IDOLiSH7 Second Beat!

Why is this anime not talked about more? It's so good? Genuinely, I know all y'all out there questioning this anime are like, "It's an idol anime, it's obviously trash, people only like it because of hot boys and pop music." Take that shit and get out of here because this anime has *substance* right alongside the hot boys and pop music.

I'll keep it a buck on the sound and art: I love both now, but I didn't always. I will say I saw a lot more to love this season as far as the art style was concerned, but I came to love it ... initially since it wasn't entirely eye-catching. The sound--talking about the OSTs here rather than the idol groups' music--has its moments, but for the most part, it's pretty average.

This anime still deserves a ten, though, because it baffles me how well IDOLISH7 can tell a story. Even though this anime is the best in the genre, it *is* still an idol anime, and yet the story feels as high stakes as a Shounen. That's insane, to me. The story in this season was really damn good, and that's because it took the parameters of an idol anime and did the absolute most with them.

Not to mention the character work, holy hell. This anime can get *dark,* y'all. I mean this honestly: I've seen anime with cult followings do character development worse than this anime, and especially this season in particular (FMAB, I'm lookin' at you). It isn't like every character has a storyline that's deep and meaningful this season, but there were key characters that were focused on that allowed every character to develop in some way through the struggles the focal characters were going through. And when I say this anime can get dark, I mean that it's not afraid to go to the dark corners of these characters' minds to retrieve a realistic representation of what they're feeling in the context of the story. I mean, the touchy-feely moments/speeches were usually cringy with a few exceptions, but everything else was done so well. I felt so connected to these characters the entire time.

More people need to watch this anime because, for real, it's something special. I don't feel that way about a lot of things, but IDOLISH7 has convinced me. I'm pumped for the next stage.

SPOILER FREE REVIEW (i have not played the game)

I am not joking when I say this is one of the best, if not, THE BEST idol anime I have ever watched (specifically male idol anime).

I am so confused as to why not a lot of people are watching this. Is it because it's a male idol anime and most of the characters are boys? Is it because it's from a game? Is it because it looks like fujobait? Is it because it's probably a boring reverse harem with a boring MC? (it's not).

People are sleeping VERY hard on this show.

Story:
Okay, to be honest, the ... story isn't too amazing but it's better than most idol anime out there. It sometimes gets a bit too cliche at times but if you can turn a blind eye to that, it's a pretty solid show. Each character gets their own arc (a lot of them are pretty damn deep) and I like that a lot.

Art:
Art is very cute, all the characters are drawn very well and the animation is pretty solid. I personally still can't bare the 3DCG during the performances because it always looks so stiff and out of place, but it's only during most of the performances so it's fine really.

Sound:
Honestly... it's just generic idol music. There really isn't that much of a difference from other idol anime... a lot of the songs are quite catchy (Natsu Shiyouze is stuck in my head), but the more you listen to it the more you realize it's just... well... idol music. I like them because I'm a huge seiyuu-ota and I love my seiyuus.

Character:
In my honest, true to god opinion, this is the best part of the show. All the characters are well written, they all have a valid reason as to why they want to become an idol. It's not your typical "it's always been my dream to be an idol" or "i want to be like this person i admire/idolize" kind of reason. They all have actually interesting reasons why.
The characters aren't perfect ikemen/bishounen pretty boys either, they all each have their individual flaws, and the problems they deal with actually make a ton of sense and are all very interesting.
Their manager, isn't a generic whiny girl either. She actually wants the best for the boys and is always trying her best. I really like the fact that she treats the boys as if they're her children and I like that she has no romantic feelings towards anyone at all and knows her role as a manager.

Enjoyment:
I enjoyed this show a lot. It made me cry, made me wheeze of laughter and it sometimes made me cringe too. I looked forward to every episode, every week and I never get tired of it no matter how many times I watch it. It's super fun and entertaining and the chemistry between all the characters is very fun to watch.

