The story as you may already know, is about a group of amateur idols (the main cast) and their journey towards reaching their goals.

Keep in mind that this isn't just restricted to becoming a successful idol. While (nearly) every character in the cast wishes to become a popular, there are also a number of other goals that the characters are aiming to achieve alongside their journey through the industry. These goals are unique to those specific characters, and, in showing that, the show adds a side to it that increases the variety the of plot material as you are able to see that the cast isn't just a group of people aiming to do the same exact thing.

Although there is no real central plot to the story aside from them wanting to become popular idols, the show supplements that fact by adding in sub-conflicts that different members of the cast face while they progress and grow. This is also made more interesting in that it shows how being an idol interacts with the character's lives and how it may sometimes get in the way of or complement their other objectives.

For the most part, there hasn't been any heavy drama yet, but this may change in the future. There were some specific dramatic parts for some of the characters (Don't want to spoil.) which I thought were done well for the most part. Nothing that made me break down crying, but still legit and reasonably believable/enjoyable. The episode hid a glaring chekhov gun in early on so there is probably something large waiting over the horizon.

The comedy of the show has been mostly just light comedy, nothing that made you burst out laughing like Nichijou, but nothing that made you cringe in disgust like you've been told a really bad joke either. Most of the comedy is usually good enough to put a smile on your face and elicit a few giggles, which is good enough for me.

The show is, for the most part, separated into specific character-centric episodes where they choose one of the cast and focus on a slice of their life. This hasn't been followed strictly seeing as some episodes have been shown to focus on multiple characters, or even the whole cast equally to some degree, but so far, there have been a decent number (3? I think.) of character-specific episodes. So far, the show has done a good job of doing it both ways, by giving a reasonable chunk of the screen-time to specific characters for their spotlight episodes, and also treating the cast fairly equally in episodes that feature them all.

The show does a very good job of keeping a steady balance between idol-related business, normal everyday life trials, and also catering to each character's equally important side-goals as well. In my opinion, the story is very solid so far, and I can attest that it is accomplishing what it had set out to do and not straying too far from the main path.

Art;
In terms of Art, I can at least say that I enjoy it. The characters are designed very well and they all look nice. I don't have much to say about the art because this subject is incredibly subjective, right alongside music, so I can't really explain whether it's good or not. You either enjoy the style or you don't.

Sound;
I guess this category could be attributed to the overall music for the show. In my opinion, the music included in the show so far has been very good. The opening sounds great, and also does a good job in getting you into the mood to watch the show. The ending themes are very good as well, aside from them being enjoyable music, the songs are tailored to specific characters of the cast, making for a heightened experience that complements the characters when viewing their spotlight episodes. The insert songs are fine, and the BGM is fine as well. Other then the specifics mentioned above, there wasn't anything that stood out as particularly "bad" in terms of music to me.

Character;
Oh boy, this section was actually going to be pretty big, but I think I already covered a majority of it in the story section. Due to the nature of the show's lack of a centralized conflict, it's obviously going to have its main focus be character development.
That being said, the show succeeds in presenting the characters in ways that make them unique and interesting.
There are a number of different personalities to identify with and explore.
The characters also come from a variety of different backgrounds, ranging from the poor to the rich, to the average every-woman to the mysterious others.
In terms of character development, the show doesn't slack in making sure that all of the cast has a their own, unique and interesting set of traits, goals, personalities, incentives, and probably more.

Enjoyment & Overall;
In my opinion, it's a very solid show that knows what it is aiming to accomplish and isn't hesitant to go for it while also providing a very enjoyable experience to those who want to lend their time to watching it. As a small side-note too, I really enjoy shows that give you a look into the life of another while also teaching you things as well. If I ever decide to become an idol, I can always look back and see that, while this show is probably idealized in some aspects, it is still a fun look at what the life of an aspiring idol would be like.

Some people may be questioning why I gave the show 10's in everything. Well, here's the thing, the show so far hasn't really done anything for me to actually say it's bad. It's basically that kid in school that's doing everything he's supposed to do. I don't feel right taking points off of the score of a show if I don't even have anything reasoning behind taking them off. The show is for those who are interesting in hearing a story about the lives of a group of aspiring idols and their journey to success. If you are not interested in watching a show like that, you can always just watch something else.

The show knows what it whats to do and is doing it well. It's developing it's characters, keeping a steady pace on the main plot, making sure every character in the cast is diverse and interesting, and for the most part, making your viewing of it worthwhile. I would recommend this to anyone who is interested looking for a light-hearted slice of idol life show to just be able to relax and enjoy.

The Idolm@ster is an ecchi anime with tons of fanservice but don't worry, your parents won't get mad because there is never any sex! A Producer enters a world with tons of lonely models and they get into many panty-revealing, nose bleeding adventures. The harem increases one by one and soon, all the girls just want the producer to touch their boobs. If you are a man, I definitely recommend this anime. Why should we ever bother with hentai anymore? That's all Idolm@ster is about....

....Or so you thought.

Well then, sorry to disappoint you but I lied. For some reason, Idolm@ster tries to sell ... itself in a way that strays from its true focus. It's probably a conscious decision for the director to choose a poster that screams "ECCHI". However, it doesn't stop there because while Idolm@ster is a fun slice of life that tosses around cliche characters with smiles and jokes that make you feel warm it, ultimately rolls out two of the most intense drama arcs I've come to enjoy.

