So, firstly, Kageki Shojo isn’t an idol show per se, it’s more of an acting show and follows girls from various artistic backgrounds coming together to study the performing arts. That’s a bit of a different take on the usual girl idol group team-up to save a dying school formula we often get. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but it’s nice to have something unique. Episode 1 is your usual cutesy pilot style set up, but from episode 2 onward the show really gets going and at points gets surprisingly dark. Offering realistic, but hard to watch depictions of sexual harassment, grooming, eating disorders and child abuse. Yea, this isn’t your usual Revue style set up. I was also amazed by how much each of the characters was developed over the course of the season. While it’s only 12 episodes, it felt like all of the girls had plenty of time for their arcs. Most are dealing with some sort of trauma from their past that stands in the way of them and achieving their goals. The story satisfactorily provides backstory, conflict and resolution for each making for a very enjoyable story.
The artstyle in the show is quite unique. It’s extremely bright and pleasant to look at. It mixes elements of traditional shojo art with a more modern take. I think the voice acting is also great in the show. During some of those darker moments I mentioned earlier, they really add a lot of emotional and depth to scenes.
I can confidently say that if you enjoy shojo manga and revue/idol shows you’ll find Kageki Shojo to be a very enjoyable watch. Underneath it’s bright and colourful exterior, it deals with very real issues that girls face. While it didn’t have the hype that some shows had this season, it quickly made its way to the top.
Kageki Shojo gets 10 out of 10.