Overall:
I gave this show a 10/10, because in general, I like to watch a lot of male idol anime, and a lot of them are guilty pleasures to me because I'm aware most of them aren't even good. So when I found an actually good male idol anime, I was amazed. I fell in love. When getting into IDOLiSH7, I wasn't expecting to find a gem at all, but I did. It's one of the few idol anime that is actually good and has a decent story with good and non-generic characters. I liked Second Beat! a tad bit more than the first season, because we got to see the darker side of things and we got more information on the antagonist(?) of the story (not really sure if he's considered as an antagonist, but he currently seems like he is), and also I got to see something about my favorite character (which is Tamaki), I won't say any more info on that because it's spoilers.
We also got to see more on another idol unit, RE:VALE, and the problems they're dealing with too.
I look forward to the 3rd Season a lot, I have high expectations and I hope it stays as a good gem.
I want more people to watch this too because I personally think this brilliant show needs all the attention and notoriety it can get.

ONE OF THE BEST MUSIC ANIME! THIS IS A 100% MASTERPIECE!

Powerful character depth, very catchy songs and extreme character development!

Each character has a great story to tell!

Honestly, this is one of my favourite animes. IDOLiSH7 captures the daily lives of idols in an interesting and extremely enjoyable way, it drives you to the edge of your seat and the characters are perfectly written, complex, interesting, deep and they really really really feel like real people, even when there are so many of them! The show really emphasizes the essence and beauty of the game it's based on. The songs are very addicting and ... enjoyable! The dialogues are very amazing and the story gives a roller-coaster of emotions! I cried, I laughed, I am amazed and I can't help falling in love with it!

PROS:
➕ Good animation, art style, visuals, and chibis
➕ Every single character has CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT!
➕ Emotionally investing and well-developed characters
➕ All characters have backstories and SUPER RELATABLE!
➕ Emotionally investing and beautiful music!
➕ Extremely funny and dramatic!
➕ Extremely realistic portrayal to entertainment industry
➕ One of the BEST well-written set of characters + best characterization and personalities
➕ Extremely good OP and ED
➕ Extremely impressive voice acting
➕ All characters are realistic, humane and natural
➕ Ultimate character depth
➕ Very unpredictable storyline and it keeps on surprising you!
➕ Extremely good execution of storyline and plot devices
➕ Very heartwarming
➕ Thrilling and every episode is exciting
➕ Extremely enjoyable and lovable

CONS:
⛔ This anime is for people who loves music, idols, comedy, character drama, Slice-of-Life and emotional roller-coaster so if you don't like any of those, you better watch other genres of anime.

May you all have a good day!

A genuinely hidden gem! Prepare a lot of tissues and get ready to release a devastating amount of tears of joy and sadness!

Synopsis:
Following their performance at the Black or White event, the idol group IDOLiSH7 is at the height of its popularity, with offers for various concerts and work coming in every day, much to the joy of the seven boys and their manager. However, as their fame continues to rise, Riku Nanase's health begins worsening due to the heavy workload.

With the gigantic idol duo Re:vale showing interest in the group and the reopening event of the Zero Arena coming up, IDOLiSH7: Second Beat ... follows IDOLiSH7 as they not only struggle to adapt to the challenges of the idol life but also to face their personal troubles, all while continuously meeting the expectations of their treasured fans.

What to expect:
1. EXTREMELY EMOTIONAL moments and I've cried a lot on almost every episode!
2. Very funny, witty and creative character interactions!
3. Well-written characters and great depth/ development
4. Very inspiring and catchy music!
6. Well-written storyline and plot
5. YOU WILL LOVE ALL THE CHARACTERS!

This is an EXTREMELY EMOTIONAL SEQUEL which I can say that this is the REAL definition of a masterpiece!

ONE OF THE MOST EMOTIONALLY DEVASTATING AND HEARTBREAKING SEQUELS EVER!

Welcome to IDOLiSH7 2nd Beat! where each episode is PERFECTLY-EXECUTED!

The first season offered a great start in introducing the characters and getting to know each and every one of them, while simultaneously showcasing their personalities, quirks, tragic pasts, emotional burden, sufferings, dynamics and talents. The first season is EXTREMELY realistic as it shows the TRUE COLORS of the entertainment industry which wakes up my awareness that it always has its ups and downs.