At a first glance, the characters seem to be the strongest point of the show. The show emphasizes this by dedicating episodes to each of them. Yet the characters are where I have my most complaints. Each idol represents a typical character trait - from a friendly klutz, to playful twins, a prince who tries to be a princess - we've seen them all. Also, some of the characters just feel less important, which is understandable because there are 13 main idols, but not really an excuse because you wouldn't attempt such a show if you didn't have the confidence in developing 13 characters.

Still, despite the flaws, Idolm@ster somehow is able to make each character memorable and fresh. The way they react with each other is extremely important in achieving this. Yayoi's episode would not have been so enjoyable if it wasn't for Iori. Chihaya and Haruka's relationship is a joy to watch and Miki's relationship with "Honey" is very fun. They are just side stories that continue throughout the whole series even though the series is episodic. We end up with a very heartwarming series as the characters support each other to achieve their dreams.

I also quite enjoyed the variety of ideas. Sometimes we get almost pointless episodes like Hibiki's and Azusa's that just make you laugh but then we suddenly get serious ones like Miki's. The most important episodes are the last 4 towards the end of the series where it unravels into a melodrama that really pulls some emotional strings. The directing was also varied as the first episode was all shown through a camera all the way through and episode 15 was a whole show that the idols were hosting.

Yet what I love about this anime most is how everything seemed so simple, so happy, but there were tons of rather dark and complicated moments. The president's background with the antagonist president was enough to get you thinking. The whole introduction of " Ryūgū Komachi" made me feel extremely uncomfortable, because I just couldn't help feeling how jealous all the rest of the girls must have felt which was most apparent in Miki. The Futami twins episode made me feel even more uncomfortable because while it looked as if Mami was unhappy because she wanted to be with Ami, I really felt a bit of jealousy in her tone. The foreshadowing of Chihaya's past in many of the episodes really piqued my interest. It's funny how even in a beach episode with 13 idols, you get a small scene which ends up with a discussion about what if fame doesn't end with what you actually wanted. Haruka's feelings in her last arc, are actually quite dark. Realizing that what she wants is selfish, she keeps it all to herself but in the end it's too much for her. And don't forget about Iori's blackmailing. There are many hidden emotions that never are being said, most notably Chihaya's anger towards Miki for abandoning practice even though she was the one who kept the group together when they all were worried. They are all little things, but when you put them together, you realize that this is no coincidence and they were scattered throughout the show on purpose. It adds an extra layer.

I'm not that great in talking about animation and sound but I feel this anime definitely deserves some sort of recognition for it. The music was definitely fun and fitting but it really wouldn't have made an impact if it wasn't for those live performances. Those music videos were gorgeous. There is something special about the camera angles, the lights that explode, the choreography and uniforms, its just plain eye candy. They really put a lot of effort into making them - the details to the flying hair, few recycled scenes - I loved them all.

You see, Idolm@ster sells itself as a simple slice of life but if you pay enough attention, you'll notice the complex ideas hidden away in the story. Its easy to compare Idolm@ster to K-On!, as both seem to be a character-focused shows about girls having fun, yet I feel Idolm@ster tries to trick the watcher into thinking that while it dashes small hints of jealousy and sadness in the background. Its almost like a real show, because your idols are gorgeous on stage, but they are just humans behind the scenes.

Oh, and I wouldn't mind marrying Haruka.

The story revolves around 10 wannabe idols and the staff at their agency 765 Productions. The anime includes all the characters from the games along with their original voice actors making this series great for the original fans of the franchise. The first episode which aired in Japan on July 7th this year introduces the audience to the characters via interviews with each idol and member of staff, giving us an insight into their reason for becoming idols and working for 765 Productions. This was a very original introduction to the series and seemed like a great way of telling a story while keeping the ... dating sim feel of the original game. I don't know if the whole series will be done like this but my guess from seeing the sneak preview is that it won't and I fear that this original concept may be scraped for something more typical of this genre. Visually IDOLM@STERS is great! Like A-1 Pictures previous animes, it's well animated and the backgrounds (though digitally done) look spectacular. The characters are as peppy and lively as they are in the games with each idol having their own different personalities and fan appeal from the large boin to the mysterious type. Over all, I'm looking forward to seeing where this series goes from here and I expect there will be a lot more song and dance in the future.

Rough review by Charles Shepherd
www.electricbloomwebzine.blogspot.com

Nearly plotless, fluffy as hell, and still pretty good. No CGI unlike Love Live!, which might be good or bad depending on who you are. Somehow manages to have each character be a character despite there being 15 or so.

Suuuuuuuper homosexual, though. Single most gay thing I've ever watched, and I watched Boku no Pico, man. Not that it's a bad thing, just incredibly homo. Every character is a lesbian or Miki, the only confirmed straight one there.

Short Tips:
In one word: Vibrant
Good for: Light-hearted fun, colorful pretty art, watching to unwind and relax
Other notes: De-stressing, motivating, makes you smile! Cute girls and personalities :D

Full Review:
With a name like IDOLM@STER, I confess I really didn't expect much out of this anime when I first started. But after watching a few episodes, I was really really taken by the vibrant art and the colorful characters. To me, watching IDOLM@STER is like eating colorful fruit candy-- it's just so vibrant and sweet and there's nothing unpleasant about it at all!

