As someone who's watched a lot of male idol anime, I went into Side M not expecting much more than a fluffy plot-less ride, hopefully with some slapstick moments of humour. I haven't watched the original iM@S series, but after watching Side M, I now know I need to give at least the original 2011 series a try. Because Side M is the best male idol anime I've ever seen.
STORY: 7/10 (Good)
The fact that this anime has any semblance of a story already catapults it into above average territory. The fact that the story follows a realistic arc? Nearly unbelievable. We follow 315 Productions as
...
the company gets its start, with 315Pro's only producer/talent scout, Producer (or KaitoP, after his seiyuu) building up his almighty stable of talent (19 idols. 19. Individual. Idols.)
Side M's greatest storytelling method is to introduce the units first as already formed, before delving into each member of those units via the central member. For example, the audience's 'in' to HighxJoker, the largest unit with 5 members, is through Shiki. As we get to know and empathise with him, we see his relationships and interactions with the other four and it spirals out from there.
Characters are individuals, units built up over arcs that don't feel overly machinated or contrived, and all within a 13 episode season that feels just right. That's not to say the story breaks new ground or doesn't resort to tropes, because it does, but the storytelling itself is clear and pure. Unlike with Uta no Prince Sama or Tsukipro, both male idol anime with a non-anime foundational brand, Side M doesn't introduce beats that feel fake. It is a simple story, well told, no unnecessary frills attached.
ART: 8/10 (Very Good)
You can recognise an iM@S series right off, and that style carries through in Side M. Characters are recognisable but not over drawn, each character given enough of an identity to be just right but not too much.
Also the way that Side M utilises 3D in its performance sequences is perfect. Unlike rendering the whole sequence in 3D which can make characters slip into the uncanny valley, Side M only uses it in shots that are backlit or taken from a distance, reserving traditional 2D animation for any shots from the front. Fantastic.
SOUND: 9/10 (Great)
The seiyuu are excellent, pretty much all of them. I especially like that the majority of the seiyuu are unknowns, with Side M being their debut project. I feel like the casting of non-A List seiyuu means that rather than relying on the name first, singing ability second (cough Uta no Prince Sama cough), most of these seiyuu were cast because they can actually sing.
And since this is an idol anime, we're also talking insert songs. And the vast majority of them are catchy as all hell. Units have their own distinct sound within the pop spectrum - Dramatic Stars is drum and bass driven, S.E.M are electronic-infused etc. Side M has been around for a while and I highly recommend checking out the discography for your best unit, you won't be disappointed.
CHARACTER: 8/10 (Very Good)
When I started Side M, I was very sure that there was no way in hell all 19 idols would be getting characters or backstories. But I am so glad to be proven wrong. While our main trio of Tendou, Kaoru and Tsubasa (Dramatic Stars) get the lion's share of individual development, the remaining units each get at least one episode to shine. And the greatest thing about this anime? The majority of the idols are in their 20s. Our main trio, Dramatic Stars, are made up of men that are older than 24. S.E.M has two members in their 30s. Finally, an idol anime where not everyone is in high school!
While of course I have my best unit (S.E.M or Dramatic Stars depending on the day) and my best boy (which changes depending on my mood, but mostly Tendou that pure cinnamon roll), each of the 19+ characters have an identity. Even the faceless 315Pro President. Sure those identities aren't necessarily original, but they're charming takes on the tropes.
Also, if you're wondering like I was why there were unnamed-and-yet-noticeably-designed characters that occasionally pop up during the episodes, those are cameos. In the official Side M game that spawned this anime, 315Pro has a LOT more than 19 idols. Which means we have to get a season two. Right. RIGHT.
ENJOYMENT & OVERALL: 9/10 (Great)
For an anime I started just to pass the time with, the fact that I waited on tenterhooks all week for a new episode is a sign in and of itself to me just how much I enjoyed Side M. It's a great, easy blend of slice of life with idol anime, something with just enough stakes to keep you on board, characters that are compelling, charming and cute and a simple story which is well executed.
If you're looking for a male idol anime to watch, watch Side M. If you're looking for an idol anime to watch, watch Side M. If you're looking for something that will be fun, fluffy entertainment, something to make you smile and escape from IRL for a little while, watch Side M.