And then, the second season. PERFECT MASTERPIECE is the only term I think that can describe how powerful this sequel is. ... It focuses a lot on the CONFLICTS, STRUGGLES and EMOTIONAL BURDENS of the characters. Each episode is PERFECTLY-EXECUTED as it focuses not only on the main characters but even the side characters and extras have CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT and REALISTIC PORTRAYAL! It is EXTREMELY REALISTIC as it emphasizes even the fans' feelings and perspectives!

The 2nd season introduces the characters, Momo and Yuki, which added spice to their daily lives as they get to know them. Another thing to love in this series is the PERFECTLY-BALANCED screentime of every character so you get to know more about each character's feelings and emotions without being overshadowed by others, and each character has a distinct and unique identity and design which makes each and every one of them as remarkable and loved!

We have 13+ characters and the character developments of every character are INSANELY PERFECT!

THIS IS NOT JUST A MUSIC ANIME, IT SHOULD ALSO HAVE THE GENRES COMEDY, DRAMA AND SLICE-OF-LIFE. It meddles and pierces your heart with their daily interactions which could brought EXTREME HAPPINESS and EXTREME PAIN at the same time! I can't help but fall in love with them every single episode!

The storyline and plot flow is UNEXPECTED and the story keeps on surprising you with twists and turns!

IT MAKES ME CRY A LOT, A LOT AND A LOOOOTTTTTTT!!!!

WATCH IDOLISH7 and IDOLISH7 SECOND BEAT NOW and YOU'RE IN FOR A WILD RIDE!

The true definition of a genuine M. A. S. T. E. R. P. I. E. C. E. !!!

Prepare a lot of tissues and get ready to CRY because EVERY episode is PERFECTLY-WRITTEN and PERFECTLY-EXECUTED!

1. Very good animation, art style and character design. The colors used HAVE IMAGERY!
2. Every single character and even the side characters and extras have PERFECTLY-WRITTEN CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT!
3. Emotionally DEVASTATING and HEARTBREAKING!
4. All characters have backstories to offer!
5. INSANELY CATCHY and EMOTIONALLY INVESTING music!
6. Very funny character interactions but very depressing also!
... 7. Extremely realistic portrayal of the entertainment industry
8. One of the BEST well-written set of characters + best characterization and personalities. The characters are similar to HAIKYUU!! where the series focuses on the characters goals, determination, suffering and burdens but this one has a MORE DRAMATIC and MORE EMOTIONAL execution!
9. Extremely catchy good OP and ED
10. Impressive, catchy and on-point voice acting
11. All characters are EXTREMELY REALISTIC, human and natural
12. PLOT TWISTS, PLOT TURNS AND THE STORYLINE DRIVES YOU AT THE EDGE OF YOUR SEAT!
13. Extremely good execution of storyline and plot devices
14. IT CAN MAKE YOU CRYYYY, CRYYYY AND CRYYYY!
15. You’ll love each and every one of the characters!
16. Gives you a WIDE-RANGE of emotions! Genuine happiness, joy, sadness, sympathy, anger, sorrow, regrets. excitement, fear, tension, thrill, nervousness and many more!
17. Each and every episode delivers a DEVASTATING AMOUNT of PAIN, SUFFERING, EXTREME HAPPINESS and EMOTIONAL BURDEN!

SO WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? COME ON IN NOW AND PREPARE FOR A ROLLER-COASTER OF EMOTIONS AS IDOLISH7 SECOND BEAT DELIVERS YOU THE DEFINITION OF A TRULY AND GENUINELY WONDERFUL MASTERPIECE!!!

Okay, this season was SO worth the watch. I was hooked almost all the time.

While practically almost everything was great, what I loved most about this season was pretty much about the characters: the valuable characterizations, relatively even attention onto characters, also good attention onto characters that we didn't get to see much of in the first season, the way Re:vale was introduced and included a sufficient amount of times, just- yes.