The story of IM@S isn't much to be honest, 12 girls striving to ... become celebrities (Idols) in Japan. They start out very unpopular/not well known in a Production Agency, and this anime chronicles their rise to fame. The story is rather predictable in many ways, but gives you a solidly feel-good type of vibe, as they start out as underdogs and gradually work their way up.

One of the lower points of the anime features an arc with a really really stereotypical "bad guy" rival production company, and to be honest, the whole "evil, greedy production mastermind" came off as really really cheesy. The story of that arc was pretty meh.

But I find their best episodes to be the ones where there's not so much of a driving plot, but more of a observation episode of what happens to a group of characters on a given day. And this is because the characters in Idolmaster are absolutely outstanding. They're fun, vibrant, colorful-- the voice acting is superb and the songs are enjoyable and catchy~ One girl in particular, Miki, has really really great charisma as a character and her VA has done a great job. You can't help but like her and everything she does, because she does it all so well!

It's been a while since I've found an anime that's just so darn FUN and adorable to watch. There's no real drama or angst (Or is there, in Episode 23?!), not really enough to make a viewer/watcher feel stressed or anxious or sad. It's a really fun, vibrant and light-hearted anime, and will definitely cheer up or add a bit of pep to any day~

The IDOLM@STER is one of the best anime I watched. I love this anime because a lot of people can relate to some of the storyline. The girls also have various personalities. I also like it because their singing is amazing and the artwork is really good. Their dancing is amazing too. The anime is one of the best I watched.

Being an idol is far from easy. On the surface, it may seem like the job is all fun and games. However, as shown in THE iDOLM@STER, unexpected twists and turns make this job a very stressful one. Despite this, being an idol is like a dream come true for many of these girls as they would undoubtedly give everything they have to stay as one. Based on the popular raising simulation and rhythm game of the same name, THE iDOLM@STER had previously been unknown to the vast majority of the anime universe. Before continuing on to the main section of the review, take note ... that this adaption is my first experience with the iDOLM@STER franchise.

Art (9/10)
I'm a big fan of well-choreographed stage performances and the ones in THE iDOLM@STER definitely don't disappoint. Considering that they generally suck up a lot of the show's budget it's surprising, but good to see, that there were TWO, as opposed to one, large-scale concerts that were shown. In both of these, I found the animation to be top-notch and the use of camera panning and angling enhanced my viewing experience greatly. The characters themselves were also visually unique which I thought was a nice treat. However, like virtually all anime series that have scenes of breathtaking animation, there are also times where the drop in quality is noticeable. Although this barely affected my viewing experience, the fact that it happened prevents me from giving a perfect score in this category.

Characters (10/10)
I came into THE iDOLM@STER knowing none of the 13 idols and having no idea which ones I'll end up liking or hating. However, after the 25 episodes, I can say one thing for sure: all the girls are likeable and interesting in their own ways. Although some got less screentime than others, I felt they all were developed reasonably well considering that most of them only had one episode that focused on them. The development for the "main three" (Miki, Chihaya and Haruka) was anything but unnoticeable. If one were to compare their characters from when they were first introduced to the final few episodes, it is evident that there was a great deal of change that occurred. Aside from individual character development, the idols, as a group, also show signs of growth and bonding throughout the series. A big contributing factor of all this development can be attributed to the surprising amount of drama that was present; more on that later.

Sound (10/10)
I'm quite sure that almost everyone will agree with me when I say the sounds category for this episode definitely deserves a perfect 10. Not only are there 25 different EDs and 2 catchy OPs, but also a slew of insert songs (at least one for each episode). With this much content, I find it unbelievable if one were to tell me that none of the songs were, at minimum, "good." The BGM was also quite decent, especially the perfectly placed piano pieces of various songs at the right times. The seiyūs, although many of whom are not popular, did a great job with their roles as each character's voice seemed to fit their personality. On top of being able to voice their characters well, they showed great deal of skill by being able to sing decently as well, an ability that not all seiyū have.

Story (9/10)
Let's be honest here - not for one second did I expect THE iDOLM@STER to have a story or plot. And for the first half or so of the series, I looked to be correct. However, once drama started appearing on the horizon, things took an unexpected turn. My image of THE iDOLM@STER suddenly transformed from one of "my weekly dose of moe idols living their lives" to "an exciting and gripping drama surrounding moe idols". Even so, I greatly welcomed this surprising turn of events and, in no time, the series won my heart; the best of both worlds - moe girls and intense drama - all wrapped up into a nice package that is THE iDOLM@STER.

Overall (10/10)
What can I say? I absolutely loved THE iDOLM@STER. I know there are many out there who are skeptical about this adaption but I ask that you remember these familiar words of advice: "Don't judge a book by its cover." Sure, on the surface, THE iDOL@MASTER may look like it only appeals to the hardcore otaku fanbase but underneath all the singing, dancing, and moe girls, there's a great story waiting to present itself. So whether you're a fan of moe or drama anime, I highly recommend you sit back, relax and enjoy yourself some THE iDOLM@STER; it definitely wouldn't hurt to give it a try!

This is my first review, so please mind my unprofessionalism.
Originally, I watched the first episode as a mere joke, but by the end of the first episode, it left me wanting more. The IDOLM@STER was the first idol anime I had ever watched, and it opened up an entire new type of anime to me. I had taken a liking to idol animes upon completion of this one. As I watched this anime of 13 idols grow bigger and bigger in popularity, it made me feel somewhat proud. Remembering them as beginners just in the first few episodes and top idols in the last few ... had me very satisfied that they had gone a long way.