Alternative Titles
Synonyms: The Idolmaster Side M
Japanese: アイドルマスター SideM
More titlesInformation
Type:
TV
Episodes:
13
Status:
Finished Airing
Aired:
Oct 7, 2017 to Dec 30, 2017
Premiered:
Fall 2017
Broadcast:
Saturdays at 23:30 (JST)
Licensors:
None found, add some
Studios:
A-1 Pictures
Source:
Game
Duration:
24 min. per ep.
Rating:
PG-13 - Teens 13 or older
Statistics
Ranked:
#35872
2
based on the top anime page. Please note that 'Not yet aired' and 'R18+' titles are excluded.
Popularity:
#4621
Members:
21,905
Favorites:
131
Available AtResourcesStreaming Platforms | Reviews
Filtered Results: 7 / 7
Sort
Your Feelings Categories Dec 30, 2017
As someone who's watched a lot of male idol anime, I went into Side M not expecting much more than a fluffy plot-less ride, hopefully with some slapstick moments of humour. I haven't watched the original iM@S series, but after watching Side M, I now know I need to give at least the original 2011 series a try. Because Side M is the best male idol anime I've ever seen.
STORY: 7/10 (Good) The fact that this anime has any semblance of a story already catapults it into above average territory. The fact that the story follows a realistic arc? Nearly unbelievable. We follow 315 Productions as ... Jan 3, 2018
I don’t think highly of A-1 Pictures. There aren’t any particular people there who I think are at fault, but rather how the studio itself is managed has led to some rather lackluster projects. The typical A-1 anime isn’t particularly ambitious, and while it will be enough to entertain you while you’re watching it, it’s unlikely to leave a lasting impression. That said, I think A-1 has had some more interesting projects over the course of 2017, such as Demi-chan, Saekano Flat, and Fate Apocrypha. But sadly here we are at the end of the year, with a few projects that are the quality I’ve
...
Dec 30, 2017
LA will be honest here, this is LA's first foray into the male idol anime.
LA has been an extremely dedicated fan to the iDOLM@STER series for a very long time, probably ever since LA watched the ORIGINAL iDOLM@STER series, LA has been up to date for the most on on many of the iDOLM@STER spinoffs. So LA decided to watch what SideM would had to offer for LA and this anime is something of a first taste as to what the male idol genre will give to LA. Well it had something... First and foremost about SideM is that it's something of a look at male ... Apr 22, 2019
wowee my first mal review!
i've watched the original idolm@ster anime as well as cinderella girls, and played a lot of the mobile games. it's my first time actually diving deep into the sidem series though. i didn't really know much about the series besides the dirty looking science guy whos really hot (lol) but this series was ok if a bit weirdly paced at times! theres not a lot of dancing performances, i want to say theres like 5 when in the other series like cinderella girls there were way more even in just one season. most of the group specific episodes ended up getting montages instead, ... Feb 21, 2021
I've been a huge fan of the SideM series since 2016. Of course, I was very excited when this anime was announced, even though my favorite characters from the game weren't featured in it. However, I wouldn't recommend this anime to anyone who is 1) unfamilar with SideM already, or 2) hasn't watched THE iDOLM@STER (2011) and its film. This review will consider Episode of Jupiter as part of this anime.
Story (6/10) - Fair There's two points I'd like to focus on. First, I think it's important to watch THE iDOLM@STER (2011) and its film prior to watch Episode of Jupiter and the SideM anime. EoJ ... Sep 21, 2020
First review on MAL!
I may clarify that I have watched a lot of male idols anime's, and not even the ones from my favorites franchises (Uta no prince-sama and Ensemble Stars!) are even half enjoyable as Im@s SideM. One thing that really catch my attention was the fact that most of them (12/19 if I'm correct) were 18 or over. Seeing adults in this kind of animes is really something fresh! I loved this! The animation is, really, amazing. I'm not a big fan of The Idolm@ster franchise since I dislike the producer-idol relationship it portrays. Just personal taste. But from the clips from the 2011 anime ... Dec 15, 2020
I'm still watching this anime, but as a hardcore SideM fan..I LOVE THIS ANIME TO PIECES!!
First, the characters. Going off of Episode 0, the OVA, I expected this anime to be a strong one. And so far? It doesn't disappoint! I like how it focuses more on the idol's daily lives rather than the performance aspect of idol anime. It's different for sure, but it's amazing. And the music!! Aaah.. Even if they re use some songs, they're all fantastic! The new songs for the anime are also fantastic! I really want a full version of Beit's TOMORROW DIAMOND and Jupiter's Over AGAIN, they're such good ... |