It did feel a bit too wild with the cliche everything's-somehow-connected/it's-a-small-world kind of trope, but nevertheless, almost every single bit made sense. Even though the first season already made the characters feel ... like real humans with feelings and struggles, the season season really made it feel like that all the more. It was truly a valuable, emotional ride.

The voice-acting was extra good, too! Especially during the heart-breaking parts. Sometimes I'd even only get really emotional and start crying because of how i can sense how strongly the characters feel by their voices alone. The actors really did an exceptional job with such moments. Riku and Tamaki's voice actors are honorable mentions (though all of them did very well).

The way songs were embroidered into the anime felt even better, too! Not too little, but also logically and flowing well. Not to mention, I like the songs in this season quite more than I do in the previous season. They're more enjoyable to listen according to my tastes, and they have lovely lyrics that feel like they match with their respective stories all the more. Especially the general ending itself, like damn, I'm really in love with it and its pv. I'm going to miss seeing it at the end of each episode.

I definitely would recommend this season to anyone. Again, it was really worth the watch, so I can't help but do hope more people get to watch this!

"I had never literally had an interest in watching idols and listening to their song."
... -me

This is my first time writing a review, by the way, so I'll try my best to stay as objective as I can.

When I say my score is 10/10, it's 10/10 and nothing less. This is the anime that changed my thinking about idols. I can say that I am a boy that has no interest in idols, but when I watched this anime, my perspective changed drastically. THIS ANIME IS AN ABSOLUTE MASTERPIECE. Since writing the things I like about the anime is boring to read in paragraph form, I'll just write it in a list

1. Characters are perfectly written and designs are over the top (very original).

2. The story is very unique(It is not your typical "I WANT TO BE AN IDOL PLOT".) and there is no plot armor making the storyline unexpected.

3. The Storyline is very diverse (contains music, comedy, drama, and slice-of-life).

4. MUSIC IN THE ANIME ARE REAL DEAL. (Very Catchy and Beautiful, It will be more than impossible to find yourself singing along).

5. Every Group's songs are made with care and creativity. The songs are made with a focus on the beauty of every group that will sing it. This makes it hard to compare groups and form favorites among them.

6. Animation is very, very, very smooth. It is not the cringy CGI that you see in other animes. The art style is very distinct and special!

7. Story is absolutely Realistic (shows the UPs and DOWNs in the Entertainment Industry both the members in it and the fans).

8. Their Voice Acting is undeniably perfect from singing to drama.

9. VERY ENTERTAINING and TEAR-JERKER in the same time.

10. One of the Best Character Development there is in the Anime Industry.

11. Each character (both main and side character) has the PERFECT amount of screentime. They show off each one of their backstories, personalities, and character development without overshadowing or overpowering the other characters in the show. and...

12.. IS A M.A.S.T.E.R.P.I.E.C.E.

I am very glad to be a part of this fandom despite being a boy who is stereotypically known not to like male idols. This anime is a must-watch and I can proudly rate them a perfect 10/10 in all aspects. Even a 9.9/10 would be wrong.