Story: 7/10
The story overall, would be unique and different to me, compared to others. The whole story revolves around 15 year old idols that work their way up to the big stage. Unlike many other animes, this story takes place at the 765 production office and does not show any of the character's school lives. Along with some fillers, each episode was dedicated to one character, and hence great character development in my own opinion. Many animes leave me with an empty feeling; I felt that I would have wanted a better ending, but this anime, however, made me feel complete, and I didn't really want to watch anymore, it was a great ending to me.

Art: 8/10
The art in this one might not be THAT great to some. However, as I am watching this in 2015, I feel that for a 2011 anime, it has greatly exceeded my expectations. I even would prefer this art then some of the art in this year.
The art has a moe feel to it to me. It's simple and unique. Although the characters from certain angles might be a bit strange, it the art was amazing nonetheless.

Sound: 7/10
The voice acting was good, it matched with the animation and was clear. The background music and sound effects was good, but not that good. In some parts of the anime, some did not fit, but imo doesn't really effect me overall. Im not excellent at judging sounds, but if I were to rate it without any criticism, I would give it a 7/10.

Overall: 8/10
First, It was me trying to watch this idol anime as a joke, but in the end it had been one of my favourites of all time, and made me take a liking to idol animes. Each episode kept me locked on the screen and didn't make me feel bored at all, and upon completion made me feel complete and fulfilled. It's a happy, and sometimes sad anime, and if you haven't watched it yet. I highly recommend you should.

I've heard a lot of things about Idolmaster prior to watching it. In fact, I heard a lot about the hasegawa model airplanes they came up some time ago. That kind of caught my attention and well, ironically about the same time this anime popped up so I decided to watch and see what it was about.

Basically this show is about a bunch of girls from different backgrounds wanting to be idols with the help from their producer who remains nameless.

Story

The anime starts off very slow. You are introduced to the characters and you aren't given much information on them until several episodes in. ... It really feels like a slice of life type of format, just replacing the "school" aspect of it with the "idol" one. It isn't particularly strong, but some episodes can be entertaining. The addition of the rival 965 firm makes things more interesting though, but at times though I felt like dosing off, which in my opinion signifies repeated story lines I've probably seen before. Not particularly great or really bad, but pretty mediocre. I give it a 6.

Art
Hmm...It's not particularly bad and it's not particularly great. There is a lot of moeness, which pretty much does nothing for me unless it's very unique; which it isn't. I'm not particularly bothered by the moeness like I was for other animes (like K-On for example). Character designs are ok, animation is decent and backgrounds are pretty good. Unfortunately, not something I'd consider noteworthy. I give a 6.

Sound
Most of the songs are j-pop, which aren't particularly good or memorable. They sound a lot like the stuff you'd hear on the radio for like a month and then never hear it again. Singing wise it's good, some of the voice actors do a very decent job. Not really much else to say about it. I give it a 5.

Characters
The shows characters tend to be the more interesting part of everything. Most of them aren't quite what they seem. Some characters have gone through some very tough situations, others face difficult circumstances and for the show that's a good thing to convey to the audience. Unfortunately, it doesn't do much of it thorough for you to really appreciate or relate to the characters which makes it fall just short. I give it a low 7.

Enjoyment/Overall
Overall it's a pretty average show. If you are into moeness you'll probably love it and if you hate moeness, you'll definitely hate it. I'm not in either camp, so I say it's pretty average. Characters can be memorable, but so far through 17 episodes the show hasn't really taken off in my opinion. The slice of life story line can be too boring at times and too predictable which just hurts the show overall. I give it a 6.

------------
Update.

Since the last time I wrote this review, the anime has improved storywise and character wise. You learn a lot more about 965 pro and why the boss does what he does and you learn a lot more about the characters. I believe it was episode 20 was probably the best episode of the entire series. It was very well done and very moving (you learn a lot about Chihaya's past) and I equate it to other famous anime moments like that in Clannad when Tomoya finally accepts his daughter. It was a dramatic episode that really just stood out from all the rest of the anime.
It doesn't stop there though. We got to know more about a few other characters and the episodes just suddenly got a whole lot better. It's a shame they couldn't show us these great episodes until the ending part of the anime because it would have made the anime a lot stronger overall. Luckily I think they did enough to really make this anime stand out a bit more. In all I give it a high 7. The last few episodes really saved this show.

The core concept behind a Japanese Idol is “heart” and then projecting that heart onto their audience. Likewise, an Idol-anime must emulate this same sensation of heart and project it onto the viewer. This emulation can be a task easier said than done and thankfully "The iDOLM@STER" accomplishes this with flying colors.

Idol Master follows the story of 12 would-be idols and their amazing production team on their journey from borderline bankruptcy to stardom. Along the way we get to see every up and down in the idol process. This includes stories ranging from quirky and often times very ... funny character-on-character encounters to deep, life lessons. The same lessons that are often reflected inside of the music they produce, almost as if to summarize what we’ve just seen. Each episode is outfitted with its own unique still image sequence and ED(this is almost worth a free point on its own).

Arguably the most important challenge presented to an anime of this nature is making sure that all of the idols feel very Distinguished and likeable. Every girl needs to have her own personality, her own likes and dislikes, her own life and backstory, her own very unique presence on the screen. Idol Master spares no expense breathing life into each of its characters and, almost as if boasting, lets you experience each of the characters both alone and together in a group enviroment. By the end of the 26th episode you will feel as if you personally know each and every one of the characters you have met.

Idol /ˈʌɪd(ə)l/ n. a person or thing that is greatly admired, loved, or revered.
What does it mean to be an idol? That's a question the A-1 pictures' series The Idolm@ster tries to answer. It's based on the Xbox 360 game with the same name and follows thirteen idols and their producers as they all try to overcome trials of varying sizes and severity in their quest to reach the top in the Japanese entertainment industry.

The show kicks off with a mockumentary style first episode, which really surprised me. It fools you into thinking that this actually might turn out to become something interesting direction-wise, as ... I've never heard of an anime of this genre being made before. Never fear! All the subsequent episodes are good ol' slice-of-life. As usual, each episode focuses on one character that is in some sort of pinch, and then the pinch resolves itself somehow and everyone is happy and smiling. Sometimes there is more than one character in focus, and sometimes there is no pinch at all, but the core plot-model doesn't really change a lot during the series. This doesn't really matter that much to me, as I'm a fan of mindless slice-of-life. I also found most of the girls to be likeable and every viewer will probably find at least one girl they like in the large cast.
Some people might want to check out this even if they don't usually like this kind story. I'll get back to that later.

The main antagonists, Jupiter and their producer, are introduced in the latter half of the story. I didn't really like them a lot in the beginning, as they felt unnecessary to the plot (if you could call it that.) But they acted as the catalyst for some surprisingly well executed drama; and I guess they grew on me eventually.
Drama is often the bane of slice-of-life stories. Writers who don't know what they’re doing tries to force in a contrived, sloppy sob-story in the last two episodes for no apparent reason and the whole show is ruined in 50 minutes. That is not the case for Im@s though, the drama arcs are properly implied from the start and they feels like a natural development of the story, I’d even say that it’s the high point of the series. Characters get to be properly fleshed out in a satisfying way and it also explores themes that, while not original, are interesting. For example the downsides of fame and how friends with the same ambition ironically get torn apart while chasing it. Im@s is not exactly a tear-jerker, but that wouldn't have clicked with the light-hearted tone anyway. Series like this one and Soredemo Machi wa Mawatteiru show us that it actually is possible to have drama in a slice-of-life show without it having to feel incredibly forced and out of place.
I have no problem with light-hearted stories, but the first episode and the drama-centric episodes show us a "what could have been" Idolm@ster. A more raw and gritty take on the idol industry, a scathing social commentary. But it's not that, and that's fine. With nothing more than a regular-sized budget and averagely skilled staff, Im@s could very well have turned out to be something relatively mediocre, bad even. So let's have a look at what it is that really makes this series shine.

Do you know what sakuga is? It's a term reserved for describing unusually fluent and exciting animation. It's not something commonly seen in series aired on television, but Im@s has buckets of it. I mean seriously, watching this show almost makes me wish they’d use all that money on something worthwhile, like fixing world hunger. Almost. The series routinely utilizes jaw-dropping animation and routinely makes animation nerds like me giggle like retarded, sugar-high children. Im@s really reminds us of why A-1 is such a highly regarded studio. Actually, I've been seeing a lot of sakuga lately. Fate/Zero and Mawaru Penguindrum have a lot of it too, though Ufotable seems more interested in design consistency than fluency with F/Z, and Penguindrum's strength mostly lies in its excellent scene composition and art. While Im@s just has brute, raw sakuga. Which show you’d prefer, visually speaking, mostly depends on what you value the most when looking at animation; it's a question of personal taste.

Of course, animation is only one half of the presentation. Im@s is all about idols, so the music is a vital part of the whole package. The Idolm@ster series already boasts a rather large catalogue of songs and the staff has taken full advantage of this. The result is a new ED for every episode and many, oh so many insert songs. The viewer really is getting spoiled here. Whether you like the songs or not, again, comes down to taste. The songs are pop, but pop is a very wide and diffuse genre and Im@s has songs from every side of the spectre. You have both slow, pompous ballads and hyperactive J-pop. If you only listen to black metal or gabber you might feel a bit stumped, though most people should probably find the song catalogue listenable.
On the seiyuu side, while some of the voices might be a bit grating, Im@s has an overall strong cast. I wouldn't consider all of them to be good singers, or singers… Some have great voices though, Asami Imai (Chihaya) especially stands out as a really talented singer throughout the show and Hiromi Hirata (Makoto) was also a favourite of mine with her cute, tomboyish voice.

Despite all the praise I've been singing up until now, Im@s does suffer from a few problems. For example, some characters didn't have enough screentime (Takane) and some were subjected to mediocre writing (Takane). Some fans of the original games might also feel a little unhappy about the minor changes made when adapting the series to television. Finally, the direction and writing is very fluctuating, a common problem with episodic series lacking overarching plot and also Im@s's greatest. The episodes typically range from mediocre to so-cheesy-it's-awesome, ultimately it's the character interactions and presentation that'll keep you watching, not cleverly constructed stories and witty writing.
These are only minor hiccups, at the end of the day The Idolm@ster is a very strong show. It goes for a scattershot approach, trying to appeal to as many as possible at once. Of course you can’t please anyone 100% like that, but Im@s succeeded fairly well. I’d say it pleased me about 80%. The show doesn't take many chances, but it has lots and lots of money and a very skilled staff. If you're only watching one show this year, make it Penguindrum, but if you're watching two, The Idolm@ster would be a good candidate.