A True Masterpiece, I don't like idol animes in general but Idolish7 is an exception.
I watched a Mv on YouTube, I liked it and I know it has anime too, I am not a fan of idol Animes, but I was bored so I decided let's give it a try, At first I thought it must be a reverse harem or your regular idol anime, I watched first two episodes and it I liked it so I watched more and more episodes, with each episode I loved this anime, It was not a reverse harem and it was also not like other idol Animes, Idol ... Animes are boring but this anime is not like that, it is the Best idol anime Ever.
Now whenever we talk about idol anime we will think of rainbow, sunshine, guys/girls singing and having fun. It is that to a certain point in Idolish7 but it's lot more than that, It focuses lot on behind the scenes, The Dark side of entertainment industry and it's not only sunshine and rainbow, As you go further into the story, they will show you more and more, How they use and make people? How so many people use underhand tactics to totally remove another person out of the industry, How they struggle to survive in the industry? They also shows fans a lot in the game, shows their reactions, passion and just them being there for the idols and it's a nice touch.
One of the biggest and most important of these things is how the narrative chooses to present the fans. Rather than limiting fan appearance to just crowd scenes at concerts, i7 takes its time to show us fans on an individual level as we watch how the Ordinary Joes of the i7 universe take in the idols. We, as players and viewers, are privileged to know what goes on behind the scenes; we know how much they’ve struggled, what kind of bullshit has been thrown
their way, and why they had to make the hard decisions they sometimes have to make, But regular fans know none of this, and it can be personally sobering to watch how fans react, because sometimes? You’ve been that fan. Maybe you’ve been the fan that’s disappointed when your fave makes a mistake.
In terms of Narrative structure, One of the most compelling things about Idolish7 Narrative is that the stakes and situations increase in scale along with the main character's fame and it comes from multiple sources, it's much more than just stronger rivals.
The Characters, all of the characters are So relatable, they are unique, each one of them as their own strength and weaknesses, and all of them are so likeable, Characters relationships also very realistic, how they interact, act, their relationship with other people and they not only have individual development but also them as a group too.
There is lot of foreshadowing too in this anime so it's not like things are happening out of nowhere, there is lot of bulid up before that.
The Songs, they are really good too, I love all the songs, Idol Animes have pretty average songs but Idolish7 has pretty good music.
I watched many Animes but never loved and enjoyed any anime as much as this one. It's now my No. 1 favorite anime, I absolutely love and adore all of the characters, So this anime is special and very close to my heart.
Story - 10/10
Characters - 10/10
Art - 9/10
Animation - 8/10
Sound/Music - 10/10
Voice acting - 10/10
Overall rating - 10/10

Second Beat is a fun addition to Idolish7! The plot twists and drama are engaging, and the characters are very likeable. It's creative liberties towards how they portray the entertainment industry also feels believable.

That being said, one of the few drawbacks I have with this season is that it felt a little rushed. Certain problems and plot twists are handled in a way that makes me feel like I missed something. The final episode is fine, but I wished that they extended the runtime of that episode a bit so that they can showcase the performances the characters worked so hard to perfect throughout the ... series.

Overall, Second Beat is a great watch and I can't wait for the Third Beat!

I have fallen in love with IDOLiSH7 since its first season, and then since I got hyped, I decided to download the game and play it. I have been waiting long for Part 2 to be animated and I'm really glad about it.

WARNING: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS

Story
To sum it up, IDOLiSH7 is simply about 7 male strangers who were together and became an idol group. Simple enough? Yes indeed, but wait until you watch the troubles and problems that they had along the way. The story is a wild ride of an emotional roller coaster. The moment we felt glad, the next episode makes ... us cry. Compared to the other male idol anime that I watched, IDOLiSH7 had more realism to it and had many relatable problems. I'd say that the deep story is what makes me loves IDOLiSH7 so much.

In the Second Beat, we are introduced to Re:vale, a senior group of two people, Momo and Yuki, who is also called King of Idols (in the game).

As someone who already played the game, there are some scenes that are cut off in the anime. However, it did not really affect the pace. Length-wise, I would say 15 episodes are enough since Part 2 was less longer than the other parts. From what I see, the first half was focused on IDOLiSH7, while the second half was more focused on TRIGGER and Re:vale.

The troubles that our idol groups faced are not focused only on IDOLiSH7, but also TRIGGER and even Re:vale themselves. The fans reaction in the anime also felt quite real. For example, when there are fans who said that they liked Iori as a center better and the fans who said that the center is Riku. The quarrels in fanbases like these are quite common so I could feel relatable to it. There are also a lot of quotes that we can find helpful.

Also SPOILERS: The last plottwist was not really well covered in the anime. In the game it was so well hidden that I was kind of surprised.

There are still so many things left unexplained in the season, but since we got season 3 (and hopefully season 4), we can wait that much.


Art
The art and animation did not differ much from the first season, but the 3D CG has definitely improved, especially from the 4th episode. The comedic chibis are cute too.