Let me make a confession. My first idol anime was Love Live. Yes that yuribait infested Love Live with the horrid CGI animations. So after Love Love and realizing how much I was intrested in the idol genre, I decided to give one of the most prestigious series in the genre "iDOLM@STER" a spin. And it was great.

Story: The story of Idolm@ster starts off with a documentary of a small idol company in Tokyo as a way of introducing the staggering 13-person cast. It's large, but the anime more than makes up for this through fantastic interpersonal interactions and personal episodes for each character during ... both halves of the show. The first episode isn't just great as it's own stand-alone episode, but also as an amazing introduction throughout the show. What the show does amazingly though is its portrayal of not only growth but as matureity. If you compare the characters(both the managers and the idols themselves) from the beginning of the show and the end, they are more mature, more grown up. And that's the best part about Idolm@ster. Every character grows in some way, gaining insight not only into the world around them, but also their own individual flaws. Subconsciously or consciously this change doesn't just occur within a single episode, but throughout the entire show as the cast tackles themes of trying hard, talent, and even corporate corruption. These themes can be presented in a silly manner(I love the scenes with Kuro-P) but the impact is still there. The anime strikes a great balance between silly and serious, something that is hard to due in anime.

Art, Sound, and Animation: But this is an idol show after all so lets talk about the songs. The majority of the songs are interspersed in both daily life moments and in actual live performances(mostly in short bursts to provide CD sales) and for the most part are pretty catchy. The OPs and EDs as well have this same upbeat nature to them that is typical of idol music but that isn't a bad thing either. One thing that is great though is addition of hand drawn dances(something that is both expensive and very tedious to do in-studio). It really shows the passion and love the animators have for this project which I loved.

Characters: Yes each character is either a characterature or fetish personified in some way. It ultimately leads to plain characters that can be summed up in a single sentence. But that doesn't bog down the show. Instead it allows for more growth in the characters and makes each and every one of them rememberable and likeable. It's a great contradiction that works for the show instead of against it, as one might think.

Closing Thoughts: Overall, "The iDOLM@STER" is a great show that exemplifies what I love about the idol genre. Upbeat songs, cute girls, memorable moments, minimal drama, interesting themes, and unique costume designs. If you love idols and jpop, watch this show.

The first impression you get from a series based on a game is that it will become just another piece of merchandising like Pokémon which after a great beginning it ended keeping for 10 years like a repetitive story which will never end while the games keep selling. Thankfully the introducing Xenoglossia gave me to the characters and to the IM@S franchise made me give this anime a big chance to watch it and become one of my favorites, after I watched the first episode it promised me to be a fun series full of colorful characters and lots of music and dance, now that ... I watched all episodes I can say that it accomplished even more than that.

About the characters it's amazing to see how this show makes you fall in love with them by showing not only how they are over the stage but also hoy they are in their daily lives, of course there were some of them they got left to show, but this show is so powerful that it even makes you fall in love with Kotori, who probably makes you think at the start: "Nah, she's just the secretary!", but no, you see that she's more than that.

Too bad the first episode doesn't give a good impression for those who are not familiarized to give chances, cause the second episode is where the show really starts, in the meaning that the fight for becoming top idols really start and you keep discovering more things on the idols that you didn't even see in the game, and the fact that the classic combination of comedy in the beginning and drama in the end was more deep than expected makes you love it even more. Of course if you never played the games or at least heard of them, this show is a total surprise box for you.

I loved the fact that there were new songs related to the show, and if you're watching it with subs the song titles on the screen make you run to your favorite mp3 site or youtube to listen them, cause they're songs you can't stop listening.

In few words, this show ended turning me in an Idolm@ster fan, and if you like music and colorful characters, it will turn you too into a fan after watching few episodes.

The iDOLM@STER is one of the greatest and amazing animes that I ever watched. The story went from being light to drama.

Okay, I was very happy that each of the girls got their own spotlight. The music and animation were amazing and the anime proves to me that they can make incredible dance moves without the use of CGI animation. Glad they gave the 765 Production some challenges up ahead and showed us good and bad points of being in the idol industry. The series is really based on real life idol activity.

I gave this anime a positive review, for having an outstanding story. Like ... I won't even thought of that (xD) and the challenges they gave for each of our characters. Keep up the good work and I hope to see more of the iDOLM@STER in the future.

This is DiamondRabbit signing off~

I can't remember where did I find out The Idolm@ster, but i know that in that moment, I just wanted to watch it. After I start watching it, I just went i little sad, because the first chapter isn't very interesting, and at the beginnig of the anime, I though I was going to watch something like K-On, without any spot, just cute things everywhere (and I do like cute things)

But it was merely a felling. This anime has a Spot. We could say that it is a little like K-on!, because characters are all cute girls (well, at least we have some boys), that ... do the funny and stupid things that we like so much... It's a little like K-On, yes, and I think, no matter how everyone like K-On, a lot of people got sick of it, before the end of the anime. And like this, I can't stop thinking that K-On would be a great anime if it had some spot.

JUST LIKE THE IDOLM@STER!!!

I'd say that this anime is complete, because even if we like sweet things, by itselves they will just get boring. That doesn't happen here. Characters have personality, have problems, they have a dream they want to reach, and we see that developing untill the very end of the anime, while we still can laugh out loud. Each character has his own problems, but they still fight with everything they have, and for dreamers, that's a truly beautful meaning. It give us hope and strengh, it makes us happiers just because we see the characters reach their dreams like we wish. This makes the spot beautiful, complete and I'd say well organized, because the develop of the characters' story is from the easiest to the hardest situation.

The art... I can't explain how the art is perfect. Each character is so beatifull, and not only beautiful but well drawn... I never found out something badl drawn. All the colors are just so pretty in this anime, it make the watchers fell better the emotions, it make us want to live in that world, just to see things like them. And normally, when we watch an anime, at the best episodes, seems like the quality isn't enough for that scene to be perfect. That doesn't happen here. At the shows, the idols seems like they are really dancing, like they were real, everything is so proportional, and the characters are even prettier. The clothes, specially when the girls dress dresses, make their moves so realistic, the dresses come and go just like they were real, and that makes me wonder how that was produced only in seven days!

The musics... I can't tell, it depends if you like that kind of music... You like anime songs like Toradora's, J-Pop, and things like that? So you'll like them for sure. Anyway, I dind't listen to the songs carefully, since most of them are used like background on a great moment. Anyway, I give it a ten because they really work out with the characters, and the spot.

So, with this, the only thing I have to tell you is: don't think this is a spotless anime at the first episodes, because that's not true. As I said, the spot is well organized from the easiest to the hardest situation, so the best comes in the end. I just ended watchng The Idolm@aster righ now, and i couldn't help but give it a 10.

I really recommend it.
Mia_Chan

Story: 9/10 - I love how the story progresses each episode. It wasn't focused on one-person's life only but everybody's. every character touch my heart.

Sound: 10/10 - I love the sound effects and fitted in every scence in each episode. Most of all, I LOVE the music. I am having so much fun listening to them. I loved J-pop more.

Character: 10/10 - Every character left impact on me. They have different personalities and I enjoy watching them. All I am saying while I watched is "This girls are kawaii!"

Enjoyment: 10/10. I SIMPLY LOVE THIS ANIME. Nothing less.

Overall: 10/10. This anime is very fun ... to watch. I am inlove.

The iDOLM@STER at first glance looks like it should be a complete mess of an anime. It has no central character, and a team of 13+ idols and the Producer to share the spotlight.

The "story" if you want to call it that is the transformation of the idols and their studio, 765 Pro, into nationally known (and sometimes internationally) super powers in the industry and how the changes have affected their day to day. This does not really hit in full force until the very late episodes, but you can see changes through out the entire series.

Most episodes are only related in the ... sense that they involve the same characters. There is a "rival" group and studio that is introduced too, just to keep things a little interesting. Because the connectivity of a story is very loose the series presents a very slice of life feel at times.

I will say that the show, as far as each episode goes, is inconsistent. It can go through stages of incredibly boring episodes, and then really touching ones. It is much stronger in the latter stages though, which makes up for what I'd call a slow start.

As I've mentioned idol has 13+ idols and even more characters that need to get some focus. With so many characters you'd think that some of them don't get touched on, and you'd be right...kinda. While not every character really gets a large amount of development most of them do get their own episode, or a shared one, and come to have a recognizable character trait(s). There are shows with less characters that don't development them as much as Idolmaster.

Most of the characters are pretty enjoyable too. They have a large range of personalities, family situations, and even views on life. All of these are shown throughout the entirety of the series. Yes, a few of them are cardboard cutouts, but even they can be enjoyable. I would never expect a 25 episode show to fully develop a team of like 15 characters, the fact that they do such a good job with so many is really something. Still, it is apparent at times that they stretched themselves thin.

I have to say I was surprised how emotional the latter episodes got. They really pulled the right strings and made you care for what's going on, unlike the early ones when you really struggled to grasp the show.

The series is obviously packed with music. Each episode has its own ED with animation focusing on what character the episode has in focus. There are also songs dotted throughout the series.

The more I write about this the more I kind of want to raise my score of 7, however, despite everything Idolmaster had going for it it just did not cash in on some of the strength early on. In a way the series got stronger as it went on, sort of like the idols themselves.

This is the most memorable idol animes I've seen. I watched this when I was young and even now I can remember everything about this anime. Like what happened in each episode, the voice of each characters, their hobbies, personality, pet, appearance, song, backstory... And it's been many years since I've watched this, so it really takes a lot for me to remember them so well. That's what makes this the best idol anime (imo) ever.

Story 7/10: The story is simple. A producer helping an idol group from a poor company rise to the top. There is no rival idol groups, or media scandals, or ... many inner conflicts between members, but this story doesn't need all that. That's for more serious, seinen idol animes like Perfect Blue. Not every story needs to be depressing and remind you how the real world is a horrible place in order to be a "good" idol story. A simple story depicting 12 girls struggling with their own life and their idol career can also be amazing and enjoyable.

Art 8/10: Character designs are perfect for their personality and they're very memorable too. They're simple (especially the eyes) but somehow each member manages to stand out from the others. It's like Mob Psycho 100. The art isn't the best but it fits the story perfectly.