Characters
I always praised character developments in IDOLiSH7. This franchise has to ability to make the character you hated before become so likeable. For example, I myself quite disliked Tamaki since I disliked his childish attitude. However, following the end of the first season and the second season, Tamaki becomes one of my favorite characters in the show. It showed how he tried his best to be better not only for himself, but also for the other members.

I also disliked Anesagi, TRIGGER's manager during the first season, but now I find him/her really funny and entertaining xD

The troubles and problems that our characters faced are also not easy. Imagine Mitsuki, who had taken pride in his ability doing MC, suddenly was told that he is not good and had to leave. It would be weird if I do not felt depressed after that if I were him.

I also find it nice that Re:vale was positioned not as a rival to IDOLiSH7, but as their kind seniors who were simply looking after them, unlike how TRIGGER was to IDOLiSH7. It's not like a group of around one year of experience could defeat an idol group of five years of experience. I want them as my real-life seniors xDD.

Not only that, even sub characters like the managers played their parts marvelously. The moment when Tsumugi announced to her idol boys that she loved IDOLiSH7 and is their first fan, it made me love her even more.

For me personally, I loved Yamato and I find myself relatable to Sougo a lot. Even though I already know what would happen in Episode 14 and I already waited for that scene to be animated, I can't help but get scared of Yamato xD.


Sound
Of course, the music was a key to this franchise. However, in this season, it did not play much. The drama played a lot more instead and the music was pushed back a little. I like it when the music also play part in the story. For example, RESTART POiNTER was sung after each of IDOLiSH7 members finally moved on from their problems in the first half of the season. The messages in the songs are quite powerful.

However, I'm sorry to say that I still prefer WiSH VOYAGE over DiSCOVER THE FUTURE.


Overall, I'd say Second Beat is really well done. I am willing to wait for the third season, since Part 3 is the part that I loved the most. Will I recommend this franchise? Of course! If you like something unusual for an idol story, I definitely recommend this.

I’ll be brief... everything was oh so joyful. The character growth was beautiful, the friendships, and relationships being one of this show’s greatest strongest points along with a believable/relastic plot. I only give it an 8 though for getting my hopes up with it’s cliff hangers (like ep 14/start of ep 15( I mean there’s no way he did it it but the fact it was the cliffhanger made me think otherwise and actually fall for the trick. Even though it turned heartwarming, I can’t help feel disappointed because if the twist followed through it’d be more interesting)). Also the zero mystery too obvious. Sometime ... the art was a little off but outside of that it was overwhelmingly enjoyable, especially if you’re into cute boys with personalities and depths running towards their dreams! I’d also like to say the addition of revale makes this season much better than the last. I can’t wait for season 3!!!!

I already wrote a review on this show for season 1 and gave it a 9/10, but I decided to come back and rate this show a 10/10 because it is amazing!! Seriously, I love this show. The characters, the animation, the storyline, and the music are everything!!

One of the best things this show did was the introduction of Re:Vale, not only did this duo thicken the plot and add to the drama, but they bring a nice comedy and more insight to the music industry. If you don't fall in love with Momo, or if Yuki doesn't pique your interest, you're lying. We ... already have our main boys of idolish7, and the rivals TRIGGER, but Re:Vale adds a balance and really makes you feel like you are watching diverse idol groups go about their journey in show business.

This season is so amazing because the character development and storylines are top tier. There are a lot of characters, but I never felt overwhelmed or confused on each person's storyline. You will be HOOKED. The drama and emotional relationships that are presented make you keep watching and watching - one thing this show won't do is make you bored. The music is also so good, for me personally there are some TRIGGER and Mezzo (Sogo and Tamaki's duo) songs that I even found on Apple Music and saved, that's how much I liked them. The stage/concert scenes are animated great, and I love how each group has their own personal look as well.

You will not regret watching this show, and this second beat elevates idolish7 and their journey even more into stardom. It allows you to be excited for the future of idolish7, even for TRIGGER, Mezzo and RE:Vale, while also leaving enough wiggle room for anything to happen in the future for the group as you follow their journey.