Sound 9/10: Voice actors are great. Songs are great. I still have the opening song in my phone right now lol

Character 8/10: Each characters have their own struggles. Even though all 12 members of the idol group were introduced in a single episode, I didn't feel overwhelmed and each of them have one or two quirks that make them very distinguishable and memorable. Their development and backstory were brought to light as the story goes on. And in just 12 episodes, the anime managed to get me attached to every single one of them (even the producer lol). There's no best girl. All of them are best girls! I also like how this anime isn't afraid to bring physical pain to the characters xD

Enjoyment 9/10: I've watched this anime who knows how many times, not just for the songs, but also for the characters. I love watching Yayoi's episode when I eat because watching her eat makes me hungry every time. I love Azusa's episode because of how ridiculous it is and that makes me laugh every single time. I love whenever Miki shows up because she just has that aura to her that makes her really likeable. I love Hibiki and her hamster and watching them communicate is one of the best part about this show. I love the twins, the tsundere Iori, Takane, Makoto...etc, hell, even the boy idol group and faceless president and the producer himself. All of them are amazing.

Overall 9/10: This is the first idol anime I've watched and the best. I don't know why Love Live is so popular. From what I've seen, it really isn't all that great compared to this. Their songs are good but their characters aren't as memorable as this. The best part about this show is its characters. You will fall in love with every one of them.

Watching The IDOLM@STER was an experience similar to eating a Big Mac. It’s delicious and a joy to eat … until you discover a Whopper. The previously unrivaled now Big Mac tastes cheap and bland when compared to the Whopper, but still remains edible. My point I am trying to get across is this: The IDOLM@STER is fun to watch, but don’t expect too much from the series.

Story – 7/10

The plot in The IDOLM@STER is a simple one. It revolves around the lives of the 13 girls who aim to become prospective idols. The IDOLM@STER manages to tackle the entertainment industry quite accurately. Episodes in ... The IDOLM@STER feels divided into two separate types of episodes; the first being episodes revolving around a single character and the development of her personality and traits etc.; and the second episodes which focus on building the characters as a unit rather than individual’s. Unfortunately the majority of episodes are focused on building the individual’s. Why would I consider this something negative in the anime, especially when considering that The IDOLM@STER is a slice of life anime which are mainly character driven? The problem I have is that the majority of characters get a single episode dedicated to them as characters, after which they only feel significant whenever the plot calls for it. It is near impossible to have the audience immediately care for a character when they are given so little screen time to show us their motivations for becoming an idol, or just explaining why the character possesses some kind of quirk. The only characters who I believe got a backstory which actually meant something, was Yayoi and Chihaya. Both of these characters had to deal with issues which affect their lives, in addition to being idols.

Art – 7/10

Unfortunately the trend of being mediocre is something which this anime adaptation and its creators – A1-Pictures – have in common. I would describe the art style as average, because nothing stands out to me. Thankfully there was nothing about the art which was badly done either. The character designs are diverse and colorful, and work well with the characters personalities and their occupation as idols. Both the openings are vibrantly done and a joy to watch.

Sound – 8/10

Now if there is one thing an idol anime should excel, it has to be the music. The IDOLM@STER has some great tracks throughout the run of the anime. The only thing which annoyed me regarding the sound was Yayoi’s vocalist and the fact that we only heard snippets of the largest number of tracks throughout the anime. I have to applaud the vocalists for each of the idols as all of them –except Yayoi – was a true pleasure to listen to individually. Where they excelled at the most, were during songs performed as a group as much like the characters they were meant to portray, they complimented each other’s strengths and weaknesses. The ending character-/group songs are really fun to listen to and the openings even more so.

Character – 7/10

With a large cast, it is usually really hard to develop the entire cast and not neglect a few characters. Unfortunately The IDOLM@STER doesn’t succeed in creating a well-developed cast, as the characters don’t get enough screen-time. Producer was the character which made me hesitant to watch the anime, as I was expecting a bland character which every male in existence can fantasize about becoming – much like the protagonist from the games. I was pleasantly surprised to see that Producer was a kind-hearted individual who wants to help his idols accomplish their dreams. Heck, I enjoyed him so much that I felt sorry for him when my least favorite character – Miki – fell in love with the guy. How he doesn’t contemplate murder on a daily basis is a truly amazing feat. Other than Producer, other characters I enjoyed were: Makoto, because of she is awesome; Azusa, because she has a motherly charm surrounding her; Iori, because she is a cute tsundere loli; Chihaya, because her character arc made me cry and lastly President Kuroi, because he was unexpected and has a fantastic seiyuu.

Enjoyment – 7/10

The main reason I usually find myself watching idol anime is simple, they make me smile. IDOLM@STER had some genuinely fun moments throughout the anime, but unfortunately only four scenes actually made me feel something. Love Live, for example, is a fun anime to watch, because of the interactions between the characters which at times feel more like a family than close friends. Even though the music was pretty good, the lack of interaction between characters other than Producer made the anime less enjoyable.

Overall – 7.5/10

If pick-a-waifu anime is appealing to you, I guarantee that you will enjoy The IDOLM@STER. With the majority of episodes focused on developing a single character it should be easy to decide which of the characters you find most appealing. However if you are looking for a slice of life anime with well-developed characters, I suggest that you look elsewhere. As good as the music is, the rest of the anime unfortunately doesn’t manage to measure up to the high standards of the soundtrack.

Thanks for taking the time to read my review!